Breaking down 3 Texas football recruits with upcoming decision dates

https://twitter.com/BraylanShelby/status/1554136926617276419

Braylan Shelby, EDGE

The next upcoming decision date concerning the Longhorns as a finalist school will involve the commitment from the touted four-star Friendswood edge rusher Braylan Shelby. Texas is a finalist along with new head coach Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans out of the PAC-12 among the two top schools for Shelby ahead of his Aug. 6 decision date.

But Texas would likely have to make an insane major push in the next few days to make up the necessary ground with Shelby to have a real shot at his commitment. It sounds like Riley and the Trojans hold the momentum of late in the race to land a commitment from Shelby. And it might be to late to change that narrative for co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns.

If Texas does wind up missing on Shelby after seeing Vasek commit to Oklahoma early this week, that would be a massive blow to edge rusher recruiting. It would also make the importance of Texas landing a commitment from the highly touted four-star Marlin (TX) edge rusher/linebacker Derion Gullette that much more paramount.

Similar to that of Vasek, it looks like Texas could see another key in-state edge rusher prioritize getting away from home and experiencing new things over trying to build up this Longhorns defensive front. If this situation does come to fruition where Texas loses out on Shelby after missing on Vasek, that will shift the focus of edge recruiting dramatically heading into the fall.

It will also likely mean bigger pushes from the Longhorns’ defensive staff for the likes of the elite five-star Venice (FL) edge rusher Damon Wilson and four-star Skyridge (UT) linebacker/edge rusher Tausili Akana.