It looks like elite prep quarterbacks are starting to figure out that Mack Brown’s program isn’t exactly the best place for a quarterback to be:
Just 10 months ago, on signing day, Texas coach Mack Brown defended his decision to not sign a quarterback with the 2003 recruiting class.
He said there wasn’t an elite quarterback in the state to sign. And if all went well, they’d sign two this year.
But things did not go well. Not well at all.
“Ask me something after signing day,” Brown said.
In one fashion or another, Texas targeted six quarterbacks as top recruits at their position for this class. But it appears the Longhorns will not sign a quarterback for the second year in a row, as the six have committed to other schools. Some favored another offense, others were turned off by the Texas recruiting strategy and the perception of constant quarterback controversies with the Longhorns.
“It’s pretty amazing, with as many potentially great prospects in the state this year — the deepest in this state in a long time — that Texas hasn’t gotten a commitment from one of these guys,” said Geoff Ketchum, editor of the Texas-based recruiting site Orangebloods.com.
It’s not that amazing. Mack Brown mishandled the Chris Simms/Major Applewhite mess, taking the QB job away from Applewhite and giving it to an undeserving recruit with great bloodlines. And Simms never really developed under Mack’s coaching staff into a great quarterback (despite that obnoxious Texas Monthly cover). And Mack’s handling of the Vincent Young/Chance Mock controversy hasn’t been much better (if Young was going to be the starter, he should have gotten all the spring practice snaps, because he can’t pass well enough for Texas to beat elite teams right now). Why would a great prep quarterback pass up USC or Oklahoma to go play for Mack Brown right now?
I am pleased that Bob Stoops beat out Mack Brown for Rhett Bomar, the best QB prospect in Texas. That can’t have the UT faithful very happy.