Deontay Anderson ..... Manvel (Manvel, TX) 4-star ..... S ..... 6-1/192 ..... Ole Mi$$ Anderson is one of the hottest safeties in the nation and holds roughly 50 offers. He's an Under Armor All-American and a Nike's The Opening Finals participant where he ran the 9th fastest 40 time at 4.41. Per IT via OB: At Texas he'd be ideal as a deep safety, erasing any positive run or throw over the middle of the field with the range to reach the sideline from centerfield against weaker QBs. He's a guy you want playing centerfield for you because he has a nose for the football and if it goes up in the air, he is more than likely making a play on it. He isn't shy about coming downhill and bringing the wood either, he is looking to drop the hammer and isn't diving at ankles. His ability to return kicks is a bonus in the sense that he is a threat to take any passes he picks off back to the house. He is one of the top safeties in the country for a reason. Per Scout: Anderson is well put together and a tremendous athlete at the safety position. He is able to stop and start quickly, giving him a good break on the ball to defend passes as well as the ability to come up quickly in run support. He is one of the players who just seems to have a nose for the football. He is often in the right place at the right time. Plays under control and moves with direct intent. Well tested against top-level competition. Strengths: body control, closing speed, and size. The No. 3 rated safety is over 6-foot-0 and 202 pounds and runs like a gazelle. He has the frame to deliver big blows and the speed to get to any part of the field in a flash. He is a true track star. But is also quick an agile. He ran a 4.4 40 yard dash and a 4.00 pro-shuttle. That is moving, especially for someone who looks as impressive as some linebacker prospects o[n] the hoof. Per 247Sports: LSU and Ole Miss are considered the favorites, but Texas is obviously still in the mix. Longhorns pledge Reggie Hemphill-Mapps has constantly been in Anderson’s ear about joining him in Austin, and he made an unofficial visit back in June. “Coach (Charlie) Strong is a great man,” Anderson recently told Horns247. "He’s what really makes Texas appealing and also Coach (Chris) Vaughn. Both coaches are really cool guys. Really, I love everything about Texas.” Texas will allow Anderson to play football and run track on the Forty Acres, which Anderson said would play a “big factor” in his recruitment. Per ESPN: I love Coach Strong. My mom loves Coach Strong. I like Coach Vaughn and Coach Bedford too, but I love Coach Strong. He’s turning it around at Texas. Up next for Anderson will be scheduling official visits, a process that is already underway. “I’m going to be scheduling official visits to my Top 5," he said. "I'm scheduling USC right now, probably for when they play Stanford. I’ve also got to call Coach Strong and schedule a visit during the season.
Anderson has not reset his OV (was originally Jan 15). Anderson made it clear that Texas is very much in the mix for his services. “I love Texas,” Anderson said. “It’s one of the DBU’s, so they produce a lot of great defensive backs. Coach (Charlie) Strong is changing things and turning it around. I love the tradition and the discipline.”
Considered for quite some time as an Ole Mi$$ lean, Anderson makes it sound like Texas is still in the hunt during this interview....
Per TFB: I’m told that Anderson told the other players, Ole Miss has nothing on Texas…Austin is 100% better than Oxford. Source opined that Anderson is 80/20 Texas. But Anderson still has visits to take so while Texas is clearly in a much stronger position than they were before the trip. I remain cautious here.
Per TFB (yesterday): Texas HC Charlie Strong is expected to make his in-home visit with Manvel (TX) S Deontay Anderson tonight. As we reported after his official visit to Texas on January 15th, Texas made up some serious ground on the perceived leader for Anderson in Ole Miss. We were even told that Anderson told some of his fellow recruits that he liked Austin much more than Oxford. Basically Texas has made this a closer race between them, Ole Miss, and LSU than we though it could be, say, a month ago. Anderson will take his final official visit to Ole Miss this weekend before he announces his commitment on NSD. I still think Anderson picks Ole Miss but Texas has another chance to make up some ground tonight with the talented DB.
Yesterday, Anderson and 5-star Ole Miss commit OL Greg Little hopped a flight to Mississippi. Anderson posted Little's tweet: Notice Anderson's "flash."
