LB Jeffrey McCulloch (Oct 4, 2014)(Feb 3 COMMIT)

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Jeffrey McCulloch ..... Aldine Davis (Houston, TX)
-horn ..... OLB ..... 6-2/225 ..... TEXAS
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Known as "The Shark" for his speed and aggressiveness, he could become a Fox (DE) at Texas with his frame and wingspan.

Per HD:
He is one of the most heavily recruited players not only in Texas but the country. McCulloch has great size and athletic ability. He has aggressiveness, a high football IQ and hitting ability.

"I like having a defensive head coach," McCulloch said. "Coach [Charlie] Strong is building a championship contending team."

Per Rivals:
He was the biggest of the linebackers [at the Houston Speed & Skill] and in coverage at 6-2, 230, and he was a bit exposed by some smaller and quicker guys. However, he always finished and he did a very nice job of using his length to make up ground and break up some passes. During drills he also showed some strong technique and quality footwork.

Per BR:
McCulloch recorded 59 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries during his junior year. Of those 59 tackles, 18.5 were tackles for loss. He also had eight batted passes and six pass breakups, showing off his coverage skills.​

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His cousin is at Manvel and is a 2018 prospect. Hudl Link

 

LB Jeffrey McCulloch will visit Texas on July 18 for the UTL camp.

On what’s important in the school he commits to: “It has to be a prestigious academic program. That’s been the most important factor from day one. That’s the most important thing to me. I have to make sure I can get a good job after I leave.”

During his UTL visit, McCulloch doesn’t plan on working out and instead will just get more time around the UT coaches. His younger brother will come with him and will work out.
[Link]

 

Per Scout:
McCulloch has plus size and runs well for a linebacker. He is versatile and could probably play inside or outside, but excels on the edge of the defense in high school. He is very good at shedding blockers and playing in traffic. He is solid hitter, needs to work more on form tackling at times instead of trying to deliver a knockout blow, but he is definitely not shy to contact. He has ideal size, big time athletic ability, and makes plays.

[W]hile he has not been focusing on recruiting per se, he does still have his eyes set on seeing what the programs that made his first cut bring to the table... So when he checks out [the 12 schools that made his cut] in person for a visit, or when he turns on the television on Saturday, there’s a few things he must witness to be considered a real option once it’s decision time.

“A team has to have a dominant defense. They have to have the ability to absolutely demolish opponents,” McCulloch said. “Now the offense has to be on point too, but the defense has to be on point.”

Understand the tone which he spoke on this, the feelings were real and sincere. McCulloch is a high-energy player, one who really only knows one speed. He’s known for his ability to pass rush and close on ball carriers with the best in the country on the defensive side of the ball... With McCulloch’s speed and size combination, along with his overall talent, he has the ability to fit into any defensive scheme a team may run.

 

McCulloch attended the Cal game:

“They have my attention after last week’s game ....... They surprised me with how they rebounded back after their loss to Notre Dame the first week. They’re improving quickly ..... I would say that I definitely expect a different result when they play Oklahoma State.”

Expects to be in Austin in November for the KU game -- UOV.

 

Most sites predict aggy, but Higs is the one guy who keeps saying still have a good shot
Lets see if he makes it for an OV

 

That dude is in HS?

 

LOL. That's Coach Vaughn

 

This is the Shark

 

That's a nice house.

 

They say McCulloch is waiting on one certain piece of info to make his decision

 

Rumor that McCulloch canceled OV to aggy
Due to internal issues with aggy

 

Jeffrey McCulloch is zeroed in on his Top 5 schools and Texas is one of them. McCulloch said he will likely commit on National Signing Day because the Under Armour All-American Bowl would be “rushing” it. He and his family want to wait and see how certain things play out.

“We just want to sit back and wait,” McCulloch said. “We’ll see how the bowls play out and see what coaching shake-ups happen and go from there.”

The Aldine Davis linebacker said the schools who made the cut were based on education and recent football success. Or, in Texas' case, potential.

“There’s no doubt I see them going back to the national championship," McCulloch said. "When what is in place happens, national championship team easily.”

[Per a poster on another site]

 

"Interesting" interview....

 

The Shark AND DJax had 4 tackles each today at the UA game.

 

Aldine Davis head coach James Showers had an opportunity to not only watch his star player, Jeffrey McCulloch, in the Under Armour All-America Game but coach him too. Showers served as an assistant during Under Armour week and said he was extremely impressed with how McCulloch, one of Texas’ top 2016 targets, competed against the best recruits across the country.

“To come out here and see him compete at this level against some of the country was great,” Showers said. “I was pleased. Jeff is fast, he gets to the quarterback and has good instincts. He needs to improve his strength and put on some good weight. He’s as athletic as they come, and his football IQ will only grow at the next level.”

Texas has been in the mix for McCulloch since the very beginning of his recruitment. “The Shark” has always had a special place for UT and recently included the Longhorns in his Top 5. Showers said Texas has not only made an impression on McCulloch but himself as well.

“I’ve been down there to visit with them and when they come into my office, they are first class guys,” Showers said. “(Strong) runs a first class program. He had to get rid of some trash that first year he got there. Had he not, they might have won more games. But he wants to do it right. I think he’s going to get it going this year. Kids don’t always see the big picture, but Jeff has great parents and he’s smart enough to know that with the way they’re doing things at Texas, it’s going to happen.”

Showers added that he believes McCulloch would be a great fit in Austin, thanks to Strong’s disciplinarian approach. “His style is right up Jeff’s alley,” Showers said. “He couldn’t go wrong if he went to Texas. He knows what it takes to get to the next level. I’m partial to Texas and Texas A&M because I like to keep our kids at home."

Showers, however, knows McCulloch is high on a few out of state schools, including Notre Dame, which appears to be Texas’ primary threat, and doesn’t try to sway him one way or the others. Instead, Showers simply tries to guide McCulloch down the right path.

“I knew when he was an eighth grader that he was step above everybody else,” Showers said. “I told him he was going to be successful. So the big thing is how he handles success. Somebody is always watching, so I always tell him to do the right thing.”

[Per another poster]

 

The Longhorns have always been a major player in McCulloch’s recruitment and will have a chance to make one final pitch before he makes his final decision on National Signing Day. It will also serve as an opportunity for McCulloch to bond with the team. “I’ve been up there so much that I’m not expecting anything new,” McCulloch said when asked about his January 15 visit. “It’ll just be another fun experience. Just want to hang out with the players.”

McCulloch already feels like part of the Texas family and frequently speaks to a handful of UT players over group text. “It’s Malik (Jefferson), Charles (Omenihu), Deshon (Elliott) and some recruits,” McCulloch said. “We’re all in a group chat, and they tell us about what we could actually do when we get there.”

Texas doesn’t have many other options at outside linebacker, so it appears the Longhorns are going all in on “The Shark.” The staff made an in-home visit with McCulloch before the dead period and keeps in touch with him weekly.

McCulloch will make an official visit to Alabama on January 22 and an unofficial visit to Texas A&M on January 31. He previously made official visits to Michigan, Notre Dame and Stanford. Notre Dame and Texas appear to be at the top of his list.

McCulloch said he fully believes in the future of Texas under Charlie Strong and is intrigued by the opportunity to make an immediate impact. “I think the future is bright,” McCulloch said. “As long as they get a quarterback in there, they’ll be fine. That’s pretty much the only issue they’ve had. Coach Strong’s core values will put you in the league, and you also have a chance of playing early. That’s another plus.”

[Per another poster]

 

Per HornSports:
Texas linebacker target Jeffrey McCulloch announced via his Twitter account that he has been accepted into Stanford.

McCulloch named Stanford in his final five along with schools such as Texas and Notre Dame. Getting accepted into a school like Stanford is an outstanding accomplishment regardless of what The Shark's decision ends up being.

He is scheduled to be on campus for an official visit to Texas this weekend and some have speculated that the final decision will come down between Notre Dame and Texas.

 

Godz, has he OV'd ND yet?