2017 COMMITS - Offense 2

Get to know the 16 recruits committed to TEXAS for 2017.
Listed alphabetically by position -- Stats per 247Sports​

TE Cade Brewer
Austin, TX (Lake Travis HS) – Video
-horn – 6-3/223 – #57 national position rank – 247

Brewer is just credible enough as a blocker at H-back that he can play the position and open up a wide world of possibilities in the world of play-action, quick game, and misdirection TE screens. [He has good] hands and is already about 220 with the potential to reach 240 or better in college. Brewer is a willing blocker but he’s been working in Lake Travis’ outside zone-based run game and isn’t executing a lot of smashmouth techniques like kicking out a DE. He’s also been spending at least half his time flexed out wide where his plus speed and route running at the position make him a favorite target amidst a loaded cast of skill talent for the Cavs. If Brewer can add size, strength, and blocking technique he could be a dominant, dual-threat TE.

Brewer is used frequently in the passing game and will fill the role of the “move” tight end and will line up all over the formation. Brewer is a more than capable option for the new offense that will be rolled out in Austin in 2017.
[IT]

Brewer is an interesting prospect, at 6’3 225 pounds most TE’s his size would usually just be split out wide in HS. Though Brewer spent a lot of time in an H-Back role, or on the end of the line blocking and catching passes for Lake Travis in their dominant 2016 season. He also split out wide. Brewer still needs to add some weight to become a more viable option as a blocker, but this is what Tom Herman is looking for in a TE.

The moment he steps on campus, Brewer will be Texas’ top option as far as a receiving TE. So if Herman wants to use the TE in the passing game Brewer could very well see the field as a true freshman.
[TFB 1 and 2]


TE Reese Leitao
Jenks, OK (Jenks HS) – Video
-horn – 6-4/234 – #19 national position rank – 247

The son of the head basketball coach at DePaul, Leitao’s testing numbers are nice and balanced: 4.6 (40), 4.4 (shuttle), 33.5 (vertical), 39.5 (powerball), and 270 pounds (bench).

Leitao is a fantastic prospect for the TE/Hammer-back role at Texas. He excels grappling and blocking in-line and has some nice tape at DE where he does a lot of damage by beating blocks en route to the ball. [H]e’s actually fairly fluid in space as well with some pretty good hands to boot. He’d be great at the role of doing dirty work in the trenches but would also be worthy of some play-action or red zone looks in the passing game if teams don’t pay him enough mind.
[IT]

Just for the official tally, Leitao is verifiably intelligent, is a verified quick learner, and is known as mature and tenacious. Basically, he’s checking a lot of the important boxes in the intangible category on his scouting report. Leitao has a wide and projectable frame with a 6’6 wingspan that bodes well for his physical development.

[H]e can post a verified 33.5-inch vertical leap that is impressive for someone with his height and weight. On film, he has a proven ability to stretch defenses down the seam, catch the ball in traffic, find holes in zone defenses, and have an impact in the red zone.
[BON]


OG Derek Kerstetter
San Antonio, TX (Reagan HS) – Video
-horn – 6-4.5/299 – #90 national position rank – 247

Texas needs to maintain a pipeline of tackle prospects rolling into Austin at all times and Kerstetter could be the guy for a 2017 class that will likely be low on numbers across the OL. He was a rock for Reagan at LT this year, very difficult to beat in pass protection and the tip of the spear in their outside zone run game. He regularly reached LBs or drove out DEs on that play and has the kind of quick feet to make for a great blocker on the perimeter. He’ll need time to get bigger and stronger but he has the athleticism to lock down the right or left side for Texas as an upperclassman down the road.
[IT]

Derek Kerstetter... is a product of having made a lot of improvement from JR to SR year. Kerstetter is a guy who is likely headed for a RS year, but I wouldn’t say he’s a “depth take” only. At 6’5 and around 300 pounds, he just needs to continue to mold his body in the right direction. While he played OT in HS, I could very well see him sliding inside in college.
[TFB]


OT Samuel Cosmi
Humble, TX (Atascocita HS) – Video
-horn – 6-5/260 – #107 national position rank – 247

In addition to football, Cosmi likes to rassel and is a member of Atascocita's varsity wrestling team. He has a penchant for choke-holds, so I'm not sure how that will translate to the field.

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As you would hope from a kid that’s tackle height but still at DE weight, Cosmi is very light on his feet. He’d need to spend some quality time with McKnight but Cosmi has the athleticism and feet to play outside at tackle but also a nice ability to get low and drive people that could see him bump inside of tackle.

He moves well, but he is also pretty light in the britches... On top of that he is going to need to get much stronger in the weight room as there isn’t much finishing to speak of on his film. Doesn’t come from the lack of trying or effort, he’s just not strong enough yet. This is another case of where your offensive line coach better be worth his salt because I’m a little skittish of this take all things considered.
[IT]

As a prospect, Cosmi is something of a blank slate in that he’s extremely lean — much like current star left tackle Connor Williams was out of high school — and will likely need several years to add the strength and mass that he’ll need to compete at the college level.

However... he’s athletic and moves extremely well and the strength and conditioning staff can mold him in Warehime’s vision. The quality of Cosmi’s feet and movement abilities should also help ensure that he’s a pure tackle and not someone who has to eventually move inside due to mobility issues in pass protection.
[BON]


ATH Montrell Estell
Hooks, TX (Hooks HS) – Video
-horn – 6-2/180 – #11 national position rank – 247

This kid is tall and very fast, which is enough to guarantee that he’ll get some nice opportunities. He played both ways at Hooks and projects as either an outside receiver or a deep safety for Texas. He’s murder after the catch and Hooks got him the ball in a lot of different ways to take advantage of his ability to reach speeds within a few steps that would take him to the end zone. Estell has a nice catch radius but he underhands a lot of balls and doesn’t necessarily seem as fantastic a deep threat as you’d guess from his size and speed. At safety on the other hand, he effortlessly covers ground on the back end and gets his hands on a lot of throws, often housing interceptions.

The question is where do you play him? He makes some [great] plays on both sides of the ball whenever he gets his mitts on the football and makes for quite a dilemma. Initially I was thinking you put that type of athlete on the offensive side of the ball and let him touch the ball as much as possible, but the more I watch him I think his upside on defense is real hard to ignore. It doesn’t really matter, just get him on campus and figure the rest out later.
[IT]

A multi-talented prospect who can impact a game in all three phases, Montrell Estell is one of the top "athlete" prospects in the state. Estell possesses great frame potential as he has plenty of space to bulk up at the next level. Estell is a threat to score as a ball-carrier, receiver, defensive back, and return man. His wingspan, leaping ability, and overall athleticism allow him to cover a ton of territory from the safety position. He has great ball skills and his ability to run after the catch/interception make him a big play waiting to happen. He can also deliver the big hit when needed. Estell has good short-area athleticism for a taller, longer player. He's a long-striding galloper with good long speed. If he plays defense in college, he'll need to tweak the technical aspects of his game, such as turn-and-run ability and backpedal, though as a safety he won't need to be cornerback-caliber in those areas. Estell... [is] the type of raw talent with a ton of upside who can thrive once he's made the adjustment.

Strengths: coverage awareness, downfield threat, instincts, running ability, and size.
[Scout]


K Josh Rowland (EE – early enrollee)
Madison, MS (Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C.) – Video
-horn – 5-10/185 – #1 national position rank – 247

Rowland... missed only one extra point in his junior college career and went 25-31 on field goal attempts. He was named a second-team National Junior College Athletic Association All-American in 2015.
[247]

Offense Commits 1 • Defense Commits

 

Estell looks amazing (given lesser competition), also has some big time offers. This kid may be the star of the class, just curious how Herman will use him. I'd compare him to Daje but with more potential

 

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Placeholder?

 

per BurntOrangeNation, OT Samuel Cosmi has committed to UT

http://www.burntorangenation.com/20...onghorns-decommits-houston-cougars-recruiting

Welcome to the 40 Acres, Samuel.

 

Updated with addition of OT Sam Cosmi.

 

TE Reese Leitao moved up in the composite rankings from #35 NPR to #19. He still remains a 3-horn, however. (Change made to original post.)

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247Sports Director of Scouting Barton Simmons credited Leitao’s rise to his success on both sides of the ball at one of the nation’s top high school programs.

“He hails from a strong program, has the size you want, looks really natural as a route-runner and pass-catcher but I think he's going to be a really good edge blocker as well,” Simmons said. “I think his play at (defensive end) is a great indicator for that. He had nine sacks for a team that doesn't typically play guys both ways. That tells me the guy is a football player.”

Leitao caught 34 passes for 423 yards and four touchdowns during his senior season.
[247]