Winning out over the SEC programs was always going to be a difficult task for the Longhorns.
A weekend official visit to Tuscaloosa resulted in the Sunday commitment of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy product Dylan Moses to the Alabama Crimson Tide over the Texas Longhorns, LSU Tigers, and numerous others, the nation’s No. 1 outside linebacker announced via Twitter:
Ready to work #TheProcess pic.twitter.com/zCoH9GlL0y
— King Ⓜ️oses (@Dylan1Moses_) October 2, 2016
As with most commitment to head coach Nick Saban, this one would likely be final even if Moses did plan on taking other visits, like his planned official to Austin on October 15 for the Iowa State game.
Once the leader for the 6’3, 235-pounder, Texas reached such an advantageous position due to strong relationships between Moses and sophomore linebacker Malik Jefferson and head coach Charlie Strong.
But even though the termination of LSU head coach Les Miles was favorable for Texas, competing against Saban and reigning national champion Alabama was always going to be difficult for the Longhorns.
After all, even though the Crimson Tide recruiting class is quickly reaching its capacity, the nation’s consensus No. 4 prospect had a spot held regardless of overall numbers.
Now the focus for Strong and linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary will turn more firmly to in-state prospects, especially consensus five-star Kennedale linebacker Baron Browning, as well as Plano East linebacker Anthony Hines and perhaps even Dallas Kimball linebacker Devodrick Johnson.
The Longhorns head coach will have to achieve success in those recruitments by achieving success on the field — the win over the Fighting Irish to start the season helped with Browning and Hines, but with Strong’s job now on the line following two losses, Texas will miss out on those top linebackers and perhaps fire its head coach without getting some more victories in the near future.