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by Scott Bennett

Fri, Feb 3, 2006, 05:16 AM

Texas has had a great class since December. Texas A&M took a big dent when Skyline LB Michael Morgan shunned the Aggies for USC on the night before signing day. Morgan made his pick at 9:50 p.m. Tuesday live on Fox news for broadcaster Max Morgan.

Texas: A+

What to know: Ben Alexander from S. Carolina isn’t know around here, but Florida State, Virginia Tech and Georgia were dying for him. He’s a 5-11, 295-pound nose guard that Mack Brown has specialized in … Woodrow’s Sergio Kindle was thought to be a LB prospect last summer but don’t rule out RB … Texas High LB Dustin Earnest and Kilgore DE Eddie Jones have the first impact … Love QB Jevan Snead and enrolling this spring, but redshirt freshman Colt McCoy starts at the beginning of the year next season. Arlington Bowie QB Sherrod Harris could be great but he needs lots of experience to make up for injuries last two seasons.

Oklahoma A

What to know: The Sooners didn’t take an Adrian Peterson, Rhett Bomar or Tommie Harris out of Texas, so it doesn’t seem like they’re having a huge year. But trust Bobby. To counter Mack Brown’s skill at getting super-talented, usually 6-foot cover corners, OU is loading up on 6-4-plus receivers like Irving’s Adron Tennell. Stoops also goes a little to the West and has a couple of super prospects from Nevada (one being RB Demarco Murray.) And for those really worried after this year’s offensive performance, there’s 10 linemen signed and many will end up on offense.

Texas Tech B +

What to know: Don’t sweat losing QB Greg McElroy to Alabama. Tech can create QBs and there are lots of questions about McElroy, who operated with no rush pressuring him at Southlake Carroll. Abilene QB Taylor Potts is a better prospect. Tech gets OL Ofa Mohetau from junior college. In ’03, he helped make Texas’ class grade exceptionally high. From Euless Trinity, Mohetau starts next year. Midland RB Baron Batch looks like another great one-back guy. There’s some much needed speed in the secondary with Daniel Johnson (Spring Woods) and Leonard Hewitt (Lufkin.) Not sure what Carter’s Michael Crabtree will play, but he’s got intangibles and talent at WR or DB. He led Carter to basketball Final Four as junior point guard _ and don’t think Coach Knight hasn’t noticed a Quinn Buckner type is in Lubbock.

Texas A&M B-

What to know: There’s some great players with Klein Collins RB Michael Goodson, Humble QB/WR Jerrod Johnson and Haltom LB Anthony Lewis but not enough depth. If Goodson turns into Ricky Williams and Johnson is a QB like Vince Young then it’ll be a lot different but that’s high bar set to raise a whole class. The loss of Skyline LB Michael Morgan to USC on Tuesday night was tough on the Aggies’ class. A big factor for Fran’s future recruiting will be the development of last year’s stud, TE Martellus Bennett. It will be used mightily against Ags if Bennett doesn’t emerge after Reggie McNeal’s decline. The Ags have to steal more kids out of the Southeast or the West because they’re definitely sliding to No. 3 around here.

Baylor C

What to know: Baylor coach Guy Morriss recruits a different type of player the way Grant Teaff did but they’re similar in two very important categories _ they know what they want and they know that finishing second to UT, OU and A&M on a bunch of players doesn’t do any good. Morriss picks his guys like Teaff did and then seduces them by making them Baylor’s top recruit. Teaff was the master of calling the kids on Sunday night after a Texas visit in which they didn’t get a scholarship offer but were told to keep waiting for the Longhorns and things could break right. Morriss played at TCU and knows the profile for that kind of program. Talented, late-bloomers wanting to show they can beat the high-profile guys. Names: QB Taylor Beatty, WR Ben Randle, DB Tim Atchison, WR/DB Jeremy Sanders, WR Ernest Smith, WR Justin Fenty, DB Dominique Criss. Would have been nice to snare Waco U.’s DB Perrish Cox, but he’s off to LSU.

Oklahoma State C

What to know: The Cowboys lost some early commitments, but that also means some other school’s like their potential class. Oklahoma State hardly ever gets the Wow factor and when they have _ signing Hart Lee Dykes in the 1980s _ probation followed. OSU coach Mike Gundy wants more speed and the key could be keeping RB Dantrell Savage, a junior college transfer. The real hit could be Richardson Berkner DE Ugo Chinasa. The 6-5, 230-pounder sees himself as a basketball player just like Julius Peppers wanted to be at North Carolina. But 6-5 floor runners in hoops don’t rate nearly as high as they do in cleats.

SMU/TCU/North Texas

SMU C

What to know: Phil Bennett has learned to survive the ebbs and flows of college football at many places. He’s gotten a contract extension that helped recruiting but the Mustangs’ revival depends on some hits that others miss. Scurry-Rosser WR Phillip Burley (6-5, 205) might be a real catch. I’m not big on stats, but he averaged about 25 yards on 38 catches. There’s a little more speed with the class such as DB Tim Crosby of Garland and LB Taylor Bon. Don’t be surprised if there aren’t some transfers from DI schools into the Hilltop during the summer.

TCU B

What to know: There’s ex-appeal with WR Clint Renfro, the son of ‘70s Horned Frog star Mike Renfro. Clint has great speed and can make some incredible acrobatic catches in helping win two state titles at Southlake Carroll. He’s listed at 165 pounds, but that’s only he’s just leaving CiCi’s buffet. A lot of people are very high on Katy QB Andy Dalton. He made great plays to get them to the 5A Division II state final and he’s got some measurables (6-2, 185), good arm strength and accuracy. The real steal is DE Clarence Leatch of 3A Division II state champs Tatum. He’s 6-5, 210 and runs a 4.6 in the 40. Great frame to add muscle and he’ll still be able to cover whole field.

North Texas C

What to know: That Coffeyville (Kan.) CC went 9-3 and has had 12 players sign with 4-yuear schools is good news since three are headed to Denton. G Trent Stanley (6-3, 285) should help immediately along with FS Roy Loren and QB Woody Wilson. Coppell DE Marquis Sykes (6-3, 250) is typical of the class in that he’s a marginal major school guy that has upside to develop but also is a tad undersized and a step slow right now to interest the big guys. There’s no Jamario Thomas, a bona fide blue-chipper from Longview Springhill who signed with the Mean Green two years ago.

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T.O.=Trouble in Jones/Parcells Paradise?

by Norm Hitzges

Thu, Feb 2, 2006, 03:34 PM

Is there a potential for a Jerry Jones—Bill Parcells head butting on the horizon?

What might cause this?

TERRELL OWENS!

So far, Denver and Kansas City have shown interest in Owens. Denver’s reportedly discussed trade with the Eagles. There’s a rumor out there that someone might even be willing to offer a 1^st day draft choice (likely a 3^rd rounder) for the rights to Owens. This rumor almost certainly originated with Owens agent Drew Rosenhaus who desperately wants to drum up interest in his client so that the team that trades for him pays him that $5 million bonus he has coming in a few weeks.

The Cowboys have been put on the “most likely to want Owens” list since the very moment things exploded in Philadelphia. Jerry Jones loves talent. Bill Parcells hates locker room distractions. The fact that Dallas continues to be thought of as a possible Owens destination springs from Jones continuing teasing remarks about him. Jerry refuses to shut the door on the possibility of Owens coming here. In fact, Jerry’s comments actually seem to push the door more open.

We have no idea what Bill thinks because Bill, as usual, goes totally mute once the final snap of the season has happened. But there’s no question that Bill would not appreciate the kind of antics that have been part and parcel of Owens previous stays in San Francisco and Philly. People keep saying that a “strong coach” like Parcells is just what Owens needs. But Andy Reid and a very tight Eagle organization thought the very same thing and that club is now in a shambles.

So, who wins if Jerry wants him and Bill doesn’t? Maybe Jerry. Bill is on a year to year basis in Dallas. Might he conceivably give a little on this one?

Any signing of Owens, however would immediately create a problem in the WR corps. Owens would have to start. Who sits—Terry Glenn or Keyshawn? Neither player would take such a demotion quietly. And a potential soap opera would begin again with TO in the starring role.

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BIG DAY FOR OKIES By David McNabb

by Scott Bennett

Thu, Feb 2, 2006, 02:02 PM

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State had the biggest last-second news on signing day. Oklahoma was sweating soft oral commitments but did sign two of the nation’s top players from home: TE Jermaine Gresham and DT Gerald McCoy.

Oklahoma State got a huge steal from former coach Les Miles as Waco University DB/WR Perrish Cox signed with the Cowboys after being committed to Miles at LSU since the summer.

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ARE 'BOYS NEWCOMERS 'CUT OUT' TO BE TOP DOGS? by Fish

by Mike Fisher

Thu, Feb 2, 2006, 01:35 PM

Some guys, even at a young age, seem cut out to be head coaches. At Valley Ranch in the early '90's, Dave Wannstedt always showed great authority and self-confidence in carrying himself that way. He was upfront and outfront, his chest puffed proudly.

Other guys, even at an old age, seem cut out to NOT be head coaches. Another ex-Valley Rancher, Ernie Zampese, always showed great widsom and self-awareness in turning down head-coach promotions. He was professorial and quiet, and the only thing he puffed proudly were those endless cigarettes.

The Cowboys have hired Chris Palmer to be their. ... well, their SOMETHING (more on that in a moment). And the hire begs the question: What is Chris Palmer cut out to be?

Dallas spent part of the day Monday being somewhat coy about Palmer's role under long-time associate Bill Parcells. Initial reports even suggested that he was hired without a defined job description. Later came the Cowboys' official announcement, which labeled Palmer as "quarterbacks coach.''

That, by itself, is viewed by most observers as a good thing. If Palmer is to simply replace Sean Payton as the supervisor of Drew Bledsoe and the rest of the QBs, production is to be expected. There are football people who say that Palmer's dismissal as the offensive coordinator in Houston in the first month of the season, while embarrassing, should not impact views of Palmer's ability as a position coach; an educated look at David Carr's work in Houston tells you he isn't the problem with that offense. Additionally, Palmer's knowledge of the passing game is top-notch.

But who is Dallas' offensive coordinator? And is Palmer about to be Peter Principle'd by being forced into that role?

Even Palmer's greatest supporters concede that is is something less than a "dynamic leader.'' It is that fact, and not some shortage in the X's-and-O's department, that may have led to his departure from Houston, and certainly led to his dismissal from Cleveland, where he was the head coach in '99 and 2000 and compiled a (blecch) 5-27 record.

It would seem Palmer qualifies as one of those "not-cut-out-to-be-a-head-coach'' guys. What we don't know is if he's cut out to be a coordinator -- or if he'll even be asked to be one.

Our understanding is that Tony Sparano's request to join Payton in New Orleans was not only denied once by Parcells -- but recently forcefully denied again. As uncomfortable as that might make things for coach Sparano for the moment, the bottom line is that Parcells clearly values him in Dallas.

So on paper, Sparano is likely to be "the running-game coordinator'' (with assistant Anthony Lynn constantly by his side). And Palmer is likely to be the right-hand man to soon-to-be-promoted "passing-game coordinator'' Todd Haley (as you read first in this space). And Sparano and Palmer will work well together; interestingly, Palmer was Sparano's college coach at New Haven.

For now, we won't look at Sparano and Palmer as being "limited'' by their somewhat unorthodox job titles, or as "promotions'' or "demotions.''

Instead, we'll hope they are good enough to be cut out to be coordinators.

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RECRUITING IS A SCIENCE By David McNabb

by Scott Bennett

Tue, Jan 31, 2006, 03:19 PM

As you hear some say, “you can’t tell about a recruiting class until five years,” just think of them as outdated or too lazy to get updated. The first Wednesday in February is the first day for high school athletes to sign a national letter of intent with a college.

The day itself is anticlimactic because only a handful wait until then to commit.

The quality of each class has been known for awhile. There are a few kids that could give some “oomph” though.

Texas coach Mack Brown was criticized for being Coach February for his highly rated signing days but no national titles. Well, Brown now has a championship and it’s easy to see why his classes have been rated so high. No one was surprised that Vince Young turned into a star.

Is it a coincidence that Oklahoma used to get highly rated classes but didn’t win under John Blake? Bob Stoops won a national title in his second year. I’d say, the Sooners’ previous recruiting classes were rated correctly but the coaching staffs might have been the problem.

At USC, the Trojans got highly rated classes every year. :Pete Carroll started winning national titles with the players Paul Hackett recruited. Notre Dame always gets high recruiting ratings but wasn’t getting performance. Now Charlie Weis is a genius using Bob Davie’s and Tyrone Willingham’s players.

The difference in recruiting evaluation over the last 10 years is more coaches and “recruiting analysts” have learned to project. Texas killed itself in the 1980s and early 1990s by signing the state’s best high school stars _ not the best prospects.

There are intangibles to considerable but there are consistent guidelines to follow as well.

Not every junior who was player of the year in his district is a great prospect. There are size, speed, growth potential and skill to consider.

If you look at players who don’t develop, it’s usually not because they didn’t have talent. Players don’t develop typically because of three factors:

Grades
Work ethic/attitude/off-field decisions
Injuries

But if Texas coaches have done a good job evaluating character and academics, they have another highly talented class. It’s really not much of a reach to say Woodrow Wilson RB/LB Sergio Kindle is going to be a star. He’s 6-3, 220 pounds and runs a 10.5 in the 100. The difference in the past is that some may have criticized his teams for not doing anything in the playoffs and Woodrow didn’t play at a high level of competition. That knd of “evaluating “ is how Texas ended up with record setting high school star Anthony Byerly with its running back of the future in the 1980s.

Class of 2007

No. 1 player

The best player in the state _ and possibly the country _ for next year’s signing class will be Texarkana Texas High QB Ryan Mallett. He’s 6-5, 220 pounds, a Ben Roethlisberger with a little more mobility. Texas High hasn’t won a state title yet, but if you follow things, you know Highland Park’s Class 4A state title hinged on its 38-31 victory over Texas High in the first round.

Mallett may be leaning to sign with Michigan but it’s early. There will be lots of pressure from Texas, Arkansas and Texas A&M. He’s been on the radar since 8^th grade. He threw the ball 80 yards as a sophomore and he’ll be an NFL quality punter if the QB gig is stopped by injury.

Remember Phil Pozderac?

The No. 1 recruit for the Dallas area could well be Nic Pozderac (6-7, 275) at Carrollton Newman Smith. He’s the son of former Cowboys lineman Phil Pozderac (6-9, 280, 1982-87). How strong are dad’s Notre Dame ties for Nic.

There’s a unbelievable cycle of gigantic lineman that lead the recruiting for next year.

An early look at the Dallas-area Top 10 juniors

1. Nic Pozderac, Carr. Newman Smith OL 6-7, 270

2. Kyle Hix, Aledo OL 6-6, 300

3. Richetti Jones, Lincoln LB 6-3, 215

4. Spencer Rogers, Hebron OL 6-3, 315

5. Justin Johnson, Richardson Berkner QB/ATH 6-1, 215

6. Kenny Greaves, Coppell QB 6-3, 190

7. Keenan Robinson, Plano East LB 6-3, 210

8. Tracy Allen, South Grand Prairie OL 6-4, 295

9. Stephen Thomas, North Mesquite DL 6-2, 275

10. G.J. Kinne, Canton QB 6-3, 205

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