Right now, there is no school taking more heat in the media than the Texas Longhorns. It seems as though every week someone new is getting dismissed. The latest in that trend is Kennedy Estelle who was removed from the team on Tuesday for reportedly violating the terms of his rehab program.
In the midst of all these suspensions and dismissals, one question that refuses to go away is how will the new culture at UT affect recruiting?
On Wednesday, Baylor defensive end commit Breckyn Hager flipped his commitment to the Longhorns becoming the 17th player in the 2015 class. This comes just a week after UNC safety commit also flipped to the Longhorns. While many have been quick to judge how Strong is running his program, so far it seems to be playing out in the recruiting landscape.
ESPN 300 S Jamile Johnson is Texas commit No. 16. Former OU, UNC pledge flipped tonight http://t.co/D8hlnoxILM pic.twitter.com/sD6OtQNgOk
— ESPN Texas (@ESPNTexas) September 17, 2014
In his Wednesday interview, defensive coordinator Vance Bedford was asked about whether recruits were asking about or concerned with how Charlie Strong is handling discipline in his program. The answer was simple.
"I hope they do because I think it's a positive. If someone is using it as a negative against us and I go into see parents I'll go, 'Oh, really? So you think it's ok for you in your home to let your son do whatever they want whenever they want to do it?'They're going to say no, so whats the difference?" He continued in his interview, to say that they are treating their players no different than a parent would treat their child. It is this mentality that actually has players wanting to come to Texas and parents of those players entrusting Strong with their children.
Charlie Strong: "Young people want discipline. It's our job as a coaching staff to make sure we provide them with discipline." — Max Olson (@max_olson) September 24, 2014
Some Longhorn faithful are quick to accept that his culture and disciplnary progam are drawing recuits. Others, however, want to see it pay off with the high calibur in-state talent. With Hager locked up, the Longhorns will continue their pursuit of top in-state talent LB Malik Jefferson and four star linebackers Cameron Townsend and Anthony Wheeler. If Strong is able to reel in commitments from even two of these highly touted players, the target may get removed from his back and even the skeptics will have a little patience in giving Coach Strong and the new Longhorns a chance to play out in the recruiting battle and on the field.
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