In a major victory for a Texas football program that has struggled to a 13-12 record in the last two seasons, the Longhorns received a verbal commitment from five-star QB Tyrone Swoopes, the No. 1 player in the state, on Friday morning:
Multiple reports that Whitewright QB Tyrone Swoopes has committed to Texas. Huge, massive, monumental commitment for the 'Horns. #hookem
— Wescott Eberts (@GhostofBigRoy) February 17, 2012
Despite Texas' offensive struggles in the last two years, as well as the highly publicized flop of five-star QB Garrett Gilbert, Swoopes came on board less than a week after the school's first Junior Day, the unofficial kick-off of the Longhorns' 2013 recruiting cycle.
A super-athletic 6'5 220 dual-threat QB, he is also considered one of the top basketball players in the state. As a mobile QB, he fits the spread offense which Texas became known for with Vince Young and Colt McCoy behind center more than Gilbert, a more traditional pro-style QB.
Indeed, the comparisons to Young, while unfair, are inevitable:
Tyrone Swoopes is easily the most physically gifted QB Texas has received a commitment from since Vince Young.
— Wescott Eberts (@GhostofBigRoy) February 17, 2012
His commitment should be a major asset for an aggressive Longhorns coaching staff going forward on the recruiting trail, while his high-school games, played in Whiteside, TX, a small town 60 miles north of DFW, could become a must-see for Texas fans in the same way that incoming five-star RB Johnathan Gray's were last year.
For both Swoopes and the coaching staff, the big issue going forward may be managing the expectations placed on the rising high school senior, as Gilbert seemingly crumpled under their weight in his time on the 40 Acres.
A highlight video from his junior season: