Carter Strickland

  (3:00 PM)

OK. here we go with the chat

Chris Fiegler (Latham,NY)

Who did Texas sign on the National Signing Day?

Carter Strickland

  (3:00 PM)

Seriously? 28 guys and I am not going to list them all here. but they had the No. 3 class in the country headlined by Malcom Brown and Connor Brewer.

David (california)

Was it a mistake not to sign a Juco quarterback? In order for the offense to be markedly improved we are now depending on two inconsistent quarterbacks to develop significantly.

Carter Strickland

  (3:02 PM)

The issue was that if they went after a JUCO guy they might lose their high school guy, Brewer. Texas is looking at 2013 as the year where they can win 12 plus games. So with that in mind they would rather get a guy in here and develop him. Plus, aside from Newton and Rodgers, there have not been that many huge successes when it comes to Juco QBs. This year there were not a ton of juco options.

David (california)

Who will be our starting Linebackers in 2012?

Carter Strickland

  (3:03 PM)

Well that is going to be interesting. But the guys I really like are Steve Edmond, Demarco Cobbs and Jordan Hicks.

Jason (Frost tx)

Why do you think mike Davis was having struggles this year. I know some of the blame is the struggles of the qb's but some games he just dissapeared. When others played well(Baylor). Do you think if the qb play is better this next year he will step up and possibly be a thousand yard receiver.

Carter Strickland

  (3:05 PM)

Couple reasons for that. On he was not strong with the ball after he caught it. Just not tough enough. Secondly he did not want to go over the middle. Some guys just hate contact and he appeared to be one of those guys. He was great on the deep balls. And that is where he will be good next year. If Texas can find a quarterback who can throw the deep ball and it continues to play action i believe Davis could be a deep threat guy. He can also get stronger and therefore more confident going across the middle if he adheres to Bennie Wylie's strength program.

Stephen (Seattle)

Do you feel J'Covan Brown after this successful season will return to help with these young guys so that Texas can get back to being a Top 25 team?

Carter Strickland

  (3:07 PM)

Where is J'Covan going to go? I don;t think he is an NBA player. Unless he wants to play in the D league or overseas he is better served staying for another year. The thing about J'Covan is there are a ton of guys his size who can do the same thing he does and actually do it better.So he is better off to stay at Texas and try and rebuild the team. If Texas gets all of the recruits it believes it is going to get then yes this is a top 25 team next year.

Stephen (Seattle)

What insight can you give us on these recruits coming in for Rick Barnes and any word on Cameron Ridley??

Carter Strickland

  (3:09 PM)

Ridley is the best in the class no doubt. Now the other guys do offer some height, especially Ibeh. But he is a project at 6-11. Ridley's AAU coach is playing a game with the Texas staff. He is trying to get Ridley to hold out for the best opportunity. That is what the hold up is there.But all the kid has to do is look at Texas and see that he is going to play immediately next year. That should be enough to convince him.

David Ash (Austin, TX)

With Summer and Spring reps this year you will see a completely different Me in the 2013 season.. Timing, Accuracy, etc

Carter Strickland

  (3:10 PM)

Wow, not sure about that. The problem with you is your legs are not utilized in the throwing motion. You have relied on your arm all the years to be 5-8 cornerbacks who are not very fast. You have to get your legs into the throw and actually put something on the ball. Right now you have a mid-major arm and that is not going to work at this level. Harsin is going to work with you but sometimes habits are hard to change.

Stephen (Seattle)

What is it going to take for Rick Barnes to bring in another [Kevin Durant] like player? one with the same kinda of immediate impact

Carter Strickland

  (3:12 PM)

It is going to take selling a kid that he can be the next Durant. Those guys do not come along very often obviously and when they do they usually go to a traditional powerhouse. What Barnes needs to do is build the core of a good team and then add a special talent to it. He has been really hurt by the one and done mentality. Same thing happened at Georgia Tech in the 90s and it hurt their program too.

Derek (Indiana)

What big time recruits do you believe Texas has a shot at in 2013 and who do you think will commit on the first Junior Day?

Carter Strickland

  (3:14 PM)

Texas already has the first commit Jake Raulerson. He is a lineman who can play both ways or even tight end. He is the best lineman in Texas and might wind up as the highest rated player in Texas. Aside from Raulerson Texas really needs safeties, George Baltimore and Marcell Harris are two guys they want at that spot. And, of course, Swoopes, at quarterback.

Jimmy K (Toronto)

Carter, I couldn't think of a better 1st commit than Raulerson. What are your impressions of the 2013 "bell cow"?

Carter Strickland

  (3:15 PM)

He is going to be very good. Quick story: He was at a camp at Texas last summer as a rising junior and was going against Malcom Brown and all the studs of the 2012 class. After a while it became obvious no one could beat him and Mack Brown started yelling to the other older guys to do something to beat him. No one could.

Jay (Livingston)

When are the Junior Days this Year? Swoopes or Barrett who do you prefer?

Carter Strickland

  (3:16 PM)

I like Swoopes because he is a multi-dimensional athlete. I thin that fits better with what Harsin wants to do. You have a creative mind in Harsin and it can be even more creative when he has a five-tool quarterback.

Jared (Chicago)

Can you list all of the freshman that ended up getting redshirts this past year? Did John Harris end up qualifying for one due to his injury?

Carter Strickland

  (3:18 PM)

There were not that many. Let's see you have Greenlea, Doyle and Flowers on the offensive line. Oh wait, Hutchins as well. I might be missing someone but I think that is it.Harris already redshirted. So what he could do is possibly apply for another year. That has not happened yet.

Dave (MD)

Ubben posted a watch list for Texas recruits last week. It seemed TAMU had their paws on quite a few of those kids. Should Texas be worried?

Carter Strickland

  (3:20 PM)

Right, TAMU has two very good wide receivers wrapped up. Sumlin is a much better recuiter than Sherman. He knows the high school coaches and knows how to find talent. Plus he can sell those offensive players.But ultimately it is going to come down to wins and I do not think TAMU is in a position to win as many games as Texas over the next four years.

Rayne (Chino, CA)

If the Horns are weak again in 2012 is Mack Brown on the hot seat?

Carter Strickland

  (3:21 PM)

No. And no reason to think they will not win nine or more games if the QBs play halfway decent.

T. Swoops (Whitewright, TX)

Will I be in a Longhorn jersey when it's all said and done? Am I the next Vince Young?

Carter Strickland

  (3:22 PM)

Next VY? Not quite. But you are a major talent who can do several things with the ball. The questions is whether or not you get on the same page with Bryan Harsin during the recruiting process. If you click with him then things should be set for several years.

Grecian (Houston)

Assuming Texas rebounds to a top 10 team next year, do we worry about losing either one (or both) of our coordinators?

Carter Strickland

  (3:24 PM)

Yes. Moreso Manny Diaz than Harsin. Diaz is already very poised and confident. He is going to be a head coach very soon and with Mack's new contract that is not going to be at Texas.Harsin still needs some seasoning. He just doesn't have the polish of Diaz when it comes to dealing with things off the field.

Jared (Chicago)

Ash looks to be our QB for 2012. What do you foresee happening after that? We'll have Ash as a true Junior, Brewer as a RS Freshman, and most likely a stud Freshman in Swoopes or Barnett.

Carter Strickland

  (3:25 PM)

It really depends on what Ash does in 2012. But unless he gets drastically better Brewer will take over in 2013 and the newcomer will redshirt. Texas wants to get back into a situation where it redshirts quarterbacks.But I think Brewer is going to be given every chance to be the guy in 2013 unless Ash is just crazy good in 2012.

Derrin (Plano, TX)

Do the Horns have any tough OOC opponents on the schedule next year?

Carter Strickland

  (3:26 PM)

The most interesting game is going to be Ole Miss because Bo Wallace will be the quarterback for the Ole Miss. But Texas should be able to handle the nonconference rather easily.

Dave (MD)

Marquise Goodwin looked like a true receiver in the Holiday Bowl this year, running great routes. Do you see him replacing Davis as the #1 deep threat? Also, how do you see the receivers stacking up next year? Other than Shipley in the slot, I'm not sure what to expect.

Carter Strickland

  (3:28 PM)

Goodwin is still going to do track, which he should because he is an Olympic hopeful. I am not sure if he will replace Davis because Davis is a bigger target. But one of the new guys might replace Davis. Marcus Johnson, Kendall Sanders and Daje Johnson all have great speed and could be the deep threat. Cayleb Jones is not as fast but has great hands. Mile Onyegbule is a fantastic leaper and good athlete. He should get some more time in 2012. Wide receiver looks much better in 2012 than 2011.

James (San Antonio)

Will Texas hold off on making so many early offers to make sure they get the most out of this smaller recruiting class next year?

Carter Strickland

  (3:30 PM)

Nope. Texas has already targeted who they want and is int he process of going after those guys. They typically get 70 percent of their guys in February and I do not think that is going to change.

Jaxon (Longview, Texas)

Is Gail G. gone if the Lady Horns miss the dance?

Carter Strickland

  (3:31 PM)

I am not too sure on that one because Coach G has such a great reputation for building a program. I think she can hang in there another year. But they have to quit losing to teams like KSU.

Derrin (Plano, TX)

Since it won't be Texas based on your OOC comments above. Who will replace TAMU in the Southwest Classic?

Carter Strickland

  (3:32 PM)

BYU. Not the same as TAMU, but a decent school with pretty good competition.

Kyle (Lubbock)

Whats the chance Swoopes commits early to UT? Also if not Swoopes who do you think the next player to commit is?

Carter Strickland

  (3:33 PM)

Not sure if Swoopes will pull the trigger this early. What Texas wants is for Raulerson to start working on these other recruits and get them interested in joining Texas early. Brewer did that for the 2012 class and it is easier to do it as a quarterback. But Raulerson commands a lot of respect and could fill that role.

Todd (Austin Tx)

Who do you see comitting after this weekends first junior day?

Carter Strickland

  (3:35 PM)

It is always hard to tell who is going to commit. But I can tell you one guy Texas needs to get to commit, Jake Oliver.Great wide receiver and a class player. Very good student as well. He could really help lift the Texas class and help Texas especially after TAMU grabbed some in-state receivers early.

Tony (Richmond, CA)

How would you rate the Horns chances of landing Julius Randle and Keith Frazier?

Carter Strickland

  (3:35 PM)

As always 50 percent chance

Tony (Richmond, CA)

What Texas recruits will the Sooners and Horns battle for the most in 2013?

Carter Strickland

  (3:35 PM)

QBs. Baltimore. And Oliver.

Jason (Frost tx)

Any relation to buck Strickland off king of the hill.

Carter Strickland

  (3:36 PM)

No future in propane

Carter Strickland

  (3:36 PM)

Thanks for the time today. We will be back next week. if you have any other questions hit me up on twitter @espnstrickland. For recruiting hit up @espnwilkerson