The 2021 recruitment course was an important one for Tom Herman and he played a role in why he was released as head coach.
Not only did Texas miss a number of key goals throughout the cycle, but Longhorns also saw six players return to their commitment. Each of these players ended up signing elsewhere.
Ironically, all six perspectives came from the offensive side of the ball. Former offensive coordinator Tim Beck may not have been the best with X and O, but he did an excellent job on the recruiting route. Herman hired offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich after Beck was released and was not as talented as a recruiter.
Disengagement is inevitable, especially when coaching is done twice throughout the cycle. However, Texas tied the state of Kansas and Iowa with the most disengagements in the Big 12. Here are the six players who returned to their original commitment in Texas and where they ended up.
Quaydarius Davis
(Mike Craven / Austin American-Statesman)
Position: Broadband receiver
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Where they ended up: Kansas
247 Sports composite ranking: Four stars, 0.9374
Analyze: Quaydarius Davis was an early engagement for the Longhorns in June 2019. It only lasted five months as Davis decided to reopen his recruitment in November. For the past 15 months, Davis worked at USC before disbanding again and then signed with Kansas on Wednesday. He is ranked as the highest rated Jayhawks recruit in the 247Sports composite.
Lake McRee
(Mike Craven / Austin American-Statesman)
Position: Tight end
Hometown: Austin, Texas
Where they ended up: USC
247 Sports composite ranking: Three stars, 0.884
Analyze: Originally from Austin, Lake McRee attended Lake Travis High School and was hired in Texas in July 2019. Tight end was seen as a needy position in the 2021 class and blocking a hometown perspective was a victory for Tom Herman . At the same time as Davis, McRee reopened his engagement and arrived at USC later that summer. The Longhorns arrived with Gunnar Helm.
Lands King
(image provided by Houston Chronicle)
Position: Tight end
Hometown: Humble, Texas
Where they ended up: Auburn
247 Sports composite ranking: Three stars, 0.8709
Analyze: Another prospect Texas lost was Humble’s Landen King. Three-star was hired just one month. Once committed, Chad Morris, who had recently been hired by Auburn as offensive coordinator, immediately secured his commitment. Despite Morris leaving the plains after Gus Malzhan’s dismissal, King signed his letter of intent during the early signing period.
Jalen Milroe
(Mike Craven / Austin American-Statesman)
Position: Quarterback
Hometown: Katy, Texas
Where they ended up: Alabama
247 Sports composite ranking: Four stars, 0.9633
Analyze: For the longest time, Jalen Milroe was the heart and soul of the 2021 class. When Quinn Ewers joined Texas in August, Milroe disconnected and moved to Alabama. He landed with Jeff Banks and Steve Sarkisian who were still in Tuscaloosa at the time. Ewers eventually disconnected from Texas, but Milroe remained with the Crimson Sea.
Billy Bowman
Smiley N. Pool / The Dallas Morning News via AP
Position: ATH
Hometown: Denton, Texas
Where they ended up: Oklahoma
247 Sports composite ranking: Four stars, 0.9801
Analyze: Apart from Milroe, the loss of Billy Bowman hurt Texas the most, especially with where he ended up. Longhorns and Jay Valai were recruiting him as a defensive back and when Oklahoma came in and said he could play a wide receiver in Lincoln Riley’s offense, it was over. Bowman and high school teammate Ja’Tavion Sanders were the first two potentials and why Texas fans were excited about the ’21 cycle. Bowman’s loss to Sooners hurt.
Michael Myslinski
NICK WAGNER / AMERICAN STATESMAN
Position: Center
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Where they ended up: Iowa
247 Sports composite ranking: Three stars, 0.8581
Analyze: When Texas missed the Brockermeyer brothers, Michael Myslinski was the next man to take center stage in the class. However, once rumors began to circulate around Herb Hand’s workplace security, he decided it was time to shut down. Michigan State also pushed for Myslinski, but the center chose to move to Iowa.