Longhorn Wealth

Less tailgate just means bigger Friday night party!! Right?

This pic and the quote says it all. The quote directly supports what Jerry has been saying: if he doesn't go to UT, it is because he just wants to be somewhere else, because every other factor made UT the smart and right choice. But his quote is saying exactly that, he wanted to take a "different" "path" to build his own "legacy". Was it because his heart is in Oregon? PLEASE, SPARE ME! He wanted to be the centerpiece and get all the attention. That would never happen with Arch, Wingo and Cook there already in Austin, much less if we were also brining in other 5 Star WR's in his own class!! But what REALLY makes it obvious what the other primary factor was in this was all about $$$ - just look at him holding the Nike shoe up like a trophy, you could replace it with a stack of $100 bills and it would be sending the exact same message. This is further confirmed if you look at the lower picture of him. He is holding a bulging envelop with a "Committed" letter sticking out - what do you think the stuffed envelope is supposed to represent - the $$$!!!!! So, I while I think Jerry is correct to an extent about DM just "wanting to be somewhere other than UT", I think the reasons why matter. On the other hand, I honestly think Bobby is wrong in saying "everybody's money is the same color" and so we must have just been outworked/outsmarted. It's not the color of the money that is the issue - IT IS THE AMOUNT OF IT THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE TO THESE KIDS!!!!!!! Lastly, it appears we also underestimated the weight of having his HS coach's son recruiting him would have on his decision. That was a unique dynamic that was impossible for us to duplicate, or even emulate. No doubt they sold him on the "different path" and "legacy" story for him that would be harder for him to achieve in Austin. Sucks to lose out on him, but I am confident we will have an excellent WR class this year regardless.

But that is why you recruit the parents/families as well, so hopefully the "life experience" minds can bring some logic and truth to the child's decision process.

Overall, I just hope that DM and his family are not letting some last minute money pitch from Oregon cause them to lose site of the reality that this IS a "40 year decision, not a 4 year decision". UT offers the better fit from an offensive setup and infrastructure perspective from both a players, coaches, scheme and development standpoint, so his future development and NFL draft stock value would dwarf any last minute extra sack of cash Nike might be throwing at him. Of course, there is also the large difference in educational value and reputation advantage that UT has over UO, and then there is absolutely NO comparison between the power and opportunities available with the Texas Exes vs whatever the former Ducks call themselves. And UT offers him the opportunity for his family to truly be involved and share in his college football experience, which you cannot put a price tag on. I just hope Sark and his team have been able to get all those truths successfully understood and embraced by DM.

Not to mention Nike is a sad combination of "woke" marketer and "child/slave labor" sweatshop abuser, so we don't need to be feeding that beast.

FYI: Bracket announcement is 5:00pm CST today.

From Sweat's comments, sounds like he believes both are going to pleasantly surprise us THIS coming season.

Do we think he has an actual "committable offer" from UT? #343 player in the class seems like a reach, but maybe we felt we had to in order to get Fodje?

Thanks for the clarification. Sounds like you are correct, as he would have been a Fall 2021 Freshman enrollee., so his first college year would be the 2021-2022 year. Assuming that is how it applies to him, he really only has one year of playing eligibility left, so unless he redshirts in the 2024 season (HIGHLY UNLIKELY), he will be a "one and done" at UT. Let's hope his one season is at least as impactful as Trill Carter's was, but hopefully much more so.

Just checked Rivals database: he signed 1/3/21 to UCLA. https://n.rivals.com/content/athletes/tiaoalii-savea-238724?view=pv Found this on the AZ football site for him: Played in all 12 games in 2023 season. 2022: Appeared in seven games during his first season with the Wildcats after transferring from UCLA… Made 14 total tackles (8 solo, 6 assist), including 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick… The blocked field goal attempt helped Arizona upset No. 9 UCLA 34-28 at The Rose Bowl on 11/12… Made season-high three tackles in the game at UCLA. Before Arizona: Logged one season at UCLA in 2021…Saw time in 10 games along the defensive line…Finished the year with seven tackles after logging multiple stops in each of his last three appearances…Prepped at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas…Helped lead team to 11-1 record and the NIAA Class 4A state championship game in 2019…First team Nevada All-State in 2019…Selected to compete in 2021 Under Armour All-America Game…Earned spot in the 2021 Polynesian Bowl...Four-star recruit after finishing prep career according to ESPN and Rivals. So, he has actually played in 3 college football seasons in an amount that surpassed redshirt qualifications each year. So, technically at the max, he has 3 years left to play 2 years of college football (Redshirt, Senior, Covid Senior). Likely is a 2 year guy unless he 1) just explodes next year and goes off into the NFL OR 2) he just graduates next year and decides he has had enough and moves on with his regular life. Can't see him transferring to redshirt, but he could pull a Trill Carter and leave us after just one year if he has little to no impact in year one and is passed over by younger/better players.

I think it is a good sign that he played under Nansen at AZ and we are bringing him in, as they would not waste time on him unless Nansen thought he was a player worth having and had at least as much to offer as we lost in Trill Carter. Like his size. Question I have is what year is he? Was he just one year at UCLA and/or did he redshirt while he was there? Curious if has he has 3 years to play two or just two years left or what?

I love his definitive movement, no wasted motion, no dancing around, just see lane/hole and go, with maybe one cut or a cut back but never any slowing down or wasted motion.