Hard-hitting OOS linebacker gives Longhorns good news

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The Texas Longhorns have a big-time recruiting need at the linebacker position, and on Monday night, Texas took a big step forward with a commitment from a prospect who has become a fan favorite over the past month.

Lakeland (Fl.) Victory Christian Academy middle linebacker Cecil Cherry, a one-time Tennessee commitment, called Texas head coach Charlie Strong on Monday evening and officially added his name to the UT commitment list.

The fact that Cherry chose Texas didn't exactly come as a surprise - he's been very public with his feelings about the Longhorns ever since he visited Texas in early November. What was a bit of a surprise was the timing, with Cherry mentioning as recently as last week that he'd announce his decision on National Signing Day.

Cherry decided to change up his plans, and Longhorn fans couldn't be happier.

"I just didn't want to waste any more time," Cherry said. "It's the right decision and it was going to happen anyway. I'll have a better relationship with the coaches than it already is now. They know I'm still coming instead of having to recruit other linebackers."

The 6-0, 235-pound Cherry has had Texas atop his list ever since he took his official visit a little more than a month ago. In fact, Cherry really didn't have a runner-up, with the Longhorns pretty much the only team he'd been considering since that trip. Cherry has actively promoted Texas on twitter in recent weeks and most people had him pegged as an eventual Texas commitment, but the sudden decision on Monday caught even Strong by surprise.

"I called coach Strong right after I was done working out. He knew I was coming, but he didn't know I was going to pull the trigger," Cherry said. "He shouted, said he's ready for me."

Cherry doesn't lack for confidence, and he backs it up with his play on the field. A hard-hitting middle linebacker with surprising athleticism, Victory Christian Academy head coach Tommy Lewis says Cherry has a unique set of talents.

"He has a tremendous nose for ball," Lewis said. "He's just always getting to the football. He is undoubtedly, what I call the heaviest hitter I've ever coached. There's not a whole lot of flash, not a lot of oohs and ahs when he hits, but he always seems to separate the ball from the ball carrier.

"When you look at it on video, you can't really get a sense of how heavy he is when he hits. He's a strong, densely-made young man in terms of his muscle make-up. He's a muscular, strong, thick kid, and he brings it all on every hit.

"It is more impressive in person. We always having to remind Cecil, 'not your teammates during practice.' We're a small school, and we would be a lot thinner than we are if he was cutting it lose every game. He's definitely the most punishing player I've ever coached."

Cherry has big goals for his first year in Austin. To say he plans to make an immediate impact for the Texas defense would be a major understatement.

"It feels wonderful (to commit). It's a dream come true," Cherry said. "Now I have to be leader and get to school, lead the Big 12 in tackles, make big plays and lead the team to the national title."

Cherry had a long list of scholarship offers, but he said he had a certain level of comfort with Texas that he couldn't find elsewhere. He's the second player in consecutive years Texas has committed from Victory Christian Academy and he's close friends with current Longhorn offensive lineman Desmond Harrison. On top of those ties, Cherry felt a special connection with Strong's coaching style.

"It's everything about Texas - the atmosphere, the fan base, the city in general. I've been a Longhorn since I was little," Cherry said. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity. At the same time, Charlie Strong, he recruits players that play how I play and it's a good role to sign with three scholarship players coming back."

As a senior for Victory Christian Academy, Cherry recorded 160 tackles, 4 INTs and 4 forced fumbles in 13 games. On offense, he added 67 carries for 568 yards and 5 TDs.

"I'm a physical, solid person and I bring my physicality to the game. I'll be a leader on that defense," Cherry said before discussing what goes through his mind when he makes a tackle. "I'm trying to kill 'em, to put them out of the game."