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Its Texas! WRTS

If you're a recruiting fan in the state of Texas, you know the names. Malik Jefferson. Deandre McNeal.
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It's been months of build-up leading up to the Mesquite Poteet duo's decisions. For Longhorn fans, it was worth the wait.
On Friday morning, in front of a crowded Poteet auditorium and a crowd of media usually reserved for college and pro football stories, both Jefferson and McNeal revealed their highly-anticipated decisions ...
They'll both be playing for the Texas Longhorns.
The announcement set off a wave of cheers on the Poteet campus and undoubtedly sent the Longhorn football fan base into a Friday frenzy. And if Texas fans get their way, Friday's development could be just the shot in the arm the Longhorns needed to regain some of the recruiting momentum that has slipped away from Texas in recent years.
In Jefferson, not only does Texas land a pledge from the nation's top linebacker, a five-star prospect, but the Longhorns also get a sort of pied piper for in-state recruits. A personable teenager who has the respect of his peers, Jefferson had several players watching for his decision, and there's been speculation that his decision could impact other top players in the state. In fact, shortly after his announcement, Jefferson's received messages and calls on his phone from Texas commitments Charles Omenihu and Deshon Elliott. As the commitment ceremony was wrapping up, Jefferson fielded a call from Rivals100 defensive tackle Daylon Mack, a Texas A&M commitment.
Jefferson said he understands that people were watching his announcement closely, but doesn't plan to use his celebrity status to influence anyone's decision. If other recruits want to join him in Austin, he'll welcome them with open arms, but Jefferson doesn't plan to apply too much pressure to other top prospects.
"Texas has its own name. Texas makes its own name," Jefferson said. "I'm saying they can do whatever they want. I'm not persuading anybody to do anything.
"If they want to come join, come join. But I'm not going to sit there and recruit anybody that's committed to another program. That's not the right thing to do."
Jefferson is far and away Texas' biggest pledge of the year, both from a rankings perspective and in terms of the hype surrounding the commitment. He'll be the Longhorns' first five-star signee since 2012 and few recruiting story lines have generated the interest that Jefferson's situation has.
Despite around-the-clock interest, the 6-2, 225-pound Jefferson has been extremely tight-lipped about his recruitment, which had only added to the suspense. Throw in the fact that heated in-state rivals Texas and Texas A&M were two of the main competitors for his commitment (UCLA was the third finalist), and this story took an even deeper meaning for Longhorn fans.
[RELATED: 3-star ATH Deandre McNeal talks about his decision to become a Longhorn]
With Texas winning out for Jefferson's commitment, the recruiting victory signals the first big head-to-head win for first-year head coach Charlie Strong over Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin. In the past few years, Sumlin had basically flipped the script on Texas' recruiting domination in the state of Texas, landing a large number of the battles for the state's top players. Jefferson's decision to buck the trend gives Strong a marquee recruiting win that he can use as a foundation for his defense, and it's a selling point Strong can use with other top recruits.
Even with his public pledge to Texas, Jefferson understands that he'll continue to hear from other college coaches until the day he steps foot on the UT campus. He said he has no intentions of rethinking his decision.
"I'm pretty sure they will, but I'm saying I'm 100 percent committed to Texas," Jefferson said. "Somebody needs to start something and I think I need to start it now."
Jefferson has dominated the headlines, but the Longhorns' landing of McNeal is another key battle won by Strong and his staff. McNeal had narrowed his focus to Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, Alabama and Auburn. Few people gave Texas much of a chance, but the Longhorns made a late surge for the big-bodied receiver, adding the icing to the cake on what is undoubtedly the biggest recruiting day in Charlie Strong's brief time in Austin.
"It feels great. Just making a big decision like this," McNeal said shortly after announcing his commitment. "I feel great about it. I'm pretty sure (Jefferson) does too. I did what's best for me and my family. I feel great about my decision."
"It's just all they (Texas) have to offer. The tradition that they have. I know right now they're in the rebuilding stage because they have a new coach, but for me to be a part of that building stage and bringing Texas back to the top like they used to be back in the day, that's something I want to do."
More big recruiting days are sure to follow for Strong and the Longhorns, but it will be tough to top Friday's events in terms of the talent acquired and the excitement built among the UT fan base.
"Obviously it's a big win on the recruiting trail. Malik, one of the most highly sought recruits in the country. It's a big statement for Charlie Strong grabbing the top defensive prospect in the state," said Rivals.com regional recruiting analyst Jason Howell. "With McNeal, you get a big, versatile athlete, a guy who projects well on both sides of the ball. He's a mismatch at receiver but has been a playmaker in really his first year to play defense.
"This is definitely a statement for coach Strong. It definitely goes a long way to stem the tide that A&M has created. It's the kind of commitment that other top prospects could be influenced by."
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