Texas gets last-minute flip from JUCO DE Jamari Chisholm
The Texas Longhorns didn't hit on all their National Signing Day targets, but Texas did land one surprise commitment early on Wednesday that caught most UT recruiting fans by surprise.
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M J.C. defensive lineman Jamari Chisholm, who visited Texas in mid-January, picked up a Texas offer on Tuesday night and immediately switches his pledge from Central Florida to the Longhorns.
"Jamari was on their radar when they were at Houston, all the way back to the summer," said Northeastern Oklahoma A&M head coach Clay Patterson. "So they had first-hand experience with him, stayed on him and he made the (official visit). They were doing some stuff to make sure he was good academically. Last night they had a spot free up and they went Jamari."
The Texas staff contacted coach Patterson on Tuesday night and sent the letter of intent paperwork over at about 7 p.m. At that point, Patterson and Chisholm talked over Chisholm's options, but it didn't take long for Chisholm to decide he wanted to be a Longhorn.
"He was committed to UCF. He's from Valdosta (GA) so it was closer to home and coach (Scott) Frost did a good job, but he knew the Texas thing was looming," Patterson said. "He said if things came through, that's what he was going to do. It's an exciting deal for him."
The 6-5, 280-pound Chisholm said on Wednesday morning, just after faxing in his letter of intent, that he feels good about his choice to join the Texas program.
"It feels great. It was a great opportunity that was put forward to me," Chisholm said. "I could not pass up on it. I worked so hard for it. From here to the spring of last year, I've been working hard and just couldn't pass up the opportunity that was given to me by coach (Oscar) Giles and coach (Tom) Herman.
"I just wanted to be a part of great football, great coaching, And the players, they really sold me on it. I just felt like when they told me they needed help on the defensive line, it was a blessing. I had to change my mind."
A big-bodied defensive lineman who can play both inside and outside, Chisholm has been told by the Texas staff that he'll have an opportunity to move up and down the Longhorns' defensive line and compete for early playing time.
"They're going to use me, really be versatile playing d-tackle, lining up at 4i (inside the tackle), the 5 (outside the tackle), playing a little bit of all it," Chisholm said.
In addition to a talented player who can help the Texas defense between the lines, coach Patterson said the Longhorns are also getting a player who will be a tremendous leader in the locker room and fit in well with the type of personality Herman is trying to bring into the UT program.
"What I think Jamari does, and I tell everybody this - I got the job here a year ago, the first time I met Jamari, as a head coach, he's got your back. He bought in, he's a do-right guy, does what he's supposed to do," Patterson said. What he's going to bring into their program, what they signed is a very good player, but he's a guy with Tom Herman and his staff, he will buy in day one and help set the culture for Texas.
"I think ultimately why they signed him, a lot of it is with the type of kid he is, how he works. He's a great football player, but in today's world, we lose site that character counts. You see it in this story. He does what he's supposed to do."
As for Chisholm himself, he said he has big aspirations when asked what he can bring to the Texas program.
"I feel like I can bring leadership, competition, and help Texas win a national championship," Chisholm said.