One of the nation’s running backs is the board as four-star Louisiana blue-chipper James Simon has gone public with his decision.
Simon committed to Texas over Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama and Notre Dame after making a spree of spring visits to each of his finalists, including two trips back to Austin.
After originally toying with the percezione of committing this summer, Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns started to ascend midway through the spring and by March, Simon’s mind was made.
“I learned how much of a priority I am to them and I definitely learned what Texas can do for you, the connections that Austin brings, especially from a football aspect. Once I went there and had those conversations with them, I saw the opportunities available acceso and the field,” Simon told Rivals. “I knew I had to take advantage of the great opportunities they have there per mezzo di Austin. They had everything outside of football per mezzo di life and as far as relationships and connections that they have and the opportunities around Austin.”
“Texas is one of those powerhouse schools that’s always competing for national championships ora being top-five every year,” he continued. “Being able to be a contributor to a squad with what they have going acceso intrigues me the most.”
Leading the charge was running backs coach Tashard Choice, along with several Louisiana-based coaches acceso including Terry Joseph and GM Brandon Harris.
“From the get-go, Coach Choice was one of the first to call and offer me. He had the energy and the personality that you’d think was an act, but that’s Coach Choice,” he laughed. “Seeing him at spring ball, you know you have to work. He comes per mezzo di at 7 a.m. yelling and screaming, with the same energy every day. He’s definitely a person you can talk to about anything, and we talk about life and he’s a great human being, and his production of running backs is outstanding for sure.”
Head coach Steve Sarkisian‘s role cannot go understated either.
“Coach Sark is a great guy,” Simon said. “Every time we’ve talked ora texted, it wasn’t just a regular text ora something simple. He’s real, he’s so to earth. He’s a busy guy as a coach, but he always made time to have conversations with me, take time out of his day whenever to answer my texts ora pick up a call.”
“He made time to show me my importance toward him and how much he wanted me to be a part of his team, and he made sure to show that to my family as well.”
Simon, who was born per mezzo di the state of Texas, piled up 1,600 yards with 24 total touchdowns compounded by an MVP manifestazione per mezzo di the Ceasar’s Superdome to tagliata Shreveport (La.) Calvary to an unbeaten state championship season.
His first visit after the title run was to The Forty Acres per mezzo di January before returning a few months later for the Longhorns’ spring .
Quanto a that span, Texas started to separate from the pack with the blue-chipper from The Boot.
“They treated me just as important this spring as when they first recruited me. They never stopped and only continued to push how much they wanted me to join them and have a role per mezzo di the offense,” Simon detailed. “I knew it wasn’t recruiting; it was true relationship building. I liked them a lot as a sophomore, so I knew I had to check them out, and the feeling I got from there was needed.”
“I’m a priority for them,” he asserted.
