Mike Craven

Hookem.com staff

The Dotted Line: Texas commit Jonathon Brooks prefers the underrated tag

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 23rd, 2020

BRENHAM  — Hallettsville running back Jonathon Brooks doesn’t mind being overlooked. That comes with the territory when you play Class 3A football in south Texas. Brooks, a three-star Texas commit, wasn’t awarded a fourth star in recent … Read More

Bevo Beat

Longhorn Confidential: Terrence Cooks commits; interviews with Cade Klubnik, Jaden Greathouse

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 20th, 2020

Hello, Texas fans. On today’s Longhorn Confidential Podcast: Alvin Shadow Creek outside linebacker Terrence Cooks picks Texas over Baylor, Georgia and LSU. Mike Craven was live at his most recent game and comes back with a scouting report on the four-star commitment. An interview with Westlake quarterback Cade Klubnik. The … Read More

The Dotted Line: Comparing the 2021 defensive recruiting classes of Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 19th, 2020

Texas’ main rivals on the recruiting trail remain Oklahoma and Texas A&M. The three schools battle for in-state recruits every year, including the current 2021 cycle. Tom Herman has signed a higher-rated class than OU and A&M every year since … Read More

Mike Craven

Hookem.com staff

Craven’s Corner: Betting Bedlam, four NFL games this week

Craven’s Corner plans to tread easy this weekend with a dull slate of games at the college and pro level. Last week, we finished 3-3-1 overall with a 2-1 record in college football. We’ll only bet on three college games in this edition because of lackluster matchups. Our record overall … Read More

Commitment 101: Longhorns add three-star defensive tackle Byron Murphy II to 2021 recruiting class

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 18th, 2020

Texas scored a recruiting win over rival Baylor on Wednesday afternoon when three-star Byron Murphy II flipped his commitment from Baylor to Texas. Murphy, a product of DeSoto High School in south Dallas, is a 6-1, 290-pound prospect who was a first-team all-district and … Read More

Bevo Beat

Texas flips three-star defensive tackle Byron Murphy II from Baylor

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 18th, 2020

Texas scored a recruiting win over rival Baylor on Wednesday afternoon when three-star Byron Murphy II flipped his commitment from Baylor to Texas. Murphy, a product of DeSoto High School in south Dallas, is a 6-1, 290-pound prospect who was a first-team all-district and an Associated … Read More

The Dotted Line: Comparing the 2021 offensive recruiting classes of Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 18th, 2020

Texas’ main rivals on the recruiting trail remain Oklahoma and Texas A&M. The three schools battle for in-state recruits every year, including the current 2021 cycle. Tom Herman has signed a higher-rated class than OU and A&M since his first … Read More

The Dotted Line: Westlake prospects Cade Klubnik, Jaden Greathouse keep recruiting on back burner

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 17th, 2020

Attention follows success. The adage held true for Austin Westlake prospects Cade Klubnik and Jaden Greathouse. The pair helped the Central Texas powerhouse claim the Class 6A Division II championship last year as underclassmen, and the third-ranked Chaparrals improved to 7-0 this season with … Read More

The Dotted Line: Which Texas recruiting targets in the 2021 cycle remain uncommitted?

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 16th, 2020

The Longhorns added a commitment Saturday when four-star outside linebacker Terrence Cooks became Texas’ 18th pledge of the 2021 recruiting cycle. The class ranks 17th in the nation and second in the Big 12. Tom Herman’s program can inch toward a top-10 class by … Read More

Commitment 101: Four-star linebacker Terrence Cooks fills Texas recruiting need

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 14th, 2020

Texas’ 2021 recruiting class grew to 18 members on Saturday afternoon when outside linebacker Terrence Cooks chose the Longhorns over Baylor, Georgia and LSU. The three-star from Alvin Shadow Creek is the first prospect to commit to Texas since September. Texas defensive coordinator Chris … Read More

Bevo Beat

Four-star outside linebacker Terrence Cooks pledges to Texas

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 14th, 2020

Texas’ 2021 recruiting class grew to 18 members on Saturday afternoon when outside linebacker Terrence Cooks chose the Longhorns over Baylor, Georgia and LSU. The four-star from Alvin Shadow Creek is the first prospect to commit to Texas since September.  Cooks held … Read More

The Dotted Line: Texas commits Jonathon Brooks, JD Coffey set to begin the playoffs

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 12th, 2020

As if 2020 wasn’t confusing enough, the state playoffs begin Friday night for teams in Class 4A and below. Class 5A and 6A schools are still in their regular season. Texas’ 2021 recruiting class consists of 17 members. Eleven of those players are from … Read More

Mike Craven

Hookem.com staff

Craven’s Corner: Backing Big 12 favorites, Seattle in the NFL

Craven’s Corner cashed for the second straight week with a 3-1 record in college games, breaking even with a 2-2 record in the NFL. We’re four games above .500 in November following a disastrous October. A solid year betting college games leaves us with a 36-31-2 overall record … Read More

The Dotted Line: Texas target Terrence Cooks approaching decision; 2022 linebacker offers

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 11th, 2020

The Longhorns haven’t added a commitment to the 2021 recruiting class since three-star offensive tackle Max Merril pledged on Sept. 25. Texas hopes that changes Saturday when outside linebacker Terrence Cooks is scheduled to announce his college decision. Cooks, a … Read More

The Dotted Line: Big 12 recruiting rankings signal gloomy future

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 10th, 2020

There isn’t a single Big 12 team in contention to reach the College Football Playoffs and national recruiting rankings signal a direct impact to the conference’s ability to add top talent to future rosters. Oklahoma and Texas still pace the conference, but neither team currently ranks inside the … Read More

The Dotted Line: Three recruiting questions facing Texas with early signing period approaching

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 9th, 2020

Texas is on a three-game winning streak heading into an open date. Tom Herman’s program weathered two conference defeats early to keep its Big 12 title hopes alive with Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State remaining. But, can those wins help … Read More

The Dotted Line: Three current 2021 commitments that Texas can’t afford to lose

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 5th, 2020

Texas’ 2021 recruiting class sits at 17 members. It ranks 17th in the country, which would be the lowest-ranked class the Longhorns have signed in a year without a coaching change in more than two decades. Texas isn’t in great shape to add elite-level … Read More

Mike Craven

Hookem.com staff

Craven’s Corner: Back Texas A&M, WVU in college football; Bills, Ravens in the NFL

We’re back. Craven’s Corner cashed for the first time since September with a 5-3 record last week. We were 3-1 on college bets, pushing our season college record  to 17-13 with a 14-15-2 mark in the NFL. Overall, we are three games above .500 with a 31-28-2 record … Read More

The Dotted Line: Seven members of the 2021 Fabulous 55 remain uncommitted

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 4th, 2020

With six weeks to go until the early signing period, only seven of the 55 prospects of the 2021 Fabulous 55 remain uncommitted. The recruiting cycle was interrupted in March when the NCAA shut down visits by players to colleges and college coaches to … Read More

The Dotted Line: Texas makes cut for Donovan Green; Malick Sylla wants to play early

Mike Craven Hookem.com staff

November 3rd, 2020

DICKINSON — Donovan Green is the only tight end in the 2022 recruiting cycle who currently holds an offer from Texas. The 6-4, 220-pound Dickinson standout recently included the Longhorns among his top six schools along with Texas A&M, USC, Oklahoma, Florida and Ole … Read More