Each Friday during college football season, the experts at Recruiting Nation will weigh in on the probable destinations of the nation's top prospects. With Charlie Strong's job in jeopardy, we're looking at some of the Longhorns' prospects. Here's where we think they're going:
Marvin Wilson | DT, 6-4, 332, Houston/Episcopal, ESPN 300 No. 7
Prediction: Texas
Confidence level: 20 percent
Toughest competition: Texas A&M
Others in the mix: Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State and Oklahoma
Days after Texas beat Notre Dame, Wilson told everybody that listened he was leaning toward Texas, and even a rival recruiter said the Horns' chances of landing the five-star defensive tackle were "easily in the 90 percent range." But as Texas has dropped to a 2-3 record and questions about Charlie Strong's job security continue to grow, so do the chances of Wilson landing at another school. Wilson said earlier this week that he would drop Texas all together if Strong isn't in Austin in the future, but you also shouldn't discount the job other schools are doing in his recruitment. Texas A&M has become a major player, and with Wilson making multiple trips to College Station, the Aggies have made a big impression. Ohio State is also slated to get a visit in November, and once things are sorted out with LSU's coaching situation, the Tigers will also get a visit.
Kary Vincent | CB, 5-11, 172, Port Arthur, Texas/Memorial, ESPN 300 No. 23
Prediction: LSU
Confidence level: 20 percent
Toughest competition: Texas
Others in the mix: Texas A&M, Florida State
Vincent remains committed to LSU following the firing of Les Miles, but is scheduled to visit Texas on Oct. 29 for the Baylor game. Vincent's father is a fan of Charlie Strong, so Strong's standing in Austin is key for the Longhorns' chances to flip the Under Armour All-America Game selection. With that said, if Vincent is comfortable with whomever gets the LSU job, all others in pursuit will have their work cut out for them.
K'Lavon Chaisson | DE, 6-4, 217, Houston/North Shore, ESPN 300 No. 53
Prediction: Texas
Confidence level: 20 percent
Toughest competition: Houston
Others in the mix: LSU, Oklahoma, Florida State
Texas had made a major move for Chaisson following a July unofficial visit, vaulting all the way up to the top of the list along with Houston with LSU and Oklahoma fading back. Florida State is scheduled to receive an official visit Oct. 29 for the Clemson game, but all signs point to staying closer to home as of now. Where Tom Herman is coaching in 2017 could factor heavily into Chaisson's decision.
Anthony Hines III | LB, 6-3, 222, Plano, Texas/East, ESPN 300 No. 66
Prediction: Texas
Confidence level: 25 percent
Toughest competition: Oklahoma
Others in the mix: Texas A&M, Florida, Ohio State and Penn State
Hines is another, who, a few months ago, had Texas in the driver's seat and probably still does to some degree. But, as the season has worn on other schools have seen their chances increase greatly in his recruitment. Hines will enroll early at his school of choice, so that has expedited his recruitment more than many other nation-level prospects. He has already visited Penn State and Texas A&M, and he's scheduled to be at Florida this weekend and Ohio State on Oct. 28. Oklahoma has been the school that has received the biggest bump with Texas' struggles and many insiders believe the Sooners have a slight upper-hand after multiple unofficial visits in the summer, but what happens with Strong will go a long way toward determining what happens with Hines.
Walker Little | OT, 6-8, 305, Houston/Episcopal, ESPN 300 No. 100
Prediction: Stanford
Confidence level: 60 percent
Toughest competition: Texas, Texas A&M
Others in the mix: Florida State, Ole Miss
Little was considered a heavy lean to Texas over Stanford following the Longhorns' dramatic win over Notre Dame to begin the season. A few weeks later, and a lot of struggles by Texas have opened the door for Texas A&M to be the school to battle Stanford if there is a coaching change in Austin. Little was at Texas A&M's game vs. Tennessee with teammate Marvin Wilson, and Jim Turner gets to sell a number of first-round offensive tackle NFL draft picks under his watch in College Station. If Stanford was closer to home, this would be a slam dunk for the Cardinal, and this recruitment would have ended months ago.