The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2009 Signing Day
02.04.2009 | Football
Feb. 4, 2009
- Meet Texas's signing class of 2009
- 2009 early enrollees discuss coming to Texas
- Podcast of press conference
AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas completed the 2008 season with a UT-record fifth-consecutive bowl victory (including three BCS victories and a National Championship) and its eighth consecutive 10-win season (tied for the second-longest streak in NCAA history). Those streaks are a reflection of the continuing success head coach Mack Brown has brought to a program that managed at least 10 wins just twice in the 14 years prior to his arrival in 1998.
Since Brown hit Austin, UT has posted at least nine victories in each of his 11 seasons. Texas' No. 3 final ranking in 2008 marked the ninth time in a row the Horns finished the year ranked in the Top 15, including six Top 10 finishes and four Top Five rankings. With a 12-1 mark last season (tied for the second-most wins in school history), Texas has posted the nation's most victories (115) and the most Big 12 victories (72) over the last 11 years.
That success is a direct result of what Brown and his staff have done in assembling and developing a series of highly-regarded recruiting classes. It should come as no surprise that on National Signing Day 2009, Brown, the nation's winningest coach over the last 13 years (135 victories / .823 winning percentage) and the 2008 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year award winner, and his staff have continued to build upon a program that is now a yearly fixture among the nation's elite.
Texas' success resulted in 20 newcomers signing National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The group, which once again has been pegged as one of the nation's premier classes, will join UT's squad of returning veterans in its quest to build on its school-best five consecutive bowl wins and extend the streak of 10-win seasons.
"We are really excited about another recruiting class, our 12th class at The University of Texas," said Brown. "This is a proud moment for them, for their parents, high school coaches and teammates who have helped them get to this point.
"These kids have worked their whole lives and had a dream to go to college. This is a huge moment for these young people and we're excited to have them join the Texas family."
Among the group of signees, eight (LB Tariq Allen, OL Thomas Ashcraft, DB Marcus Davis, DE Dominique Jones, DE Kyle Kriegel, DE Alex Okafor, DB Kenny Vaccaro and OL Mason Walters) are already enrolled in school and will participate in spring drills.
Among the total group of 20 signees announced on Wednesday, three were named Parade All-Americans, three were tabbed EA Sports All-Americans, two earned first-team USA Today All-USA honors and two others earned second-team All-USA honors. All totaled, 13 players earned All-America status, nine players were listed among ESPN's Top 150 national prospects, six were named to Rivals' Top 100 and 14 were listed among all-state teams. The class also features several prospects that were honor roll students and most of the 2009 signees have been very involved in community service efforts.
"The thing that stands out about this class is that it covers just about every position and is a really balanced group on offense and defense. It's a class that fits our immediate needs and, in a position like offensive line where we are strong, it includes a talented group of guys that can step up and take over in the future."
Texas' evaluation process saw Brown's staff once again work with perfect efficiency in narrowing their list of prospects. Texas used only 25 of the 62 official on-campus visits permitted by the NCAA and 20 of those prospects signed National Letters of Intent to join the Longhorns on Wednesday.
The newcomers UT attracted in 2009 are a well-balanced collection that features talented prospects covering almost every position on the field. Brown, once again, expanded the foundation of his program by building with homegrown talent. Of the 20 Longhorn signees, 19 are from the Lone Star state.
