There may not have been much drama surrounding the news Sunday evening that Van linebacker Dalton Santos switched his verbal commitment from Tennessee to Texas following an official visit over the weekend, as Santos seemed like a virtual lock to become a Longhorn ever since receiving his offer recently.
Coming from a family of Texas fans and growing up one himself, the decision was probably not a particularly difficult one for Santos, with the exception of needing to notify the Tennessee coaches of the switch. After Vol defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox left the program, the decision was probably even easier.
Santos is ranked as the top linebacker in the country by ESPN and is known as a tough player and hard hitter in the middle, where he uses his 6-2, 240-pound frame to inflict pain on opponents. The 26th commitment in the 2012 class, the major question mark with Santos is whether he can be a three-down linebacker in college due to his size and a lack of elite speed for the position. And though he's not exactly stiff, Santos has indicated that he wants to improve his flexibility.
Santos is the fourth linebacker commit in the class and joins Pflugerville Hendrickson athlete Daje Johnson as weekend pledges for the 'Horns.
0 recs | 32 comments
Welcome to the 40 acres Dalton
I can’t wait to see some aggressive this guy play in some hard hitting Diaz blitzes.
Wrangler86 - January 29, 2012
Why Only 3 Stars ?
If he’s the top LB in the nation?
2th DK - January 29, 2012
Rivals
Rivals 3*
Espn, Scout, and 247 4*
j64_tizzle - January 29, 2012
Who has him ranked as the #1 LB in the country?
I didn’t realize that. This is a huge get!
BeeCaveHornFan - January 29, 2012 via mobile
ESPN
Has him as the #1 ILB I think.
A little surprising he is a 3* on Rivals though, especially with his offer list.
TxHorns989 - January 29, 2012
I saw that... Bama even reached for the kid.
Dustin Brockelman - January 29, 2012
This must be a REALLY WEAK year for LBs?!
Tops in the nation and you’re only 3 or 4 stars? I guess he’s the best this year but how does he compare to Jordan Hicks when he came out?
robthecob - January 30, 2012
Top inside linebacker, not for all linebackers
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/playerrankings/_/position/inside-linebacker/class/2012/view/position
Although it’s admittedly not a year full of strong ILB recruits. Rivals lists Tim Cole as #14 and Santos as #16 at the inside position, and Scout lists Cole as #14 among outside linebackers and Santos as #5 for inside linebackers. 247 says Cole is the #39 OLB and Santos the #14 ILB. Cole is listed at #27 among OLB’s on ESPN.
I tend to trust Rivals the most out of those services, although I’m trying to find out more about 247, and although I think they’re much newer than Scout or even ESPN’s scouting channel, I think they’re probably second on my preference list at this point.
burntorangehorn - January 31, 2012
Wow, those rankings are all over the place.
I guess that proves that they’re not stealing info. off of each other’s websites.
robthecob - January 31, 2012
Nice! x2
Great weekend, as long as we keep Ridgeway I’ll be happy now…
TowerPower - January 29, 2012
Posters said he is 100% Texas
Hope that is true. We just got Daje and Santos. Let’s add DGB and call it a wrap on Wednesday.
This class is loaded!!!
Wrangler86 - January 29, 2012
a kid named Dalton
had no business playing football in Tennessee anyways. Cmon DGB!
dukeoforange - January 29, 2012
Welcome aboard!
Now I would pitch to DGB: You will be joining the Number One Class in the country!! It will be number one when he signs on!
Ohio Horn - January 29, 2012
... oh, & DGB ...
… you won’t get your head knocked off by any of UT’s top recruits when you’re on the field. At least, not in games.
robthecob - January 30, 2012
In my writeup on the commitment http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/1/29/2756933/dalton-santos-decommits-from-tennessee-commits-to-texas I said
Santos is a prototypical middle linebacker recruit. He is very big (6’2" and 240 pounds), loves to hit, but isn’t so stiff as to be a major liability in coverage. Santos plays with excellent physicality and passion, and is very fun to watch in person, as I recently had the chance to do at the Under Armour All-America Game. He is rated a four-star recruit by most recruiting services. Texas is the only school to have commitments from more than 20 high school recruits and still have more than 75 percent be rated as blue chippers (four-stars or better).
Bud Elliott - January 29, 2012
Bud E
Thanks for all your updates over here. I went to the OU/FSU game in Tallahassee this year. I absolutely loved it. FSU campus is gorgeous and I loved it being small enough to see everything on the campus whereas Texas’ campus is so huge. I loved brick structure of the stadium how it blended right in, the tower waterfall which Texas should copy, the big drum beating all night and of course Osceola and Renegade. That flaming spear at a night game made me go wild. The only disappointment was the final score. So, after all this sucking up,
What do you think of OU getting JUCO OL Will Latu?
I was just checking him out and is this a correct summary? Kid didn’t play until senior year of high school. Went from WVu commit to JUCO to Auburn (and failed classes and couldn’t qualify until mid summer at earliest) then looked at FSU and ended at OU. Is this kid gonna give the Longhorns trouble or is he an unkonwn comodity that is 50/50?
I never thought kids would end up in the Big XII because they did not qualify for the SEC. That is weird, but after I get over that situation, I still don’t know if this kid is just a good JUCO player or a true Div I elite OL. What do you think?
Wrangler86 - January 29, 2012
I have no idea how OU is getting Latu in. FSU and Auburn are not exactly Harvard and they couldn’t do it. Latu can definitely play, though.
Bud Elliott - January 29, 2012
And FSU is definitely a nice place.
Bud Elliott - January 29, 2012
Thanks for popping in with that
I really enjoy your recruiting information on SBN. It’s a go-to place for me, and I really wish it were its own named blog rather than on the SBN main site, like the team ones (BON, C&CM, etc.).
burntorangehorn - January 31, 2012
This is HUGE!
Not only b/c Santos has some serious potential but for a backup plan as well…If Edmond gains more and has to spin down, Santos is right there to step in.
STLaw - January 29, 2012
For sure
This gives us a fiar amount of flexibility. If Edmond has any conditioning issues too, Santos should be able to rotate in nicely
TxHorns989 - January 29, 2012
Under Armour Game
During the small part of the game I watched, he was making play after play. A great get. Welcome to the 40 acres.
everything horns - January 29, 2012
I can dig it.
LookinForIt - January 29, 2012
Funny thing about Santos
He was the example a lot of blogs/Aggies used when headed to the SEC as he originally committed to Tennessee since they were in the SEC. Now he’s going to the SEC in the Big XII…
armsch - January 29, 2012
Must say
I am actually really excited about this kid. I watched him play, and have seen his film, and he just jumps off the field and off the screen at you when you watch him.
His physicality, intensity, and power just jump out at you. Some kids get lost and disappear in the game. This kid is just the opposite.
And I think we can find a place for him in a Big 12 defensive scheme. People who say big MLB’s don’t have a place are over-simplifying IMO. I think he will be a great player. Really underrated get by the staff here.
I think this grab will go a little under appreciated because of Daje’s commitment and the DGB tug-of-war this week. But it shouldn’t.
I do not think we get DGB (maybe that is just the pessimist in me). And with Thomas Johnson, Mario Edwards Jr., and DGB this class may be remembered more for who we missed than for who we got, but that is a mistake as well.
This is an incredible class. Balanced. Talented. Potential. Addressing needs.
I hope they are hungry.
SwimTexas - January 30, 2012
^This.nt
Ese-De-SA - January 30, 2012
Best class under Mack IMO
Santos can easily slide into Acho’s role. Manny’s scheme calls for the LBs to blitz when they feel they can…ie Santos will be able to utilize his power. When it’s a run, I’m pretty sure Santos will have little problem stuffing the line. He looks like a pure MLB, Ray Lewis style of play.
This class is deep. The only missing piece is a TE…not much to choose from but 2013 will address that need. Plus, hopefully McFarland goes off this year and Grant works on his blocking ability.
STLaw - January 30, 2012
Big pick up
I hope Santos wears #78 at Texas. I don’t Mack will let him wear a mohawk, but it should be discussed. Texas is solid at MLB for the next 4 years.
billfromlaketravis - January 30, 2012
Aaron Williams and Kenny Vacarro had mohawks recently
Horncasting - January 30, 2012
Yeah
I don’t really think Mack makes that much of a fuss over a player’s hairstyle so long as it’s not inflammatory in some way or other.
Darklust - January 30, 2012
This recruiting class, even without DGB, is simply sick, sick, SICK!!!!!!!!!
Snide Aside - January 30, 2012
With or without the mohawk,,,
this young man is going to look lovely in Burnt Orange. So much better for him, and us, than that other shade of orange. Welcome to The University young man.
OnMySignal - January 30, 2012
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