QB Gilbert headlines another top class for 'Horns

Garrett Gilbert took most of the drama out of the latest Texas recruiting class a year ago. The 6-foot-4 high school All-American quarterback committed to the Longhorns the day after the 2008 signing day.

Other top players quickly followed.

On Wednesday, the heir-apparent to Colt McCoy made it official when he signed his letter of intent to headline another bumper crop of recruits headed to Austin. Gilbert was the Parade Magazine and Gatorade national player of the year.

"Garrett's wanted to come here since he was in the 10th grade," Longhorns coach Mack Brown said. "He was the lead dog in the class. When he decided he wanted to come here, a lot of the big dogs in the state wanted to come. ... He was one of the first scholarships in here this morning."

The Longhorns signed 20 players Wednesday in class rated among the best in the country by national recruiting analysts. Rivals.com rated the Texas class No. 5 in the country. Thirteen players were named to prep All-American teams.

"They got dynamic playmakers on both sides of the football," said Jeremy Crabtree, a Big 12 and national recruiting analyst for Rivals. "Gilbert is the best quarterback to come out of the Lone Star State in recent history."

Brown steps back from declarations of where the class stands nationally.

"Our evaluation of a recruiting class is four years from now, not from today," Brown said. "They all have the ability to play and to win all the games. It's up to us to coach them to the best of their ability."

Gilbert is just the latest big-name quarterback recruit to sign with Texas but the first in a few years. Chris Simms was the big name in 1999. In 2002, it was Vince Young, who led the Longhorns to the 2005 national championship.

McCoy was not considered among the best QBs in the 2005 signing class and was considered a safety valve when Texas missed on other quarterbacks. He has since set a Texas record with 32 career victories and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting last season. He will be a senior next season.

Gilbert set a Texas state high school record with 12,534 career passing yards in leading Lake Travis to consecutive Class 4A championships the past two seasons. He is the son for former NFL quarterback Gale Gilbert.

"He's so well taught because of his dad," Brown said.

Whether he will redshirt or could see playing time behind McCoy next season has not been determined, Brown said. Texas has two other quarterbacks, John Chiles and Sherrod Harris, on the roster.

Texas also signed the big running back they lacked last season in Chris Whaley of Madisonville. Whaley (6-3, 235 pounds) rushed for 6,174 yards and 79 touchdowns in high school. He was the only running back Texas tried to sign, Brown said.

The Longhorns also filled a key need on the defensive line, where Texas will lose three starters, including All-American Brian Orakpo. They signed six ends and tackles, and some might contribute early. Pflugerville defensive end Alex Okafor (6-4, 240 pounds) is considered the top player in the bunch and will be counted on to fill in for Orakpo.

As usual, almost of the players come from Texas. Only one, defensive lineman Derek Johnson of Hoxie, Ark., is from outside the state.

"We want to make sure we win at home," Brown said. "We're doing OK with in-state guys. We could have won the national championship last year with what we have."

Eight of the signees have already enrolled in classes and will participate in spring drills. Another athlete, Marquise Goodwin of Garland Rowlett, signed a track scholarship Wednesday but could play football in the fall.