Tascosa’s Major Everhart (front center) signed his letter of intent to play college football at TCU on Wednesday. [Provided photo]
Tascosa’s Major Everhart knew that by Wednesday afternoon he’d have his name on a national letter of intent to play football for a Division I university in Texas.
But it wasn’t until late Tuesday night that he’d decided which one.
After a few days of weighing his options and going back and forth between considerations, Everhart finally signed to play for his original choice, Texas Christian University after Texas Tech made a late charge for his services. Everhart became the first metro athlete to sign a Division I football offer this year.
Earlier Wednesday, Spearman’s Brenen Thompson stayed with his original choice, signing with the University of Texas.
It was uncertain as late as Tuesday night whether Everhart would officially become a Horned Frog or a Red Raider. He had originally verbally committed to TCU during the football season, but Tech had shown interest as well, creating a dilemma for Everhart, who was the District 2-5A Division I MVP this season.
“The last two weeks have been a crazy recruiting cycle,” Everhart said. “We’ve gone on visits with TCU and gone on visits with Tech, then we had to go back home and process it with my family and go through the pros and cons of each school. We got on phone calls with each coach at each school, and TCU obviously won out.”
Everhart was one of those players who was recruited as an athlete, as he started at safety during the regular season and also played running back. His 1,290 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing would be impressive enough, but considering he only had 100 carries for a 12.9 yard average is especially jaw-dropping.
Despite Tascosa rarely throwing the ball, Everhart also had four touchdown catches, which is one reason he’s been penciled in as a receiver at TCU.
What perhaps made Everhart’s commitment to TCU shaky was the firing of veteran head coach Gary Patterson at the end of the season. Sonny Dykes made the short move across the Metroplex from SMU to take over the Horned Frogs, and he won over Everhart.
“He told me he was a wide receivers coach as well, so he would help me be a better player on the field and off the field as well and help me get to the NFL, which is one of my big goals,” Everhart said.
With 45 tackles on defense, Everhart also made a case for himself as a defensive back, where speed might be even more of a prerequisite. He also returned kicks for the Rebels.
The idea of getting Everhart somewhere on the field because of his speed was a common one among those who recruited him, but the temptation to get him the ball on the perimeter is what sold TCU.
“Basically I was an athlete, but mostly I was a wide receiver as kind of a hybrid position,” Everhart said.
Everhart had declared publicly after Patterson was fired that he was sticking with his commitment. Privately, though, he had second thoughts.
“It definitely opened up my mind,” Everhart said. “I didn’t publicly release that I was open, but I was open to other schools and going through the recruiting cycle all over again. Tuesday night was my final decision, probably at about 10 o’clock and I made my final decision about TCU. I went to sleep feeling real well and I thought I wasn’t going to go to sleep at all and thought I wasn’t going to make my decision until the morning.”
Spearman’s Brenen Thompson poses with is mother, Bonnie, after signing his letter of intent to play college football at Texas on Wednesday. [Ernie Bowen/ For Press Pass Sports]
Thompson didn’t battle with any such dilemmas this past week. Like Everhart, he was recruited by big-time schools because of his speed, and as a junior he won the Class 3A state title in the 200 meters at the state track meet last year and was second in the 100 meters.
This caught the attention of schools like Texas and Oklahoma State, both of whom offered Thompson. He committed verbally to Texas during football season.
“Everything fit,” Thompson said. “It was one of those things where we knew it was going to be an option with the new staff and all the new opportunities. Going on that game day visit was huge and it was always something I wanted to do. Ever since then it felt like home.”
Thompson was a two-way player for the Lynx at receiver and defensive back, and the Longhorns are looking for him to catch passes. He didn’t put up overwhelming numbers this season due to missing significant time with a foot injury.
As a junior, though, Thompson put up impressive numbers with over 2,000 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns, which was more than enough to attract the attention of D-I programs.
“It’s been one of those things I’ve always wanted to do,” Thompson said. “I wanted the opportunity to do it. I’d be lying if I told you I thought it would be this big. I’m grateful for this opportunity.”
Before he suits up for the Longhorns, it’s likely Thompson will be headed down to his future home in Austin to compete in the state track meet again. That will mark the end of one era and the beginning of another.
Thompson has high expectations for himself once he puts on the burnt orange.
“I’m looking to play,” said Thompson of what he wants to do as a freshman. “The coaches told me I’d have that opportunity to come in and prove myself.”