The Texas Longhorns program has been in a downward spiral for the past couple years and now barely shows up on a master list of prospects to scout this year, said an AFC executive, according to NFL media draft analyst Lance Zierlein.
Head coach Charlie Strong took over the program in 2014 and had a difficult first season with the Longhorns posting a 6-7 record. The problem goes back further then Strong, though, as the Longhorns have not had a 10-win season since 2009.
Texas still produced draft picks last season, as five Longhorns were taken in the draft, which is the most since six in 2010. Malcolm Brown was the top pick from the Longhorns and was also the last pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Texas seems to have been falling off the top for a while now, and with schools like TCU and Texas A&M having so much success, it can pull recruits away from the Longhorns. This past Saturday, the Longhorns got dismantled by Notre Dame 38-3. The result of that game had Strong take away the play-calling duties from Shawn Watson and give them to Jay Norvell.
The Longhorns have produced only four first-round and four second-round picks in the past eight NFL drafts going all the way back to 2008. For other schools that is not bad, but this is Texas and they have a long history and pride that goes along with their team.
Strong is only in his second season as the Longhorns head coach, but he will need to get this season in the right direction quickly as recruits are likely watching how the team does. The Longhorns play Rice on Saturday, and winning there may give them a boost before getting into their Big 12 schedule. The better the Longhorns play, the better chance they have to bring in recruits, but Strong definitely has his work cut out for him.
