Class Overview - What the Experts Say

UNT is a hot team right now on the field on the recruiting trail. It currently checks in as the No. 1 rated team in Conference USA. 247Sports' Texas-based Recruiting Analyst Gabe Brooks weighs in with his thoughts on the banner class that Seth Littrell and his staff have put together. 

“This North Texas class could very well be the program’s best on paper in the recruiting rankings era," Brooks said. "One thing that has stood out about the Mean Green on the field so far this fall is athleticism. That theme is continued with plenty of the prospects North Texas has landed in the 2019 cycle, across multiple positions."

The Houston metroplex has been kind to UNT in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Littrell has also had success finding under the radar talent in Oklahoma. 
 
"This staff has done very well getting a foothold in the Houston area with eight commitments in the metro area, not including two more from Beaumont," Brooks explained. 

"That gives them 10 from Houston/Southeast Texas, compared to five in the DFW Metroplex. Additionally, UNT has landed three good prospects from Oklahoma, which is where two of the Mean Green’s best offensive weapons are from on this year’s team (Mason Fine and Rico Bussey). Not only that, but the best 2019 running back in Arkansas (Oscar Adaway) is also committed to UNT as an athlete."

The Class Jewel

Next Level Athlete's ranking system lists Bishop Lynch linebacker Grayson Murphy as the highest-rated prospect on the current 21-man UNT commitment list. 

The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder is projected to play linebacker on the next level and picked the Mean Green over offers from Connecticut,  Texas State, Tulane, and UTSA. 

"Murphy shows good closing speed and burst to the ball carrier," said Next Level Athlete scout Kiff Hardin, who has over 25 years of TXHSFB coaching experience. "He runs well and has good change of direction. He is physical at the point of contact and will play through blocks."

Grayson is joined on the UNT commit list by his twin brother Gabriel Murphy (6-2/215), who is also highly regarded. 

The Diamond in the Rough

Damon Ward, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound wide receiver from Beaumont West Brook is one of my favorite prospects on tape. 

Ward is a receiver who can hurt you in all phases of the game and could line up on the outside or in the slot. He can stretch defenses vertically, or he can take something underneath and turn it into a big play.  Ward also has tremendous vertical ability.  

Ward reminds me a little bit of current NFL receiver Sterling Shepard when he was coming out of high school because Shepard possessed many of the traits mentioned above. 

Texas is a state loaded with wide receiver talent, and UNT took advantage of Power Five Conference programs overlooking Ward's skill set. 

Commitment List (21)

Texas (17)
TE Asher Alberding (6-4 / 230) - Clear Lake 
OT John Brunner (6-5/300) - Brock
OT Chris Cassidy (6-4/275) - Angleton
S Leandre Davis (5-10/190) - Rosenberg Terry
DE Kenneth Dotson (6-3/255) - Houston Lamar
CB DeShawn Gaddie (6-0/170) - Arlington Lamar
WR Kealon Jackson (5-9/165) - Shadow Creek
LB Taylor Jacobs (6-2/215) - South Grand Prairie
RB Garrison Johnson  (5-11/210) - Manvel
CB Dorian Morris (5-10/160) - Mesquite Poteet
LB Gabriel Murphy (6-2/215) - Bishop Lynch 
LB Grayson Murphy (6-2/215) - Bishop Lynch 
S Jevin Murray (5-11/175) - Shadow Creek
WR Deonte Simpson (6-0/190) - Beaumont West Brook
DE Jimmy Walker (6-3/255) - Lutheran North 
WR Damon Ward (6-0/190) - Beaumont West Brook
ILB Kevin Wood (6-0/200) - Converse Judson

Arkansas (1)
RB Oscar Adaway (6-0/205) - North Little Rock (Ark.)

Oklahoma (3)
QB Will Kuehne (6-1/190) - Owasso (Okla.)
OT Daxton Byers (6-5/295) - Edmond (Okla.) Deer Creek
DT Demeco Roland (6-2/280) - Broken Arrow (Okla.)