In the months following Texas’ first losing season in over a decade, Mack Brown has replaced six coaches on his staff due to firings -- er -- “resignations”, or other, more lucrative job openings. It was the most significant turnover for Brown since arriving in Austin in 1998.
Amazingly, though, Brown and his new staff have done a remarkable job of keeping their top-five recruiting class intact, including holding on to the nation’s No. 1 running back Malcolm Brown.
But as with any coaching turnover, a program is bound to lose a recruit here and there, and the departure of former offensive line coach Mac McWhorter has cost the Longhorns the No. 3 offensive lineman in the country, Christian Westerman.
The four-star lineman from Chandler, Arizona, switched his commitment to Auburn today. Westerman cited his close relationship to Tigers o-line coach Jeff Grimes, as well as McWhorter’s recent departure, as the reasons for his decision.
As you may recall, Texas tried unsuccessfully to lure Grimes away from The Plains earlier this week. Brown ultimately hired Georgia offensive line coach, Stacy Searels.
There’s not much of a chance Westerman will rescind on his new commitment, but his decision is merely a verbal, non-binding one. National Signing Day is in less than two weeks on Feb. 2.