Get to know Texas signee Alex January on national signing day
Whether you’re a diehard recruiting fan in need of a refresher or a casual fan in need of only the particulars, this will be the series for you.
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The first national signing day for college football begins December 20 and runs through December 22. This series gives you the chance to familiarize yourself with the next class charged with keeping Texas in a position of national prominence.
To win at a consistently high level means stacking talented class after talented class. The top-five 2024 class does just that following top-five finishes in the 2022 and 2023 classes.
On the first national signing day, Inside Texas will offer profiles of each member of the 2024 signing class. Up next, Alex January.
The Player: Alex January, DL, Duncanville (Texas)
The Rating: 89.03 (three-star)
The Ranking: January is ranked as the No. 430 overall prospect, the No. 45 defensive lineman, and the No. 70 player in Texas in the On3 Industry Ranking. On3 ranks January as the No. 288 overall prospect, the No. 30 defensive lineman, and the No. 48 prospect in Texas.
The Highlights:
The Recruitment: Though a Texas legacy through Michael January, Alex and his family took their time in this recruitment. He took visits to finalists Texas Tech, LSU, Florida State, Texas A&M, and Texas in the month of June before returning home to make a decision. The Longhorn legacy who had grown up going to games at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium couldn’t turn down the prospect of playing for his favorite school, and committed to Texas on July 1.
The Projection: Texas likes to use bigger, two-gapping tackles at either position up front and January is another who fits the bill. He played some two-gapping 3-technique at Duncanville as well as some nose tackle. His combination of length and size was way too much for even good high school offensive lines and he had a good time shedding blocks and shoving gaps closed. He could play either interior position and is a future two-gapper wherever he ends up who uses his length and strength in run defense to anchor the interior. As a pass-rusher he’ll need time to hone some techniques but he has some tools which could be put to work to collapse the pocket. – Ian Boyd
The Reasoning: “When I’d show up to the games, I felt like I was a part of it, in the locker room with the players and coaches. Truly special place. I love the staff.”
The Enrollment: January is an early enrollee, set to be on campus in January.
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The Final Word: Big humans who move like January does are rare. The Longhorns worked to overcome a number of quality regional and national programs to claim a major pickup at a defensive tackle position that needed quality prospects. Adding a legacy helps, too.
