Texas Freshmen LB Cecil Cherry and RB Duke Catalon Leaving Longhorns Program

Written by Ryan Wright

What was an offseason area of concern for the Longhorns took an unexpected hit on Tuesday with the announced departure of true freshman linebacker Cecil Cherry and redshirt running back Donald “Duke” Catalon from the Texas football program.

Per a report from the Austin American Statesman, Cherry’s father Winston confirmed his son’s request for a transfer offering a reasoning of, “We’re not saying Texas is a bad school, but it’s not designed for his (Cecil’s) style of defense.”

Cherry was one of five linebackers the Longhorns signed in the 2015 class headlined by 5-star Malik Jefferson. Cherry (6’0”, 235) and Anthony Wheeler were considered 4-star recruits making Texas’ linebacker haul the best in the nation.

When Cherry wrapped up his senior season at Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland, Florida, he was one of the more highly recruited linebackers in the nation with roughly 30 scholarship offers. The schools offering included Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina, Baylor, Clemson, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, and Michigan State among others. Early reports have Cherry eyeing Miami and South Florida as potential landing spots.

The Longhorns linebacker corps was cleared out with the loss of Jordan Hicks, and his team-high 137 tackles, along with Steve Edmond. Freshmen Edwin Freeman, Malik Jefferson, and John Bonney (rover/bandit) are expected to earn starting spots, a position Cherry could have contended for if the style of play had been a fit.

Catalon was one of two 4-star running backs signed to the 2014 recruiting class. With Malcom Brown gone Johnathan Gray and Duke Catalon (5’10”, 200) were expected to be the primary ball carries in 2015. The Longhorns’ coaching staff was high on Catalon after spring practices for his overall abilities emerging as a three-down back. The backfield was starting to take shape as a young but talented position with Class of 2015 4-star signees Kirk Johnson and Chris Warren along with bruising 6’2”, 230 pound, sophomore D’Onta Foreman.

Sources are saying Catalon walked out of practice leading to the parting of ways. No sources have come forward about where the Houston area native may land.

Photo credit: insidetexas.com; No. 21 Duke Catalon.