Rivals250 WR Jaylen Waddle on Texas, recently active teams in recruitment

Rivals250 wide receiver Jaylen Waddle has been a new and welcome addition to his new 7-on-7 team, Houston Fast 7v7, an appropriately named squad for him after last weekend.

Waddle ripped off a 4.37 laser time in the 40-yard dash of his most recent camp appearance on Sunday and has deepened the intrigue about him as his recruitment continues forward. Opinions differ somewhat on where he could be leaning at this point, but compelling cases could be made for a few teams.

Recently Texas has been dialing up its efforts to land him. The Longhorns’ coaches have been working to build on the foundation that was laid when many of them were close by at Houston. Waddle was recently on campus at UT at the end of February on the second day of Texas’ most recent junior day weekend.

“There’s not much of a difference,” he said of the way he’s approached by Texas coaches now that they’re in Austin. “We were always close when they were at U of H, but I do think I’m more of a priority now.”

Waddle had tentatively planned on returning to Texas this weekend, but will have to miss that visit while in Bradenton, Florida, to compete in a NFA 7-on-7 regional tournament at IMG Academy.

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“I always have been cool with Coach (Tom) Herman,” he said. “When I went to UT they showed me a good time. I loved every part of it. They showed me a good time, I talked to Coach Herman and that was cool - I love him.”

On Oklahoma, where he plans on attending the Sooners spring game on April 8

“Same old, same old,” he said. “They have been telling me how their recruiting class is good, they’re going to have a young quarterback. They’ve been talking up how they’ve had guys like Dede Westbrook and a lot of good receivers.”

On Oregon, with whom he says he has a strong relationship with assistant Marcus Arroyo

“I love them - Oregon’s always showed me love and I text every coach from Oregon,” he said. “They said that they’re going to stay a top passing offense like they always do, feed the ball to their slots, and they’re going to get the ball in the air.”

On Wisconsin, who signed two Texas wide receivers in 2017

“Yeah, that’s been their pitch to me,” he said. “They just have been telling me how they’re changing up a little bit of their offense to try and use their slot guys more. They’re just looking to switch it up a little bit and spread it out more.”

The four teams discussed were the ones that Waddle said have been to most present in his recruitment as of late. Conspicuously missing from that group is Florida State, where former Episcopal teammate Marvin Wilson signed this year. FSU certainly has an in with Episcopal’s football program, and Wilson was close by on Sunday to see Waddle torch the 40-yard dash. He interrupted Waddle’s interview to proclaim that his former teammate was Tallahassee-bound, but if those conversations between the two are being had, it’s being done discreetly.

“He’s just been telling me to enjoy the process,” Waddle said of Wilson’s advice to him. “Just to take it day by day.”