This past weekend University of Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte released a statement regarding Tom Herman's position with the football program. 

It appears for now that Herman's job is safe, which means that the coaching staff in Austin still has goals to accomplish on the Forty Acres. 

The first goal on that list was closing on several targets for their #trUTh21 class as the Early Signing Period is here. 

New Caney 2021 OLB Derrick Harris Jr. (6'3, 225) committed to Texas over a year ago and has been steadfast in his commitment to the Longhorns.

Harris has been a longtime fan of the Texas program, and he thought highly of them for being one of the first major programs to extend him an offer. 

Harris was forced to miss most of his senior season due to a torn ACL, but UT stuck by him, and after successful surgery, the DCTF Hot 100 member seems to be progressing well.

"I'm doing alright because I tore it the second game of the season, so it really has given me time to rehab. The surgery was great so by the time January rolls around I will hopefully be running by then," Harris said.

The future Texas Longhorn also reconfirmed with us that he still plans on enrolling in January. This also means that he was going to be a part of today's signing day festivities.

"I plan on enrolling January 16th," he told DCTF last Thursday," adding that he was very excited for signing day.

Harris is all in on Texas and his future in Austin, despite any rumblings about the coaching situation. 

"I committed to the school and not the coaching staff. I know coaching staffs change, but that's a school that a lot of people don't even get into. It's a blessing to be going to Texas," Harris stated.

So, what is Texas getting in the signing of New Caney's Derrick Harris Jr.? The future Longhorn brings a lot to the table. Once he recovers from his knee injury, Texas will look to add bulk onto his lean athletic build. 

Harris does a great job of playing with a low center of gravity off the edge and has also shown the ability to play linebacker. With the addition of newfound strength that he will get in Austin, he should continue to improve as a tackler.

The Texas staff already has a name in mind for who they would like to mold Harris into when he arrives in Austin. 

"They want me to be like Joseph Ossai," Harris said of the UT team captain who is No. 2 on Mel Kiper's ranking for outside linebackers in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Texas fans should be ecstatic to be getting a prospect who is this excited about being a Longhorn during such a turbulent time for the program.