Mansfield open, Mallett mulling transfer, what else is up

Mansfield opens as another of one of North Texas' good Class 5A jobs. Mansfield coach Kirk Thor was promoted to assistant athletic director following a playoff qualifying season.

Mansfield lost to Odessa Permian in the first round after getting its first playoff berth since 2000. Mansfield returns a solid junior running Stephan Taylor, who was the District 4-5A MVP.

Duncanville has started interviewing and Class 4A DII state champ Lake Travis coach Jeff Dicus has been approached, but likely will be staying at talent-laden LT. The list of top candidates is long at Duncanville...

All is quiet on the Plano front with Scott Smith and Jaydon McCullough remaining the top candidates.. Lake Highlands has some strong classes coming and Scott has deep ties to Plano, but he's always gotten very entrenched at Lake Highlands (where his wife graduated) in a short time...

A statewide list of HC openings below...

For the second-consecutive year, a Texas high school quarterback (remember Jevan Sneed from UT of Ole Miss) is the top speculated transfer... Texas High's Ryan Mallett is deciding whether Michigan coach Rich Rodriquez' run-oriented spread offense is a great fit anymore.. and Rodriquez fired QB coach Scot Loeffler, who recruited Mallett... and former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr told the Detroit Free Press that Mallett should do what's best for his career.. Not a ringing UM endorsement.. Mallett says he'll announce after Capital One Bowl ... Arkansas fans are buzzing during Cotton Bowl week about the possibility of a Mallett transfer

How down are Texas fans about the Longhorns? Three of four of the orangebloods.com guys picked Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl....I bet Mack Brown gets tired of all the band wagon jumpers.. Trivia question about Arizona State: How did they get a commit from John Elway's son's Jack at Denver Cherry Creek..

Dennis Erickson a one-time San Jose State OC for grandad Jack Elway... And back to the Cotton Bowl, Arkansas interim coach Reggie Herring has the best line of the week so far.. The expected future Texas A&M defensive coordinator got his traditional Stetson cowboy hat, and the rather good-sized, bald-headed Herring said upon putting it on his head: "Now I know how Hoss Cartwright felt.".... You have to be older than 35 to get that Bonanza reference...

Recruiting update... There's a lot of talk Southlake Carroll running back Tre Newton could join Riley Dodge and switch to North Texas from Texas in search of a more potential playing time quicker...

Stephenville quarterback Kody Spano is a little in limbo pending the availability of a scholarship opening at Oklahoma State for early enrollment...A talented athlete who is falling in the eyes of some is Weatherford DE Kapron Lewis-Moore, an A&M commit looking around but who was put on second-team of All-District 4-5A.. not a good sign for a DI prospect...Baylor recruiting is all in a tizzy as new coach Art Briles shifts around scholarship offers. He got Robert Griffin to transfer but Mike Williamsof Beaumont West Brook switched to Boise State and offers to South Oak Cliff DB Kydarian Wilkins and Channelview WR Duriel Harris have been rescinded..

Go Army.. three Texas QBs have committed to play at West Point: [db]Spencer Otto of Hendrickson, Max Jenkins of Langham Creek and Josh Jones of Baytown Lee

North Garland athlete C.J. Cox has committed to UNLV and Pflugerville Connally athlete Chase Harper to Iowa State ...

What's open

Amarillo Highland Park

Andrews

Aransas Pass

Arlington Sam Houston

Arlington Seguin

Bells

Comfort

CC Midway

Duncanville

Eastland

Fairfield

FW Arlington Heights

FW Trimble Tech

Granbury

Katy Morton Ranch

Killeen Ellison

Laredo LBJ

Leander Rouse

Mansfield

Mexia

Palmer

Plano

Poth

Princeton

Waco University

Willis