The third-best running back in the nation has trimmed his list and Texas didn’t survive the cut. Nearly a year removed from his initial top 10 list, Clovis (Calif.) Buchanan running back Kendall Milton is down to just four finalists. The Texas Longhorns are not among that bunch, as the five-star talent trimmed his options to just Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and Ohio State on Friday. FINAL 4?? pic.twitter.com/9CQ90ZAtG2— Kendall Milton (@_KendallMilton) May 17, 2019 LSU wasn’t included during Milton’s top 10 last summer, and after surviving last year’s cut, in addition to the Longhorns, Fresno State, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma, Penn State, and USC were each left on the outside looking in for the nation’s No. 3-ranked running back, per the 247Sports Composite. The Sooners were the surprising exclusion, as Lincoln Riley’s program received multiple Crystal Ball picks projecting that the top-25 talent nationally would ultimately take his talents to Norman. In fact, Oklahoma owned more picks than any other program. One of numerous five-star running backs Texas was pursuing, Milton unofficially visited the Forty Acres in February. While that trip, of course, wasn’t enough to convince Milton to continue considering Texas, the Longhorns are still firmly in the mix with a pair of elite prospects. The priority largely appears to be top-ranked nationally talent Zachary Evans out of Houston North Shore, who has been a mainstay on the Forty Acres throughout his recruitment. The other is five-star Tucson (Az.) Salpointe Catholic product Bijan Robinson, who’s scheduled to return this Austin, this time for an official visit, in the coming weeks. The Longhorns are also still pursuing five-star Oklahoma pledge and Aledo native, Jase McClellan.

Jason Beall, a petroleum engineering freshman, died Thursday, UT spokesperson J.B. Bird confirmed in an email. The University received confirmation of Beall’s death from the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office, Bird said in an email. “The loss of Jason is devastating to our community,” Bird said. “We express our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.” Beall was a member of the Ramshorn Scholars Program, an academic community designed for select UT engineering undergraduates, according to an email sent out Friday morning by the organization. The email, sent by Michele Meyer, assistant dean for Engineering Student Services, Deanna Tilley, a senior academic adviser, and Tiffany Shelby, a student development specialist,  informed organization members of Beall’s death and offered grief and mental health resources and tips. The organization hosted an informal community support gathering for students, faculty and staff Friday in the Engineering Student Services Conference Room, where those who attended could express condolences in a card, presumably for Beall’s family. Out of respect for Beall’s family, Bird said, UT is unable to share further information regarding his death. “We are committed to helping fellow students mourning this death through university counseling services and other programs,” Bird said. Resources available to students include Student Emergency Services, the Counseling and Mental Health Center and the 24/7 crisis line, 512-471-2255.

The Longhorns have now made an early move with the Denison star ball carrier. For just the second time to date, Tom Herman and his staff have presented an offer to a 2022 running back prospect, with the latter invitation going out to Denison star Jadarian Price, his high school’s recruiting page Tweeted on Friday. Congratulation to @Jadarian15 for receiving an offer from @TexasFootball. What an outstanding young man that is exuberant in the classroom and on the field. Could not be more happy for him.#IGTBAYJ #GREATTEAMMATE pic.twitter.com/1AwmbIiEFj— Denison Yellow Jackets Recruiting (@Recruit_Denison) May 17, 2019 Texas joins the UTSA Roadrunners as Price’s only two offers to date, and furthermore, as noted, he’s now just the second 2022 running back prospect to nab an offer from Texas, joining Fort Worth Nolan Catholic product Emeka Megwa. During his breakout debut campaign, Price totaled 1,189 yards and 14 touchdowns on 170 attempts en route to District 7-5A-II Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. 247Sports’ Brian Perroni dubbed Price as a freshman to know going forward. A 5’10, 165-pound prospect, Price is currently unranked.

Come Monday, Austin Independent School District will be one step closer to closing or consolidating schools. Facing declining enrollment, a budget shortfall and aging schools, the district says the move will help it avoid bankruptcy and better utilize its property. Still, it's a move that will require some tough decisions. So, Monday night, the school board will approve its rubric to decide which schools will stay open. So how did the district get to this point?