Tag: 2022 class

LOOK: Former Oklahoma commit Jordan Hudson in a Texas uniform

With Jordan Hudson now on a UOV, Steve Sarkisian and Co. has a chance to impress. You can see the four-star WR posed in a UT uniform here:

Oklahoma stole one of Texas’ best commits in four-star ATH Billy Bowman during the 2021 cycle. The Denton Ryan product was sold on the Sooners’ coaching staff and the possibility of playing offense under Lincoln Riley.

Texas is now looking for revenge in the form of Jordan Hudson. A long-time Oklahoma commit, Hudson reopened his recruitment in the middle of June. Steve Sarkisian knew a special product was available and got him to the 40 Acres as soon as possible.

Before getting to Austin, Hudson took an official visit to the hometown school in SMU over the weekend. Similar to Savion Byrd’s recruitment last year, the Mustangs are going for a big named recruit against a college football blue-blood.

With Hudson now on an unofficial visit, Sarkisian and the staff have the chance to impress. The four-star receiver posed with the Director of Recruiting Brandon Harris. You can see the photo below:

Getting Hudson to make a trip to Austin was excellent work by the Texas staff. After his decommitment from Oklahoma, SMU was instantly seen as the favorite to land the Garland native. Crystal ball predictions even began to flood in for the wide receiver in favor of the Mustangs.

After the Jake Smith transfer, Texas is going to have another spot open at wide receiver in the ’22 class. Adding Hudson onto Armani Winfield plus other targets Andre Coleman is pursuing (Evan Stewart, Brenen Thompson), would be a dream haul.

On the 247Sports composite, Hudson is the No. 14 wide receiver and No. 113 player overall in the country. Within the state of Texas, he skims inside the top 25 at No. 23.

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Jake Smith’s transfer could open up a new door in wide receiver recruiting

Before Jake Smith put his name in the portal, Sarkisian knew he was going to have to rebuild the WR room. Now, another door may have opened.

When Jake Smith entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, the news was not entirely shocking. The wide receiver never really got going in his two seasons under Tom Herman. Many thought Steve Sarkisian would bring new opportunities.

One broken foot later, Smith was possibly falling out of favor on the depth chart. Troy Omeire (dealing with his own injury) and Jordan Whittington were excelling, while the addition of Xavier Worthy was a welcome one.

Joshua Moore was the team’s leading receiver last season. Kelvontay Dixon’s speed could favor Sarkisian’s offense. Even Kai Money stood out during the spring game.

It’s easy to see why Smith possibly felt like an odd man out.

Before the former Gatorade Player of the Year put his name in the transfer portal, Sarkisian knew he was going to have to rebuild the wide receiver room via recruiting. Losing Smith just makes it a more difficult challenge.

World-class speed was priority No. 1, followed by every other trait you look for in a receiver. Sarkisian knows what he wants in his offense. If he needs to coach up players with Andre Coleman, then so be it.

Luckily there are a plentiful number of options for Texas to go after in the 2022 class. The question has always been how many do the Longhorns end up taking when it’s all said and done.

Three was thought to be the answer but with Smith gone, four may be necessary. Talented in his own right, Smith could have been in the program for two, possibly three more years. Losing a longer-term option means a suitable replacement is needed within the next recruiting cycle.

No matter the number, Evan Stewart is going to be the priority. The five-star not only possesses the skills you want from a receiver but is a burner. He proved it on the track this season, running a 10.58 100-meters.

Armani Winfield is already committed and solidified his place in the 2022 class. He may not be a prototypical Sarkisian receiver but still proves to be one of the best in the state. He will find a way to get involved in the offense.

Brenen Thompson was thought to be the third and final piece of the puzzle. Another speedster, the Spearman native has dominated at the 3A-DII level on the football field and on the track. He will remain atop the board until the fax has been sent but will not be where Texas stops.

With a fourth spot now available, former Oklahoma commit Jordan Hudson and California native C.J. Williams will be names to look for. The latter was in Austin on June 19 for his first official visit of the summer, while Hudson is still pondering a trip.

Before Smith entered the portal, both Hudson and Williams were prospects Texas were chasing, but doing so in hoping they land them. Now, landing a fourth wide receiver is a must.

  • Jordan Hudson/C.J. Williams
  • Evan Stewart
  • Brenen Thompson
  • Armani Winfield

Now, that is a wide receiver class.

Add in Troy Omeire as an underclassman and Texas’ wide receiver room will be set over the next three to four seasons.

Report: Four-star RB Jamarion Miller making an official visit to Texas

Texas still has big names flooding to ATX for official visits.

Three weekends into summer visits, Steve Sarkisian and his staff have done an excellent job showcasing their vision for the programs. Reviews have been A+ from players and parents.

With one more weekend to go, Texas still has big names flooding to ATX for official visits. A big-name running back just so happened to be added to the list.

According to Justin Wells of Inside Texas, Jamarion Miller is going to be making an official visit to Austin this weekend. The four-star running back has already seen Florida and Texas A&M officially.

Getting Miller on campus is a win amongst itself. Other running back targets were thought to be more realistic options for Stan Drayton. If whiffing and possibly burning a bridge, Texas is now going full blitz after the east Texas running back.

Texas’ running back recruitment is a bit murky right now.

Jaydon Blue is still currently committed but questions have come up about the four-star. He opted out of his senior season, wanting to prepare for college football. The first to do so at the high school level. Nobody is quite sure how Sarkisian and his staff feel about the decision.

Either way, Blue remains in the 2022 class. The search for another running back was going to continue.

De’Anthony Gatson was thought to be the guy but he ended up committing to USC on Tuesday. Although he may not have been option No. 1, it felt like a recruitment Drayton was going to win. Gatson must not have heard that Californians are coming to Austin, not Texans to Los Angeles.

Closing the gap on Miller would be big time for Texas. Even if Blue happens to cycle out of the class, Miller could easily be the headline running back. Speed on the outside is where the four-star shines, something we know Sarkisian will love.

LOOK: Photos from Texas’ big 2022 recruiting weekend

Step No. 1 of making an official visit is getting in front of a camera and posing in the uniform. Check out some of the top photos here.

Elite after elite 2022 prospects made their way down to Austin for an official visit this weekend. A mix of current commits and top priority targets remaining on the board was able to meet and socialize with the Texas staff for the first time in person.

Five-stars Kelvin Banks (offensive tackle) and Denver Harris (cornerback) may have been the biggest uncommitted names visiting, while longtime commits Maalik Murphy (quarterback) and Jaydon Blue (running back) came to do some recruiting. While nobody has committed from the weekend yet, nothing but good can come from getting guys on campus.

Step No. 1 of making an official visit is getting in front of a camera and posing for photos in the uniform. Texas’ famous all-white uniform seemed a popular choice this weekend. Everyone but Murphy and four-star safety Bryan Allen went for the go-to away jersey.

Photos with Sarkisian, in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and behind the “All Gas, No Brakes” block letters were shared throughout the Twittersphere. A touch of Texas twang was added by a few prospects as well, getting a cowboy hat involved.

Check out some of the best photos recruits posted from their Texas official visit on the next page

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LOOK: Five-stars Denver Harris and Evan Stewart on their Texas official visits

When talking about “must get” guys, Denver Harris and Evan Stewart are at the top. Sarkisian got both on campus this weekend for their OVs.

When talking about “must get” prospects, Denver Harris and Evan Stewart are atop the list. Forget their in-state status/rankings, cornerback and wide receiver are too big of a need in the 2022 class for Texas to miss on either.

Steve Sarkisian was able to get both on campus this weekend for their official visits. With a large number of key prospects migrating to the Forty Acres, the two skill position players may have been the most important.

Stewart, the once Texas commit, was making it to Austin after seeing Florida and Texas A&M. Harris has visited College Station as well, with trips to Alabama, Georgia, and LSU lined up.

Both five stars went through the official visit routine and taking some photos in the Texas uniform. Harris went live on Instagram before getting in front of the camera, while Stewart was seen spinning a football in the background.

You can watch it below:

Harris posed with his family and friends in the uniform later on. The cornerback was wearing No. 3, one that is currently not worn by anybody on the roster.

Stewart was seen in the icy white uniforms, adding a white beanie to the equation as well.

Both Harris’ and Stewart’s recruitments are expected to go the distance. There will be more factors than just football when it comes to a decision, especially for the wide receiver.

New NIL laws should be a major selling point. Expanding each of their brands while in Austin could make the difference between Texas and an SEC school.

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Four-star LB Niuafe Tuihalamaka commits to Notre Dame over Arizona State, Stanford, and Texas

Niuafe Tuihalamaka announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Saturday. A four-star prospect, he chose over Arizona State, Stanford, and UT.

The last two weekends have been successful for Steve Sarkisian. He has landed four players after making visits. Three 2022 commits and running back Keilan Robinson from the transfer portal.

Sadly, not everything can go in favor of Texas, as a top priority defensive prospect went a different direction.

Linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon. A four-star prospect, the California native chose the Fighting Irish over Arizona State, Stanford, and Texas.

Tuihalamaka was in Austin on an official visit the first weekend of June. He said Austin “felt like home” and wanted to eventually come back. The Longhorns seemed to have made up ground for the linebacker, but a trip to South Bend sealed the deal for Notre Dame.

On the 247Sports composite, Tuihalamaka ranks as the No. 11 linebacker in the country. He will play middle linebacker for newly hired defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman. The four-star is the No. 10 player from his home state of California and No. 102 in the country.

For Texas, the key remaining linebacker target is Sebastian Cheeks. Notre Dame was thought to be a player for Cheeks but with the commitment of Tuihalamaka, there will be no room.

Jeff Choate has already taken a commitment from three-star Trevell Johnson as well. Landing him and Cheeks would be a successful cycle for Texas’ linebacking core.

WATCH: Texas commits Maalik Murphy and Armani Winfield pose in jerseys for the first time

Maalik Murphy and Armani Winfield were able to put on the famous Texas jersey. The QB went for burnt orange, while the WR went icy white.

Two of Texas’ strongest commitments were finally able to make it to campus this weekend. Four-star quarterback Maalik Murphy and four-star wide receiver Armani Winfield are in Austin for the first time together on official visits.

Since Steve Sarkisian began shaping the 2022 class, maintaining Murphy and Winfield has been crucial. Both are critical recruiters within the class, working on different players throughout the cycle.

Even with a ton of targets on campus, the two commits got to have some fun themselves. Murphy and Winfield were finally able to put on the famous Texas jersey on Friday. The quarterback sported the burnt orange, while icy white was the choice for Winfield.

Murphy stayed the course with his high school number, No. 4. This number is currently occupied by Jordan Whittington, maybe something new could be on the horizon. As for Winfield, he went with No. 9, the former jersey of Collin Johnson. Al’Vonte Woodard currently wears the number.

You can see the two show off their future college uniforms here:

For Murphy, development is the keyword surrounding the signal-caller. The potential to be great is there, but a lack of serious playing time throughout his high school career is where questions arise. Sarkisian will have a project on his hands going forward.

Winfield was the first commit Sarkisian was able to land. In fact, he told the Texas staff in the middle of Alabama‘s national championship game against Ohio State. He may not possess the world-class speed Sarkisian desires from his receivers, but Winfield is still one of the best in the country.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Texas Football: Most important 2022 recruits that are expected to be on campus this weekend

Even if you asked for a bigger recruiting weekend, I don’t think Steve Sarkisian could pull it off. Here are Texas’ 2022 official visitors:

Even if you asked for a bigger recruiting weekend, I don’t think Steve Sarkisian could pull it off.

Texas is hosting its big official visit weekend for the 2022 class after having a junior day for the 2023 class last weekend. Some of the biggest targets left on the board are expected to be in Austin over the weekend.

Most are in-state guys, but a couple of out-of-state prospects have made it to the Lone Star State.

Nobody has a bigger weekend than wide receiver coach Andre Coleman. Evan Stewart and Brenen Thompson, two absolute must-get prospects, are going to be on campus.

California’s C.J. Williams and Louisiana’s Shazz Preston will be on official visits as well. Sole wide receiver commit Armani Winfield will be accompanying.

Defensive backs coach Terry Joseph has quite a task ahead of him as well. Five-star Denver Harris and four-star Terrance Brooks will be seeing the campus for the first time. Both are being prioritized by Alabama and Nick Saban. The goal of the weekend is to fend off the Crimson Tide.

Here are the most important 2022 recruits that are expected to be on campus this weekend:

Texas Football: Most important 2022 recruits that are expected to be on campus this weekend

Even if you asked for a bigger recruiting weekend, I don’t think Steve Sarkisian could pull it off. Here are Texas’ 2022 official visitors:

Even if you asked for a bigger recruiting weekend, I don’t think Steve Sarkisian could pull it off.

Texas is hosting its big official visit weekend for the 2022 class after having a junior day for the 2023 class last weekend. Some of the biggest targets left on the board are expected to be in Austin over the weekend.

Most are in-state guys, but a couple of out-of-state prospects have made it to the Lone Star State.

Nobody has a bigger weekend than wide receiver coach Andre Coleman. Evan Stewart and Brenen Thompson, two absolute must-get prospects, are going to be on campus.

California’s C.J. Williams and Louisiana’s Shazz Preston will be on official visits as well. Sole wide receiver commit Armani Winfield will be accompanying.

Defensive backs coach Terry Joseph has quite a task ahead of him as well. Five-star Denver Harris and four-star Terrance Brooks will be seeing the campus for the first time. Both are being prioritized by Alabama and Nick Saban. The goal of the weekend is to fend off the Crimson Tide.

Here are the most important 2022 recruits that are expected to be on campus this weekend:

How Texas’ current, future running back room looks after Rueben Owens’ decommitment

After Rueben Owens’ decommitment, there are questions with Stan Drayton’s group. Here is the status of the current/future of UT’s RB room:

Five-star 2023 running back Rueben Owens made news by decommitting from Texas on Thursday afternoon. For a sophomore who “shut down” his commitment before being able to visit a single campus, seeing a change in heart is not surprising.

Even so, Owens and his father have iterated Texas is still the leader going forward. Schools like Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, and Ohio State will take interest in the five-star as well. A long two years are ahead for what should be an entertaining recruitment.

Focusing back in Austin, the future of the running back room is now in question. Owens was expected to hold the Longhorns over until at least the 2026 season, with players such as Jaydon Blue ahead of him.

The current situation is in good hands with Bijan Robinson and Co. expecting to have a big season. Texas running backs coach Stan Drayton and head coach Steve Sarkisian have done an excellent job nailing down and developing talent.

However, there is still work to do on the recruitment scene. Key prospects from the 2022 class remain, while the Longhorns are back at square one in the 2023 cycle.

Here is the status of the current and future of Texas’ running back room:

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