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The top player in the state is set to visit Texas later this month.
2024 EDGE rusher Colin Simmons is a priority for top college football programs around the nation. Continue reading “Five-star EGDE Colin Simmons sets spring visit dates”
Texas is all in on five-star Colin Simmons.
2024 edge rusher Colin Simmons is one of the most sought-after prospects in the entire country. Simmons is undeniably an exceptional talent, already picking up over 40 offers following his Junior season.
The five-star out of Duncanville is listed as the No. 5 player in the nation and the No. 1 in the state of Texas for the 2024 recruiting cycle.
Landing Simmons is a top priority for Steve Sarkisian and his Texas staff. The Longhorns are making a full-court press, having every coach on the team helping with Simmons’ recruitment.
Simmons mentioned to On3 Sports what that strong effort means to him.
“That shows that you really want me, honestly, if you have the whole coaching staff coming after me… it means a lot. That means you really want me and if you’ve got everybody pushing to come and get me, that shows me a lot.”
Texas struck big on the recruiting trail in 2023, signing four five-star prospects in the cycle. Simmons is a player who could headline another top-five class for the Longhorns.
LSU, Georgia and Alabama are other notable programs making a significant push for Simmons. Winning out for Simmons’ commitment is going to be no easy task.
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Five-star EDGE Colin Simmons is one of the top players in the class of 2024.
Five-star EDGE Colin Simmons is one of the top players in the class of 2024. Continue reading “2024 Five-star EDGE Colin Simmons speaks on his recruitment”
According to Mike Roach of Horns247, five-star Matayo Uiagalelei will be in attendance for Saturday’s Big 12 opener against Texas Tech.
Even with the season underway, recruiting never stops on the 40 Acres. Each home game, Steve Sarkisian and his staff will be hosting some of the top prospects.
Saturday will be no different, with one of the top 2023 targets reportedly visiting Austin.
According to Mike Roach of Horns247, five-star Matayo Uiagalelei will be in attendance for Saturday’s Big 12 opener against Texas Tech on Saturday. Since the edge prospect is only a junior, it’s safe to assume the visit will be unofficial.
Texas offered Uiagalelei on Feb. 15 with Jeff Banks and Bo Davis being labeled as the main recruiters. No coach has been hotter on the trail than the defensive line coach, already bringing in seven for the 2022 class. Outside of the game, Davis’ focus will be on the 2023 star.
Sources tell @Horns247 that five-star EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei will visit Texas this weekend along with group of St. John Bosco players. #HookEm https://t.co/JJFr05BGzD pic.twitter.com/O069MCYKr0
— Mike Roach (@MikeRoach247) September 22, 2021
Mater Dei rightfully so gets a lot of credit for being the best high school program on the west coast. However, St. John Bosco, Uiagalelei’s high school, continually puts out elite talent as well.
Uiagalelei is off to a hot start this season, recording 15 tackles in five games. To add on, the five-star has 4.0 tackles for a loss and 3.0 sacks. All stats are from Maxpreps.
Texas will use this weekend’s visit as a way to make an early impression on Uiagalelei. Sarkisian’s presence on the west coast cannot be denied after his days at USC and Washington. Staying the course with California’s best players will eventually pay off.
On the 247Sports composite, Uiagalelei is the No. 12 overall prospect and No. 2 within the state of California. At the edge position, nobody is ranked higher. He is also the younger brother of current Clemson starting quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei.
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Longhorns Wire got to catch up with the five-star edge after Duncanville’s historic win over DeSoto on Friday night.
Nobody has done a better job recruiting on the defensive line throughout the 2022 cycle than the Texas Longhorns. Bo Davis and Pete Kwiatkowski have snagged commitments from across the country, spanning from Phoenix, Arizona, to Trussville, Alabama.
Even with seven defensive line commitments, one of the best pass rushers in the country is still on the board, Omari Abor.
I caught up with the five-star edge after Duncanville’s historic win over DeSoto on Friday night. He did not play due to a minor shoulder injury, but he was there to support his teammates.
Both Jeff Banks and Kyle Flood were in town, and Abor had brief conversation with them pregame. 247Sports has listed Banks as one of the main recruiters alongside defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski.
However, Director of High School Relations Chris Gilbert has been the main point of contact.
“That’s my guy,” Abor said. “He knows my dad from back in the day, and we just chop it up with each other. I got to know about him more. Talking to him made me open up my eyes to Texas.”
Abor has yet to take a visit to Austin since picking up his offer in March 2020. Only one official visit remains for the five-star: Texas and Texas A&M are battling for it.
Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and Ohio State officially hosted him over the summer. With the Sooners cut from his top schools list, the in-state schools have the opportunity to climb back in the recruitment.
Joining the SEC has helped Texas get back into a lot of races. Abor is not one of those. Playing in the sport’s premier conference is far from the top priority.
“I’m not really caught up into the SEC but I am at the same time,” Abor said. “I would love to play in the SEC, but I feel like that’s not one of my biggest concerns about picking a school.”
One of Texas’ best pitches may be the early playing time. The transfer portal is supplying most of the pass rush this season from the edge. Once Ray Thornton and Ben Davis are out of the program, young guys will have opportunities to step up.
Abor has been monitoring the depth chart situation and each of his top five schools but tries to keep it out of mind. He thinks no matter where his final destination ends up being, he will get on the field.
“I kind of look at the depth chart but I kind of don’t at the same time,” the five-star said. “If you can play, you’ll play. You’re going to step on the field.”
Out of Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M, the Buckeyes have caught Abor’s eyes as the deepest at defensive end. But he reiterated depth does not faze him.
“The biggest depth chart I have seen is Ohio State, but it does not really bother me. I feel like I can really play anywhere.”
Abor confirmed he is still on track for a commitment at the Under Amour All-America game in January. Getting him on campus for an official visit instead of Texas A&M is critical for Texas if it wants to continue to chip away.
On the 247Sports composite, Abor is the No. 2 edge in the country and the No. 18 overall prospect. Within the state of Texas, he is the No. 6 player.
Omari Abor announced his top five schools, with Texas making the cut.
One of the more surprising elements late in the month of July was Texas’ ability to get back in the race for five-star edge Omari Abor. The five-star edge prospect seemed to be drifting away from the Longhorns but Steve Sarkisian found a way to get back in the race.
Abor announced his top five schools Friday afternoon, with Texas making the cut. Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, and Texas A&M are the other four schools still involved with the five-star edge prospect. After unofficially announcing his top six via Instagram a couple of weeks ago, Abor decided to cut out USC.
Oklahoma being left off the list is surprising after the momentum they carried going into the summer. Abor visited Norman during the ChampU BBQ event but has fallen off ever since official visits to Alabama and Ohio State. Three 247Sports crystal balls are still inserted for the Sooners.
BREAKING: Five-Star Edge Omari Abor is down to 5️⃣ Schools, he tells @On3Recruits
More Here (FREE): https://t.co/8VTVWVe1lb pic.twitter.com/ETnrK22tvV
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) August 27, 2021
LSU and the two Texas schools will battle it out for Abor’s final official visit. He went to Texas A&M twice during the summer but both were unofficial. To win the recruitment, Steve Sarkisian must get Abor back to Austin.
In an interview with On3, Abord discussed what he liked about Texas’ program.
“I started off with Texas first because all of their staff members and coaches are incredible,” Omari Abor said. “Especially, the strength and conditioning coach. Coach (Steve) Sarkisian was definitely a game-changer for Texas.”
On the 247Sports composite, Abor is the No. 18 overall prospect and the No. 2 edge in the country. Within the state of Texas, the Duncanville product is the No. 6 player. He will open his season on Friday night against California powerhouse Mater Dei.
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During an Instagram Q&A, Omari Abor was asked what his top schools were at the moment.
One of the top uncommitted prospects in the country is five-star edge rusher Omari Abor. The Duncanville product has the best schools in the country going after him.
During an Instagram Q&A, Abor was asked what his top three schools were at the moment. He doubled down, releasing his top six. Texas made the cut, alongside Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and USC.
Abor was in Austin recently, visiting during the BBQ/pool party event at the end of July. Steve Sarkisian will have to battle it out with Texas A&M and USC for his final official visit spot. He used four during the month of June.
Omari Abor top 6 👀 OU out of it kinda interesting. Texas pushing for a fall OV pic.twitter.com/Nu5Sz2LT1L
— Andy (@hookemcowboys) August 15, 2021
Oklahoma being left out is quite a surprise, considering Abor took an official visit to Norman during June. The Sooners were the leaders for quite a while but are now in the backseat.
On the 247Sports composite, Abor is the No. 24 overall player and the No. 2 edge in the country. He ranks as the No. 6 prospect in the Lone Star State. If Texas can begin to chip away at Abor, he would be one of the biggest defensive end prospects in recent history.
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