Tag: four star wide receiver

LOOK: Texas target Johntay Cook pictured with Nick Saban at Alabama

One of Texas’ top wide receiver prospects is continuing his rounds of spring visits.

One of Texas’ top wide receiver prospects is continuing his rounds of spring visits. Johntay Cook is in Tuscaloosa for Alabama’s “A-Day” recruiting weekend.

Cook announced his top seven schools in December with Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M making the cut.

The sought-after Desoto product has made recent visits to Texas and Texas A&M where he created a social media frenzy with his comments on both teams’ trophy rooms.

Nick Saban will not have any trouble impressing Cook with the trophy collection he has built at Alabama. The Tide are hoping to steal another elite talent from the state of Texas this cycle.

Johntay Cook II’s Recruiting Profile

Rating

Stars Overall State Position
247 4 46 6 6
Rivals 4 56 9 7
ESPN 4 46 10 10
On3 4 84 12 12
247 Composite 4 40 6 7

Vitals

Hometown DeSoto, Texas
Projected Position Wide Receiver
Height 6-0
Weight 170
Class 2023

Recruitment

  • Texas offered on Oct. 22, 2020

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

WATCH: Texas signee Brenen Thompson dusts the competition on the track

Texas signee Brenen Thompson can absolutely fly.

Landing four-star wide receiver Brenen Thompson was one of the biggest wins for Steve Sarkisian throughout the 2022 recruiting cycle.

Expect Thompson to be a major weapon for the Longhorns from the first day he steps on campus. The speedster from Spearman is a perfect fit for Texas’ offense. He matches the style of players like Xavier Worthy, Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, who each excelled in Sarkisian’s system in recent years.

247Sports ranks Thompson as the No. 20 wide receiver in the country and a top 150 prospect overall, finishing as one of the higher-rated players in Texas’ class.

Thompson is a two-sport star who excels on both the football field and the track. He left his competition in the dust during his first track meet of the spring season, running a 10.22 in the 100M and 21.6 in the 200M.

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

Texas offers four-star ATH Rodney Gallagher

Gallagher recently decided to focus on football over basketball.

Texas has offered 2023 four-star athlete Rodney Gallagher, a two-sport star in basketball and football who recently decided to focus on his football career.

The Longhorns are one of 12 schools to offer Gallagher including the likes of Penn State, Notre Dame and Michigan.

Gallagher is one of new wide receiver coach Brennan Marion’s first offers since taking the job last week.

Here is what 247Sports recruiting analyst Brian Dohn had to say about Gallagher in his scouting report:

Elite level athlete and two-sport star. Has length and frame to fill out to 195 pounds. First-team all-state in basketball as a freshman and versatile athlete in football. Can play safety, linebacker or receiver depending on physical growth. Explosive and runs well. High level change of direction and body control. Very good ball skills. Continued strength growth throughout frame will benefit development greatly. Produced in big way on offense (61 touches, 883 yards) and defense (38 tackles). Starter at high level Power 5 program.

A versatile athlete like Gallagher is exactly the type of player Steve Sarkisian is looking to add to Texas’ 2023 recruiting class.

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

Texas lands huge commitment from four-star wide receiver Brenen Thompson

Boom! Texas lands its highest-rated commitment from Brenen Thompson.

Wide receiver has been a major hole in Texas’ 2022 class for some time. Having four-star Armani Winfield on board was a great start under Steve Sarkisian but it’s been nine months since his commitment.

Speed was the element missing from the class. Winfield is a great receiver prospect but is missing an absolute barnburner to pair alongside true freshman Xavier Worthy.

On Wednesday, Andre Coleman was able to lock down the first speedster at wide receiver in the Longhorns’ 2022 class.

Four-star Brenen Thompson announced his commitment to Texas on Wednesday via CBS Sports Live. Oklahoma State and Texas A&M were the other finalists for the wide receiver.

We can officially mark this as Sarkisian’s first head-to-head win against Jimbo Fisher in the recruiting world. While Oklahoma State was a finalist, there was never a doubt the four-star was going to leave the state of Texas.

A trip to Texas A&M was on deck for Saturday’s matchup against Alabama before Thompson decided to shut down his recruitment. The official visit to Austin during Rice weekend ended up sealing the deal for Texas.

At the end of the day, wide receivers with elite speed are going to attract Sarkisian. Think of his 2019 group at Alabama in Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle. An attempt will be made to recreate that in Austin.

Not many players in the state are faster than Thompson. His blazing numbers on the track speak for themselves, let alone the football field.

On the 247Sports composite, Thompson ranks as the No. 14 wide receiver in the country and No. 87 overall. Within the state of Texas, he is the No. 11 prospect. He is now the highest-rated commit in the Longhorns’ 2022 class.

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

Four-star wide receiver Brenen Thompson announcing commitment Wednesday

Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas A&M are in the running.

Here we go… This is a big one for Texas.

Four-star wide receiver Brenen Thompson announced he will be committing Wednesday at 7 p.m. CDT. Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas A&M are the three finalists.

According to Nick Harris of 247Sports, Thompson’s decision will be broadcasted on CBS Sports HQ Live.

Adding speed to the wide receiver room has been Steve Sarkisian’s biggest priority since taking over as head coach. Recruiting Xavier Worthy over from Michigan was the first addition. Thompson would be a significant second.

Despite being injured, the four-star posted electrifying numbers in the 100 and 200-meter this past spring on the track. Thompson has been dubbed one of the fastest prospects in the 2022 class.

Thompson’s most recent official visit was to Austin during the Texas Tech matchup. Heading to College Station for Texas A&M’s matchup against Alabama was on the cards. Barring a commitment to the Aggies, it’s safe to say that will be canceled.

A win would mean Sarkisian’s first head-to-head over Texas A&M as head coach. Losing out on Bryce Anderson hurts but with the shape of Texas’ class, getting the speedy receiver is the more important victory.

On the field, Thompson is still out with an undisclosed injury. The hope is to fully recover in time to run track next semester. If Thompson is able to compete in the spring, he will enroll at Texas before fall camp begins.

On the 247Sports composite, Thompson ranks as the No. 87 overall prospect and the No. 15 player from the state of Texas. He is the No. 11 wide receiver 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 target, four-star WR Brenen Thompson to “miss significant time” due to injury

Texas target Brenen Thompson will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Steve Sarkisian’s recruiting plan is beginning to unfold but there are still a couple of holes to fill, especially at wide receiver. Five-star Evan Stewart remains one of the most important targets left on the board. Alongside him is Brenen Thompson.

The four-star Panhandle prospect plays for Spearman High School and began the season with a 2-1 non-district record. Now, Thompson will be out for a significant portion of the season.

According to Kale Steed of Press Pass sports, Thompson is going to “miss significant time” due to an undisclosed injury. There is no set time for the wide receiver to return to the field.

Thompson adds to the list of Texas targets/commits not playing a significant amount of time their senior season. Three-star linebacker Trevell Johnson is undergoing surgery, while four-star running back Jaydon Blue opted out to focus on training for the collegiate level.

Recent commit Jaray Bledsoe will not play this season either. After transferring to Marlin High School, UIL ruled him ineligible.

As for Thompson’s recruitment, he currently has a top four of Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas A&M. He is supposed to be in Austin for an official visit this weekend per 247Sports. Impressing the four-star and his family will be crucial for Sarkisian.

On the 247Sports composite, Thompson ranks as the No. 87 overall prospect and the No. 15 player from the state of Texas. He is the No. 11 wide receiver in the country and was hoping to break into the top 10 with solid senior season tape.

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

Four-star wide receiver CJ Williams commits to Notre Dame over Texas, USC

On Sunday, WR C.J. Williams shut down his recruitment and committed to Notre Dame. He joins the No. 2 recruiting class in the 2022 cycle.

[mm-video type=video id=01fcpfw4w6t1ckr8d1dz playlist_id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fcpfw4w6t1ckr8d1dz/01fcpfw4w6t1ckr8d1dz-6e2312882bcdc99b545df317ebd4ddcb.jpg]

Texas has been stuck at one wide receiver since the beginning of January. Four-star wide receiver Armani Winfield committed before Steve Sarkisian even stepped foot on campus, being the first commit under the new head coach.

Five-star Evan Stewart was committed for just under a month but decided to reopen the process. Other targets remained on the board, including four-star CJ Williams.

Fighting for the California native’s commitment alongside Texas was Notre Dame and USC. The first two got official visits during the month of June, while the hometown Trojans never got the opportunity to host.

On Sunday, Williams shut down his recruitment and committed to the Fighting Irish. He joins the No. 2 class in the country as the second-highest-rated prospect.

This marks the second head-to-head victory Notre Dame has over Texas. Four-star linebacker Niuafe Tuihalamaka was down to the two schools but ending up going against the good guys.

On the 247Sports composite, Williams is the No. 86 player in the country and the No. 11 wide receiver. Within the state of California, he ranks as the No. 7 prospect.

Texas still has plenty of options left on their wide receiver board, mainly former commit Evan Stewart. The five-star is a must-get recruit for Sarkisian, needing his speed within the locker room. The same could be said for four-star Brenen Thompson.

An important fall of wide receiver recruiting is ahead of Sarkisian and Andre Coleman.

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

Former Texas WR target Xavier Worthy requests NLI release from Michigan

A young, true star is needed for Texas at wide receiver. On Thursday, Xavier Worthy requested a release from his national letter of intent.

Wide receiver has been a position group struggling early on in Steve Sarkisian’s first spring camp. The quantity is there, even with Jake Smith suffering a broken foot and Tory Omeire still recovering from a torn ACL. However, the quality has been lacking from top to bottom.

Only one wide receiver from the 2021 class is on campus as an early enrollee in Jaden Alexis. Despite being ranked the No. 56 receiver on the 247Sports composite, the Florida native was the highest-rated player at the position in Texas’ class.

A young, true star is needed for Texas at wide receiver. On Thursday, an option may have opened.

Four-star wide receiver Xavier Worthy signed with Michigan on Dec. 16 but did not enroll early. He requested a release from his national letter of intent, saying “things did not go as planned.”

Here is his full statement:

“Since graduating HS, I looked forward to starting my college football career at the University of Michigan, however; due to circumstance beyond my control, things did not go as planned – and I have submitted a NLI release request.

To the Michigan coaching staff, I have nothing but the upmost respect & appreciation for the opoortunity offered to me. And to the Michigan fans I’ll always be grateful for all the love & support you’ve shown me.

At this time I’m reopening my recruitment, in search of a new home to begin my college football career.”

When Worthy decided to sign with Michigan, his recruitment came down them and another national brand: Alabama. The four-star wide receiver made an unofficial trip to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 28, the weekend of the Iron Bowl when Steve Sarkisian took over as the head coach for Nick Saban.

Should Sarkisian look to dip into the portal for a wide receiver, Worthy should be his first call. A speedy deep threat is desperately needed, even if inexperience is a factor.

Worthy ranked as the No. 61 player and No. 8 wide receiver on the 247Sports composite in the 2021 class. The California native was the No. 4 in-state prospect.

Four-star wide receiver Chris Marshall leaves Texas out of top eight schools

Chris Marshall recently released his eight schools, keeping Texas on the outside. Texas A&M was the only in-state school to make the cut.

Wide receiver spots in Texas’ 2022 recruiting class are going to be occupied by some of the best prospects in the country. Four-star Armani Winfield locked in his spot at halftime of the national championship, while four-star Evan Stewart decommited after less than a month.

Before looking out of the state, Steve Sarkisian and Andre Coleman were determined to grab the best pass catchers from Texas. Fort Bend Marshall’s Chris Marshall was thought to be a top priority after his amazing junior season. However, the four-star recently released a top eight schools list and the Longhorns were left out.

Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Jackson State, LSU, Oregon, Texas A&M, and USC are the only schools Marshall is still considering. Seeing only one in-state school is surprising for a top 35 in-state player.

Marshall’s first season of ever playing football was his junior year. He finished with 1,009 yards and 18 touchdowns on 45 receptions. Basketball had been the four-star’s main focus and will play into his college choice.

On the 247Sports composite, Marshall ranks as the No. 185 player and No. 23 wide receiver in the country. Within the state of Texas, he is the No. 31 overall prospect.

Seeing Sarkisian strike out on one of his top offensive targets seem strange, even just over three months into his tenure. Losing out on Marshall will likely force Texas to move out of the state to land an elite wide receiver. Kevin Coleman, Shazz Preston, and C.J. Williams will rise up the board with Marshall gone.

Four-star wide receiver Evan Stewart commits to Texas over Alabama, Oregon

Texas has landed one of its most important targets in the 2022 class.

Steve Sarkisian and Texas have landed one of its most important targets in the 2022 recruiting class.

Four-star wide receiver Evan Stewart announced his commitment to the Longhorns late Thursday night. Texas was able to beat out schools such as Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas A&M, and USC.

The Frisco, Texas, native is the No. 8 overall in-state prospect. Stewart is ranked the No. 40 overall player and the No. 5 wide receiver in the country. Securing a top 10 prospect from within the state of Texas is exactly what Sarkisian needed to continue the momentum in the 2022 class.

Stewart runs track alongside playing football and competes in the 100 meters and 200 meters sprint. Pure speed is one way to describe his playing style, something Sarkisian has identified as a big need on the roster.

Having the ability to line Stewart up anywhere makes the four-star prospect an even bigger threat. Blowing by defensive backs and racking up yards after the catch is the name of his game. Seeing him in a Sarkisian based offense will terrify opposing defenses.

During his junior season, Stewart caught 46 passes for 913 yards and nine touchdowns. The wide receiver only played in nine of Frisco Liberty’s games, missing two with an injury.

You can watch his full highlights below.

As for Texas’ 2022 class thus far, Stewart is the second wide receiver to commit. Four-star Armani Winfield committed in the middle of the national championship game after seeing what Sarkisian’s offense looked like.

With the quarterback position locked down in five-star Maalik Murphy, a special offensive class is being developed. The Longhorns are expected to take at least two more wide receivers, another running back, and a handful of offensive linemen. The power of Sarkisian’s offensive mind is going to strike gold.