Tag: Texas football recruiting

Texas football ranks Top 10 in On3 Sports’ 2025 industry recruiting rankings

The ‘Horns look poised for another top recruiting class in 2025.

Texas recruiting is in a good spot early on in the 2025 recruiting class. The Longhorns rank No. 8 in the class for On3 Sports’ industry rankings with room for improvement.

Highly regarded Saraland (AL) quarterback KJ Lacey headlines a class that includes top tight end Emaree Wilson, elite defensive lineman Lance Jackson, Florida defensive lineman Brandon Brown and Pearland (TX) linebacker Anthony Williams.

Perhaps the Longhorns’ top target for the class is wide receiver Dakorien Moore who is committed to the LSU Tigers. LSU currently owns the No. 1 class according to On3. Even so, the Longhorns are in a better position for other in-state targets. The team is looking to further build the class.

For Texas to reach its class ceiling, it will need to start winning over more of the top in-state players. One player appears to trend toward the Longhorns in Conroe (TX) cornerback Dorian Brew.

With Texas having made a College Football Playoff berth last season, the ‘Horns don’t have as difficult a task to sell the team’s vision. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and company have already shown they can compete at a high level nationally.

There’s plenty of time before the class crosses the finish line, but the program is off to a promising start. They will look to make a push for another Top 10 class in 2025.

2024 California four-star wide receiver Aaron Butler commits to Texas

Texas improved its 2024 receiver class in a big way with Aaron Butler’s commitment on Friday night.

Four-star wide receiver Aaron Butler has committed to the Texas Longhorns. The California product and No. 122 player in the 247Sports composite rankings joined the Longhorns’ already strong 2024 class on Friday night.

The big time player from Calabasas (CA) is a huge get for the Texas coaching staff and another significant win for Longhorns wide receiver coach Chris Jackson.

247Sports national scouting analyst Greg Biggins gave the following scouting report of Butler.

“Butler is a dangerous two-way player who could end up at corner or receiver in college. … He’s physical player and has a lot of nastiness in his game. Whether he’s blocking or jamming a receiver, he’s looking to physically dominate his opponent and will often stay on his block until he puts him in the ground or off the field.

As a receiver, he has really impressed and is a threat to score every time he touches the football. He plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder and has an edge in his game that reminds us a little of former LB Poly and current NE Patriot DB Jack Jones. He needs to keep his emotions in check but his upside is extremely high.”

What seems clear is that Texas likely won’t lack at receiver for a long while. The team’s 2024 blue chip receiver class now includes three blue chip wide receivers in five-star receiver Ryan Wingo and composite four-stars in Butler, Freddie Dubose and Parker Livingstone.

The Longhorns will look to continue to develop receiver like they have in head coach Steve Sarkisian’s three seasons in Austin.

Five-star DL Dominick McKinley spoke to Texas ‘multiple times’ in the last day

Texas and LSU have ramped up their recruitments of five-star DL Dominick McKinley.

Five-star defensive end Dominick McKinley is highly sought after as we reach the finish line for the 2024 recruiting class. Continue reading “Five-star DL Dominick McKinley spoke to Texas ‘multiple times’ in the last day”

Alabama looks poised to flip Texas commit Aeryn Hampton

Alabama is making a late push for Aeryn Hampton and might win out.

Texas is having a strong signing day so far, but one recruitment could go against the Longhorns. Alabama head coach Nick Saban and company appear primed to poach long-time Texas target and commit Aeryn Hampton.

The four-star athlete from Daingerfield has caught the attention of several teams, but apparently has made an impression on Nick Saban. As of today, recruiting industry experts Sam Spiegelman and Gerry Hamilton from On3 and Mike Roach and Tom Loy from 247Sports view the Crimson Tide as capable of completing the flip attempt.

The loss would not be the end of the world for the 2024 recruiting class. Texas is still set to bring in four five-stars and three other On3 Top 100 players. Even so, that Saban and company are pushing to flip the big time athlete makes one wonder what the Longhorns will be losing should the Tide win out.

We will keep you updated on the recruiting class as Texas’ signing day continues.

Texas Football: Updated tracker of signees in the 2024 class

We look at who has signed with the Longhorns on Dec. 20.

The Texas Longhorns’ 2024 recruiting class has started to officially take shape on signing day morning. The majority of the team’s recruits have signed to play football in Austin.

The recruit we most wanted to see choose the Longhorns this offseason is headed to the Forty Acres. Duncanville five-star edge rusher Colin Simmons signed with Texas after racking up three sacks against North Shore in the Texas 6A-Division I state championship game. It’s that kind of impact Texas hopes to get from the player when he becomes an upperclassman at the college level.

The next two players we most wanted Texas to sign have joined the class in five-star offensive tackle Brandon Baker and now four-star cornerback Kobe Black. Add in five-star safety Xavier Filsaime and the signing of five-star receiver Ryan Wingo and this class is quietly one of the more elite groups in the nation.

Several other key Longhorns have signed with the 2024 recruiting class. Here’s a list of all of those players who have signed on Dec. 20 with their rankings from the 247Sports composite.

Signing Day Preview: Texas set to bring in a strong 2024 class

We look at what Texas brings in this Wednesday.

Texas is set to haul in an impressive 2024 recruiting class on Signing Day on Wednesday. The class is significant given Texas seemed to dedicate much more focus to winning on the field during the season than recruiting. That seems to have been the right call.

The 2023 focus was where it should have been: beat Alabama and win the Big 12 championship. The team did more than that in making the College Football Playoff. Recruiting sold itself.

Texas is set to bring in three On3 composite five-star players in edge rusher Colin Simmons, offensive tackle Brandon Baker, wide receiver Ryan Wingo and 247Sports five-star safety Xavier Filsaime. Defensive back Kobe Black, running back Jerrick Gibson and cornerback Wardell Mack join the above players in On3’s Top 100 players.

The class has plenty of depth as several of the more unheralded recruits could bring impact faster than expected.

We will monitor whether or not Texas will have surprise commits for the day. It’s unclear if that is on the table for the Longhorns. Albeit, after earning commitments from four players in two days through the transfer portal and recruiting perhaps another player we don’t expect could be added to the fold.

Four-star DT Brandon Brown commits to Texas

Steve Sarkisian and company earn their fourth commitment in two days.

247Sports composite four-star defensive tackle Brandon Brown committed to Texas on Tuesday afternoon. The Longhorns on set to bring in a great one for the 2025 recruiting class.

Brown stands just under 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 286 pounds per 247Sports. That he is a college-sized defensive tackle as a junior bodes well for his college ceiling.

The talented tackle from Florida is a huge get for defensive line coach Bo Davis. Defensive line recruiting has improved under the current coaching regime led by defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. Texas will look to mold Brown into the type of productive player that current defensive tackles T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy have been this season.

For head coach Steve Sarkisian and company, Brown joins portal transfer Andrew Mukuba and talented recruits in safety Xavier Filsaime and tight end Emaree Winston to commit to Texas in the last two days.

Texas will look to continue its recruiting success with a strong signing day on Wednesday.

Five-star DB Xavier Filsaime to sign on Wednesday, Dec. 20

Xavier Filsaime is set to sign with his college choice on Dec. 20.

Five-star defensive back and Florida commit Xavier Filsaime is set to sign with his college football team of choice. It looks like he will make that choice official on Wednesday, Dec. 20.

Filsaime earned his five-star status playing safety for the McKinney High Lions. He commands the following scouting report from 247Sports national scouting analyst Gabe Brooks.

“Athletic back-end defender with experience in all three phases and verified athleticism in multiple environments. A receiver early on who made the full-time switch to the secondary. Coincidentally, a weapon in the kicking game at punter as well. Physical tools, football IQ, and athleticism likely make for a core special teamer early in college.

Productive tackler who’s around the ball regularly vs. the run and the pass. Quick-footed and fluid in coverage with turn-and-run juice. Capable of matching up with receivers, tight ends, and backs.”

Texas has seen its odds of bringing in the elite safety increase over the last month. The Longhorns look to be the favorite to sign the program elevating player. We will monitor Filsaime’s recruitment as it nears the finish line.

Examining Texas’ edge rusher outlook for 2024

Texas projects to be scary good at edge rusher in 2024.

Outsiders project a bleak outlook for the Texas football team in 2024. The effort to overstate how much the Longhorns will lose is not only pathetic but inaccurate.

Texas is going to lose several great players. That’s undeniable. The Longhorns are set to lose their four top pass catchers in Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jordan Whittington.

The team will also lose two elite college defensive tackles in Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat along with crucial contributing linebacker Jaylan Ford and nickelback Jahdae Barron.

Edge rusher will be more kind to Texas over the 2024 offseason. The returning talent alone is enough to get excited about for the coaching staff. The Longhorns should return edge rushers Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke barring a surprise. Sorrell could leave for the NFL draft, but that would not project to be a wise decision. Both have a 5-plus sack season under their belt.

The returning depth at the position is strong. Justice Finkley has made plays in limited opportunities. We haven’t yet seen what first-year edges Colton Vasek and Tausili Akana can do. What Texas adds will bring more intrigue and excitement in regard to what the Longhorns can produce at edge.

Five-star freshman Colin Simmons and four-star Zina Umeozulu are set to join the position group adding more individual talent. Simmons, like 2023 freshmen Anthony Hill, Malik Muhammad, Derek Williams, Cedric Baxter Jr. and Johntay Cook, may be a significant contributor from the start.

Edge rush should be a strength for the Texas defense in 2024. It could bode favorably for the team against lesser pass protectors.

Texas DB target Kobe Black expected to decide Wednesday afternoon

Kobe Black is expected to choose his college team Wednesday, December 13 at 4:20 p.m.

He needs no introduction. He stands as one of the best defensive back prospects the Longhorns have recruited in head coach Steve Sarkisian’s tenure at Texas.

On3 consensus four-star Kobe Black is set to make his college decision on Wednesday. His choice will no doubt transform the future of defensive back room he chooses. The Longhorns hope it will be the team he picks.

It’s hard to ignore what Texas has built with secondary youth in Austin. Texas’ heavy defensive back rotation utilized several young defensive talents in Malik Muhammad, Terrance Brooks and Derek Williams Jr. Certainly, the team could find Black several snaps in 2024 if not a starting role.

Texas’ underclassmen defensive backs have flashed brilliance this season. Undoubtedly, Black could be the next in line to shine. Wednesday will reveal is he sees the Longhorns in the same light.

Coverage for Black’s commitment is set to begin at 4:20 p.m. CT.