Tag: Texas longhorns football recruiting

CFB recruiting analyst updates where Texas stands with recruits

The Longhorns are in good position with several recruits.

The 2024 offseason has been largely positive for the Texas Longhorns. Team progress looks to have extended to the recruiting trail.

247Sports recruiting analyst Tom Loy weighed in on where Texas is with a handful of top recruits.

“I believe Texas is the team to watch for five-star receiver Dakorien Moore if he decides to open it up from his LSU commitment. I think Texas is in the best shape to land Top100 offensive lineman Michael Fasusi. The Longhorns seem to be in good shape with Top100 linebacker Riley Pettijohn, who is considering USC and Florida State as well. If he doesn’t leave to play professional baseball, Texas has as good a shot as anyone for five-star safety Jonah Williams. In addition, keep an eye on the Longhorns for Top100 cornerback Dorian Brew, although there has been a lot of buzz surrounding USC as well.”

Moore and Williams both appeared to be headed to recruiting rivals, LSU and Oklahoma. Albeit, Texas wasn’t about to give up on those players until they signed their letter of intent.

Michael Fasusi, another elite offensive tackle, figures to be as impactful a potential addition as anyone the Longhorns are recruiting. Texas’ five-star pipeline along the offensive line has been one of the more welcomed characteristics of head coach Steve Sarkisian’s tenure in Austin. Sarkisian and company are in position to continue that trend.

There’s plenty of time for these recruitments to develop, but another successful football season on the field could sway top recruits in Texas’ favor. The Longhorns look to leverage their recruiting pitch of on-field success with their move to the SEC.

Recruiting prediction entered for five-star OT Michael Fasusi to Texas

Texas could land yet another five-star offensive tackle in the upcoming class.

Texas could be trending to land another five-star offensive lineman as it continues to build into an SEC competitor. And not just any five-star, but one who could end up a Top 10 player when all is said and done.

Inside Texas’ Eric Nahlin predicts Texas to bring in Lewisville (TX) offensive tackle Michael Fasusi. And while several ratings updates could be on the way over the coming months, the massive tackle ranks highly in On3’s industry ranking.

Fasusi ranks as the No. 11 overall player, No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 3 player in Texas for the 2025 recruiting class. That places the tackle solidly in the five-star category. Should he choose the Longhorns he would join Kelvin Banks, Devon Campbell Jr. and Brandon Baker as elite linemen who took their talents to Austin.

Like with any position, Texas would do well to keep its best players in state. Albeit, the tackle position is likely one of the more important priorities for the team.

On3’s recruiting prediction machine (RPM) seems to view Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Florida as Texas’ top competition. The RPM gives Texas a 86.1% chance to be Fasusi’s college choice with Oklahoma (4.6%), Texas A&M (3.0%) and Florida (1.7%) trailing for now.

The Longhorns have fared well in recruiting offensive linemen since head coach Steve Sarkisian and offensive line coach Kyle Flood stepped foot on the Forty Acres. They’ll look to continue that trend in the 2025 recruiting class.

Texas receives RPM prediction for four-star RB Rickey Stewart Jr.

The Texas Longhorns trend for another big time running back.

The Texas Longhorns are trending to win out for another big-time player. Four-star running back Rickey Stewart Jr. was given a recruiting prediction machine nod (On3) from Inside Texas’ Justin Wells to Texas.

Stewart has been productive in the high school ranks. As a sophomore, the gifted runner ran for 2,262 yards and 18 touchdowns. He followed with 2,855 rushing yards and 40 rushing touchdowns as a junior in 2023 for the Chapel Hill Bulldogs in Tyler, Texas.

The Longhorns’ track record with running backs is growing after building a track record of developing top running backs over the last few seasons. After sending eighth pick Bijan Robinson and fellow ball carrier Roschon Johnson to the NFL, Jonathon Brooks is set to be the next Texas back to head to the pros.

The on-field product has made waves with top recruits in past cycles. Top recruits Jaydon Blue, Cedric Baxter Jr., Tre Wisner, Jerrick Gibson and Christian Clark headed to Austin to be a part of the loaded Texas running back room. Stewart could be the next.

Blue and Baxter have already made their mark in Austin; they combined for over 1,000 rushing yards last season. The two are set to be the focal point of the running back room in 2024.

The Texas running back room is set to be among the nation’s best for the foreseeable future. The Longhorns look to add Stewart to the running back room in the 2025 recruiting class.

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.

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.

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.

Social media reacts to Clemson transfer DB Andrew Mukuba choosing Texas

Andrew Mukuba is coming back home to Austin.

Andrew Mukuba is coming back home. The Clemson transfer and former Austin LBJ product has chosen to further his football career as a defensive back for the Texas Longhorns.

Mukuba is undoubtedly a huge get for the team. The three-year starter and former freshman All-American provides stability in a secondary that loses a couple of veteran players.

Many believe the Austin native will fill the star role vacated by arguably Texas’ top defensive back Jahdae Barron. The nickel position will demand versatility from whoever mans that role, and Mukuba’s strong history as a tackler as well as in coverage bodes well for the Texas defense at the position.

The Texas secondary is looking good for 2024. Two of its best three safeties return in breakout star Michael Taaffe and impressive freshman talent Derek Williams Jr. At cornerback, the Longhorns are set to play coverage specialist Terrance Brooks and quickly developing Malik Muhammad.

Here’s a look at how fans are taking in Mukuba’s impactful decision.

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.

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.