Gerry Hamilton
Monday AM Recruiting: Thoughts on targets and commits
The Texas Longhorns have the No. 4 ranked class with the commitment Saturday by 4-star+ defensive lineman Joseph Mbatchou (Loganville, Ga./Grayson).
With the level and number of top targets remaining, Texas is zeroing in on the No. 2 class with a shot to finish No. 1 on December 4.
OnTexasFootball begins Monday with thoughts on the top 5 targets remaining on the board.
Four-star++ ATH Michael Terry III (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights)
Terry III celebrated his 18th birthday last night with family and friends. His birthday cake was half Texas and half Nebraska. So Oregon is officially out lol, but that has been the case. Texas remains the favorite over the Cornhuskers.
The key question with the recruitment is when will Terry III announce his decision. OTF stopped by Alamo Heights High Friday, and the prevailing thought was December 4 right now. Terry and AHHS are looking at a deep playoff run, and Terry doesn't want to make anything about himself.
Five-star OT and Oklahoma commit Michael Fasusi (Lewisville, Texas/High)
Texas definitely helped the cause with the Friday night/Saturday visit, that included Fasusi's father and sister. OTF was told the visit was a step up from the June official visit, and that Texas has put themselves squarely in the mix ahead of this weekends visit to Texas A&M. There is optimism on the 40 Acres with Fasusi following the visit.
OTF is watching to see who makes the visit to Texas A&M with Fasusi this weekend. Oklahoma also remains in the mix, but has the task of being able to convince Fasusi to sign December 4 with the possibility of not having the OC and OL coaching positions settled.
Five-star DL Justus Terry (Manchester, Ga./High)
Let's be clear on one thing, Kirby Smart doesn't want to see Terry sign with Texas. Auburn is one thing, as the Tigers are the neighboring state and have signed many tremendous players out of the Atlanta area and Peach State over the years and will continue to do so. But Texas beginning to have success in Georgia is not what Smart ideally wants to have happen. And this is especially the case with a 5-star defensive line prospect. So that is what Texas is up against.
Texas has continued to have some positive convos and enough momentum that Chris Gilbert attended his playoff game last Friday. That was ahead of an official visit to Auburn. This is a "big boy", gird up your loins level recruitment - to say the least.
Four-star++ Auburn commit Nathaniel Marshall (Oak Park, Il./Fenwick)
Texas is battling with Georgia and Auburn down the stretch for high-end defensive linemen. That is exactly where one wants to be. Texas already beat Auburn for Mbatchou. Now, the Horns are working to flip one of the nations most talented 5-tech/long term 5 & 3 prospects. But this one is from Chicago.
Marshall made the official visit to Texas over the weekend with his mom and brother. The early word coming out of Austin is Texas feels like the visit went very well, and the Horns have a legit shot. I want to be clear, that's not OTF saying this. Texas has to overcome Auburn's relationship with Marshall and family, and the Tigers are extremely aggressive in the 2025 cycle.
Four-star++ Javion Hilson (Cocoa, Fla./High)
Hilson made an OV to Michigan over the weekend, and is scheduled to be at Texas A&M Saturday-Sunday for an OV. Texas vs. Texas A&M is where the decision was expected to come from headed into the Michigan visit.
The big Q for Michigan is if Hilson would actually leave the south for college. To this point, there isn't any sign that he would actually make that leap.
Hilson and Texas have continued to have positive communication. Hilson is big on player development, and there is a feeling in Austin that Texas has done everything they can to illustrate that to him.
Four-star Kellen Wiley (Seffner,Fla./Armwood)
Texas and Florida are battling it out for the 6-3.5, 226-pound linebacker. This process is coming at the Wiley family fast right now, with him being a senior riser. One source very close to the recruitment believed Texas enter the Florida visit over the weekend with a sizable lead over the Gators. Wiley's family absolutely loved the plan Texas has for Wiley's development. Obviously, there is more to the recruitment, but the family thinks very highly of Texas at this point.