Gerry Hamilton
High school or portal?: Positions of need
The Texas Longhorns staff will be back on the road next week looking to continue to close out the 2025 top 5 level high school class. The majority of targets remainig will announce decisions on December 4-6.
On December 9, the portal window will open. That window closes on December 28.
This morning, OnTexasFootball takes a look at which positions the staff will likely look at in the portal after the season.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PORTAL
The defensive line position is one in which OTF fully expects the staff to bring in at least one (probably two) players from the portal to go with a four man high school class.
High school commitments (plan to sign four):
Josiah Sharma, DL, Folsom (Calif.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Myron Charles, DL, Port Charlotte (Fla.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+
Defensive back
Texas would like to add another high school cornberback, and could still go to the portal even with a flip late at the position.
Jonah Williams, S, Galveston (Texas) Ball #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Caleb Chester, CB, Missouri City (Texas) Marshall #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Dorian Brew, CB/DB, Conroe (Texas) High - *Oregon commit
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Wide receiver (3 or 4)
Texas could hold with three high school prospects. With multiple departures expected after the season, OTF fully expects the staff to hit the portal for one or two speedy playmakers. The 2025 high school class has long limb, outside 50-50 ball winners and rangy playmakers covered.
Jaime Ffrench, WR, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Kaliq Lockett, WR, Sachse (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Daylan McCutcheon, WR, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+
PORTAL POSSIBLE
Should Texas flip Riley Pettijohn (McKinney, Texas/High) or unexpectedly win out for Madden Faraimo (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./JSerra Catholic), the staff would likely hold. If not, a peek into the portal is possible.
Linebacker commitments (2 or 3)
Elijah Barnes, LB, Dallas (Texas) Skyline #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4–star++
Jonathan Cunningham, LB, Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Tight end (2)
Texas will lose Gunnar Helm and Juan Davis after the season. With two high school tight end prospects committed, hitting the portal here is dependent on guys such as Amari Niblack returnign to Texas next year.
Nick Townsend, TE, Dekaney (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Emaree Winston, TE, Calhoun (Ga.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 3-star+
Running back (2)
Ideally, Texas wouldn't go to the portal at the running back position. With injuries to Cedric Baxter Jr. and Christian Clark that will sideline them until the summer of 2025 with uncertainty of bounce back in 2025, there is the possibility the staff could add an experienced back with some size.
James Simon, RB, Shreveport (La.) Calvary Baptist #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
LITTLE TO ZERO CHANCE OF PORTAL
Quarterback
K.J. Lacey, QB, Saraland (Ala.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Offensive line (5 or 6)
The Longhorns have not gone to the poral under Kyle Flood. They prefer to develop from within. Texas would like to flip Oklahoma 5-star OT commit Michael Fasusi (Lewisville, Texas/High).
Nick Brooks, OT, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+
John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Jackson Christian, IOL, Port Neches (Texas) PN-G #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 3-star+
Jordan Coleman, OT/IOL, Cedar Hill (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Devin Coleman, IOL/C, Cedar Hill (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
EDGE
Lance Jackson, EDGE, Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Smith Orogbo, EDGE, Alief (Texas) Hastings #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Javion Hilson, EDGE, Cocoa (Fla.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++
Texas is going after Hilson as a third high school EDGE prospect. They have very good depth in the program even if Hilson ends up going elsewhere.
Notes:
Texas is favored to win out for 4-star++ athlete Michael Terry (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights). This recruitment is likely independent of any portal needs at wide receiver, running back or potentially tight end.
Specialists are certainly possible