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Texas Recruiting Notes 2023: Strippers, Monkeys, and 5-Stars


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Texas Longhorns recruiting: Yes, maybe or no

Gerry Hamilton•about 2 hours

Article written by:Gerry Hamilton

GHamilton_On3

Anthony Hill Jr. (Justin Wells/Inside Texas)

The Texas Longhorns regular season has concluded with an 8-4 record after beating Baylor 38-27 Friday.

The three game improvement from year one to year two for Steve Sarkisian is significant. A recruiting message was a vision to sell after year one. After year two, prospects can now begin to see a vision turning into reality. That means the Texas staff will now hit the road with momentum on the recruiting trail with less than 30 days until the early signing period.

Also factoring into the close of the 2023 class for the Longhorns is the transfer portal and how that affects numbers.

Inside Texas takes a look at some of the 2023 prospects on the board in yes, maybe or no headed into December.

Yes

Anthony Hill, LB, Denton (Texas) Ryan

The On3 Consensus 5-star linebacker remains likely to stay close to home. That was the case the first time around prior to Hill announcing for Texas A&M over Texas. Texas continues to have a level of confidence after the November 12 unofficial visit. Texas A&M has not thrown in the towel on this one either.

Justin Benton, DL, Covington (Ga.) Newton

The West Virginia “soft commitment” is likely to decide between Arkansas and Texas. The 6-foot-0 3/4, 280-pound wrecking ball should be considered a lean to Arkansas depending on how hard Texas pushes down the stretch. Benton’s official visit date to Texas has changed from December 3 to likely the 17th.

Maybe

Jaden Greathouse, WR, Austin (Texas) Westlake

The Notre Dame commitment is coveted by Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. The On3 Consensus 4-star and Texas remain in communication consistently.

Rylan Kennedy, EDGE/LB, Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge

The Longhorns offered the the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder November 25. Texas is expected to schedule an official visit in the coming days with December 17 being the likely date. USC and Auburn also offered this month.

Jelani McDonald, LB, Waco (Texas) Connally

The On3 Consensus 4-star is scheduled to make an official visit to Texas December 17. TCU is gaining steam in this recruitment, and is expected to host McDonald December 10. McDonald’s father LaMarcus McDonald played linebacker at TCU for Gary Patterson.

Kyle Parker, WR, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy

The On3 Consensus 4-star and LSU verbal continues to listen to Texas. Just how hard the Longhorns push is going to tell the story.

DeAndre Moore Jr., WR, Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco

The Louisville “soft commit” made official visits to Georgia and Texas the first two weekends in November. How hard those two programs push down the stretch will tell the story on where the On3 Consensus 4-star ends up signing.

Duce Robinson, TE, Phoenix (Az.) Pinnacle

Robinson is in the maybe category due to an official visit to Texas, and being truly coveted by the Longhorns staff. With that said, IT would be surprised if this went the way of Texas. USC and Georgia remain the most likely landing spots.

Tyler Scott, CB, Mableton (Ga.) Pebblebrook

The senior riser made an official visit to Alabama this weekend for the Iron Bowl. He is scheduled to visit USC December 9 and Texas December 17. Tennessee has been considered the favorite for a weeks over Alabama and Auburn. The Longhorns covet Scott, make no mistake.

No

Roderick Pierce, DL, Oak Lawn (Il.) Brother Rice

Texas covets the Wisconsin “soft commit”. The Michigan Wolverines are the heavy favorite to win out for the 6-foot-2, 285-pounder. With that said, Pierce is scheduled to officially visit Texas December 17. Illinois is also expecting an official. One Pierce steps foot on campus, this would will change to a maybe. Michigan will be pushing for him to shut down his recruitment before December 17.

Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, Mesa (Az.) Red Mountain

The On3 Consensus 4-star and USC commitment is truly coveted by the Texas staff. With that said, Inside Texas considers this very much a long shot headed into December.

Javien Toviano, DB, Arlington (Texas) Martin

The On3 Consensus 4-star versatile defensive back is a wild card recruitment. But a wild card that IT will only move to maybe should Toviano show up in Austin for a visit next month.

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1 hour ago, BurntOrange&White said:

image.thumb.png.822806fb56404d98d59e15e4a2898c2e.png

It is stupid to go after anyone but difference makers. What are Billingsley, Milton, and Davis going to do for us? Just pay the going rate for safety, wr, cornerback, linebacker, and ED and hope it works out. Better yet, act like Riley and make offers to the players that we want regardless of their portal intentions. 

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19 minutes ago, CashMcCoy said:

Gerry edited the article and has Moore in the Yes category now.

Guessing that maybe because Georgia flipped that WR from OU (https://www.dawgnation.com/recruiting/georgia-football-anthony-evans-commitment-oklahoma/2PGDSXPTTBH67IXOGZVWOLBDUI/), maybe Dawg no longer has room for DeAndre Moore.

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Suchomel on Burrell:

Texas linebacker commitment S'Maje Burrell's senior season came to an end this week. Caught up with him to talk about this season and his recruitment. I'll have more in my 3-2-1 but a couple notes worth mentioning ...

Burrell says he's still very happy with his Texas commitment but he does have a Houston official visit for December 9 and he's in the process of setting one up with Baylor as well. 

He's understandably watching what happens with Anthony Hill. Burrell plans to talk to the Texas staff this week about that situation just to make sure everyone is on the same page.

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3 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

He’s been saying for a while he expects 1 more HS WR and any other additions come through the portal.

They'll take two from Kyle Parker, DeAndre Moore, and Jaden Greathouse is my interpretation of Gerry's latest post. J'Kobi Lane isn't a realistic target. Correct me if I'm wrong.

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8 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Huh? That’s not what drove that post from Gerry. 

Thanks, what drove it? We aren't seriously considering Mikal Harrison-Pilot as a WR take are we?

 

I guess what you are saying is that we will take 2 HS wrs plus whatever guys we can get from the portal - the clear distinction is simply we will take 2 HS wrs instead of one.

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30 minutes ago, Bevo said:

Thanks, what drove it? We aren't seriously considering Mikal Harrison-Pilot as a WR take are we?

 

I guess what you are saying is that we will take 2 HS wrs plus whatever guys we can get from the portal - the clear distinction is simply we will take 2 HS wrs instead of one.

I was just curious what you read that made you think: “yeah, man, he must think Worthy and Whittington are coming back!”

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Just now, closetojumping said:

I was just curious what you read that made you think: “yeah, man, he must think Worthy and Whittington are coming back!”

He said we were taking 1 portal guy. If Worthy leaves and with Whittington likely leaving, we probably need 2-3 portal guys. Neyor is a crap shoot next year so that could leave us with zero reliable starters.

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36 minutes ago, Hookem2147 said:

Suchomel on Burrell:

Texas linebacker commitment S'Maje Burrell's senior season came to an end this week. Caught up with him to talk about this season and his recruitment. I'll have more in my 3-2-1 but a couple notes worth mentioning ...

Burrell says he's still very happy with his Texas commitment but he does have a Houston official visit for December 9 and he's in the process of setting one up with Baylor as well. 

He's understandably watching what happens with Anthony Hill. Burrell plans to talk to the Texas staff this week about that situation just to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Even adding Hill, Burrell probably sees the field a good bit in year two.  Doesey rotated in a good it and even Jett saw the field.  Who'll still be around in two years?  Trevell Johnson and Gbenda?  Portal guy?  Hill, Lefau, and Burrell could be our three main LB's in two years.

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41 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

Even adding Hill, Burrell probably sees the field a good bit in year two.  Doesey rotated in a good it and even Jett saw the field.  Who'll still be around in two years?  Trevell Johnson and Gbenda?  Portal guy?  Hill, Lefau, and Burrell could be our three main LB's in two years.

Burrell(future at Will) and Hill(future at Mike) don't share the same projected position anyway, right? Hill may play more freshman year, in place of O (Will LB), but he is actually the long term replacement for Ford (Mike LB).

 

We need bodies anyway. O and Ford had to play way too many plays this season. Even with Hill, there is plenty of PT to go around at LB next season.

Edited by pacman
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4 hours ago, UDontKnow said:

They'll take two from Kyle Parker, DeAndre Moore, and Jaden Greathouse is my interpretation of Gerry's latest post. J'Kobi Lane isn't a realistic target. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I wonder if Moore is close to a lock now that Georgia has likely filled up at WR after flipping the OU commit.

If Moore is in and we’re still recruiting the other WRs, that would tell Gerry that the staff is taking 4.

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8 hours ago, Lonestar88 said:

I wonder if Moore is close to a lock now that Georgia has likely filled up at WR after flipping the OU commit.

If Moore is in and we’re still recruiting the other WRs, that would tell Gerry that the staff is taking 4.

Whoa whoa whoa, are you using logic? And reason? If you tell me you’re sober too, we may have a problem.

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Inside Scoop: Latest on Anthony Hill Jr, Kyle Parker, Roderick Pierce, Portal prospect, and big recruiting date

Justin Wells•5 minutes

(Kyle Parker/On3)

Inside Texas delivers the latest on top 2023 targets, 2024 prospects, portal name to know, and big recruiting date in December. Your Monday Scoop has it and more. 

Big Day: December 17th. The Texas Longhorns are planning to host many of its 2023 commitments and top targets on this weekend. You’ll also see a smattering of 2024 offers and prospects. 

Prospects that have told Inside Texas they have official visits on December 17th include Payton Kirkland, Tyler Scott, and Jelani McDonald. Defensive line targets Roderick Pierce and Justin Benton are also expected to visit on the 17th.  

Kyle Parker, WR, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy – LSU commit

Texas is looking to get the four-star on campus in December. After putting the finishing touches on an incredible senior year, the Horns staff couldn’t help but notice. That’s why Steve Sarkisian and Brennan Marion have maintained such a strong connection with the 6-foot, 180-pound On3 four-star. 

Texas wants at least one more high school receiver, maybe two, in addition to one or two from the portal. The numbers are tight, but they’ve made Parker feel wanted and that’s the biggest step. Parker is listening to the Longhorns final pitch. Marion is expected by Lovejoy High late in the week. 

If Texas can get Parker on campus in December, we’ll get a real sense of where this recruitment might go. 

Anthony Hill Jr, LB, Denton (Texas) Ryan

After watching a weekend of football, the On3 Consensus No. 1 LB for 2023 saw Texas topple Baylor behind the linebacking duo of Jaylan Ford and DeMarvion Overshown. That’s the position Hill Jr. watches carefully, with a big decision coming over the next month. 

Ohio State, another team in pursuit, fell to Michigan for the second consecutive season. So, Texas has positioned itself about as well as possible. Sark, PK, and company just have to stay the course.

Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M aren’t relenting in their recruitment. Hill Jr doesn’t have any visit plans scheduled as of today, but the Horns would like to get him back on campus in mid-December. 

Jelani McDonald, LB, Waco (Texas) Connally

The On3 No. 3 athlete in the 2023 cycle took a visit to Fort Worth for TCU-Iowa State on Saturday.

He loved the visit; he tells Inside Texas. He’s getting closer to the Horned Frogs program and building a strong bond within the staff. He’s also still eager to see Texas for his official visit on December 17th, a date that shaping up to be rather larger in recruiting before NSD.

If Texas pushes, I feel like the Longhorns would be the quiet leader. If not, TCU would be my On3 RPM choice today. 

McDonald wants to sign next month during the early signing period. 

Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, Mesa (Az.) Red Mountain – USC commitment

Texas believes they have a fighting chance at Lane. To the point of one source believing it’s close to 50-50. To be clear, Inside Texas is not hearing from anyone on West Coast that USC has a fear of losing Lane. The Texas staff loves the 6-foot-5 On3 Consensus four-star, and will fight for him. Members of the Texas staff are expected back in the Phoenix area to see Lane and On3 Consensus 5-star Duce Robinson late in the week or weekend.

Roderick Pierce, DL, Chicago (IL) Brother Rice

The On3 three-star and Texas offer de-committed from Wisconsin on Sunday. The big three involved are Texas, Michigan, and Illinios, with the Wolverines the likely leader. He still wants to take official visits to UT and Illinois before signing next month. 

Michigan has prioritized the 6-foot-3, 290-pound interior defender, but the Horns are working to get him to shut down his recruitment prior to the December 17 visit to Austin. 

Parker Livingstone, WR, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy – 2024

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound On3 three-star gave up baseball in the off-season to focus on the football field. That dedication led to a fantastic junior campaign and helped snag offers from Texas, Georgia, Florida State, Tennessee, and Oregon. 

Livingstone is really enjoying the recruiting process and watching Texas very closely. He tells Inside Texas that he speaks with Steve Sarkisian and Brennan Marion multiple times per week, and is looking at a visit to Austin on December 17th. 

Livingstone has no decision timeline and will make his decision when the time is right, he tells Inside Texas. 

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