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Posted
35 minutes ago, RabidM said:

There are going to be a lot of disappointed blue chips who wait too long and don't get a spot. 

I think we are beyond that.  We are cherry picking what we like, when we like, where we like.  I have enjoyed Kirby crying like a bitch in his media sessions about how unfair NIL is.  Sark knows how this is done and seems to be maximizing the potential at Texas better than any coach here from a talent acquisition stand point.  

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Posted
2 hours ago, victory88 said:

I think we are beyond that.  We are cherry picking what we like, when we like, where we like.  I have enjoyed Kirby crying like a bitch in his media sessions about how unfair NIL is.  Sark knows how this is done and seems to be maximizing the potential at Texas better than any coach here from a talent acquisition stand point.  

The thing I like most is now posters on boards get fixated on a recruit, predominantly Texas high school kids and get upset we’re recruiting nationally a better recruit. 

Posted
17 hours ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

That Davon Benjamon recruitment has all the major NIL schools (Miami, Oregon, tOSU, USC, and Texas).

Feels like we are shaping up to land another outstanding DL haul.

Hopefully we’ll look like the bama, uga and tosu teams in the past

Posted

Gerry Hamilton

 

Best Class Scenario 2026: Top 3 class loading

Steve Sarkisian and staff will begin the spring evaluation period with a list of official visitors and targets that would easily put together a fifth straight top 5 ranked class.

Of course there is plenty of work to be done in May and June prior to many decisions being made, but Texas' recruiting is at all-time high levels headed into May with more and more highly ranked prospects making their way to campus more often. 

OnTexasFootball takes a look at the Best Class Scenario headed into May. 

Quarterback (1) 
Dia Bell, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star 

Running back (2) 
Derrek Cooper, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna -or- Ezavier Crowell, Jackson (Ala.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star and 4-star++

K.J. Edwards, Carthage (Texas) High -or- Amari Latimer, Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star+

Wide receiver (3-4) 
Jalen Lott, Frisco (Texas) Panther Creek -or- Mason James, Norman (Ok.) North
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star

Kaydon Finley, Aledo (Texas) High -or- Jabari Mack, Destrehan (La.) High - *LSU commit
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star++

Aaron Gregory, Douglassville (Ga.) Douglas County - *Texas A&M commit -or- Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+

Chris Stewart, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek #AllGasNoBrakes 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Tight end (1-2) 
Mark Bowman, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei -or- Kaiden Prothro, Bowdon (Ga.) High 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star and 4-star++

Hezek Kent, Brunswick (Ga.) High -or- Zach Turner, Duncanville (Texas) High 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 3-star++

Offensive line (5-6) 
John Turntine III, OT, Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley -or- Malakai Lee, Honolulu (Hi.) 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star and 4-star+

Felix Ojo, OT, Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge -or- Keenyi Pepe, Los Angeles (Calif.) IMG Academy
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star++

Samuel Roseborough, OT/IOL, Clearwater (Fla.) High -or- Sam Utu, OT/IOL, Orange (Calif.) Lutheran -or- Zaden Krempin, IOL, Prosper (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+ and 4-star

Nicolas Robertson, IOL, Klein (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+

Max Wright, OT/IOL, Melissa (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Defensive line (3-4) 
Dylan Berymon, Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish -or- Tico Crittendon, Lithonia (Ga.) High -or- Preston Carey, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+ and 4-star

Jaimeon Winfield, Richardson (Texas) High -or- Valdin Sone, Dyke (Va.) Blue Ridge School -or- Damari Simeon, Richland (N.J.) St. Aug
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star++ and 4-star++

Kendall Guervil, Fort Myers (Fla.) High -or- Emanuel Ruffin, Bessemer City (Ala.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+

James Johnson, Fort Myers (Fla.) North -or- Vodney Cleveland, Birmingham (Ala.) Parker
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+

EDGE (2-3)
Luke Wafle, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School -or- Trenton Henderson, Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic -or- Jamarion Carlton, Temple (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star++ and 4-star

Dre Quinn, Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian -or- Khamari Brooks, Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star++

Bryce Perry-Wright, Buford (Ga.) High -or- JaReylan McCoy, Tupelo (Miss.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star+

Linebacker (3) 
Xavier Griffin, Gainesville (Ga.) High - *USC commit -or- Tyler Atkinson, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star and 5-star

Brayden Rouse, Marietta (Ga.) Kell -or- Talanoa Ili (Kahuku, Hi.) High 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star++ 

Kosi Okpala, Houston (Texas) Mayde Creek -or- Tank King, ILB, Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star 

Defensive back (4) 
Camren Hamiel, CB/N, Frisco (Az.) Panther Creek -or- Yaheim Riley, Austin (Texas) Anderson
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 3-star++

Justice Fitzpatrick, CB, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas -or- Hayward Howard Jr., New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star

Samari Matthews, CB, Cornelius (N.C.) Hough -or- Brody Jennings, Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood - *Michigan commit
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star

Davon Benjamin, S/DB, Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian -or- Chace Calicut, Houston (Texas) North Shore
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+

Athlete (1)
Jermaine Bishop, CB/WR/Ret, Willis (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++

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Posted
54 minutes ago, BurntOrange&White said:

Gerry Hamilton

 

Best Class Scenario 2026: Top 3 class loading

Steve Sarkisian and staff will begin the spring evaluation period with a list of official visitors and targets that would easily put together a fifth straight top 5 ranked class.

Of course there is plenty of work to be done in May and June prior to many decisions being made, but Texas' recruiting is at all-time high levels headed into May with more and more highly ranked prospects making their way to campus more often. 

OnTexasFootball takes a look at the Best Class Scenario headed into May. 

Quarterback (1) 
Dia Bell, Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star 

Running back (2) 
Derrek Cooper, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna -or- Ezavier Crowell, Jackson (Ala.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star and 4-star++

K.J. Edwards, Carthage (Texas) High -or- Amari Latimer, Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star+

Wide receiver (3-4) 
Jalen Lott, Frisco (Texas) Panther Creek -or- Mason James, Norman (Ok.) North
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star

Kaydon Finley, Aledo (Texas) High -or- Jabari Mack, Destrehan (La.) High - *LSU commit
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star++

Aaron Gregory, Douglassville (Ga.) Douglas County - *Texas A&M commit -or- Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+

Chris Stewart, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek #AllGasNoBrakes 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Tight end (1-2) 
Mark Bowman, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei -or- Kaiden Prothro, Bowdon (Ga.) High 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star and 4-star++

Hezek Kent, Brunswick (Ga.) High -or- Zach Turner, Duncanville (Texas) High 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 3-star++

Offensive line (5-6) 
John Turntine III, OT, Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley -or- Malakai Lee, Honolulu (Hi.) 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star and 4-star+

Felix Ojo, OT, Mansfield (Texas) Lake Ridge -or- Keenyi Pepe, Los Angeles (Calif.) IMG Academy
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star++

Samuel Roseborough, OT/IOL, Clearwater (Fla.) High -or- Sam Utu, OT/IOL, Orange (Calif.) Lutheran -or- Zaden Krempin, IOL, Prosper (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+ and 4-star

Nicolas Robertson, IOL, Klein (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+

Max Wright, OT/IOL, Melissa (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Defensive line (3-4) 
Dylan Berymon, Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish -or- Tico Crittendon, Lithonia (Ga.) High -or- Preston Carey, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+ and 4-star

Jaimeon Winfield, Richardson (Texas) High -or- Valdin Sone, Dyke (Va.) Blue Ridge School -or- Damari Simeon, Richland (N.J.) St. Aug
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star++ and 4-star++

Kendall Guervil, Fort Myers (Fla.) High -or- Emanuel Ruffin, Bessemer City (Ala.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+

James Johnson, Fort Myers (Fla.) North -or- Vodney Cleveland, Birmingham (Ala.) Parker
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+

EDGE (2-3)
Luke Wafle, Princeton (N.J.) Hun School -or- Trenton Henderson, Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic -or- Jamarion Carlton, Temple (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star++ and 4-star

Dre Quinn, Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian -or- Khamari Brooks, Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star++

Bryce Perry-Wright, Buford (Ga.) High -or- JaReylan McCoy, Tupelo (Miss.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star+

Linebacker (3) 
Xavier Griffin, Gainesville (Ga.) High - *USC commit -or- Tyler Atkinson, Loganville (Ga.) Grayson
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star and 5-star

Brayden Rouse, Marietta (Ga.) Kell -or- Talanoa Ili (Kahuku, Hi.) High 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star++ 

Kosi Okpala, Houston (Texas) Mayde Creek -or- Tank King, ILB, Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star+ and 4-star 

Defensive back (4) 
Camren Hamiel, CB/N, Frisco (Az.) Panther Creek -or- Yaheim Riley, Austin (Texas) Anderson
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 3-star++

Justice Fitzpatrick, CB, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas -or- Hayward Howard Jr., New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star

Samari Matthews, CB, Cornelius (N.C.) Hough -or- Brody Jennings, Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood - *Michigan commit
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star

Davon Benjamin, S/DB, Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian -or- Chace Calicut, Houston (Texas) North Shore
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++ and 4-star+

Athlete (1)
Jermaine Bishop, CB/WR/Ret, Willis (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star++

Damn that is a salty list. I wonder if we have a real shot at Derek Cooper. I would like him or Crowell. I prefer Crowell, personally, but  it’s whatever that this point. That list has me hyped. 

Posted

This is the most "national" class I can remember since I've been following recruiting since 2000. In Gerry's best-class scenario, there are 39 players from out of state and 17 players from in-state. Hell, there are 11 players from Georgia alone.

Posted

The Stampede: Recruits Texas helped their chances with this spring
 

Quote

Texas concluded the spring portion of its calendar on Saturday, capping things off with the Texas Fan Appreciation Day. 

Over the course of the last month-plus, the Longhorns hosted dozens of top targets and commits for unofficial visits, setting up for what should be one of the busiest summers on the recruiting trail we've seen.

While UT only added one commitment in the spring (Nicolas Robertson), it helped its chances with a number of others. 

Here, Hank South, Jordan Scruggs, and Will Turboff give our picks for who we believe Texas helped their chances with the most ahead of the summer. 

DB Samari Matthews

DB Samari Matthews on his recent visit to Austin. (Photo: Hank South, 247Sports)
Texas leads in this recruitment if you ask me. Matthews himself has only gone as far as naming a top four of Texas, Clemson, Florida State, and South Carolina. But after his recent three-day stay in Austin, I believe the Longhorns have set the bar going into the summer.

"Definitely high," he said of where Texas stands after his visit. "The day they offered me I booked the OV. I mean, Texas was a school I used to always say I wanted that I didn't have. As soon as they offered me I just took the advantage. I always looked at Texas from the outside, but now actually being here and seeing everything that I thought, it came true. They're definitely high up there."

Matthews was one of Mark Orphey's first offers when he joined the staff, and has become a priority target for UT. Clemson is likely the Longhorns' top competition.

Matthews will be back on campus for an official visit June 13-15. He plans to make a decision in early August. (HANK SOUTH)

OT Felix Ojo
Texas has steadily built steam with the nation's No. 2 offensive tackle prospect going back to what feels like last summer, but more importantly, they've been able to build on it throughout the early months of the year and eventually into the spring.

"It's mainly catching up, occasionally we'll talk ball and he'll take me through what they've been doing with the offensive line," Ojo said of what his conversations with Flood are like. "And occasionally they'll send me clips, like let's say Kelvin (Banks Jr.). They'll send me clips from last year of Kelvin Banks throughout the season and then he'll start breaking it down play by play telling me things. And then he'll look at my game and compare it side by side, and then he'll break it down and tell me what I need to improve on."

The Longhorns have even gone as far to tell Ojo he's the No. 1 target and the franchise player for the burnt orange in 2026, and they've balanced that pitch with steady communication with several members of the Texas staff.

"The communication with the other coaches is great. I've been talking to coach Flood, coach DG (Derron Gatewood), and coach Sark almost all the time, I talk to them every single week. I was actually on facetime with coach Sark last week and we were just chopping it up talking about ball and talking about how each other is doing, and the relationship that we've just been building has been pretty good."

Now heading into the early parts of the summer, the Longhorns' main competition is Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Florida. (JORDAN SCRUGGS)

WR Mason James

WR Mason James at Longhorn City Limits (Photo: Hank South, 247Sports)
 

In terms of going into enemy territory to recruit a top target, it doesn't get more hostile than Norman, Okla. But that's not stopping the Texas staff from pursuing the talented wideout. James recently traveled to Austin for Longhorn City Limits, and came away impressed.

"Really they were preaching to me about the culture, telling me how well I'd fit in and how they use speed," he said. "The main thing is the pro-style offense and how they get players to the league as you can see the last two to three years. All the players that have gotten drafted, the wide receivers, it's really starting to turn into a Wide Receiver U in my opinion. Really just the development is key from Coach Sark and Coach Jackson, the way they work together and the way they develop their receivers really impresses me."

James saw Daylan McCutcheon in practice and felt he compared to the talented freshman. Sources don't feel James is an Oklahoma lock, despite the Sooners pressing for him. Texas is up against OU, Arizona State, Missouri, and Washington in this one. James is currently set to officially visit Texas June 13-15. (HANK SOUTH)

DB Davon Benjamin
The Longhorns had staff members like Johnny Nansen and Duane Akina that knew Benjamin or folks in his camp going back to their previous stops at Arizona, but Texas wasn't able to really shoot their shot until this past weekend when they hosted Benjamin on the Forty Acres during his first time in Austin. The Longhorns pitched versatility and told the California native they see him playing in a similar role to what Jahdae Barron played in during his time at Texas, and the move seems to be resonating well with Benjamin who saw Barron go day one of the NFL Draft while he was in Austin visiting Texas.

"They stand very high," Benjamin told Horns247's Hank South following his first visit to Texas. "It's Texas. This is first class. They're going to always prove themselves. They almost made it last year. They probably just had a few tweaks they needed. But Texas is always going to be up there and they're going to keep getting better and better. Coach Sarkisian's inclining ever since he's got here."

The Top247 defensive back doesn't have any official visits set quite yet, but he told Horns247 he plans to take one to Texas, likely the June 6-8 window. Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC are the other schools in play for official visits. (JORDAN SCRUGGS)

EDGE Dre Quinn

EDGE Dre Quinn with his parents in Austin (Photo: Hank South, 247Sports)
 

Another Longhorn City Limits visitor that Texas wowed, the three-star EDGE from Georgia came away boosting Texas into his top three. Quinn set a return official visit June 13-15 on his trip to Austin. He has five others he plans to take to Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Tennessee, and Georgia Tech as well.

"Man, top three," he said after his visit. "Like, it checks off all the boxes with education, the degree here holds a lot of value. Great football. Like I said, great culture. You're in the city, not in the middle of nowhere. You can't say anything bad about it. I'm glad I took this visit out here."

With five other officials, Texas has competition in this one, but the Longhorns upped their chances on his April visit. (HANK SOUTH)

DB Yaheim "Miami" Riley
The Longhorns didn't start trending or putting themselves in a better position until an offer was extended in late March, but it's worth bringing up the old secondary staff of Terry Joseph and Blake Gideon wasn't necessarily super high on Riley and it's likely the offer wouldn't have come about unless the secondary staff transition took place, as Duane Akina was who put his foot on the table and brought Riley to the board as a prospect he'd like to offer and go after.

Well that's exactly what happened, and the burnt orange have been trending for the hometown prospect who looks up to Jahdae Barron and Drew Mukuba since the offer went out late March.

"It feels great," Riley told Horns247 the night he was offered by Texas. "I'm just grateful for those guys being the role models that they are and that they've shown us little ones that it can happen and that it can be done. And I'm just thankful for them and that they've been those role models for me and for the other kids around Texas. I also look at their footsteps as something I would want to become because they're very good people and like, Jahdae, he's just a good person and he'll set up goals for himself and he knows where he wants to go and knows what he's trying to get done so he's been a good person to have around me just to know that there's always work to be done."

"It's a good program and they push out a lot of good players to the NFL and that's why it's somewhere I want to go because I've been talking about that since I was a little kid," Riley told Horns247 the night Texas offered. "But I like how LBJ pushed Andrew Mukuba to be the best that he can and put him out there so he could be successful at the next level. So once I went to LBJ my freshman year I had the mindset of just work, because I know once I put this work in it would pay off for sure. And ever since I moved to Texas in my seventh grade year I've just been playing football. I played running back in the eighth grade and my coach told me if I kept doing what I was doing then I'd be great, so I just kept pushing myself everyday to be the best I can and to just show out and this is where it's gotten me. I like Texas but I never got into college football until like ninth grade. I was into street football in Florida, but I wasn't really into organized football or anything like that so once I got to Austin, Texas it just changed my whole perspective of football and how it can change my mom's life and my life."

Look for Riley's recruitment to come to an end following official visits, with the schedule likely being finalized with four June official visits to Vanderbilt, Houston, Texas Tech, and Texas. (JORDAN SCRUGGS)

ATH/RB Derrek Cooper

Derrek Cooper (Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)
Tashard Choice made it South Florida to check out Cooper during a high school visit back in January, but it was Choice's replacement and Sunshine State native Chad Scott who was able to get Cooper to lock in an unofficial visit to Austin for his first ever trip to Texas that took place this past weekend. Though Horns247 was unable to catch up with Cooper following his trip to the Forty Acres, Cooper did announce he's cancelled his Penn State official visit that was scheduled for June 17-19, and it's possible the Longhorns find themselves on the schedule for that spot. A five-star athlete per the composite, Cooper goes both ways in high school as a running back and safety but is being primarily pursued to played running back at the next level. (JORDAN SCRUGGS)

DL Kendall Guervil
Before Guervil scheduled a June official visit with the Longhorns early in April, there hadn't been hardly any buzz surrounding him and Texas. Since he made that change, which saw him remove USC from his schedule, and additionally replace a planned Alabama visit with one to Florida State, there's been a growing feeling around those close to the program that the 6-foot-3, 310-pounder has emerged as one of Kenny Baker's top targets in the cycle.

If the feeling was already there, it's grown insurmountably since Guervil made it to campus over this past weekend. Following that trip, the native Floridian told 247Sports' Brian Dohn that the visit was a "10 out of 10", and that based on what Baker showed him, he believes there's a solid fit between his game and what the Longhorns run.

Currently, Texas remains in the mix for nearly a dozen defensive lineman, and have scheduled official visits with seven prospects at the position to this point, but none seem like surefire additions to the program's 2026 recruiting class. While Baker and the Longhorns attempt to flip in-state names like Jamarion Carlton and Jaimeon Winfield, and also try to woo other top recruits such as Bryce Perry-Wright, Khamari Brooks, and JaReylan McCoy, there may be no more momentum for Texas at defensive line than Guervil. (WILL TURBOFF)

RB KJ Edwards

RB target KJ Edwards at Texas earlier this year (Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
 

Heading into the spring, it had already been known that the pairing of Edwards and Texas made lots of sense. Between the back's motivation to stay close to his hometown of Carthage, his connection to then-coach Tashard Choice, and several other factors, there's a reason why many have long projected Edwards to end up in Austin.

In February, in the days after the departure of Choice to the Dallas Cowboys, multiple running backs that he and the Longhorns were recruited shied away from staying in contact with the program, but that has been far from the case with Edwards, who has spoken highly of new coach Chad Scott.

With only Baylor on his summer official visit schedule in addition to yet another trip to the Forty Acres, and a commitment date already set for August 2, it's hard to imagine that any other school is in a better position to land the nation's No. 2 running back more than the Longhorns. (WILL TURBOFF)

DL JaReylan McCoy
In the time that Steve Sarkisian has been the head coach at Texas, he's only added one prospect through the high school ranks from the state of Mississippi, namely Aaron Bryant. Historically, top prospects from that state have either stayed close to home at either Ole Miss or Mississippi State, or landed at other big-name SEC programs like Auburn, Alabama, or LSU. Now, Texas is one of, if not the biggest name in the conference, and they're more than welcome to host talented Magnolia State products like McCoy.

To say the least, Texas has come on strong in the little time that they've truly been in the conversation for McCoy. Even after a 32-day commitment to LSU that ended in early February, the 6-foot-6 lineman hadn't received an offer from the Longhorns, and was actually focusing on the state's other flagship program in Texas A&M.

On March 16, six days after Texas offered, and three days after he posted a top-five list of LSU, Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss, McCoy shared that he had switched out the Aggies for the Longhorns in that list, and then quickly planned an initial unofficial visit to the Forty Acres, one that he eventually took over this past weekend.

With a July 1 commitment looming, it appears that Texas has the most momentum heading into the summer and will look to cap things off with the official visit just three weeks before he announces his decision. (WILL TURBOFF)

LB Brayden Rouse

LB Brayden Rouse (Photo: Benjamin Wolk, 247Sports)
 

Rouse was one of a small handful of Top247 linebackers to receive an offer from Texas in the early months of the spring, and although the program hasn't had a ton of time to hone in on the Peach State product, neither have most of the other 44 schools that have extended an offer, as his recruitment has blown up within the calendar year.

Days before Rouse released his official visit schedule and top four schools list that includes Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, and Alabama, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound backer made his way to Austin for the first time on an unofficial visit where he was one of just a few prospects on campus at the time. 

To this point, it's been hard to get a strong read on who leads between those four finalists, but it's clear that the Longhorns have improved their status in this recruitment and will have a fair shot to land Rouse if they continue the hands-on pursuit throughout the summer. (WILL TURBOFF)

 

  • Hook 'Em 4
Posted
1 hour ago, irishtexan said:

This is the most "national" class I can remember since I've been following recruiting since 2000. In Gerry's best-class scenario, there are 39 players from out of state and 17 players from in-state. Hell, there are 11 players from Georgia alone.

Georgia is a freaking hotbed for talent

Posted
2 hours ago, irishtexan said:

This is the most "national" class I can remember since I've been following recruiting since 2000. In Gerry's best-class scenario, there are 39 players from out of state and 17 players from in-state. Hell, there are 11 players from Georgia alone.

Yeah and it's making it hard to keep up with names. I'll take that in a heartbeat because it means we're doing well, but almost everytime I see a name everyone gets excited about, I'm straight Google search and oh yeah, that guy lol. 

Posted

 

You can have more such times, Derrek.

 

1916890566253576496.webp

 

And no, the people in the pics weren't decapitated. 

Indisputable visual evidence below.  

 

Image

 

Image

 

Image

 

 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Posted
14 minutes ago, SL Xpress said:

Mackovic dipped his toes in recruiting other areas. Well, his assistants did, in any case. Ricky Williams case in point. Eric Metcalf recruited us as much as the other way around. But we've never really flexed as a national recruiting power the way other schools do because of the perception we didn't have to. There was also the fact high school coaches ran recruiting in the old days in many ways. You had to stay on their good side or you weren't going to have much of a chance with their players. A good way to piss off that fraternity was to bring in a bunch of out of state players. Everything is so transactional now. Not just NIL, although that's obviously a critical part of it. But high school coaches have seen their influence diminished by trainers, 7 on 7 programs, and other 3rd parties even before agents got involved. 

One of the big reasons why Texas was so fiercely opposed to A&M heading to the SEC is that as an institution Texas spent decades trying to keep the SEC out of Texas as a prominent presence. But once A&M broke that seal the floodgates were opened. We'll never go back to the days of instate schools dominating Texas recruiting. At the end of the day Texas and the coaching staff at UT do not owe their loyalty to high school coaches. Their priority is to build the best roster they can. There are going to be years where different positions of need are going to have a weak in state class. I love the idea that Sark and company have created enough in roads in hotbeds outside the borders that they can go get the best regardless of geography.

There was a feeling that in the 2000s Mack Brown had an opportunity to do the same thing. The brand after 2005 had never been hotter. Vince in football, TJ Ford and especially Durant in basketball. Baseball winning a national championship. Instead he sat on his laurels and allowed Saban to take the recruiting momentum away from him while he acquired a lot of summer camp bread to build recruiting momentum, and ended up with very average classes that were overrated because the commits had "Texas" next to their name.

This is honestly the best I've felt about the program in my lifetime. I was too young for the glory wishbone era. But I remember the 70s, and all the decades since. This is the best shape the program has ever been in during that time in terms of long term sustained success. It feels like this is the way it always was supposed to be, and we even got a little glimmer in the mid 2000s. But that was a mirage, and I knew it at the time. This feels good, man. 

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Posted
1 hour ago, SL Xpress said:

There was a feeling that in the 2000s Mack Brown had an opportunity to do the same thing. The brand after 2005 had never been hotter. Vince in football, TJ Ford and especially Durant in basketball. Baseball winning a national championship. Instead he sat on his laurels and allowed Saban to take the recruiting momentum away from him while he acquired a lot of summer camp bread to build recruiting momentum, and ended up with very average classes that were overrated because the commits had "Texas" next to their name.

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Posted

Gerry

Monday afternoon recruiting nuggets

OnTexasFootball brings a few afternoon recruiting nuggets.

Camren Hamiel ... 

The OTF 4-star++ nickel/corner had a tremendous visit over the weekend. According to a locked in source, Texas will receive and official visit. The question is how many school will receive OV's. Three are likely at this point. Texas, Oregon and Penn State are receiving the most mention right now. Arizona State is going to work hard to pull the upset for the in-state defensive back that is originally from Fort Wayne, In. 

Justice Fitzpatrick ...

OnTexasFootball spoke to a source in South Florida close to the recruitment of the 4-star++ cornerback out of St. Thomas Aquinas. Texas knocked the unofficial visit out of the park. So much so that this source believes the recruitment could come down to Georgia vs. Texas. Georgia has Kirby Smart and Glenn Schumann as positives, with both having been key in Minkah Fitpatrick's recruitment, and development. The best unofficial visit the Fitzpatrick has had thus far according to the source - Texas. 

Fitzpatrick OV schedule:

Georgia May 30-June 2 
Miami June 6-8
Texas June 13-15

Davon Benjamin ...

OTF also spoke to a long-time source on the West Coast today. When it comes to the 4-star++ versatile defensive back, Oregon and Texas got the first two mentions. USC was the third team mentioned. Texas' multi-day unofficial visit late last week couldn't have gone any better A June OV is a lock, as of today. And the Longhorns are completely all in. 

 

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