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Texas Recruiting Notes 2024: Bags Don't Beat Bankrolls


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29 minutes ago, Frank Drebin said:

Especially because it is just one year.

Exactly. Maybe we get a D’onta Foreman situation where Korie is a real contributor to the secondary (which would track considering how highly rated the guy has been among b12 corners). If not, it’s stacking experienced depth which ain’t a bad thing. Win win. 

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On 11/18/2023 at 9:32 AM, BigOrange1 said:

i clicked around after reading that and it appears that hornfans actually has a small and active posting community.  color me shocked.  i thought that site was long gone.

Please only post credible information.  I'm putting you on my Agnor list.

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On 11/19/2023 at 7:01 AM, Mother mopar said:

Few recruiting notes from the Post-game on the IT live YT show.

Gerry mentioned, things are looking better for Filsaime. Florida continuing to drop games helps us.

Texas still talking to TJ Lindsey, Auburn getting crushed helps.

Tyanthony Smith is gonna visit.

Third straight top 5 class looks to be a given this year. However, two months ago they were saying top 10 was a given so we are getting people we have high on our board and/or flips.

Keep Winning boys!

that "straight top 5 class looks to be a given" - who specifically said this? because if it's Nahlin or Wells that's one thing and if it's Burton or Hamilton that's another thing entirely

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8 minutes ago, NoName said:

that "straight top 5 class looks to be a given" - who specifically said this? because if it's Nahlin or Wells that's one thing and if it's Burton or Hamilton that's another thing entirely

Gerry said it on the OTF postgame on Saturday. 

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Stampede: 2 Predictions 4 Big Names 7 Storylines 

Spoiler

The home stretch is here for the class of 2024. The Longhorns currently sit with the No. 9 class in country, per the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings, with a number of targets still in the mix. And just because 2024 is the theme here, that doesn't mean things aren't happening in the 2025 cycle, as Texas is active there as well. 

Here, Horns247 breaks down the 2-4-7 when it comes to Texas football recruiting: 

2 Predictions 

4 Big Names 

7 Storylines 

We'll cover where we believe the Longhorns' class can finish when all is said and done, who are the biggest names we're tracking over the next couple of weeks, and the most important recruiting storylines as things stand. 

UT may not be in position to land the top-ranked class come signing day, but certainly has a chance to have a strong showing ahead of entering the SEC next year with the names still in play. And 2025 looks promising as well with Texas excelling on the field. 

Keep in mind: everything is subject to change in this day and age of recruiting, especially with the regular season soon coming to an end and the Transfer Portal opening. 


2 PREDICTIONS

Trey Owens. (Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
 

1.) Texas will finish with a top 5 class in 2024

Currently sitting as the No. 9 ranked recruiting class in the nation per the 247Sports Composite team rankings, the Longhorns still have several targets left on the board with exactly one month until Early Signing Day on Dec. 20.

The biggest target left is without doubt Waco Connally five-star defensive back Kobe Black, who will be announcing his college decision on Wednesday Nov. 29 at a ceremony at Connally high school. If Texas was to land Black at the end of the month that would catapult Texas’ 2024 class from the ninth ranked class in the nation to the fourth ranked class in the nation, jumping Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Florida, and Alabama in the process.

We’re obviously expecting that to happen as Black has four 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions entered in favor of Texas, but the rest of the 2024 recruiting cycle will be far from finished after Black’s decision has been made at the end of the month as Texas’ class score of 281.62 (after adding Black) would’ve finished eighth in the nation in 2023, sixth in 2022, and eighth again in 2021. That said, Texas isn’t going to be done recruiting prospects in 2024 after Nov. 29 and neither will the rest of the programs with classes that rank inside the top ten, meaning the Longhorns are going to need to add another commit or two (besides potentially Black) to give themselves a better opportunity to finish in the top five once the rankings finalize in February.

Depending on which/how many prospects you add to the class using 247Sports’ class calculator feature, a top five finish is certainly a possibility, and with the way this staff has made magic happen at the last minute in the past - there is a serious argument to be made that it’s likely. – Jordan Scruggs

2.) Texas will have another 2025 prospect commit by the end of the year

Four-star quarterback KJ Lacey is the lone commit in the class of 2025 as things stand, but that’s not for lack of effort by this Texas staff. The Longhorns are sitting pretty for a number of the nation’s elite and should be riding a wave of momentum in the offseason with how things have played out on the field this fall.

Four-star tight end Emaree Winston will be announcing a top three on Tuesday. We believe it will be Texas, Ohio State, and Tennessee in that group. A commitment will be made soon after, and we believe the Longhorns are in the best position to land him (see the Crystal Ball).

Could that spark an influx of 2025 commits? We’ll see with some decision dates set and Junior Day in a couple of months.

Regardless, Steve Sarkisian’s culture is set in place and recruiting will be a beneficiary as a result. – Hank South 

4 BIG NAMES

Tyanthony Smith. (Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
1.) Tyanthony Smith, LB, Jasper (Texas A&M commit) 

Headlining the last week of Texas recruiting news, Smith is set to officially visit Texas this weekend after he’s done playing in Jasper’s third round playoff game vs. Cuero at Alvin ISD’s Freedom Field on Friday at 3:00 p.m. An Aggies pledge going back to June 30, Smith chose Texas A&M over Texas and several others but Jeff Choate and the Longhorns remained in pursuit of the southeast Texas native throughout the process and their steadfast work has paid off in the form of getting Smith back on campus for the first time since March.

Flipping Smith was never going to be any easy task, but the task is much less difficult now that Texas A&M has relieved Jimbo Fisher of his head coaching duties. The Longhorns are still facing a battle though as Smith didn’t commit to the Aggies just to play for Fisher, he’s a fan of the school, the people, and the community in College Station and those things will always be there regardless of who’s coaching the Aggies football program. That said, who the Aggies end up hiring will have an impact on this recruitment and timing of the hire is especially important with Smith set to arrive in Austin Friday night. – Jordan Scruggs

2.) Kobe Black, DB, Waco Connally 

A decision date is set for the 247Sports Composite five-star defensive back. On Nov. 29 Black will announce a commitment, presumably between Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma State. The Longhorns are believed to be the trending team. That’s been the case since the summer. The 247Sports Crystal Ball reflects that, as every pick is in favor of UT.

Black’s season came to an end last weekend, meaning he’ll be able to visit Texas this Friday if he chooses. He’s yet to take in a home game of the Longhorns’ this season, but there wouldn’t be a better time than just days ahead of a commitment.

Regardless, Horns247 still likes where Texas stands for Black with a date now set. A commitment would push the Longhorns into the top five of the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings. — Hank South


Xavier Filsaime. (Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
 

3.) Xavier Filsaime, S, McKinney (Florida commit)

Expected to be in Gainesville for the Gators regular season finale vs. Florida State on Saturday, if Filsaime was to try and make it to Austin for the Longhorns’ regular season finale vs. Texas Tech on Friday night there could definitely be some hiccups with traveling logistics.

While Filsaime is the type of prospect you welcome to campus regardless of how long he can be there for, it isn’t guaranteed that he would return for another trip or if his family would be with him on the first visit. Getting Filsaime to the Forty Acres for an official visit would be the best case scenario for Texas in their attempt to flip the five-star safety, but the Longhorns will have to work with Filsaime and his family to get the dates scheduled as Texas is likely to be in Arlington for the Big 12 championship game during the first weekend of December.

If Texas wins this week that’ll erase the Dec. 1-3 weekend off the calendar, leaving only the 8-10 and 15-17 weekends available for visits before the NCAA enforced dead period goes into effect on Dec. 18, just two days before early signing day on Dec. 20. Also of note, the transfer portal will be opening Monday Dec. 4. – Jordan Scruggs

4.) Emaree Winston, TE, Calhoun (Ga.)

We noted Winston above with our predictions. But he’s still one of four recruits to watch over the next couple of weeks.

“DKR is the place to be if that tells you something,” he told Horns247 after visiting for the Kansas State game earlier this fall. Winston was also in attendance for the Red River Shootout in Dallas. And he wants to get back to Texas as soon as possible.

A commitment from Winston would boost the Longhorns into the top 20 with just two commitments, if he joins the fold. – Hank South 

7 STORYLINES
1.) Getting Xavier Filsaime on campus

To have a shot at flipping the five-star safety from his original home state Gators, Texas will need to get Filsaime on campus, no ifs ands or buts. The McKinney product has never visited the Forty Acres due to the Longhorns coming into the picture late by offering earlier this fall, and at this point in the process with signing day exactly one month away, there’s a higher chance of Payton Kirkland starting on Saturday then there is of a prospect repeating what Kirkland did by committing to a school they’ve never visited before. – Jordan Scruggs


Texas A&M commit Myles Davis. (Photo: Hank South , 247Sports)
2.) Potential effects from Texas A&M coaching hire

The longer the Aggies coaching search plays out for Texas A&M, the better for Texas. Regardless of who the hire is or if Longhorns fans will admit it, the recruiting landscape in the Lone Star State will look different then in years past with someone new steering the ship in College Station. While I highly expect Elijah Robinson to be retained by the new staff coming in, I’m not sure if anything else will be the same if speaking about recruiting or recruiting strategy. It’s going to be incredibly interesting to see who Texas A&M ends up rolling with and the staff that is assembled in College Station. Whenever the Aggies complete their coaching search I’ll have a story out on potential impacts the staff could have when it comes to competing with the Longhorns for recruits. – Jordan Scruggs

3.) What’s going to happen on the offensive and defensive lines?

Texas has its irons in the fire for a several defensive linemen down the stretch, most of which that have already made a commitment. It’s clear UT wants to continue beefing up at the position ahead of its inaugural SEC season, and may have the best recruiting pitch of any with the product its put out on the field this season.

Four-star Auburn pledge TJ Lindsey has been in contact with the Texas staff in recent weeks. The Longhorns finished second for the Arkansas native and we believe have the best shot of any to flip the IMG Academy standout. Lindsey is tentatively planning on being in Arlington for the Big 12 Championship Game, assuming Texas makes it.

Texas A&M commit Dominick McKinley shot down any rumors of a flip following Jimbo Fisher’s firing. He says he’s locked in with the Aggies, in large part due to interim head coach Elijah Robinson. Could Texas keep things interesting here? We’ll reevaluate once there’s a new head coach in place and things settle down in College Station.

The Longhorns offered another Auburn pledge in Dimitry Nicolas earlier in the fall. The South Florida standout said he would consider Texas and may take an official visit to Austin. There hasn’t been much beyond that, though.

Lindsey seems like the top candidate, at least from the high school level, if the Longhorns are going to add a fourth defensive lineman in the class.

On the offensive line front, we're still in wait-and-see mode as to whether the Longhorns are going to make a run at Texas Tech commit Jacob Ponton or LSU pledge Ory Williams. Texas' plan has been to take at least four offensive linemen in this class. They currently have three. The two aforementioned prospects are the main names of note for now. – Hank South


Texas landed Georgia WR Adonai Mitchell in the portal last offseason. (Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
4.) The Transfer Portal 

Dec. 4 marks the first day of the Transfer Portal window opening, and chaos will surely ensue. Student athletes have a 45-day window to enter their names into the portal (not necessarily make a decision). Steve Sarkisian's philosophy is get high school prospects and develop them, but if there's a position of need, the Longhorns aren't going to pass it up if there's an impact player available. 

“We are going to continue to build our roster from the ground up,” he said regarding the portal back in the summer. “That’s why high school recruiting is so important to us. That’s why this (event) is so important to us. I think this year we took five transfers and 25 high school kids. Ultimately, yes, we’re going to take a few transfers. But ultimately high school recruiting is where it’s at for us and our style of what we like to do. I know this whole era of NIL and Transfer Portal, the reality of it is, if I can, I want to recruit another high school kid. Now, there may be times where we can’t. I have to have another corner, or I have to have another defensive tackle, then you go into the portal and you make that work. But the reality of it is, for us, I would much rather prefer recruiting high school guys.”

The portal will change recruiting boards across the country, and Texas isn't exempt from that. Positions that aren't needs now could become needs then, top targets could and likely will change, etc. – Hank South

5.) Potential staff attrition at Texas

I want to make it very clear we haven’t heard anything regarding a coach potentially leaving the program, but with the Longhorns experiencing the success they’ve had in 2023 it’s only a matter of time before Texas assistant coaches start receiving calls from other colleges seeking their coaching talents. While this may not seem like a good thing, it really is when thinking big picture. If other schools want your coaches, you’re clearly doing something right. The elite programs separate themselves from the great programs by being able to routinely replace coaches who move on to take promotions elsewhere without experiencing a serious drop off in the on field product. - think of Alabama and Georgia. If Texas wants to be at the top of modern day college football alongside the Tide and the Dawgs they will have to figure out how to replenish their coaching staff. Not saying that they haven’t done a good job so far by firing Andre Coleman, hiring Brennan Marion, and then later hiring Chris Jackson as Marion’s replacement, but for this program to be set up for success long term they’re going to have to do it at other positions besides wide receiver whenever that time comes. – Jordan Scruggs


D'antre Robinson. (Photo: Andrew Ivins, 247Sports)
6.) Is Texas at risk of losing any of its current commitments?

Recruiting doesn't stop until pen is put to paper. And really does it stop then? The Transfer Portal era has made it open season for collegiate rosters. Texas' 2024 group has been rock solid as its come together throughout the last six months. Still that hasn't kept other programs from coming after UT's commitments. If we had to pick pledges to watch, it'd likely be four-star DL D'Antre Robinson, four-star running back Jerrick Gibson, and five-star wide receiver Ryan Wingo. That's not to say any are wavering, more so those are the three still heavily pursued by others. For Robinson and Gibson, it's Florida that wants to change their mind. The Gators are in a recruiting tailspin right now, which includes losing four-star cornerback Wardell Mack to the Longhorns, so it doesn't seem likely either will change their mind. Both have adamantly reaffirmed their pledges, too. For Wingo it's Missouri, which finished a close second for the elite wideout. You can bet the Tigers staff will be pressing to change his mind all the way to signing day. – Hank South

7.) Kobe Black

Last but certainly not least, Kobe Black is one of the biggest storylines as things stand. We've covered him extensively here already, but considering he's the top remaining target on the board, a commitment from Cen-Tex DB couldn't be understated. Black is one of the nation's elite defensive players, and could make an immediate impact in Austin. Texas isn't staying proactive in this recruitment down the stretch. – Hank South

 

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39 minutes ago, Teryor said:

Black is one of the nation's elite defensive players, and could make an immediate impact in Austin. Texas isn't staying proactive in this recruitment down the stretch. – Hank South

That sounds like a huge problem - with Hank South's vocabulary.

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4 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said:

He was previously #4.

As we've discussed previously here, everyone should expect the majority of UT recruits to drop over time in the On3 rankings as long as the current guys handling them are in charge. They think they're really smart and penalizing recruits that commit to UT is good business, since they believe they'll be justified when the players don't live up to the height or get drafted well.

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2 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

As we've discussed previously here, everyone should expect the majority of UT recruits to drop over time in the On3 rankings as long as the current guys handling them are in charge. They think they're really smart and penalizing recruits that commit to UT is good business, since they believe they'll be justified when the players don't live up to the height or get drafted well.

It's so weird that On3 is running their rankings....

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1 minute ago, closetojumping said:

As we've discussed previously here, everyone should expect the majority of UT recruits to drop over time in the On3 rankings as long as the current guys handling them are in charge. They think they're really smart and penalizing recruits that commit to UT is good business, since they believe they'll be justified when the players don't live up to the height or get drafted well.

Do you think that’s something that will work itself out after the 2024 draft, or will it take multiple years of proven development and draft results to end that kind of bias? 

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