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Texas Recruiting Notes 2025: Now We Have a Machine Gun


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Scruggs: Crystal Ballin': A 5-pack of predictions for 2025 targets

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Having landed a commitment from Dallas Skyline Top247 LB Elijah "Bo" Barnes just yesterday, the Longhorns are hot on the recruiting trail and with official visit season looming in the near future, it's time we fire up the Crystal Ball machine and put in five Crystal Ball predictions in favor of the Longhorns. 


(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
Kelshaun Johnson, WR, Hitchcock

Texas official visit: June 14-16

The Longhorns staff liked the 5-foot-11, 160 pound receiver with 10.4 100M speed when they offered him back in the summer, but Johnson really shot up the receiver board following his stellar junior season. Since the turn of the new year, Texas has seemed to separate from the pack that includes Penn State, Texas Tech, and USC. While all three of those contenders could be dangerous for different reasons, it's the Trojans who Horns247 views as the main competition to the Longhorns. Texas will need to weather USC landing the last official visit, but there's a lot to like about the Longhorns' chances as things currently stand. 


Devin (left) and Jordan Coleman at Texas this past Saturday. (Photo: Hank South, 247Sports)
Jordan Coleman, Devin Coleman, OL(s), Cedar Hill

Texas official visit: June 21-23

Jordan first caught the Texas staff's eye back in the summer when he competed at one of Texas' camps before leaving with an offer from the Longhorns and several other programs. Things got serious once the Longhorns offered Devin earlier this spring, as both Jordan and Devin had long let it be known that they plan to play together at the next level. With former Texas offensive lineman Marcus Hutchins serving as Cedar Hill's recruiting coordinator and a guest on the set of brothers visits to Texas, there's burnt orange fingerprints all over these recruitments. Although there's official visits set to see other programs, this one feels all Texas for both brothers. 


(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
Michael Fasusi, OT, Lewisville

Texas official visit: June 21-23

The longtime No. 1 target of Texas offensive line coach Kyle Flood, that statement alone could be worthy of a crystal ball prediction with Flood's high hit rate with No. 1 targets in the past. The Red River Rivals of Texas and Oklahoma have long been the two schools at the forefront of Fasusi's recruitment, but as we turned into the spring Missouri and Texas A&M have found themselves in the mix as well. With an official visit to Mizzou likely to eventually be booked, Fasusi has three officials lined up with Texas A&M (June 6-8), Oklahoma (June 14-16), and Texas (June 21-23). With Texas set up well with the last official visit, in my eyes the Longhorns are the favorite to be the hat selected come Fasusi's eventual ceremony. Fasusi was at Oklahoma on an unofficial yesterday, and while the Sooners remain aggressive in their pursuit and even extended a PWO offer to one of Fasusi's closest friends and OL teammates at Lewisville yesterday, I still view Texas as being the school set up best down the stretch. 

Riley Pettijohn, LB, McKinney


(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
Texas official visit: June 14-16

One DFW area linebacker in the class, one more to go. The top uncommitted linebacker target left on the board, Pettijohn has long been in the sights of Steve Sarkisian and Co. going all the way back to when Jeff Choate offered him back in May of last year. With official visits set for Florida State (May 31-June 2), Texas (June 14-16), and USC (June 21-23), it's the Trojans and Aggies that pose the biggest threat to Texas' pole position. Texas has felt like "the" school going back to the summer, and with Texas' five-star flip of Pettijohn's former teammate Xavier Filsaime at the buzzer last year, the Longhorns are set up well down the stretch to land at least two Top247 linebackers this cycle

 

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20 minutes ago, ATXbronco said:

SIAP, I haven't read any of the 2025+ recruiting notes yet.

Just heard on KTLA Los Angeles that the Mater Dei corch was let go or fired or something.
Would that have any effect on our "pipeline" there?

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1 hour ago, ATXbronco said:

SIAP, I haven't read any of the 2025+ recruiting notes yet.

Just heard on KTLA Los Angeles that the Mater Dei corch was let go or fired or something.
Would that have any effect on our "pipeline" there?

Supposedly, he was banging a player's mom. Like any self-respecting high school football coach. 

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1 hour ago, ATXbronco said:

SIAP, I haven't read any of the 2025+ recruiting notes yet.

Just heard on KTLA Los Angeles that the Mater Dei corch was let go or fired or something.
Would that have any effect on our "pipeline" there?

He's about to be an analyst for Sark 😏

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1 minute ago, Hornius Emeritus said:


At my high school, there were a couple who were banging students.

Sort of the same. This coach was pretty clever. He waited until they graduated and then banged them during the summer before they left for school. Also picked up some ass on holidays when they were home from college. 
 

Much like Wooderson, he kept getting older and chicks remained the same age. 

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20 hours ago, Hornius Emeritus said:


Just judging from his Jr. season highlights, he appears to have more potential than any TE recruit we've had in a long time, even Sanders.  He looks to be on a different level.

You need glasses

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25 minutes ago, bwub60 said:
21 hours ago, Hornius Emeritus said:

Just judging from his Jr. season highlights, he appears to have more potential than any TE recruit we've had in a long time, even Sanders.  He looks to be on a different level.

You need glasses

He's more of a mismatch physically than Sanders, but not as dynamic. Has decent hands and good body control. He also takes his blocking duties seriously which is certainly ahead of Sanders in HS and for that matter, maybe better than Sanders in college as well. But he'll need to improve his technique against D1 players. Stands too upright and gets away with it for now.

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- QB Husan Longstreet committed to the Aggies

- On the negative side, that means Auburn - who was after Longstreet - will continue to pursue Lacey

- On the positive side, A&M getting Longstreet should help us sell Russell on coming in as a second QB

 

Here's a note from Auburn 247, on their QB recruiting (post Longstreet's commitment)

 

Resetting Auburn's QB recruiting board

Christian Clemente (Auburn 247)

 

Spoiler

 

Resetting Auburn's QB recruiting board

Christian Clemente (Auburn 247)
 

Auburn's quarterback recruiting continues on in the 2025 cycle after Husan Longstreet, the Top247 signal-caller from Centennial (Cal.), announced his commitment to Texas A&M on Sunday. Visiting twice in the spring, including for an official visit on A-Day weekend, the Tigers staff chipped into a big Texas A&M lead and made things interesting all the way until a few hours before his commitment when he made his decision.

Don't expect Auburn to take its foot off the gas all the way with Longstreet, though the main focus will likely start to turn toward other, more attainable targets.

Breaking down the names on the quarterback board and the latest intel in Auburn's pursuit:

5-star Julian "JuJu" Lewis | Carrollton, Ga. | USC commit

It's really been 1A and 1B with Longstreet and Lewis for Auburn at quarterback over the last couple of months. With Longstreet's choice, Lewis now clearly sits atop the board as the biggest name to know in Auburn's pursuit of a quarterback. Committing to USC last August, Lewis was then ranked as the No. 1 player in the country in the 2026 class. He has since reclassified and remained a 5-star prospect and ranked as a top-five quarterback in the 2025 class.

While Lewis once felt like a pipedream when considering Auburn, sources have indicated a rising interest from Lewis and his camp in the Tigers and a rising sense of optimism from Auburn's side on being able to potentially pull off a flip. Lewis recently scheduled four summer official visits, hitting Georgia, USC, Auburn and Colorado in that order, with Alabama as another team in the mix.

4-star KJ Lacey | Saraland, Ala. | Texas commit

Auburn has pretty consistently had three in the top tier, with the in-state Lacey just a hair behind the likes of Longstreet and Lewis. Committed to Texas since last June, flipping Lacey isn't going to be easy, but Auburn, Ole Miss and Oregon are all making an effort. If anyone has the best chance, it's the Tigers, where he's visited the most and is just a few hours away.

Lacey continues to say the right things about his commitment to the Longhorns, but with Arch Manning on roster and set to likely take over as the starter right as Lacey would be coming in, Auburn has the opportunity to sell a quicker, easier path to playing time. 

4-star Madden Iamaleava | Warren, Cal. 

A newer name to know, the younger brother of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was one that considered visiting this spring and is one worth tracking. As of right now the likes of Nebraska and UCLA are considered the favorites and it's unclear just how big of a target Iamaleava actually is on Auburn's board. Still, it's noteworthy that he was a potential spring visitor and is one we'll be tracking.

It'd be surprising if Auburn didn't get one of Lewis or Lacey at this rate, though.

 

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Stampede: 10 of the most notable visitors expected for the Orange-White Game (aka the most filler type article you could write)

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With Texas hosting its Orange-White game this Saturday at 1 p.m. CT, you can bet many of the Longhorns' top targets and commits will be inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to partake in the festivities. 

The Longhorns have had a momentous spring, hosting many of the top-rated prospects, not only in the state of Texas, but throughout the country. 

UT currently sits with the No. 18 class, per the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings, with six commitments, most recently landing Top100 linebacker Elijah "Bo" Barnes this past weekend. 

The visitor list for this upcoming Saturday will be in the dozens in terms of notable names, but as we sit here on Monday, we take a look at 10 of the most notable prospects attending the spring game, whether they're already committed or still on Texas' wish list. 

There is no order to this list, and as the week goes on and prospects are added and/or removed, the list could certainly change. Stay locked on to Horns247 for all the latest updates leading up to Saturday. 
 

Keelon Russell, 4-star QB, Duncanville — SMU commit

Arguably the most notable visitor this weekend not currently committed to Texas, all eyes will be on whether Steve Sarkisian and staff offer the talented Duncanville signal caller. Russell has been in communication with the Longhorns coaches throughout the spring and all signs point towards Texas eventually offering, which could shake things up with his pledge to the Mustangs. 

"Looking forward to getting an offer from them," Russell recently told Horns247. "It would probably change a lot. But I'd say that them offering me would set my standards high."

And Texas' pursuit of Russell has nothing to do with how the Longhorns feel they stand with current quarterback commit KJ Lacey. Texas will likely need a two-quarterback class in 2025 regardless just from a numbers standpoint alone.

Russell considers Texas his dream school and says he would welcome the competition if he came in with Lacey. — South 

Michael Terry III, 5-star ATH, San Antonio Alamo Heights

With Duncanville five-star receiver Dakorien Moore not expected to make it in due to logistics with his regional track meet, Terry is the highest-ranked prospect set to be at the Orange and White spring game. Terry has his own regional track meet to compete in, however Terry's meet will take place in San Antonio and there's a greater chance the 6-foot-3, 210 pounder makes it in for the spring game compared to Moore or Nick Townsend. Fresh off an unofficial visit to College Station last weekend that saw Terry add Texas A&M to his official visit schedule that already included Nebraska, Texas will have an opportunity to gain some momentum in the recruitment like the Aggies did last weekend. Oregon is another program in the mix, but sources have long liked the chances of Terry staying in-state and ending up at either Texas A&M or Texas, so this visit will be important as Terry still hasn't set an official visit and hasn't returned to the Forty Acres since Junior Day in January. — Scruggs


KJ Lacey. (Photo: Hank South, 247Sports)
 

KJ Lacey, 4-star QB, Saraland (Ala.) — Texas commit

It'll be Lacey's third or fourth time on campus in 2024 alone, but he's also taken unofficials to Auburn and Ole Miss this year. That said, each return visit to Texas is important for the Longhorns as it strengthens the burnt orange's chances of holding onto to their QB pledge in the 2025 class. Horns247 wouldn't be surprised to see Keelon Russell land a long awaited Texas offer while at the spring game next Saturday and it'll be important that Lacey is kept in the loop and made aware of the situation regardless of what ends up happening with Lacey. The Longhorns are looking at taking two quarterbacks in 2025, but for that to be possible the staff will have to be smart in keeping both signal callers pleased and on the same page and that could potentially begin this weekend. — Scruggs

Nick Brooks, 4-star OT, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) John F. Kennedy

Texas has offensive line targets galore within the state of Texas and beyond. Brooks, a native of the Hawkeye State, was at one point committed to Iowa before backing off that pledge last November. Since then, it's been mad dash of heavyweight programs looking to get involved with the towering 6-foot-7, 345-pounder. Brooks has official visits locked in to Georgia, USC, Texas, and Iowa this summer (in that order). We'll see if Kyle Flood and company can kickstart some momentum in Texas' favor this weekend. The Crystal Ball still favors the Hawkeyes as things stand. — South 


James Simon. (Photo: Andrew Hattersley , 247Sports)
 

James Simon, 4-star RB, Shreveport (La.) Calvary Baptist

The running back situation in the 2025 class got a whole lot more interesting over the weekend once LSU took a commitment from Alexandra (LA) four-star RB JT Lindsey. Lindsey's pledge to the Tigers now gives LSU two commitments at the running back position in 2025 with Harlem Berry already in the fold, which all but means the anticipated pairing of LSU and Simon is now out the window. Besides LSU, Simon has also visited Alabama and Texas A&M over the last few weeks and is scheduled to be at Notre Dame Apr. 16-18 before returning to Austin Apr. 19-21. Simon's two day visit to Austin will be his first time back on the Forty Acres since the Longhorns hosted the Top247 back in January for the Junior Day. With the race for Mater Dei's Jordon Davison now pretty heated with Ohio State, could we see the Longhorns pivot to prioritizing Simon to be in the second running back in the class after this weekend? — Scruggs

Riley Pettijohn, 4-star LB, McKinney

We saw one top linebacker target in Elijah "Bo" Barnes expedite his timeline and commit to Texas this past Friday. You can bet the Longhorns staff would love Pettijohn to do the same. All signs point to the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder taking his time and going through his official visit slate first, though. Pettijohn last visited for Junior Day on Jan. 20 where he and new co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Johnny Nansen hit it off. Texas has remained in consistent pursuit, battling the likes of Florida State, Texas A&M, USC, and Ohio State for the Top100 'backer. The Crystal Ball favors UT as things stand. — South 


Jonathan Cunningham. (Photo: Brian Perroni, 247Sports)
 

Jonathan Cunningham, 3-star LB, North Crowley

With Dallas Skyline Top247 LB Elijah Barnes already in the fold, McKinney four-star LB Riley Pettijohn is now the No. 1 target at the position with North Crowley three-star Jonathan Cunningham likely landing right behind Pettijohn on the in-state board. Cunningham stopped by campus last Thursday for an all-day unofficial visit experience similar to the experiences Cobey Sellers and Andrew Marsh had earlier in the spring, which tells you of the priority Cunningham is now. The 6-foot-2, 195 pounder also locked in his Texas official visit for the June 14-16 weekend before leaving campus last week. The mid-June trip to Texas is his third scheduled official visit as he'll see TCU (May 3-5) and Arizona State (June 7-9). — Scruggs

Caleb Cunningham, 5-star WR, Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw County

Texas made a big jump for one out-of-state five-star wide receiver this month in Jaime Ffrench, who visited for Longhorn City Limits on April 6. Could we see the Longhorns have similar success for Cunningham? Both Magnolia State programs are featured on the Crystal Ball for Cunningham, but other schools like Alabama and Tennessee are heavily involved as well. Obviously Texas' biggest priorities at wide receiver are Dakorien Moore and and the aforementioned Ffrench, but beyond that it's a bunch of really talented guys that could have a chance to join this class. We'll see if Texas get an official visit on the calendar following this weekend's visit. — South 

Nasir Wyatt. (Photo: Shotgun Spratling, 247Sports)
Nasir Wyatt, 4-star EDGE, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei

With the Oregon Ducks being the heavy leader on the 247Sports Crystal Ball with five predictions in place for Wyatt to end up in Eugene, Texas has an opportunity to gain ground with the finalist group also including Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Tennessee, and Ohio State. The Longhorns have plenty of connections to the Mater Dei program with several former monarchs already on the roster, along with Chris Jackson and Steve Sarkisian's son being alumni of the storied California powerhouse. — Scruggs 

Ty Haywood, 5-star OT, Denton Ryan

Haywood is part of the Big 3 offensive linemen within the state of Texas the Longhorns are working to bring in. Although the intel is currently showing better odds at UT landing the other two in Michael Fasusi and Lamont Rogers than Haywood. But it's only April.

"They're pretty high right now," Haywood told Horns247 of the Longhorns last month. "Texas is probably one of my top five right now. Coach Flood's got a lot going on up there at Texas. The O-line he's got is pretty good. I watched some of his O-line film, whatever he's got going on down there, it's working obviously. They made it a pretty good distance in the playoffs and everything. Hopefully I can be a part of that one day."

To date, Haywood has not set an official visit to Texas. We'll see if that's made official — no pun intended — this weekend. Oklahoma is trending as things stand. Other programs heavily in play are Florida State, Alabama, TCU, and Texas A&M. — South 

 

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1 hour ago, BurntOrange&White said:

So if landing Russell is part of landing Moore I think that is worth losing Lacey.

I think it depends on what we think of Trey Owens and Lacey vs. Russell. If Owens isn't good enough to start, we are going to have to rely on Lacey or Russell or try getting someone in the portal. We need a solid starter every 2 years at QB or it won't matter who is at receiver.

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Finding a qb won't be an issue as long as Sark's offense is humming along.  The odd year when we don't have a good starter on campus, one can be found in the portal.  It's obviously better to have them on campus for a few years beforehand though.

Edited by kevwun
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Is there a chance the 9.95’rs are in some cases misreading recruit interest? Every recruit’s agent wants their recruit to visit Texas and show strong interest in order to drive up NIL money offers from other schools. 

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4 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

Is there a chance the 9.95’rs are in some cases misreading recruit interest? Every recruit’s agent wants their recruit to visit Texas and show strong interest in order to drive up NIL money offers from other schools. 

there is a grand canyon sized difference between Bobby reading level of interest and reporting on it vs someone like EJ Holland or Ketch reporting on recruits level of interest.

Edited by NoName
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3 minutes ago, Dbeasy said:

Is there a chance the 9.95’rs are in some cases misreading recruit interest? Every recruit’s agent wants their recruit to visit Texas and show strong interest in order to drive up NIL money offers from other schools. 

Burton has been doing this longer than anyone else, is so cautious that I find it irritating sometimes, and is completely aware of the NIL landscape, UT's place in it, and the agent grift of using UT as some sort of pawn.

Players want to come to Texas and play for an "it" brand and an "it" staff. There is only one CFP team from 2023 that actually returns its coach.

You don't need to squint here and try to find something to worry about on the football or recruiting end. There are baseball and basketball threads for that and you don't even have to squint to see issues for both of those programs in order to satisfy the handwringing itch.

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14 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Another cool thing that isn't getting talked about is that Lance Jackson is under-ranked and should be a 5 star. The services might ultimately get wise enough to him to rank him there, but I doubt it. Doesn't matter. He's a difference maker at the next level according to folks who have seen him lately in workouts and studied his film. He's been hurt and is allegedly having a mediocre year in baseball (by draft prospect standards), so that also helps dim down the prospects of him getting drafted early in the 2025 MLB draft for now.

At edge or interior DL?

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17 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

Burton, this morning, posted the most bullish article he's ever written in regard to Texas recruiting. It's based on what they know is happening behind the scenes with this class and the lack of concern over the direction of NIL and the program. He's saying it's a top 3 class when all is said and done. For those that are less familiar with all of this, Bobby is more often than not very cautious and never bombastic. It's kind of crazy to see this level of certitude from him. 

It goes back to what I've been saying on here, however. There is a ton of momentum in recruiting, the likes of which we haven't seen since the VY era. 

If Johnson makes the trip this weekend after his track meet, there is a high likelihood that he is doing so in order to commit. 

Another cool thing that isn't getting talked about is that Lance Jackson is under-ranked and should be a 5 star. The services might ultimately get wise enough to him to rank him there, but I doubt it. Doesn't matter. He's a difference maker at the next level according to folks who have seen him lately in workouts and studied his film. He's been hurt and is allegedly having a mediocre year in baseball (by draft prospect standards), so that also helps dim down the prospects of him getting drafted early in the 2025 MLB draft for now.

Don't be surprised if this weekend is used to inform Lacey that they're aiming for two QBs in the class, and then they offer Russell. Lacey goes home and decommits, then Russell commits. Not saying that for sure, but it would get everyone in a decent space without angry sentiments.

I'm not sure where he is on our OL board but Jackson Christian seems like a FOMO commit about to happen according to his visit schedules and stuff according to Bobby/Gerry.

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