Texas Longhorns path to a third straight top 5 class
The Texas Longhorns have signed two straight top 5 classes, and there is a path to a third straight after the win at Alabama Saturday.
Steve Sarkisian and staff signed the No. 5 ranked class in 2022, and followed up with the No. 3 ranked class in 2023. The 2022 class was made up of two 5-stars, 10 prospects ranked in the top 150 nationally, and 15 ranked in the top 300. The 2023 class included four 5-stars, nine prospects ranked in the top 100, and 15 ranked in the top 300.
A third straight top 10 class remains a sound bet with a number of highly ranked prospects remaining on the board, and several commitments that are expected to make senior season rankings jumps.
Texas currently sits at No. 17 in the class rankings with 17 commitments. Twelve teams currently ranked ahead of Texas have 20 or more commitments. The lone team ranked ahead of Texas that has less commitments is USC (No. 16), and they have 15 commitments.
Inside Texas takes a look at the Longhorns path to a third straight top 5 class.
The commitments
Trey Owens, QB, Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 497 (3-star)
Christian Clark, RB, Phoenix (Ariz.) Mountain Pointe #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 266 (4-star)
Jerrick Gibson, RB, Gainesville (Fla.) IMG Academy #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 65 (4-star)
Freddie Dubose Jr., WR, Schertz (Texas) Smithson Valley #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 211 (4-star)
Parker Livingstone, WR, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 342 (4-star)
Jordan Washington, TE, Houston (Texas) Langham Creek #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 490 (3-star)
Daniel Cruz, IOL, North Richland Hills (Texas) Richland #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 200 (4-star)
Nate Kibble, IOL, Humble (Texas) Atascocita #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 483 (3-star)
D’antre Robinson, DL, Orlando (Fla.) Jones #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 403 (3-star)
Alex January, DL, Duncanville (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 404 (3-star)
Melvin Hills, DL, Lafayette (La.) Lafayette Christian Academy #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 610 (3-star)
Colin Simmons, EDGE, Duncanville (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 6 (5-star)
Zina Umeozulu, EDGE, Allen (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 264 (4-star)
Jordon Johnson-Rubell, S, Fort Worth (Texas) IMG Academy #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 185 (4-star)
Santana Wilson, CB/N, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Desert Mountain #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 233 (4-star)
Aeryn Hampton, WR/ATH, Daingerfield (Texas) High #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 162 (4-star)
Michael Kern, P, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas #AllGasNoBrakes
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 1761 (3-star)
Texas has to hit on two more 5-stars
The commitment of Simmons in August presented the opportunity for a third straight top 5 class. Now, the Longhorns have to hit on at least two more five-stars with three decisions coming in the next few weeks.
Brandon Baker, OT, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 23 (5-star)
In play: Announcing September 24 out of Texas, Ohio State, Oregon and Nebraska.
Ryan Wingo, WR, Saint Louis (Mo.) University
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 25 (5-star)
In play: Texas and Missouri lead Tennessee.
Kobe Black, CB, Waco (Texas) Connally
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 24 (5-star)
In play: Texas leads Texas A&M, Oregon and others.
Texas in play for a number of Top 300 ranked prospects
Along with hitting on two more 5-stars, the Longhorns must also keep adding top 300 ranked prospects to the class. Texas will likely need to add three or four more top 300 ranked prospects. The EDGE position is taking center stage in that regard right now.
Danny Okoye, EDGE, Tulsa (Okla.) NOAH Homeschool
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 159 (4-star)
The decision: Announcing September 20 out of Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
Solomon Williams, EDGE, Tampa (Fla.) Carrollwood Day
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 256 (4-star)
In play: Alabama, Texas, Oregon, Texas A&M, UCF
Texas will have to flip a DB and OL
To put a third straight top 5 class on the board, Sarkisian and staff will very likely have to flip a prospect at a couple of positions that are top 300 prospects.
Wardell Mack, CB, Marrero (La.) John Ehret – *Florida Gators commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 72 (4-star)
Corian Gipson, CB, Lancaster (Texas) High – *Clemson Tigers commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 73 (4-star)
Weston Davis, OT, Beaumont (Texas) United – *Texas A&M verbal
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 101 (4-star)
DeAndre Carter, IOL, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei – *Auburn Tigers commit
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 151 (4-star)
Tyanthony Smith, LB, Jasper (Texas) High –*Texas A&M verbal
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 372 (4-star)
Wild card recruitments:
Terry Bussey, WR, Timpson (Texas) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 19 (5-star)
The decision: Bussey will choose out of Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU, Texas and OklahomaSeptember 28. The Aggies have led big for months.
Joshua Lair, S/N, Missouri City (Texas) Marshall
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 428 (3-star)
The decision: Will commit September 24 to either Washington or Texas with Baylor also still in the mix. Visited Washington officially over the weekend. The big question is how hard will Texas push in the next two weeks.
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