New trends emerge for Texas’ 2024 defensive recruiting
Much like the state of Texas, recruiting is heating up to an almost uncomfortable level. And, like the weather, there are going to be highs and lows to monitor throughout the 2024 cycle. In recent days we’ve seen a microcosm of this with commitment highs from cornerback Santana Wilson and wide receiver Freddie Dubose, and lows like linebacker Tyanthony Smith canceling his midweek official visit.
Action provides data points and data points can lead to trends. Not all trends are great, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be debilitating for the recruiting class. Given the data points on linebacker provided on Monday, let’s take a look at emerging trends on defense first.
We’ll take a look at each position, then I’ll button it up at the end.
Linebacker reset
Tyanthony Smith had long been a priority target for Texas. The Jasper native is a good, safe take in a cycle where Texas is going low on numbers after taking five potential linebackers in 2023. It was a smart plan to target him while big game hunting for a potential second linebacker in the class. Smith’s recent about face on Texas after his USC visit was pretty surprising, I must admit. Something created urgency with Smith to the point he won’t even take his official visit to Texas after showing significant interest in UT. In the NIL era, I can take a guess at what that was.
On the same day Smith canceled his official visit, Texas canceled the official visit for SoCal linebacker Kamar Mothudi. I’m not sure why exactly, but deductive reasoning points to the staff not wanting to host only Mothudi on a midweek visit while wanting to reassess the position. Perhaps there’s more to the story, I don’t know.
Another Southern California linebacker target, Khmori House, took his Texas official visit this past weekend. The staff likes him, but at this time I’d predict Washington or maybe Auburn.
This position is looking like it’s going to get a hard reset. Because of needs elsewhere, specifically the defensive line, we may see Texas take only one linebacker and there is a whole lot of cycle remaining if that’s the case.
I do anticipate Texas at least trying to stay in contact with Smith but new offers will go out eventually, and each one will be worth paying attention to.
Secondary is secondary to defensive line, but still very important
We knew Texas was going pretty big on numbers but they’re going even bigger than originally thought.
I love the addition of Wilson and I still really like where Texas is sitting with Lancaster corner/defensive back Corian Gipson and IMG Star/safety Jordon Johnson-Rubell. In addition, I feel pretty comfortable opining Texas is the team to beat for Waco Connally corner Kobe Black. If Texas can land those four, it’s already a stellar corner/Star group.
One trend benefitting Texas is LSU already having four cornerbacks in its class. They also have two safety commits, so it’s hard to get away with telling recruits like Black and Wardell Mack some of those corners will be safeties. Texas is a real player for Mack but by the time he decides, Texas’ DB class will likely be pretty damn loaded.
IT believes both Converse Judson safety Myles Davis and Fort Bend Marshall safety Joshua Lair can commit. Texas is also recruiting Denton Guyer cornerback Eli Bowen hard.
The fact pattern at defensive back tells us they’re taking a big class. That’s also the case with defensive line. This necessitates such a small class at linebacker.
The class will be defined by D-line recruiting
When we say D-line, we’re combining Edge and interior defensive line. Texas is going to take as many players with differing size and skill-sets it can. If they like a dude who can play 4i, he’s a take. If they like a guy who’s more of a 3-tech, he’s a take. A pure nose tackle? That’s a take, too. Melvin Hills and Isaia Faga are somewhat redundant? Sign both if you can.
If a D-lineman is taking a June official visit, he’s a take. That’s not the case at other positions but the staff understands better than anyone the importance of D-line recruiting in this class. Texas may bow out of a high profile recruitment or two at other, less important positions, but not this one.
While investigating current trends on Monday, I became a little more confident they’ll experience a good amount of success on the defensive line this cycle. I’m not saying they’ll land guys like Colin Simmons and D’antre Robinson, but I can see it given Texas’ resolve.
Closing
This cycle is going to have heavy elements of portal recruiting. Don’t be surprised if a recruitment turns on a dime. Given that, Texas will take a good amount of players who aren’t entirely concerned with NIL (the floor of the class) so that it can laser focus on the most important ones who are (the ceiling).
It’s going to be important for fans to consume information with the whole in mind rather than individual parts.
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