Relationships pivotal in Texas’ pursuit of 4-star RB Jerrick Gibson

Texas’ 2023 recruiting class may be remember most for landing the nation’s No. 1 player in five-star quarterback Arch Manning. However the Longhorns’ No. 3 overall class wasn’t just a one-man show as they landed multiple top-100 prospects including the cycle’s No. 1 running back Cedric Baxter Jr.

Going into Florida and landing the top running back in the country was no easy feat but the Longhorns may be in position to do it all over again.

On the latest edition of the On3 Roundtable, Texas recruiting insider Gerry Hamilton broke down where the Longhorns sit with 2024 No. 2 running back Jerrick Gibson:

“Tashard Choice is the same guy recruiting him,” Hamilton said. “He had been recruiting Baxter for two years plus when he was at Georgia Tech but it’s the same thing with Jerrick Gibson. What’s interesting with Texas and Gibson is Miami’s gonna make that run. Miami was the team that made the run at Baxter before he picked Texas last year.

“What Texas has helped from along with Tashard Choice’s great relationship is Cedric Baxter and Peyton Kirkland, both from the Orlando area, were on campus at Texas during the spring. When you have guys from the same state, the same area that just signed with Texas and they’re saying really good things about their time in Austin as early enrollees that does nothing but help Texas and that regard.”

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Obstacles for Texas to overcome to land Gibson

Gibson, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound four-star running back from Gainesville (Fla.) playing at IMG Academy, is ranked as the No. 45 overall player. A former Florida commitment since July 2021, he decommitted from the Gators in February 2022.

While the Gators remain heavily involved in his recruitment, it’s Texas who holds substantial lead to land Gibson according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). The Longhorns’ chances currently sit at 94.1%.

Even with those high odds, Texas’ running back room has plenty of names already and that could be one factor Hamilton thinks could potentially help Miami’s chances with Gibson.

“The only thing I think that could hurt Texas potentially is Cedric Baxter is a freshman,” Hamilton said. “Jonathan Brooks is a junior. There’s other backs, Savion Red who they moved to a running back, is a sophomore.

…Is there enough of a log jam for Miami to get in there and sway Gibson off his Texas lean? We’ll see, but I think that the relationships with Choice are really strong.

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