Ten biggest national recruiting battles in 2024
Texas will enter June locked in some national recruiting battles that will shape the Longhorns 2024 class.
Steve Sarkisian and staff have the opportunity to sign a third straight top 5 class in December, and in doing so win some huge recruiting battles nationally.
If Texas is to sign a third straight top 5 class, there will likely be recruiting wins in areas that Texas has not traditionally fared well. The 2023 recruiting class was a step in the right direction recruiting in the Southeast Region and nationally, but the 2024 cycle will be even more difficult battles.
Inside Texas takes a look at the ten biggest national recruiting battles in the 2024 cycle ahead of June official visits.
1. Colin Simmons, EDGE, Duncanville (Texas) High
The On3 Industry Ranking 5-star Simmons is a fierce battle between LSU, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Texas A&M. This is a hard hat recruitment. And Simmons is the “must get” recruit in the Lone Star State in the 2024 cycle. The No. 1 EDGE prospect in the country at Duncanville High going to future SEC foes is not the recruitment you want to finish second on. A win would be the ultimate premium position muscle flex for Steve Sarkisian and staff moving forward in the SEC.
2. Daniel Calhoun, OT, Marietta (Ga.) Walton
Texas is in the Atlanta area battling for one of the nations top offensive tackle prospects. And the Longhorns are battling the best program in college football – Georgia. The Bulldogs are recruiting with a tidal wave of momentum, headed to run a away No. 1 ranked class at the current rate. That makes the work of Kyle Flood and Tashard Choice impressive, already. The 6-foot-6, 350-pound Calhoun is coveted by Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee. Those aren’t battles Texas has won in the Peach State before. In the 2023 cycle, it was a statement made in Florida by Texas. A win here would be a clear signal the Texas program has the ability to win battles in the two most talented states in the Southeast Region.
3. Dominick McKinley, DL, Lafayette (La.) Acadiana
Those in the Pelican State believe the 6-foot-5, 280-pound McKinley will ultimately stay home. Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Alabama are working to beat out the home state Tigers. The Longhorns have won some huge battles in Louisiana under Sarkisian, including Arch Manning and Derek Williams in the 2023 cycle. This would be another huge win over top regional and national programs ahead of the move to the SEC. With Brian Kelly winning 10 games, beating Alabama and playing the SEC Championship in year one at LSU; the recruiting game has changed in Louisiana. That would make beating out LSU for a 5-star defensive line prospect even more impressive.
4. Terrance Hibbler, DL, Lexington (Miss.) Holmes County
The On3 Industry ranking 4-star is coming off a spring that ended with an eye opening performance at a spring jamboree. The 6-foot-2, 295-pounder is wanted by Alabama, Texas, LSU, Auburn, Florida State and the home state schools. Bo Davis going into Mississippi and winning out for a 4-star defensive lineman happened in the 2022 cycle with Aaron Bryant. This is a different recruitment, however, with Alabama pushing for Hibbler based on what IT has been told. Then you add LSU and Auburn with the new staff, and Texas has some real SE Region competition.
5. Corian Gipson, CB/DB, Lancaster (Texas) High
Texas and Clemson don’t go head-to-head very often. With Texas’ move to the SEC and Dabo Swinney’s desire to recruit Texas more now, battles are expected in the future. In the case of the 6-foot, 175-pound Gipson, Clemson was the dream offer. Texas was considered the favorite until the offer, but Gipson will have made three visits to Clemson since the last time he visited Texas prior to the June 23-25 official visit. Then there is Alabama and Ohio State pushing. Clemson has won some battles in the Lone Star State in the Austin area and one in West Texas over Texas. But this would be a huge win over the Longhorns in DFW.
6. Christian Clark, RB, Phoenix (Az.) Mountain Pointe
Texas going into Arizona and beating out USC for a top ranked running back has happened before. And he was just selected in the the top 10 of the NFL Draft. But that wasn’t USC with Lincoln Riley as head coach. The hire of Riley at USC changed the landscape on the West Coast when talking about recruiting top offensive prospects. If someone is equipped to beat Riley on a top target for the Trojans out West, it’s Steve Sarkisian and Tashard Choice. Then you get into the other two strongly in contention – Oregon and Georgia. Texas is considered the favorite headed into the official visit process, which begins at USC this weekend.
7. Nyier Daniels, OT, Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic
If Texas was to go into the Garden State in back-to-back classes and beat out regional powers and national competition for one of the best in the trenches, it would be a clear sign of where the program is headed. Bo Davis and Kyle Flood beat out Georgia, Miami, Texas A&M and Auburn for 4-star defensive tackle Sydir Mitchell in the 2023 class. Now Flood is back in the state he has the longest standing connections working to beat out Florida State, Georgia and Penn State for the 6-foot-7, 360-pound Daniels. Texas is considered the favorite headed into June official visits.
8. Jerrick Gibson, RB, Gainesville (Fla.) IMG Academy
Tashard Choice went into the Sunshine State and signed the best running back prospect in the country in the 2023 cycle. He’s on track to make it two years in a row headed into Gibson’s June official visits. Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Miami and Florida are the final five for the 5-foot-10, 205-pounder. Tennessee has been running second behind Texas since the 2023 season. Miami and Florida both have running backs committed already, but would love to keep Choice from snagging the states top running back prospect two years straight. A Texas win for Gibson would be a very strong signal that Texas move to the SEC is having long last impacts, and that Texas signees Cedric Baxter Jr. and Payton Kirkland are giving Gibson very positive returns on their experience in Austin thus far.
9. Jayden Jackson, DL, Brownsburg (In.) IMG Academy
Ohio State has come into Texas and won some big battles in the last decade. Texas hasn’t won a big battle in Big 10 country over Ohio State for a coveted prospect in over a decade. That alone makes this a muscle flexing level recruitment for Texas, no matter the prospects ranking. Then there is the IMG Academy piece. Texas beating out Miami for an IMG Academy defensive lineman would be another feather in the same recruitment. Texas has the opportunity to reel in three of IMG Academy’s best in the 2024 cycle, which would be yet another signal of things to come in the SEC.
10. Jordan Ross, EDGE, Birmingham (Al.) Vestavia Hills
The No. 33 ranked prospect in the cycle wants to leave the state of Alabama for college. Tennessee, Florida and Georgia are all ahead of Texas entering the official visit process. This would be an upset win for the Longhorns, make no mistake. But that is what places the 6-foot-4.5, 215-pound pass rushing prospect on the list. This would be another win that would stamp Texas’ arrival as Southeast Region player for the best along I-10 and I-20. And it would be a surprise, and garner some SE Region attention. Texas will take a mighty swing June 16-18.
Also considered were St. Louis area wide receiver Ryan Wingo, Pelican State cornerback Wardell Mack, Sunshine State defensive lineman D’antre Robinson and Sam Marcos High offensive tackle Ory Williams.
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