The latest on the Texas Longhorns five-star targets

The Texas Longhorns have one five-star committed in the 2024 class in No. 1 ranked EDGE prospect Colin Simmons.

With Simmons providing Steve Sarkisian and staff with plenty of momentum headed into the last half of August, the Longhorns are in within striking distance of four other 5-stars in the 2024 cycle.

Inside Texas takes a look at the four 5-stars that the Texas staff is taking mighty swings at with decisions expected in the next month or two.

Brandon Baker, OT, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei

The recruitment of the No. 22 ranked prospect in the country continues. And depending on who one talks to, the top two are different. One source Monday afternoon close to the recruitment says it’s Texas and Oregon as the top two. That source has continued to have Oregon in a better spot than Ohio State for weeks. Texas offensive line coach Kyle Flood and head coach Steve Sarkisian are both popular with Baker, and Baker’s family. Oregon offensive line coach A’lique Terry has done a good job of relationship building since being hired in February. That has helped the Ducks cause because there has been a lot of offensive line coaching turnover throughout Baker’s recruitment.

A second source has Texas and Ohio State as the top two with Oregon running third. The big question right now with the Baker recruitment is the September visit schedule. Nebraska is all in, and has a visit scheduled for September 16. Texas is working to get Baker back on campus September 30 for the Kansas game. Oregon’s schedule doesn’t match up for a game day visit opportunity October 21.

Kobe Black, CB, Waco (Texas) Connally

The recruitment of the No. 25 ranked prospect in the 2024 cycle continues to have a similar trend. The Texas Longhorns are considered the favorite, as they have been for months. Texas A&M is running second in the close to home race.

LSU, Ohio State and Oregon round out the top five.

Black is one of the 5-stars that could decide to commit prior to the start of his senior season, or wait until later in September. He still has official visits scheduled to LSU September 9 and Alabama and Texas A&M in October. It remains to be seen if the 6-foot-2, near 200-pounder will make the scheduled official visits.

Ryan Wingo, WR, Saint Louis (Mo.)

Inside Texas reported earlier today that Missouri and Texas should be considered the top two for the 6-foot-2, 203-pound wide receiver. Intel received today from the Tennessee side of things is that the Vols believe Missouri could win out in August if Wingo makes the call early similar to 5-star Williams Nwaneri. The Vols side of things also believes Texas is very much in the mix. Does that mean it’s a lock for Missouri? Nope. Texas is squarely in the mix. The battle continues.

The Texas side remains the same as it has been. Steve Sarkisian has had a good beat on what’s important in this recruitment. Sarkisian is very much personally involved in the recruitment of Ryan and family. Texas wide receivers coach Chris Jackson and freshman quarterback Arch Manning are also playing very key roles in this one. The Longhorns have confidence, and have for a while. The city of Austin is another positive factor. That all remains the same.

Tennessee continues to be the team mentioned most as a top three in the recruitment. Texas A&M would be fourth. But if Wingo makes the call prior to September, the recruitment is certainly trending Missouri vs. Texas.

Dominick McKinley, DL, Lafayette (La.) Acadiana

Inside Texas reported this morning that McKinley and family are planning to take the week off from recruiting. The reason for that is it’s the first week of school, and then start talking as a family about a decision with a commitment set for September 1. That means that the McKinley family doesn’t plan to talk to college coaches this week.

So where is Texas in the mix? The Longhorns have a legitimate shot to win this recruitment. The football and academic combination continues to be mentioned within the family. McKinley plans to major in engineering. Relationships are not just a talking point in this recruitment. It’s real. Steve Sarkisian is getting positive reviews from the family. Bo Davis is getting positive reviews from the family and Dominick.

Oklahoma’s Todd Bates and Ohio State’s Larry Johnson are also seen as position coaches that have and are connecting very well with McKinley. Texas, Oklahoma and Ohio State are the three schools getting the most mention right now. All three have had recent levels of confidence in this one. The Oklahoma side of things was leaning slightly to Texas over the Sooners two weeks ago. Ohio State has had quiet confidence of late. LSU and Texas A&M remain in the mix.

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