Friday morning recruiting nuggets (6:47am am CST)

[Gerry Hamilton]

The Texas coaching staff has been making school stops from coast-to-coast this week with a number of new offers going out in the 2025 and 2026 classes. 

OnTexasFootball begins Friday morning with some notes and nuggets. 

New DL offer Josiah Sharma has Texas ties

On Thursday the Longhorns extended an offer out west to 6-5, 300-pound defensive tackle Josiah Sharma (Folsom, Calif.). Linebackers coach Johnny Nansen met with Sharma and the Folsom coaching staff and extended the offer shortly after. 

A two-way player for his school, Sharma has seen a flurry of offers come in lately from programs such as Alabama, Washington, Oregon, Ole Miss and more. 

The Texas one, however, caught his attention. 

Sharma is originally from the Lone Star State and living here for years before moving to California. Not to mention he has family in Austin as well. 

Now the three-star prospect plans to head to campus soon for a visit. 

"I used to live in Arlington," he said. "All my family is in Texas, so absolutely, 100-percent I'm visiting." - Blake Munroe

Texas offers North Crowley 2025 fast riser

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and running backs coach Tashard Choice stopped by North Crowley Thursday. 

Junior linebacker Jonathan Cunningham caught the eye of new Texas Co-DC and linebackers coach Johnny Nansen early in his tenure. And Sarkisian officially extended an offer Thursday. 

"It’s a honor to receive an offer by Texas,” Cunningham said. “Not too many of high school players get this opportunity to go compete at the next level. Getting an offer from Texas and being from Texas is a blessing in disguise."

Cunningham, who is 6-3, 190, has been gaining national traction in January. Texas joins Miami, Utah, SMU, TCU, Houston, Arkansas and Oregon State in offering. That list is expected to grow to 20+ by the end of the spring evaluation period. - Gerry Hamilton

Kenny Baker on the road

There has been a constant theme amongst the early responses from recruits in regards to new Texas DL Coach Kenny Baker:

Energy and relatability.

Baker stopped by DFW yesterday to see Dilan Battle and Xavier Ukponu in person for the first time. Baker is now up to seven visits on the trail as a member of the Texas Longhorn staff:

1. Xavier Ukponu
2. Dilan Battle
3. Chace Sims
4. Landon Rink
5. Zion Williams
6. Floyd Guidry
7. Carmello Brooks 

We posted the quote from Landon Rink that mentioned the high energy Coach Baker brought to the meeting on Tuesday. I am here to echo that sentiment following conversations with several other prospects Baker has visited. 

Xavier Ukponu mentioned specifically that he felt like he could relate very well to Baker and mentioned the two had a lot in common. It has been a very strong start to the recruiting trail for the former Miami Dolphin assistant. It is worth noting that just one of Baker's visits has been accompanied by another Texas Coach – Sarkisian joined him to see Dilan Battle at Mansfield Timberview. - C.J. Vogel

Blake Gideon in Arizona 

Texas returned to Desert Edge, AZ this week to see 2025 CB Jamar Beal-Goines, this time with Blake Gideon who followed up Terry Joseph's visit from last week.

Texas still has yet to offer Beal-Goines, but there have been discussions on getting the 6-foot cornerback to campus for a visit. No discussion about the Arizona corner would be complete without mentioning his speed, which has become more of a priority with the Texas staff over the last cycle. Beal-Goines boats 10.6 speed in the 100m.

Oregon, USC, Arizona, Michigan State and Texas A&M have offered in the last week. - CJ Vogel

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[Pocono longhorn]

Nice to have the early bird back where he belongs.  Welcome back, sir.

[Gerry Hamilton]

Just now, Pocono longhorn said:

Nice to have the early bird back where he belongs.  Welcome back, sir.

Haha. For sure!

[Bobby Burton]

This is great stuff!

[WestlakeLonghorn]

Love having Gerry back!   So to confirm @Gerry Hamiltonmo longer does national work for On3?

[Gerry Hamilton]

I'm going to have a closer look at DL recruiting later this morning as well. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

Josiah Sharma was at Oregon last weekend. 

 

 

[Gerry Hamilton]

2 minutes ago, WestlakeLonghorn said:

Love having Gerry back!   So to confirm @Gerry Hamiltonmo longer does national work for On3?

I'm full time OnTexasFootball 

[Bobby Burton]

I need to add one more:

Texas is expected to be by Galveston Ball today to see five star Jonah Williams.

Williams wants to play safety in college so Texas safety coach Blake Gideon will be in Galveston today. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

North Crowley also features 2026 OT John Turntine III, the No. 1 prospect in the state regardless of classification (2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027) so far. 

Turntine visited Texas during the season and was offered by Sark and Kyle Flood. He also attend Junior Day January 20. 

 

And North Crowley has a hellacious scheduled in 2024...

 

 

[Drunk randoke]

Good so good to have GH back on a daily basis.  Strong team Bobby is building.

[Gerry Hamilton]

2 minutes ago, Bobby Burton said:

I need to add one more:

Texas is expected to be by Galveston Ball today to see five star Jonah Williams.

Williams wants to play safety in college so Texas safety coach Blake Gideon will be in Galveston today. 

Good add here ...

Steve Sarkisian was by Galveston Ball last week as well. Sark visited Jonah Williams, WR Kelshaun Johnson at Hitchcock High and the Shadow Creek 2025's that same day.

Shadow Creek 2025's:

Texas LB commit Anthony Williams (6-3, 190)

4-star CB Cobey Sellers (6-0, 165) ... OU lean for much of season

4-star WR Jacorey Watson (6-1, 175) 

 

[Sotxhornsfan]

So basically Kelvin Banks 2.0?  How do you like UT’s chances here early on? 

[Gerry Hamilton]

2 minutes ago, Sotxhornsfan said:

So basically Kelvin Banks 2.0?  How do you like UT’s chances here early on? 

Definitely think Turntine is right there with Banks, and probably better at same age ... I realize that is saying a lot. 

His father played DT at TCU when Gary Patterson was HC. 

Football/academics are huge here ... Turntine has shot to be class valedictorian, and is looking at pre-med as major. Texas will be in it until the end, as of today. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

 

[Gerry Hamilton]

 

[t.newman]

3 Things...

1. That oregon uniform looks like something a child colored with crayons... (I do like some of their uniform choices, but this one is UGLY!)

2. Any linebacker offered by Utah immediately catches my attention,

and 3. It's great to hear about a DL coach that is relatable and "high-energy" on the recruiting trail.  I do love coach Bo, and respect how he develops players, but I never got a sense of enthusiasm for recruiting... and it showed the last couple of years. 

Edited February 2, 2024 by t.newman
mistake

[JGL333]

Gerry and Bobby when does Ricky Steward commit?  Who you think is next?

[Jbf19]

I made this comment on yesterday’s Coffee and Football but I want to reiterate it here.  When Gerry left the YouTube channel it was a big blow in my mind.  But bringing CJ in was great.  I really enjoy his work.   Now that Gerry is back I’m more excited.  I’m looking forward to the team of CJ and Gerry.  I hope they can make that work because I think Bobby is building the best UT sports coverage team in the industry.  I’ve always liked what Bobby and Blake bring to the table.  Just wanted to say thank you all for what y'all bring to Texas alumni and fans.  Hook’ em!

[Bobby Burton]

12 minutes ago, JGL333 said:

Gerry and Bobby when does Ricky Steward commit?  Who you think is next?

CJ has been hearing Baylor for Stewart of late. His Chapel Hill teammate de-committed from SMU and committed to Baylor this week as well.

So I don’t think Stewart is a slam dunk. But even if he were to commit to Baylor, I’m not sure the recruitment would be over. Texas has yet to push for commitments.

[Jerry K]

I’m already a Johnny Nansen fan. Is Sharma 2025 class?

[CJ Vogel]

17 minutes ago, JGL333 said:

Gerry and Bobby when does Ricky Steward commit?  Who you think is next?

Baylor hired SMU’s RB coach Khenon Hall in the middle of December. Combine that with Stewart’s teammate Demetrius Brisbon committing to the Bears yesterday as well, Baylor is a team to me that needs to be watched very closely for Stewart. 

[Bobby Burton]

12 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Baylor hired SMU’s RB coach Khenon Hall in the middle of December. Combine that with Stewart’s teammate Demetrius Brisbon committing to the Bears yesterday as well, Baylor is a team to me that needs to be watched very closely for Stewart. 

Good stuff, CJ. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

14 minutes ago, Jerry K said:

I’m already a Johnny Nansen fan. Is Sharma 2025 class?

Yes he is. Former Washington verbal

Was at Sacramento Inderkum High for junior season ... now at NorCal power Folsom High

[Hermanator]

After listening to the talk about recruiting rankings being lowered for Texas commits due to program reputation on yesterday morning's video I wondered have you ever thought about doing 5 year class re-rankings? Maybe evaluate the composite rankings for the top 15 or top 20 classes 5 years after the class hit the field. 

If anyone has done this let me know where to find it. I think a lot of us would be interested in how this shakes out. I've long thought the recruiting rankings should be viewed on macro scale and not worry about the small details like why a single player is a 4 star instead of 5 star or why a class is number 6 instead of number 5.