Monday morning smorgasbord of recruiting nuggets (7:18 a.m. CST)

[Gerry Hamilton]

Monday morning smorgasbord of recruiting nuggets

It's time to start the week off with a Chick-fil-a 30 count of nuggets with extra BBQ sauce and a large sweet tea with free refills.

Andrew Marsh locks in Texas visit

OnTexasFootball 4-star wide receiver Andrew Marsh (Katy, Texas) Jordan told OTF Sunday that he has a visit set to Texas March 25. Marsh, 6-1 and 175 pounds, has remained in constant contact with Chris Jackson since last summer. He was on campus during the 2023 season for the Wyoming game. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian stopped by Jordan High in January. He made a Junior day visit to Texas A&M in January. Nebraska and Kentucky are in full pursuit. 

Jeff Banks working to get TE on campus

Spring (Texas) Dekaney 2025 TE Nick Townsend is a strong possibility to be in Austin April 6. Banks and Townsend spoke two days ago. Banks' message was clear that the Longhorns want the 6-4, 220 pounder to visit April 6. And that Texas is recruiting Townsend at tight end.

"I'm liking them so far. When I went up there for Junior day (January 20), it felt like home," Townsend told OnTexasFootball Saturday. "That was the best campus I have been on so far."

That comment includes a Junior day visit to Texas A&m in January. 

Townsend Texas A&M March 22, USC and California March during spring break and Arizona State official visit in April. He will make that April official visit to Arizona State with fellow OnTexasFootball 4-star and Dekaney teammate Tanook Hines. Hines told OTF Saturday that he also remains in contact with Texas, and a spring visit is possible. 

Sunshine Star 4-star to visit Texas in April

Sunshine State speedster and OnTexasFootball 4-star wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. (Naples, Fla./First Baptist Academy) confirmed with OTF that he is scheduled to visit Texas April 18. This will be a first visit to Texas for the 5-10, 175 pounder with 4.45 speed. Watkins, a one-time pledge to both Texas A&M and Colorado early in the process, is in contact with Texas wide receivers coach Chris Jackson. April 18 will be the first time on campus in Austin. 

Watkins has a spring full of unofficial visits:
Florida March 7 
Clemson March 11 
Pittsburgh March 21 
Syracuse March 27 
Indiana April 2 
Ohio State April 9 
Tennessee April 13
Florida State April 16 
Texas April 18 
Oregon April 25  

Zion Williams and Texas

OnTexasFootball would rank the contenders for Lufkin (Texas) High's 2025 DL Zion Williams in this order:
LSU 1A
Texas 1B
Texas A&M 3rd
TCU 4th

Williams, 6-4.5 and 320 pounds, spoke with Kenny Baker last week. The Longhorns will get Williams on campus this spring (likely April 20 spring game), and in June for an official visit. He will make a visit to LSU March 9, and Texas A&M is likely near the end of March. TCU is locked in for an official visit 3-5. 

Offensive line recruiting

OnTexasFootball broke the news Sunday that Port Neches-Groves IOL Jackson Christian and Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland High's Jonte Newman have scheduled June official visits to Texas.

Christian, 6-5 and 313 pounds, is trending to a Texas A&M vs. Texas battle. He will make official visits to Texas A&M June 14-16 and Texas June 21-23. He will also make April visits to Texas A&M on the 6th, and Texas the 13th. 

Newman is more wide open with his recruitment, but Texas has a legit shot. Newman is looking at a spring unofficial visit prior to the June 21-23 official visit. Oregon will get a visit. Oklahoma will likely get a visit. He will be back on campus at Texas A&M, and Alabama is a school of serious interest. Newman, 6-4 and 280 pounds, moved to the Houston area from Lexington, Miss. If Lexington, Miss. sounds a little familiar, that is where Texas 2024 DL target Terrance Hibbler is from. Hibbler attended Holmes County High, where Newman would have attended if he hadn't moved to Texas. 

Sunshine State corner Chris Ewald Jr. 

Texas defensive backs coach Terry Joseph is in contact with Chris Ewald Jr. (Hollywood, Fla./Chaminade-Madonna). Ewald, 6-0 and 160, is a one-time Michigan verbal with more than 30 offers. The offer list includes 12 SEC programs, including the Longhorns. Texas offered the Broward County cover corner in October of 2023.

Ewald has a busy spring visit scheduled with Miami March 8, LSU March 9, Auburn March 19, Texas A&M March 23 and Tennessee April 6. A visit to Texas is a possibility. 

Defensive line recruiting nuggets

Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker spoke with OnTexasFootball 4-star defensive tackle prospect Myron Charles (Port Charlotte, Fla./High) last week. Baker is working to get Charles on campus this spring. Charles, 6-4 and 280, doesn't have a date locked in yet. OTF considers Florida State the team to beat for the Sunshine State 4-star headed into the spring. 

Kenny Baker also reached out to Mansfield (Texas) Timberview High's Dilan Battle in recent days. Baker's message to Battle was working to get him on campus this spring. Battle is scheduled to be at LSU March 9 for the Tigers huge recruiting weekend. He's also scheduled to see Texas A&M later in March. A return trip to Florida is also possible. A TCU official visit in May is a possibility as well. Michigan also remains in the picture. 

More notes:

A Sunday prediction in the recruiting world has Texas being in position to beat out USC, LSU and Ohio State for Kaliq Lockett (Sachse, Texas/High). Lockett, 6-1 and 175 pounds, is scheduled to visit Texas April 6 for the Longhorns big weekend of targets on offense.

Texas remains in contact with Terrell (Texas) High 2025 TE/EDGE Keiundre Johnson. Johnson, 6-3.5 and 220 pounds, plans to visit Texas, Texas A&M, USC, SMU and maybe Arkansas this spring. Texas' Jeff Banks has mentioned April 6 and April 20 Spring Game as possible visit dates. Texas A&M and USC are recruiting Johnson as an EDGE prospect. 

Richmond (Texas) Randle 2025 DL Chace Sims (6-3, 285) told OTF that he is expecting communication with defensive line coach Kenny Baker to pick up soon. LSU's Bo Davis offered last week, and the Tigers will receive a visit this spring. Texas A&M and TCU are also on the spring visit list. Texas Tech possibly as well. 

OnTexasFootball 4-star CB Cobey Sellers (Pearland, Texas/Shadow Creek) said Sunday that he doesn't have any locked in spring visit dates. Oklahoma and Texas are expecting the 6-0, 165 pound cornerback on campus this spring, however. The Sooners enter the spring in the lead spot, but there remains confidence in Austin the Longhorns could win out. 

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[agentmule]

haha "Chick-fil-a 30 count of nuggets with extra BBQ sauce and a large sweet team with free refills."

[marathon]

@Gerry Hamilton @CJ Vogel

What type of feedback are you hearing on Kenny Baker and recruiting. Is he doing better or worse than you expected at this point.

Bo Davis was a good developer of the talent he inherited but he didn’t leave the cupboard full.

 

 

[CJ Vogel]

40 minutes ago, marathon said:

@Gerry Hamilton @CJ Vogel

What type of feedback are you hearing on Kenny Baker and recruiting. Is he doing better or worse than you expected at this point.

Bo Davis was a good developer of the talent he inherited but he didn’t leave the cupboard full.

 

 

It is still too early to get an idea of what Baker will be as a receiver. However, first impressions have been positive. Baker brings a lot of energy to conversations and recruits have been impressed with his attention to detail in conversations and desire to establish relationships right away. 

[Ronald Dayto]

"Baker will be as a receiver."

[Thiefery]

looks like we are going to have a cycle of head to heads vs LSU

[goathumper]

Is Texas recruiting Corey Simms at all?

[1984Horn]

It's early, but it feels like we won't get our first choice at defensive tackle spots.  I have no doubt the one's we get will be good and they will get hyped up, but it's not feeling like the 5 and upper 4 star type players are feeling Texas right now (I know, I know...stars don't matter.  But they do matter).  Hopefully I'm wrong and Baker continues to develop these relationships to pull some guys it.  

[eperm25]

How big of a factor will NIL be in the recruitment of Zion Williams?

[closetojumping]

Texas recruiting Marsh is a head scratcher for me. He checks damned near every box for "Do Not Want". I hope he winds up at Texas A&M. It'd be another perfect fit between Katy and ATM for Texas fans.

[Gerry Hamilton]

19 minutes ago, goathumper said:

Is Texas recruiting Corey Simms at all?

Not a name I have heard much on. Will double check. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

35 minutes ago, Thiefery said:

looks like we are going to have a cycle of head to heads vs LSU

Definitely shaping up that way. 

And vs. Texas A&M and OU on the OL

[TTown]

Just realized unless we change Texas law no  Texas schools can make offers to high school kids now. Totally forgot that even with new NIL ruling. Many other states amended their laws. Disadvantage?

 

[TTown]

[goathumper]

10 minutes ago, TTown said:

Just realized unless we change Texas law no  Texas schools can make offers to high school kids now. Totally forgot that even with new NIL ruling. Many other states amended their laws. Disadvantage?

 

 

UT and A&M have won recruitments for out of state kids from places where HS players can receive NIL. 

 

Changing this law would make it more complicated to recruit in state and make life more difficult on TXHSFB coaches. HS kids usually dont receive that much in NIL anyway. Absolutely this law shouldnt be changed 

[TTown]

3 minutes ago, goathumper said:

 

UT and A&M have won recruitments for out of state kids from places where HS players can receive NIL. 

 

Changing this law would make it more complicated to recruit in state and make life more difficult on TXHSFB coaches. HS kids usually dont receive that much in NIL anyway. Absolutely this law shouldnt be changed 

Yeah I can see both sides here tbh. As a member of THSCA I disagree and believe they should get that right. Many other states have amended their laws to allow.

I agree on a smaller scale we might be ok, Wingo as an example,  but larger I'm not sure. Interesting debate and your points are valid. But man if a kid can get that $ and offer early, I think it puts us and all Texas schools at a disadvantage.

Who knows. Hell as crazy as things are I wouldn't be surprised to see a Texas athlete sue over this law. Why not everybody else is🤣🤘

[Burnt Orange Horn]

2 hours ago, marathon said:

@Gerry Hamilton @CJ Vogel

 

Bo Davis was a good developer of the talent he inherited but he didn’t leave the cupboard full.

 

 

I think that was exactly why Texas did not fight for Davis at the end.  Sydir Mitchell was really a Sarkisian and Flood recruit.  All the DL coming out including next year are all Herman—Giles recruits.

[Burnt Orange Horn]

24 minutes ago, goathumper said:

 

UT and A&M have won recruitments for out of state kids from places where HS players can receive NIL. 

 

Changing this law would make it more complicated to recruit in state and make life more difficult on TXHSFB coaches. HS kids usually dont receive that much in NIL anyway. Absolutely this law shouldnt be changed 

 

25 minutes ago, goathumper said:

 

UT and A&M have won recruitments for out of state kids from places where HS players can receive NIL.

 

Most states where high school players can receive NIL confine that privilege to in state schools only.

[codaxx]

38 minutes ago, goathumper said:

 

UT and A&M have won recruitments for out of state kids from places where HS players can receive NIL. 

 

Changing this law would make it more complicated to recruit in state and make life more difficult on TXHSFB coaches. HS kids usually dont receive that much in NIL anyway. Absolutely this law shouldnt be changed 

There is no stopping this and the courts have been pretty clear about that. Just have to accept that this is what CFB and recruiting will look like going forward. The bag game has a 200 year+ history going back to coaches like Walter Camp. We have now entered the legalization of the bag game with 0 pretense. 

[TTown]

26 minutes ago, Burnt Orange Horn said:

 

Most states where high school players can receive NIL confine that privilege to in state schools only.

From my reading of it I only see Missouri and Arkansas with in state stuff. There are currently 33 states that allow and others considering. Most read that they can get the $ no matter where they sign.

Again not sure if it is a big disadvantage yet, but can see it coming if we don't amend it . But that would next legislative session so good luck between now and then ha. May not affect UT as much considering our model of doing it, but I bet other schools like Tech would love to be able to offer asap to kids in state.

Good discussion and who knows things change so fast just hold on tight ha.

[Gerry Hamilton]

44 minutes ago, Burnt Orange Horn said:

I think that was exactly why Texas did not fight for Davis at the end.  Sydir Mitchell was really a Sarkisian and Flood recruit.  All the DL coming out including next year are all Herman—Giles recruits.

Davis was going to LSU. There wasn’t a fight to be had. That’s all Texas media rumors FYI 

[Horn89]

10 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Davis was going to LSU. There wasn’t a fight to be had. That’s all Texas media rumors FYI 

Gerry, did we ever get clarity as to why Bo left? Was it money, his son, or simply wanting to go to his alma mater? The latter doesn’t make sense since he’s turned down LSU multiple times in the past.

i believe Bobby had reported that Bo was staying initially too.

[Gerry Hamilton]

7 minutes ago, Horn89 said:

Gerry, did we ever get clarity as to why Bo left? Was it money, his son, or simply wanting to go to his alma mater? The latter doesn’t make sense since he’s turned down LSU multiple times in the past.

i believe Bobby had reported that Bo was staying initially too.

Two of his best friends are on the LSU staff - Frank Wilson and Corey Raymond. 
it’s where he wanted to be. He has a ranch in Mississippi, where he will retire to. 
 

The rest is rumorville 

[goathumper]

2 hours ago, Burnt Orange Horn said:

 

Most states where high school players can receive NIL confine that privilege to in state schools only.

 

My point exactly

[TTown]

14 minutes ago, goathumper said:

 

My point exactly

I could only find 2 out of 33 that confines that but you could be right. I just don't see anymore than Arkansas and .Missouri at the moment. Most others seem to be anywhere they want to sign. 

It is all pretty crazy but fully expect Texas to address the Law again if need be. It is just all these court rulings and cases who knows what comes next ha!