OTF Premium Texas is wisely building a title-contending roster from the inside out

[Jeff Howe]

Steve Sarkisian’s Texas organization is prioritizing three areas when recruiting high school prospects and devoting resources for talent acquisition: quarterbacks, top-notch linemen who can protect the quarterback and blue-chip defenders who can disrupt opposing quarterbacks.

The approach was driven home on a weekend when Dia Bell (Plantation, Fla./American Heritage) was named MVP of the 2025 Elite 11 competition.

The Longhorns added another body to what could evolve into a historic defensive line haul, reeling in Vodney Cleveland (Birmingham, Ala./Parker) while maintaining the lead in the race for Kendall Guervil (Fort Myers, Fla.).

Richard Wesley’s (Chatsworth, Calif./Sierra Canyon) surprise commitment was arguably a bigger recruiting boon than if Texas had landed Dre Quinn (Atlanta, Ga./Buford) last Thursday. The Longhorns are one of three teams left standing for Trenton Henderson (Pensacola, Fla./Catholic) and remain in the running for Temple’s Jamarion Carlton.

Texas also got the last in-person word with North Crowley offensive tackle John Turntine III ahead of his July 4 decision. Melissa’s Max Wright and Klein’s Nicholas Robertson were on campus with Turntine, who, along with Mansfield Lake Ridge’s Felix Ojo and Malakai Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Kamehameha), is one of three elite offensive tackles Kyle Flood is aggressively pursuing.

It’s fun to listen to Sarkisian, Flood and other coaches on the staff tout the program’s desire to recruit “big humans.” The trope, however, is a way of life.

Sarkisian, general manager Brandon Harris, director of player personnel JM Jones and the rest of the organization’s approach to roster building in college football has the staying power needed to keep Texas in the national championship hunt for the foreseeable future. While the Longhorns won’t win every battle for coveted players who line up closest to the football, they’re winning enough of them to keep accelerating the program’s growth from Sarkisian’s forgettable 5-7 debut to producing an FBS-leading 23 NFL draft picks from clubs that won a combined 25 games and reached the College Football Playoff semifinals over the last two seasons.

Of those 23 draft choices, 10 of them manned one of the Sarkisian regime’s foundational positions: one quarterback (Quinn Ewers); one EDGE (Barryn Sorrell); four offensive linemen (Kelvin Banks Jr., Hayden Conner, Christian Jones and Cameron Williams); and four interior defensive linemen (Vernon Broughton, Alfred Collins, Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat).

Bell is next in line behind Trey Owens and KJ Lacey to succeed Arch Manning. The offensive line has avoided heavy attrition under Flood and has benefited from evaluation wins with undervalued recruits, particularly what can be gleaned from Trevor Goosby's snaps last season and the early returns on guys like Nick Brooks and Nate Kibble.

Now, it's time for Kenny Baker and LaAllen Clark to set up their respective rooms for bright futures. Texas is rightfully taking advantage of a 2026 cycle chock-full of difference-making defensive linemen, building the kind of roster that won't need five tackles from the portal to avoid massive gaps in the talent pipeline.

Missing out on Carthage's KJ Edwards was a significant loss, especially considering how much Sarkisian values well-rounded running backs in his offense. The battles for Jalen Lott and Kaydon Finley could end with Texas losing to out-of-state competition (Oregon or USC for Lott and Notre Dame for Finley), which wouldn't be ideal scenarios for recruits with strong family ties to the Forty Acres.

Still, since NIL resources aren’t limitless, the Longhorns would rather do what it takes to win line-of-scrimmage recruitments and, if necessary, snag as-needed skill talent from the transfer portal. It's more feasible to go into the portal and come out with Matthew Golden or Adonai Mitchell as opposed to using the significant capital it would take to secure a player capable of immediately impacting the trenches, assuming those types of players are available.

There’s no wrong way to build a winning program. Nevertheless, it’s hard to argue against Sarkisian’s plan to keep Texas in the top tier of annual contenders to win the SEC and the CFP.

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[Q]

Have to keep the big uglies stocked. Without them the skill players become less effective. 

[Burnt Orange Horn]

Have to get Crowell.  Do not care how.  Do not care exactly when.

🤘🏻🤘🏼🤘🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿

[Zacharyhorn]

Which edge would essentially replace Colin Simmons?  I’ve seen people say that Wesley will end up being a Jack.  I was hoping we would get another pass rush specialist.

[qaertyisthatdude]

Just now, Zacharyhorn said:

Which edge would essentially replace Colin Simmons?  I’ve seen people say that Wesley will end up being a Jack.  I was hoping we would get another pass rush specialist.

I like Zion Elee, but he's gonna be a Terp.  Out of the ones the staff is currently pursuing, Jake Kruel is my favorite.

[f1revo]

32 minutes ago, Zacharyhorn said:

Which edge would essentially replace Colin Simmons?  I’ve seen people say that Wesley will end up being a Jack.  I was hoping we would get another pass rush specialist.

There was a cat quick pass rusher they took last year who is a little skinny but should play the same spot as Simmons once he leaves. Can't remember his name. If you're talking this class, it sounds like Xavier Griffin from Georgia is the one theyre hoping can man that spot.

[nmack99]

Great note as always! Speaking of KJ Edwards, has there been any progress/is he still picking up calls?

[justwinbaby]

Keep building up the defensive and offensive lines.

[Breezey A LH4LIFE]

35 minutes ago, justwinbaby said:

Keep building up the defensive and offensive lines.

Yes sir all we need is to keep building. Skill players will come

[FatherofMinky]

Great read @Jeff Howe

[Drunk randoke]

Give me all the DL freaking love if.  I have no idea how the RB and TE class shakes out.   But we have depth and the portal is an option.  Love the focus on OL DL and QB.  I’d like to grab the Palestine QB for next year.  

Good article Jeff!

[Califashorn75]

I like using the portal for savvy and experienced receivers. The running back portal additions haven't been that productive for us. They were good on special teams. You would think that each year we could snag two potentially great running backs. 

[Hashtag]

10 minutes ago, Califashorn75 said:

I like using the portal for savvy and experienced receivers. The running back portal additions haven't been that productive for us. They were good on special teams. You would think that each year we could snag two potentially great running backs. 

We've never brought in a top RB from the portal like we have at receiver. So I don't think you can draw much conclusions from that.

[HookemChappy]

I think we can sustain on off year in recruiting a RB but this can’t be a trend. We haven’t proven that we can get the level of RB we need in the portal. Generally, we have been able to get contributors to NFL level skill players at other positions.

[.45s]

Saw these Richard Wesley videos going up against top tackles.

 

 

[Califashorn75]

Wesley for the wins!