Four-star LB on Texas: "I feel like they will go for a National Championship run again this year"

Four-star linebacker target Elijah "Bo" Barnes talks Texas Longhorns

Dallas, Texas - One of the top defensive targets on the board for the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 cycle is Dallas (Texas) Skyline High linebacker Elijah "Bo" Barnes. 

Barnes, 6-2.5 and nearing 230 pounds, was offered by Texas May 10, 2023. Since that time, the DFW area star has been on campus multiple times with the last visit January 20 for Junior Day. 

OnTexasFootball took in Skyline High track practice Monday and caught up with Barnes after the workout. 

"Texas is one of those top schools for me," Barnes told OnTexasFootball Monday. "They will be in my top 10, I will say that. Texas has been recruiting me hard for the last year and a half. Texas is one of those up and coming schools. I feel like they will go for a National Championship run again this year coming up. Texas is a great school in general. Some of my coaches went through Texas, you know. They tell me great things."

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian had a call with Barnes last night around 6:30 p.m. The messages heading into that call have been about the person, player and fit in the Longhorns' defense. 

"He just says he wants me. And things like that. They see me as a great fit in their defense. A leader in their defense. A vocal leader in their defense. He was telling me stuff like that. And that I'm a great guy, a great athlete and the sky's the limit."

New Co-DC and linebackers coach Johnny Nansen has made a strong impression early in just a few conversations. 

"Coach (Johnny) Nansen, I love Coach Nansen. He's a great guy in general. Down to earth. He knows the game of football. And I do feel like if I go to Texas, he can pour a lot into me. In an NFL type play style. He can teach me formation, down and distance and the personnel's and stuff like that."

Barnes believes Texas is ready for the move to the SEC, and in part because of the culture created by Sarkisian and staff. 

"It's made a big jump (with prospects). How they did this year. I know they are going to excel this coming season. Texas is going to be fine. They have a lot of great athletes that committed and signed that are there right now. I feel like Texas is one of those schools to be talked about 20 years from now. A great coaching staff they have, a great team they have and a great brotherhood they have there. A great bond. Just to be around everybody there."

Barnes runs on the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams for the Raiders. He will also run the open 100 meters this spring with a goal of 11.1, which would be ultra impressive at 225-230 pounds.