Kenny Baker is tasked with signing three or four defensive lineman in his first class at Texas. Good news is the Longhorns are in on some of the nations best. 

Texas has three defensive lineman scheduled for official visits so far. That list will triple in the coming weeks as new offers make their way to Austin in April, and June official visits are scheduled. 

OnTexasFootball begins the updated look at defensive line recruiting with the commitment and official visitors. 

The commitment
Brandon Brown, DL, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Tennessee June 7-9, Texas June 14-16, USC June 21-23

Official visits locked in
Ethan Utley, DL, Nashville (TN) Ensworth
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4–star
Official visit schedule: Tennessee June 14-16, Texas likely June 21-23
Note: Scheduled to commit March 28, with Tennessee likely. Utley told OTF he will not make any unofficial visits prior to his announcement.

Zion Williams, DL, Lufkin (Texas) high
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
Official visit schedule: TCU May 3-5, LSU likely June 7-9, Texas A&M likely June 14-16 and Texas June 21-23
Note: LSU is 1A and Texas 1B right now. Texas A&M 3rd and TCU 4th. 

California target
Josiah Sharma, DL, Folsom (Calif.) Folsom
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Alabama, Oregon, Washington and Utah. The Utes are locked in for a June 14-16 official visit. The Huskies will receive a May OV. 

Large human in Humboldt 
Stephon Shivers, DL,  Humboldt (Tn.) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Georgia and Tennessee mentioned most. LSU and Texas offers have the attention of the 6-3, 355 pounder. 

Sunshine State offers
Myron Charles, DL, Port Charlotte (Fla.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: None reported as of mid-week.
Note: Spoke with Steve Sarkisian and Kenny Baker last week. Talking with Texas about an April and/or June official visit.

Derry Norris Jr., DL, Port Orange (Fla.) Spruce Creek
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Georgia Tech May 31-June 2, N.C. State June 7-9, possibly Minnesota June 14-16 and possibly Purdue June 21-23.
Note: Spoke with Tashard Choice and Kenny Baker last week when offered. April visit likely, and June official visit will happen with a Texas push.

Jarquez Carter, DL, Newberry (Fla.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: None reported as of early in the week.
Note: Made visits to Florida and Miami last week. A Texas visit in April in play. 

Southeast Region offers
Kevin Wynn, DL, Greensboro (Ga.) Greene County
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
Official visit schedule: None reported.
Note: Florida State, Alabama and Georgia the top 3 with the Seminoles slightly trending headed into the spring. Texas, LSU and Florida in line for spring unofficial visits. 

Malik Autry, DL, Opelika (Ala.) High - *Auburn commit
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
Official visit schedule: USC June 7-9, Florida June 14-16, and likely Auburn June 21-23. 

Sims will visit April 6
Chace Sims, DL, Richmond (Texas) Randle
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
Official visit schedule: SMU May 17-19, TCU June 7-9, Texas A&M or Texas Tech June 21-23
Spring visit schedule: LSU March 9, Texas April 6 and Texas A&M April 20 for the Aggies spring game 

In state prospects
Dilan Battle, DL, Mansfield (Texas) Timberview
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
Official visit schedule: TCU May 3-5.
Note: Visited LSU this weekend. Spoke with Kenny Baker last week, but there was not a visit locked in as of late in the week. 

DJ Sanders, DL, Bellville (Texas) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
Official visit schedule: None reported.
Note: Texas A&M receiving most mention headed into spring with Texas in the mix. 

Xavier Ukponu, DL, Denton (Texas) Guyer
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 3-star
Official visit schedule: Oklahoma State April 12-14, Florida May 31-June 2, Texas A&M June 21-23

Floyd Guidry, DL, Spring (Texas) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
Official visit schedule: None reported.
Note: Texas can win this one if they make a push. TCU, Houston and Texas A&M very much in the mix.

The Texas Longhorns will take the court vs. arch-rival Oklahoma at 1 p.m. central today firmly in the NCAA Tournament. With the uncertainty around Dylan Disu's health for the remainder of the season, it would certainly be big to pull out a win today to take any potential decision out of the NCAA Committee's hands. 

If Texas loses today, and is bounced in the first game of the Big 12 Tournament and Disu's health is in doubt, that is not where Texas wants to be on Selection Sunday. 

For Oklahoma (20-10, 8-9), they are very close to being in "must win" territory. A win today 100% keeps the Sooners out of the play-in game, or being left out scenario. 

OnTexasFootball takes a look at the rankings and scenarios headed into today's game. 

Texas NCAA Tournament seeding scenarios

Win over Oklahoma today: Texas is likely locked into a 8/9 seed in the Big Dance barring a run in the Big 12 Tournament. 

With a loss to Oklahoma today: Texas slides very close to the play-in game scenario in Dayton, and could be in trouble if they lose the first game of the Big 12 Tournament following a loss today - even though NCAA NET suggests otherwise. 

Texas’ Remaining Regular Season Schedule
3/9 Oklahoma 

NCAA Men’s Basketball NET Rankings (March 1)
Texas is No. 26 in NCAA NET headed into the game tonight. The Horns moved up 13 spots last week from No. 40 with wins at Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in Austin.

The Longhorns are 5-8 in Quad 1 games, 1-2 vs. Quad 2, 5-1 vs. Quad 3 and 8-0 vs. Quad 4. 

Quad 2 game remaining:
No. 40 Oklahoma 

T-Rank 
Texas is No. 22 in Bart Torvik’s rankings headed into Monday games.

2024 Ken Pomeroy College Basketball Ratings
Texas checks in at No. 25 headed into this week. 

Dallas (Texas) Skyline 4-star linebacker Elijah "Bo" Barnes informed OnTexasFootball that he has locked in his official visit date to Texas. 

Barnes, 6-2.5 and 225 pounds, will make an official visit June 21-23, adding to a huge visit weekend for the Longhorns. 

Barnes will also make an unofficial visit Texas to April 6. That is the Longhorns' big visit weekend prior to the spring game. 

https://texassports.com/sports/football/roster

The Texas Longhorns are in search of a fourth straight top 5 ranked recruiting class. And if the early returns headed into the spring mean anything, the odds are at least 50-50% Steve Sarkisian and staff pull it off. 

To get your Friday going, here is the latest edition of the Texas Best Class Scenario for the 2025 cycle. There are 29 names currently on the list with a combination of 24-25 creating a near lock scenario for a fourth straight top 5 class. This list will shift and move once the March and April unofficial visitor returns are known.

*Note: This list is my opinion on the BCS for 2025.

Quarterback (1)

K.J. Lacey, Saraland (Ala.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Ole Miss and Auburn

Running back (1-2)

Jordon Davison, RB, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Ohio State, Alabama and Oregon

Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Baylor, SMU and Oklahoma State

Wide receiver (3-4)

Dakorien Moore, Duncanville (Texas) High - *LSU commit
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 5-star
Note: Texas will recruit the LSU pledge #throughthewhistle. 

Kelshaun Johnson, WR, Hitchcock (Texas) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: USC, Texas Tech and Texas A&M

Kaliq Lockett, WR, Sachse (Texas) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: LSU, USC, Ohio State and Texas A&M

Jaime Ffrench, WR, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Ohio State, Florida State, Miami and Alabama

Tight end (2)

Nick Townsend, TE, Spring (Texas) Dekaney
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Texas A&M, USC, Arizona State and Notre Dame

Emaree Winston, TE, Calhoun (Ga.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star

Offensive line (5)

Michael Fasusi, OT, Lewisville (Texas) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 5-star
The competition: Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oregon and Missouri

Jonte Newman, OT, Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Mississippi State

Tyler Thomas, IOL, Dickinson (Texas) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 3-star
The competition: Texas A&M and LSU

John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Washington, Michigan and Florida

Jackson Christian, IOL, Port Niches (Texas) PN-G
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Texas A&M

Defensive line (4)

Brandon Brown, DL, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie #AllGasNoBrakes
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: USC, Florida, Alabama, Miami and Tennessee

Zion Williams, DL, Lufkin (Texas) high
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: LSU, Texas A&M and TCU

Josiah Sharma, DL, Folsom (Calif.) Folsom
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Alabama, Oregon and Utah

Chace Sims, DL, Richmond (Texas) Randle
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Texas A&M, LSU, TCU and SMU

EDGE (2-3)

Lance Jackson, Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove #AllGasNoBrakes
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: MLB Draft 2025

Damien Shanklin, Indianapolis (In.) Warren Central
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Notre Dame and Tennessee

Linebacker (3-4)

Riley Pettijohn, McKinney (Texas) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: USC, Ohio State, Florida State, Auburn and Texas A&M

Elijah Barnes, Dallas (Texas) Skyline
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Florida State, Nebraska, Ohio State and Texas A&M

Anthony Williams, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek #AllGasNoBrakes
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 3-star

Matai Tagoa'i, San Clemente (Calif.) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Washington, Utah, USC and Oregon

Defensive back (3-4)

Dorian Brew, CB, Conroe (Texas) High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: LSU, Ohio State, USC, Michigan and Texas A&M

Kade Phillips, S, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: LSU and Texas A&M

Jonah Williams, S, Galveston (Texas) Ball High
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Oklahoma, LSU, Ohio State and Texas A&M

Cobey Sellers, CB, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Oklahoma and Texas A&M

Adonyss Currie, CB, Lancaster (Calif.) Quartz Hill
Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
The competition: Washington, Utah, Miami, Texas A&M and Oregon.

OnTexasFootball has been gathering information of some of the top targets at the defensive back position yet to lock in official visit dates.

Dorian Brew, CB, Conroe (Texas) High

OnTexasFootball has spoken with a pair of sources close to the recruitment of the 6-2, 197 pound corner with a Ryan Watts like frame this week. 

Brew and Texas are working out the details of a June official visit. The OnTexasFootball 4-star is expected to make his official visit to Texas either June 21-23, or June 14-16. Ohio State and LSU are also expected to receive OV's for sure. Texas A&M and USC are possibilities. And Michigan is remaining in the fight. 

Brew visiting Texas either April 6 or for the spring game April 20 is also in play. 

Adonyss Currie, CB, Lancaster (Calif.) Quartz Hill

Texas defensive backs coach Terry Joseph is in contact with the 6-2, 170 pound speedster that is expected to flirt with 10.4 FAT this spring. Steve Sarkisian and Joseph are in talks with Currie and his circle about a June official visit. A visit to Texas is expected, but the when is the question. 

Currie has already begun locking in official visit dates. Those include Texas A&M and maybe Nebraska in April. Washington's big visit weekend May 31-June 2, Miami (Fla.) likely June 7-9 and Utah June 14-16. 

Those dates would fit about perfect for Texas, as the Longhorns could bring Currie in for the big visit weekend June 21-23. The Oregon Ducks are working to win out for the June 21-23 weekend. 

Faheem Delane, S, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel

The 6-2, 195 -pound rangy and physical safety reiterated to OnTexasFootball that he will visit Texas April 13-14. He also said he has yet to lock in an official visit date to Texas. He continues to be in consistent contact with safeties coach Blake Gideon, who made a stop at Good Counsel in January.

Ohio State, Tennessee, Oregon and Maryland are the main competition headee into the spring. 

Texas DB official visitors locked in (March 7)

June 7-9

Caleb Chester, CB, Missouri City (Texas) Marshall
OnTexasFootball ranking: 3-star
Official visit schedule: Texas June 7-9, Arkansas June 14-16, Texas A&M June 21-23

Courtland Guillory, DB/S, Houston (Texas) Klein Oak
OnTexasFootball ranking: 3-star
Spring unofficial visits: Texas March 23, Texas A&M April 6

June 14-16

Cobey Sellers, CB, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Texas A&M June 7-9, Texas June 14-16, Oklahoma June 21-23

June 21-23

Kade Phillips, DB, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Texas A&M June 7-9, LSU June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

I traded messages with Simon who also added he plans to visit Austin for the spring game on April 20.

The Longhorns will be battling LSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Alabama and Louisiana Tech in this recruitment.

Of course, keep in mind that Oregon State WR Silas Bolden will arrive at the conclusion of the semester and enroll for June.

***

WR Isaiah Bond

Adding the former WR1 for Alabama is never a bad sign. In fact, I would argue it is a good one! Bond has tremendous top-end speed and could rival Jaydon Blue or anyone else for that matter as the fastest player on the Texas roster for the spring. Bond made it clear he came to Texas to improve his draft stock with a quarterback like Quinn Ewers. He will be prioritized in the lineup and by the end of spring, I would be a bit surprised if he has not separated himself as WR1 for the Longhorns heading into the summer.

WR Matthew Golden

Golden actually had his best game of the 2023 season against Texas which is ironically rather funny to me. Golden does not have that top-end elite speed, but he can still burn you if you are not careful. There is also great wiggle to his game and in short, close areas, he is a nightmare to bring down to the ground. For the spring, you can expect to see Golden with the first unit.

TE Amari Niblack

Texas tested an Alabama tight end transfer with great speed vertical ability once before – that did not work out so great. However, by all accounts, Niblack has been great since joining the Texas program. There were glimpses of a true TE1 last year while at Alabama. Some of the same route concepts that made Ja'Tavion Sanders such a threat last fall, will be used to free up Niblack in space in 2024.

DT Tiaoalii Savea

The addition of Johnny Nansen to that staff also helped Texas secure some defensive line depth with the addition of Savea. Following the NFL departures of T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy, the interior DL is the biggest question mark on the team currently. While Savea won't be the full-time answer for either, at least not at the moment, he is expected to see large shares of the snap count and be a contributing factor in the run-game.

EDGE Trey Moore

Trey Moore has proven over the last two years he can really get after the quarterback. With 22.5 sacks in two seasons, Texas will be greatly appreciate adding him to their defensive end room. While that group looks awfully crowded on paper, I am of full belief we will see Moore in that top-two range for snap count come the fall at the EDGE spot. It certainly doesn't hurt that he came in with a tremendous mindset and approach to winter conditioning.

LB Kendrick Blackshire – Transferred from Alabama

Replacing Jaylan Ford is near the top of the priority list for the Texas defensive staff this offseason. Ford's smarts and ability to drop in coverage were qualities that are not easily replaceable, especially when joining a new conference. Blackshire comes in from Alabama with the expectation to get on the field, though it will be up to him to supplant David Gbenda and fend off Liona Lefau and Derion Gullette. If Blackshire shows an improvement in the passing game, there is a chance he finds himself a nice role on the Texas D.

DB Andrew Mukuba – Transferred from Clemson

Texas is adding a lot of experience and production in the backend of their secondary with the addition of Mukuba. The former Freshman All-American brings athleticism to the group that Texas did not have in 2023. On top of that, there is already familiarity with secondary members Michael Taaffe and Jahdae Barron as the trio trains together in the Austin area. It is my expectation to see Mukuba in the starting lineup come spring game time.

OnTexasFootball gets the morning started with Coffee & Football on the YouTube channel, and recruiting nuggets right here. 

Akylin Dear, RB, Quitman (Miss.) High

OnTexasFootball spoke with the 4-star running back out of The Magnolia State. 

Dear, 6-1 and 200 pounds, speaks with Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice every morning. 

“He played in the league, so I know he can teach me a lot about the game. We talk every morning."

Dear said he plans to visit Texas either April 6 or April 20. Choice has mentioned both dates, as well as June official visit date possibilities. 

Dear and family are on the way to the University of Florida today for a two-day visit. 

The explosive and powerful back with contact balance has locked in an official visit to Texas A&M June 14-16. Ole Miss is considered the team to beat by many headed into the spring. 

Isaiah Gibson, EDGE, Warner Robins (Ga.) High

OnTexasFootball 4-star Gibson spoke with Texas defensive line coach and area recruiter Kenny Baker earlier this week. 

“We are just building the relationship. He said it’s (Texas) a great environment. From everything I’ve heard, Texas is great.” 

Gibson, 6-4 and 245 pounds, said Baker talked to him about April 6 or April 20 visit possibilities. Gibson doesn't have a visit locked in, but does want to get out to Austin and take a look at Texas. A June official visit has also been discussed.

Gibson sports 37 offers with Georgia, Clemson and Oregon all in. 

Derry Norris Jr., DL, Port Orange (Fla.) Spruce Creek

OnTexasFootball spoke with the 6-3.5, 270 pound athletic defensive line prospect Wednesday night. The Central Florida area prospect said it was both area recruiter Tashard Choice and defensive line coach Kenny Baker that made the offer March 5. 

“They said how much they loved my film," Norris told OnTexasFootball. "What I do that impresses them athletically. And they said they like how I run track too."

Norris' first impression of Baker was a strong one. 

“Great dude. Everything he was saying was exactly how I was raised. He’s going to get the best out of his players."

Choice and Baker are making a push to get Norris and family on campus April 6. And that visit is possible. April 20 is already spoken for with the Florida State Spring Game. 

Norris has four official visits locked in, currently. Georgia Tech May 31-June 2 and N.C. State June 7-9 for sure. After that, the schedule could change. He currently has Minnesota June 14-16 and Purdue June 21-23. With March offers from Miami (Fla.), Texas, Texas A&M and Missouri, the current official visits are in the balance. 

Galveston (Texas) Ball 4-star safety Jonah Williams is scheduled to be back on the Forty Acres.

Williams, 6-3 and 205 pounds, told OnTexasFootball Wednesday night that he will make an unofficial visit April 6. That weekend is shaping up to look like a huge visit weekend with more than 10 4-star prospects scheduled to attend.

The two-sport star that is currently on the mound and in the outfield for the Ball High Tors baseball team told OTF he also plans to make an official visit to Texas in June as well. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and safeties coach and area recruiter Blake Gideon are in constant contact with Williams and family. 

The Oklahoma Sooners are also a lock for a June official visit. Williams is also scheduled to make an official visit to Oregon May 17-19. 

Before those June OV's, Williams has a packed spring visit schedule that begin this weekend in Baton Rouge.

Jonah Williams Spring unofficial visit schedule

LSU - March 9

Texas - April 6

Texas A&M - April 13

A spring visit to Ohio State is also expected.