There are two prevailing thoughts:

First and foremost, Texas is going to speak with its own NCAA compliance officials and receive some guidance. This ruling is ultra-new. So while it would be easy to just say the old rules don't matter anymore, Texas is going to make sure of the nuances of the ruling, what they mean, and what proper next steps are.

There will be lawyers involved in that discussion.

Second, it will absolutely change how "some" of the recruiting process works. But not the core of it, at least not at Texas.

Texas coaches will still be the ones offering scholarships, still be the ones recruiting the players, etc.

However, In light of the pervasiveness of the ruling, other programs may choose an entirely different tack.

The leader of the Tennessee collective is apparently saying that he plans to send financial offers out to players beginning next week.

So where does this leave us?

College football seems to be headed ever closer to a true open market. If so, Texas with all its resources, revenue and fan support will be just fine.

In other words, players can now negotiate and sign their NIL before enrolling at a specific school and schools and collectives can use NIL as a recruiting inducement.

https://theathletic.com/5295907/2024/02/23/tennessee-ncaa-nil-lawsuit-injunction/?redirected=1&source=user_shared_article&access_token=222208

The Mustangs rely on defense to win games. They have been… well, just not that good at the plate. Their pitching and defense keeps them in it, but it’s not elite by any means.

Texas, however, is averaging over 10 runs per game (although that stat is somewhat skewed after Tuesday’s game) and I’d expect to see an offensive explosion again this weekend. 

The Horns currently have the 30th best team batting average in the nation, along with being No. 16 nationally for hits. On the mound, their team ERA is 2.84, which is the 37th best nationally  

Notes:

Don’t be surprised if Peyton Powell doesn’t play much this weekend, if at all. (Edit: He has been announced the starter at 3B for Friday night) He was hit by a pitch on Tuesday and has a pretty gnarly bruised foot. If that is indeed the case, Casey Borba will start. 
 

Starting Pitchers:

Friday: LeBarron Johnson Jr.

Saturday: Charlie Hurley

Sunday: Cody Howard

Recruiting:

One time Texas baseball commit Ed Small decommitted a few weeks ago, but committed to TCU yesterday for football. The Horned Frogs told Small he can play both. Don’t expect Pierce and co. to continue to pursue, unless Sark gets involved on the football side. 
 

I would like to personally thank Chinook Seedery for sponsoring today’s baseball content.

While most of these trips conclude with the big-time Texas prospect receiving all of the love and shine, I wanted to drop a little scouting report for prospects in the area that could eventually end up on P5 radars.

*** 

Pflugerville Weiss

2027 WR Tre Moore (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) – Coaches at Weiss raved about his potential. Big-body wide receiver with fluidity and soft hands. Programs are already biting here and it is only a matter of time before he gets the 'National Prospect' title to his name. Chris Jackson stopped by this winter.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19653480/655ab8f32ab0e70a00db808a

Offers: Oregon, Houston, SMU, Texas State, UTSA, UTEP, Tulsa

2025 CB Jason Stokes (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) – I am a sucker for lengthy cornerbacks and Stokes fits the bill. Was previously a receiver who just recently flipped to DB. Plenty of room to develop, but the athleticism is there.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10034912/64ea3d07dfe2070ce8a5b590

Offers: Arizona, Liberty, Texas State, UNT, Arkansas State, UTEP, UTSA, Incarnate Word

2026 DB Jorian Guinn (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) – In a secondary where Texas Tech signee Peyton Morgan received most of the shine, Guinn deserves his own headlines. Guinn was the 12-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year and despite being a tad undersized, can absolutely ball. 11 PBU, 2 INT, 4 FF, 4 FR. Playmaker.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18009489/64f8d4be96811b0fec8acac9

Offers: Coming

***

Lake Travis

2025 QB Chaston Ditta (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) – Really impressive athlete and dominated workouts that I witnessed. Incredibly competitor and can sling the rock as well. First play of his Hudl reminds me of a former Lake Travis QB who did rather well north of the Red River.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16262652/656f8c8a4205fc089c1dbe55

Offers: Murray State, UNLV 

2026 EDGE Carter Buck (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) – Lengthy edge rusher that is expected to be a big piece of LT's defense in 2024. Buck is a two-sport athlete who was at baseball when I was on campus. Was the 26-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2023.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18376298/Carter-Buck

Offers: N/A - receiving interest from several schools

2026 EDGE Ben Duncum (6-foot-6, 240 pounds) – Can't teach being 6-foot-6 and I was impressed with the athleticism during my time on campus for the workout. Duncum, and Buck, will need to get more physical, but luckily there are two more years of development here for that to take place. Plenty of potential.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18257934/656c153e6e82720a0c899128

Offers: N/A

***

Vandegrift

2025 RB Brendan Fournier (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) – One of the key leaders in the Vandegrift program, he appeared to me during workouts to being the pulse of the program. Fournier was a first team 25-6A district RB in 2023. Will be a big piece of the offense next fall.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12962823/65a84755688edf187884d4e3

Offers: Interest from Ivy Leagues and Service Academies

2026 QB Miles Teodecki (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) – Will be competing for the starting job this spring. Teodecki has a solid frame plus a baseball background. 

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15291359/6369314938642d0c30da7d05

Offers: N/A

2026 WR Brock Chilton (5-foot-8, 165 pounds) – Smaller slot wide receiver prospect at Vandegrift. 2024 UNT signee Miles Coleman is departing and Chilton is expecting to takeover those targets and receptions. Was a 2nd team All-District honoree as a sophomore. Has potential to be a G5 guy.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14900399/655c397c02bc3812a0100d79

Offers: N/A 

2027 WR Gavin Koester (6-foot, 165 pounds) – Spent his last season as the quarterback on the freshman team. The Vandy staff mentioned his potential at slot on varsity this fall as someone to keep an eye on. Koester hopes to clear 11.0 seconds in the 100m dash this spring. He has potential with his height to develop into a D1 prospect.

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16759452/654d715164df6208d0bf37dc

Offers: N/A

2025 DL Daeshon Morgan has earned offers from Cal, Texas Tech, UTSA, UTEP and North Texas in the last month or so. I was able to watch him in workouts this morning where he was drawn to as a team leader and the coaching staff raved about his work ethic.

"The main thing that I am working on right now is becoming a leader," Morgan said. "Making sure my voice is known and also bringing everybody up with me. Another thing for me is just learning how to rest. I really don't ever take breaks and that is what can get me hurt, so I need to learn how to slow down a little bit to learn how to rest and recover."

The Vandegrift defensive lineman is one of the most physically impressive prospects I have seen this year in-person. Even better than that, he is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. Already at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, Morgan is looking to add 10-15 pounds before touching the field again this fall. Morgan's mother was a Junior Olympian trackstar as well, adding to the athleticism that jumps off the screen when evaluating his tape.

Morgan visited Texas for the Junior Day on January 20. Aside from that, TCU is the only other campus he has been able to step foot on thus far. 

"I really enjoyed it," Morgan said about his time on the 40 Acres. "It was such a blessing to be out there. Getting to see Texas as my first visit, that was a big blessing within itself. That is something I strive for and something that I will keep working for."

Now, Morgan's time on campus was prior to Texas' hiring of DL Coach Kenny Baker, and thus far, there has yet to be any contact between the two sides. I expect that to change in the spring when college coaches are able to swing by once again for spring football.

For the time being, most schools are recruiting Morgan as an interior prospect. He has a tremendous upper body and said he is more than willing to gain 40+ pounds to fit the need and scheme of whoever is recruiting him.

While coaches will be coming to see Morgan at Vandegrift, the star lineman is also hoping to get out and see campuses this spring. He mentioned wanting to go see several schools in the state of Texas, as well as Cal and Arizona State.

Morgan holds seven offers now, by the conclusion of spring football I expect that number to be doubled. I am very bullish on Morgan's potential. He can eventually hold 300+ pounds and continue holding an advantage athletically over most trench players.

On Texas Football has been told that three Texas players have been limited in off-season workouts:

- Tight end Amari Niblack

- Wide receiver Matthew Golden

- Defensive end Colton Vasek

Niblack is dealing with a foot injury. Like Niblack, Matthew Golden has also been in a boot for much of this off-season.

Vasek is dealing with an ankle injury.

None of the injuries are expected to keep players out long-term.

**

From an incoming transfer perspective, I am told one player has really stood out -- Trey Moore.

Moore, who recorded 14.5 sacks for UTSA last year, has worked at both SAM and Buck for the Horns in winter conditioning.

But it's not his versatility that has folks talking.

"He's a pro," a source told me. "He's in outstanding shape. He goes about his business (the right way). He has a real presence about him. It's almost Roschon (Johnson) like."

Moore is somewhat undersized for the position based on an NFL prototype, but "he's more athletic than you even see on tape. He's been even better than what I think we expected."

Of all the transfers, Moore has hit the ground running as well or better than any of them.

"He's a stud," the source said.

**

I also asked about the early returns of Arizona transfer defensive tackle Tioalli Savea. And it's positive.

"I think he's a better version of Trill Carter," the source said. "He's going to have a role."

**

Lots of freshman are impressing, and I'll go over those in a different post over the weekend. One to talk about today who continues to draw rave reviews is safety Xavier Filsaime.

What is there to like about him?

Beyond his speed and size combination, I'm told there's a little something extra.

"His demeanor is just really good," the source said. "He approaches things, he listens, he gets after. He's got the skill, there's no doubt about that. But when they're young like this, and they've got all of that (talent), and they're still getting after it mentally, that's when you say, 'ok, he might be a little something special here'."

**

We'll have team notes over the weekend. 

Missouri City, Texas - One of the most recent offers by the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 cycle is scheduled to talk to Steve Sarkisian Monday.

Hightower (Texas) High defensive back Kade Phillips was offered by safeties coach and area recruiter Blake Gideon Sunday. It was an offer Phillips and family had been waiting on for a few weeks.

"The Texas offer meant a lot to me," Phillips told OnTexasFootball. "Texas is a big school, big culture and it meant a lot. It felt great. Coach Gideon came to see me multiple times. He came to track practice, came by the field house multiple times just to talk. Texas is going to be up there. Up there." 

Now that the Longhorns have offered the 6-1, 178 pound versatile defensive back with an 80 inch wingspan and 10 inch hands, Phillips and Sarkisian are scheduled to begin their relationship developing part of the process. 

"I'm talking to the staff every day. We set up a phone call Coach Sark on Monday. We are going to get on the phone and chop it up. Coach Gideon wants me to get on the phone with him (Sark), and just begin to build that relationship."

Phillips attended Texas Junior day January 20. He has been on campus multiple times in the last year, including a game visit in 2023. 

Texas A&M and LSU the main competition

Phillips is the younger brother of former Texas A&M linebacker signee Kenneth Phillips, who had his career cut short after a devastating knee injury his senior season. He remains a student at Texas A&M. Kade Phillips was back on campus in College Station January 27 for Junior Day.

"Coach (Mike) Elko just wants everybody to be part of the recruitment. Not just your position coach, but all of the coaches. He wants it to be one big family. They offered me at corner, but like my versatility. Wherever the team needs me is what they said."

Phillips will make his first ever trip to LSU this spring. It's a visit that will be very key in the recruitment.

"I'm in contact with Coach (Corey) Raymond every day. He's just checking in on me, seeing how I'm doing. I just know it's LSU. Big facility, big program. It will be a big visit fore me when I go down there."

Arkansas, Oregon, Baylor and Kansas as schools also making runs right now. 

Phillips plans to commit either late in the spring, or after June official visits. 

Add another 4-star offensive target to the April 6th visit weekend for the Texas Longhorns. 

Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill's Rickey Stewart told OnTexasFootball Thursday morning that he is locked in for a visit April 6. He will make that visit with his mother. There is also a chance he will attend the Spring Game April 20. 

Stewart was one of a handful of 2025 prospects offered by Steve Sarkisian and staff January 20. Sarkisian and area recruiter Blake Gideon followed with a visit to Chapel Hill High the following week.

Since the Texas offer, the Longhorns have held a big lead in the race for the east Texas tar and one-time SMU verbal. 

Stewart by the numbers

Stewart is part of a junior class at Chapel Hill that has been winners in every sport. He rushed for 2,855 yards on 271 carries (10.5 per tote) with 40 touchdowns, along with 18 receptions for 284 yards and four scores as a junior. That was after a standout sophomore season of 236 carries for 2,262 yards (9.6 per carry) and 20 scores in 2022. 

Stewart also delivered against the top competition on the schedule:

Vs. Gilmer - 19 carries for 278 yards and a TD

Vs. Van - 19 carries for 195 yards and 4 TD’s

Vs. El Campo (playoffs) - 16 carries for 222 yards and 3 TD’s

Vs. Kilgore (playoffs) - 32 carries for 230 yards and a TD

Vs. Davenport (playoffs) - 28 carries for 220 yards and 3 TD’s

His three year totals are 630 carries for 6,098 yards (9.7 per carry) with 64 touchdowns, and 28 receptions for 400 yards and six scores in 31 games. 

April 6 visitor list:
K.J. Lacey, QB, Saraland (Al.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Lacey is also expected to make an official visit June 28-30. 

Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas leads Baylor, SMU and Oklahoma State by a large margin. 

Kelshaun Johnson, WR, Hitchock (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Johnson has official visits scheduled to Penn State May 31-June 1, Texas Tech June 8-10 and Texas very likely June 28-30. 

John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas will also receive an official visit June 14-16

Tyler Thomas, IOL, Dickinson (Texas) High
Thomas' spring visit schedule is locked in with LSU March 9, Texas A&M March 30 and Texas April 6. He's also likely to visit Texas April 20 for the SpringGame.

But it's with little surprise that his title will be Special Assistant to the Head Coach. It's a key role that signals Gilbert will be leaned on for not only his recruiting acumen and connections state-wide but also his understanding of how the big picture works for Steve Sarkisian and Texas football, i.e. how the sausage gets made.

The title is a credit to Gilbert and all of what he brings to the table.

Before leaving for North Texas a year ago, Gilbert had held the role of Director of High School Relations for Texas. Yet during his time in Austin, he wasn't just responsible for outreach to high school coaches for the Longhorns.

Gilbert was heavily involved in the recruiting department, making sure the Horns knew the ins and outs of every recruitment in South Dallas and other areas of the state. While working hand in hand with new general manager Brandon Harris and former head of player personnel Billy Glasscock, he also created friendships everywhere in the athletic department. Gilbert was liked and respected by players and coaches alike.

To put it frankly, his reach exceeded his grasp in short order.

Fast forward to today and I think there's a special opportunity for Gilbert in Austin. After losing Glasscock to Ole Miss a month ago, Sarkisian's move to pursue and hire Gilbert makes a lot of sense.

In Gilbert, Sark gets someone with loads of institutional knowledge. That knowledge allows Gilbert to hit the ground running at a time when recruiting is set to take center stage.

It also gives the Horns needed another experienced person in an off-field support role for Sarkisian and the program following Glasscock's departure.

And all of this matters because...

The Horns can not let anything derail this window of opportunity. Hiring someone like Gilbert helps do exactly that.

A great football program is never built by any one person. It's built by a collection of people who know what they're doing, who know how to get things done, and can do them well. Chris Gilbert is one of those people.