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. 

Lufkin (Texas) High 4-star defensive tackle Zion Williams has locked in an official visit to Texas. 

Williams, 6-4.5 and 325 pounds, will make an official visit to Texas June 21-23. That official visit will follow an unofficial visit to Texas April 20 for the Spring Game. 

The East Texas standout will make an unofficial visit this weekend to LSU. He's also expected to attend the Tigers spring game April 13. A June official visit is also expected. 

Williams also plans to visit Texas A&M this spring, and make a June official visit. His first official visit is also locked in. Williams will visit TCU May 3-5. 

LSU and Texas lead the way in the recruitment headed into the spring with Texas A&M and TCU giving chase. 

The Texas Longhorns list of June 21-23 official visitors is up to 16 with the Wednesday night additions of San Clemente (Calif.) High 4-star linebacker Matai Tagao'i and 4-star wide receiver Jaime Ffrench (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin).

June 21-23

K.J. Lacey, QB, Saraland (Ala.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Note: Will also visit April 6, attend the Texas spring game April 20.

Jaime Ffrench, WR, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Kaliq Lockett, WR, Sachse (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Spring unofficial visits:  Penn State March 13Texas April 6

Marcus Harris, WR, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Note: Will also attend the Texas spring game April 20.

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

Nick Townsend, TE, Dekaney (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Spring unofficial visits: Will visit Texas April 6

Kiotti Armstrong, TE, Jasper (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Texas A&M June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

Michael Fasusi, OT, Lewisville (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star
Official visit schedule: Texas A&M June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

Jackson Christian, IOL, Port Neches (Texas) Port Neches-Groves
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Texas A&M June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

Tyler Thomas, IOL, Dickinson (Texas) High
Official visit schedule: Texas A&M June 14-16, Texas June 21-23
Spring unofficial visits: LSU March 9, Texas A&M March 30, Texas April 6

Jordan Coleman, OT, Cedar Hill (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: SMU May 17-19, Baylor June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

Devin Coleman, IOL, Cedar Hill (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: SMU May 17-19, Baylor June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

Zion Williams, DL, Lufkin (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4–star
Official visit schedule: TCU May 3-5, LSU June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

Ethan Utley, DL, Nashville (TN) Ensworth
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4–star
Official visit schedule: Tennessee June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

Damien Shanklin, EDGE, Indianapolis (In.) Warren Central
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Notre Dame June 7-9, Tennessee June 14-16, Texas June 21-23

Matai Tagoa'i, LB, San Clemente (Calif.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4–star
Official visit schedule:  Washington May 31-June 2, Utah June 14-16, Texas 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

Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker's offer spree Tuesday included one of the best in the Houston area in 2025. 

Richmond (Texas) Randle defensive tackle Chace Sims began Tuesday with 13 offers, with LSU being the most recent February 24. Sims, 6-3 and 285 pounds, ended the day with one of the offers he has been waiting on. 

"Man, the Texas offer is big," Sims told OnTexasFootball Tuesday night. "Just like A&M and LSU, being from Texas it’s really big. Watching them on TV, I could always see myself playing there."

The Randle High staff had been telling Sims to expect call from Kenny Baker for the last few days, and that call came with an unexpected offer yesterday. 

"He (Kenny Baker) was great. He has that real southern accent. He said he wants tough players. He seems like he’s real passionate, and that inspired me. He called me and told me he liked my film. He said I'm a really tough guy, and wants tough guys on the defensive line at Texas." 

The conversation immediately went to getting Sims on campus after the offer was made. And Sims is already locked in for a weekend in April 

"Coach Baker invited me up on April 6. I plan to visit that weekend."

Spring unofficial visit schedule

LSU - March 9 

Texas -April 6

Texas A&M - April 20 spring game 

Official visits

SMU - May 17-19

TCU - June 7-9

Texas A&M or Texas Tech - June 21-23 

Sims was dominant at times as a junior. He posted 86 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in 2023. He's currently competing in track and field in the shot put. He has a PR of 47'3" last year, and is closing in on that throw a couple of weeks into the 2024 season. 

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein

• #13 Las Vegas selects Byron Murphy
• #28 Philadelphia selects AD Mitchell
• #32 Kansas City selects Xavier Worthy

The Athletic's Dane Burgler

• #18 Cincinnati selects Byron Murphy
• #24 Buffalo selects AD Mitchell
• #32 Kansas City selects Xavier Worthy

As a result, this got me thinking a good bit – something that does not happen all too often. When was the last time Texas had three first round draft picks?

Well, the answer to that is 1980 – #2 Johnny 'Lam' Jones, #17 Johnnie Johnson and #24 Derrick Hatchett.

It was surprising. Texas has had first round success under Mack Brown with four straight years of two first round picks, but never finding a third out of that group. From 2004-2007, Texas saw two players get selected in the first round in four consecutive years, though again, it did not meet the criteria for my research here.

We have seen in the last decade or so Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State have set record after record with players selected, first rounders and consecutive draft accomplishment. I should tip my cap to LSU and their historic first round as well here.

It really could not be that common throughout all of college football right? Well, to my surprise, out of the 68 power four programs, 33 have seen a trio of players selected in the first round (48.5%). Of those 33 programs, 26 have experienced more recently than Texas. 

Schools with 3+ First Rounders in a Single Draft By Conference

• ACC: 8/18 (44.4%)
• B1G: 11/18 (61.1%)
• Big 12: 3/16 (18.8%)
• SEC: 11/16 (68.8%)

Then, my mind really began wandering into the realm of which power five program has the most drafts of three (or more) players drafted in the first round. 

Number of Drafts With 3+ First Rounders (most recent)

• 12 – Ohio State (2023)
• 11 – Alabama (2023)
• 9 – USC (2009)
• 8 – Notre Dame (1994)
• 6 – Miami (2007)
• 5 – FSU (2013)
• 4 – Oklahoma (2010 – had four)
• 3 – Nebraska (1972)
• 3 – LSU (2020)
• 3 – Georgia (2023)
• 2 – Six Schools
• 1 – 17 schools

***

A handful of teams have had four players in one draft, only four have eclipsed five (LSU, Miami, Georgia and Alabama) and the record sits at six with Miami and Alabama there.

It is an interesting conversation. Notre Dame and Nebraska have put players in the league, but it has been a long time since their last three-player showing in the first round.

***

A few more surprises:

1. Oregon has never done it.
2. TCU did it in 1939, so take that for what it is worth.
3. Only Oklahoma (2010) and Michigan State (1967) had three selections in the first five picks of a draft.
4. Clemson has only accomplished this feat once.
5. Georgia sits at three, but two of those come in the last two years.
6. A current Big 12 school has not done this since 1984 when Steve Young was the first off the board for BYU.
7. Aside from Ohio State, an original B1G school (not including USC or UW) has not accomplished this since Penn State in 2003.
8. Eight SEC schools have had drafts since 2010 with three players in the first round.
9. Michigan has only done this twice.
10. Miami had 19 first rounders from 2001-2004, each hit 3+ per draft.

*** 

It was a really fun deep dive.

Attached in the comments will be a screenshot of the data compiled from this rabbit hole. 

Hope you all enjoyed it. Every time I say hello to Bugs Bunny down these research expeditions I end up with wild and wacky takeaways. Let me know what you think and if there was anything that stood out to you.