Four-star EDGE prospect Damien Shanklin (Indianapolis, In./Warren Central) is headed to Austin for an official visit June 21. That name was surprise to many still getting familiar with the the 2025 cycle of out of state prospects. 

Shanklin, 6-5 and 232 pounds, is another sign of the Texas national recruiting approach, and growing appeal among top prospects.

"When they first offered me, it surprised me," Shanklin told OnTexasFootball Sunday. "I have had an interest in Texas for a while watching the defensive tackles and defensive ends." 

Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski offered Shaklin in late September of 2023. Since that time, the top ranked prospect in Indiana and Kwiatkowski have built a quality rapport.

"I talk to Coach Pete (Kwitkoswki) a lot. He’s telling me about my film, and how much he likes it. The way he was telling me how he coaches is what I like too. He tells me about developing players when I first get there, the environment on the team and the program."

Kwiatkowski stopped by Warren Central High in January for a more in depth conversation. 

"He came to school in January. He was telling me about the facilities, the school and the history. And the base defense, and stuff. We talked for about an hour." 

The communication with the Texas staff includes a recent conversation with Steve Sarkisian. 

“He was just checking in on me. He was telling that my film was good, and I’m great player. And that he can’t wait to get me down there.” 

Shanklin said he talked with Kwiatkowski two days ago.

A visit prior to the June official visit

Shanklin told OnTexasFootball that he and one of his coaches are looking at making an unofficial visit late in the spring prior to the June official visit.

Texas is in Shanklin's top 5 prior to the visit

Everyone is seemingly chasing Notre Dame headed into the spring. He will attend the Fighting Irish Spring Game April 20, and make an official visit June 7-9. 

Tennessee (June 14-16), Michigan and Ohio State are also going to receive official visits. 

"Right now, Texas is definitely in my top five." 

And that's where the recruitment begins with Shaklin prior to spring and June visits. 

Shanklin is busy with recruiting and track and field season currently. He sports personal records of 174’3” in the discus and 49’0” in the shot put. 

We also dropped our takes on whether or not Texas’ offense this upcoming fall would be more difficult to defend than what we saw in 2023.

Texas has offered over 100 prospects in the 2025 cycle, but all offers are not the same. 

The April visit list continues to take shape with three weekends expected to host more than 25 4-star prospects in the 2025 cycle expected on campus. 

This morning, OnTexasFootball provides a list of prospects Texas is in the top two with headed into the spring. 

Texas in the top two

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

Dakorien Moore, Duncanville (Texas) High - *LSU commit
OnTexasFootball Ranking: 5-star
This letter of intent will come down to LSU vs. Texas, barring a significant change. 

Kelshaun Johnson, WR, Hitchock (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas leads this recruitment with USC and Texas A&M jockeying for second headed into the spring. 

Marcus Harris, WR, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
Texas is in the lead spot or top two as long as Sarkisian desires. 

Nick Towsend, TE, Houston (Texas) Dekaney
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Jeff Banks has Texas in the top as long as the Horns recruit Townsend at tight end, his preferred position. 

Kiotti Armstrong, TE, Jasper (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
Armstrong will sign with either Texas A&M or Texas barring a significant change,

Michael Fasusi, OT, Lewisville (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball Ranking: 5-star
Oklahoma and Texas have been top 2 for months. It’s up to Texas A&M or Oregon to change that. 

John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas is in a favorable position headed into the spring. Will it Michigan or Washington that becomes the clear top two with Texas?

Tyler Thomas, IOL, Dickinson (Texas) High
The Houston area guard prospect is very likely to come down to Texas vs. Texas A&M, unless LSU can make a major push this spring. 

Riley Pettijohn, LB, McKinney (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas will live in the top two of this recruitment barring a change. 

Elijah Barnes, Dallas (Texas) Skyline
OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
Texas will live in the top 2 of this recruitment, and arguably leads headed into the spring. 

Zion Williams, DL, Lufkin (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas and LSU in front of Texas A&M with TCU fourth. 

Kade Phillips, S/DB, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
Texas’ offer a week ago vaults the Horns into the top two with LSU. Texas A&M is third, currently. 

Dorian Brew, CB, Conroe (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
Texas has made up ground since January 20, and now sits in the top 2 headed into the spring. 

Cobey Sellers, CB, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek
OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
Oklahoma the favorite over Texas to win out headed into the spring. 

Michael Terry, ATH, San Antonio (Texas) Alamo Heights
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas will be top two in this one as long as Sark and staff push this spring and in June. 

This morning, let's discuss the secondary.

**

Let's start with the newcomers.

Andrew Mukuba is considered a "good athlete". He acts right, does what he's asked but is more naturally a quiet young man, so don't expect a vocal leader, at least not right now, despite the fact that he's a three-year starter. Mukuba's working at safety, looks like a starter and future NFL player, albeit not necessarily an early round pick. He's a little slighter build (he's right at 180 pounds despite being a senior) than maybe some fans will be anticipating.

Xavier Filsaime continues to receive rave reviews among the newcomers. He just has a "really good football demeanor", tries to get to the front of the line for more reps and then has the plus speed. "He's going to be good," the source said.

Wardell Mack was also singled out as looking the part but currently a rung below Filsaime. Jordon Johnson-Rubell is behind a bevy of good players at nickel. Kobe Black has yet to really show out to the level of his recruiting ranking.

**

Back-up nickel Jaylon Guilbeau has been working *some* at corner during some winter workouts.

It's for a combination of reasons. First, it is to see if he can break a four-man rotation at the position and the second is to find him yet another way on to the field and give him some position versatility. The Longhorns have always liked his overall ability and especially his sense for the game but Guilbeau did not initially come back strong from his injury in 2022. So it's taken awhile for him to get back on track.

The feeling is that he's now done that, he will be a real contributor in the secondary "somehow" this season.

Manny Muhammad and Terrance Brooks are the definite starters at corner. Gavin Holmes remains in the rotation. Holmes has the athleticism and speed but, according to some, needs to work more on his toughness in the run game this spring.

Warren Roberson is also working primarily at corner and has no issues with toughness. In fact, Roberson shows flashes of excellent play, is a hard worker and always plays with an edge. But he needs to become more consistent this spring; he needs to become someone his coaches can depend on every play.

**

I purposely saved this for last:

Derrick Williams has a chance to be special. A year ago, he had some small on-field issues, mostly from taking wrong angles on plays. The coaches and staff believe these small issues came from him playing almost like a linebacker position of sorts in high school.

He is working on that aspect of his game this off-season and apparently looks more than the part.

"I love this dude's future. He's very athletic, plays fast, and he's very physical," the source said.

**

Michael Taaffe is Michael Taaffe.

"You look at him (physically) and you say, he probably shouldn't be playing here," the source said. "But then the game starts, practice gets going, and he does what he does, makes a few plays, and then you realize he's just a player.

"I know he's going to be in the rotation this year. The question is, will he be the starter? Mukuba and Williams are a really strong tandem. with more speed and man-coverage ability."

The Texas Longhorns April visitor list continues to grow with three weekends being key. The first weekend will be an offensive weekend April 6. The second will be a defensive weekend April 13 with a sprinkling of offensive prospects that can only make it the 6-7th weekend. The final weekend will be around the April 20 Spring Game.

There will be some mid-week visits as well, with Texas working with the schedule of top 2025 targets. 

April 6 visit 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. 

Kaliq Lockett, WR, Sachse (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas, LSU, USC and Ohio State in the lead group.

Jaime Ffrench, WR, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star
Florida State in good spot with Alabama, Texas, USC, Georgia an others in pursuit.

Nick Towsend, TE, Houston (Texas) Dekaney - *likely
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas, Texas A&M, USC, California and Arizona State mentioned the most. Texas A&M and USC will receive visits in March. Arizona State will receive and OV in April.

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.

April 9 visit list:
Michael Fasusi, OT, Lewisville (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 5-star
Fasusi will be on campus at Missouri, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oregon and Texas in March and April.

April 13-14 visit list:
Faheem Delane, S, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Ohio State, Oregon, Maryland, Tennessee and Texas in the lead group.

Major Preston, CB/DB, Hopewell (Va.) IMG Academy
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas offered January 30. Blake Gideon is in consistent communication. 

Will Griffin, QB, Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit - 2026
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Father is Florida grad. Grew up in Gators family. 

Spring Game 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. 

Marcus Harris, WR, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Harris is also scheduled to make official visit to Texas June 28-30. 

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

Riley Pettijohn, LB, McKinney (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas in lease group with Florida State, USC, Texas A&M and Ohio State.

Zion Williams, DL, Lufkin (Texas) High - *likely
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas and LSU in front of Texas A&M with TCU fourth. 

Michael Terry, ATH, San Antonio (Texas) Alamo Heights
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas, TCU and Texas Tech the top 3 currently. Texas A&M is working to get in that lead group.

The former Alabama commit will be on campus April 6th, adding to what is already an impressive list of prospects on the offensive side of the ball for that weekend.

Ffrench has been fond of Sarkisian's offense in the past and mentioned previously to me the production from the Texas WRs has caught his attention plenty of times in the past.

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.