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2025 Ensworth (TN) defensive end Ethan Utley has circled June 21-23 for an official visit to Texas he confirmed with me early this morning – 247Sports first to report.

Utley has an official visit set to Tennessee set for the week before, June 14-16. At the moment those are the only two official visits set in the month of June for the four-star edge.

Interestingly, Utley also told me he will not be taking any unofficial visits in the spring ahead of his commitment date of March 28. 

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and area recruiter Tashard Choice made a stop Fellowship Christian School north of Atlanta in January to see one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the country in the 2025 cycle. 

Since that time and the January 27 offer by the Longhorns, Sarkisian, Choice and Kyle Flood have been in weekly contact with OnTexasFootball 4-star Josh Petty  and family (Roswell, Ga./Fellowship Christian School). And now Petty is set to make his first ever visit to Texas. 

Petty is scheduled to visit Texas March 22 along with his teammate at the California Power 7v7 program. The Texas visit will follow trips to Clemson March 12, Georgia Tech March 15, Georgia March 19 and Auburn March 19. Following the trip to Texas, Petty will visit Florida State March 29.

Petty's sister that is a year older is considering attending all of those schools right now, save Texas. 

There are also family connections to the Lone Star State. Petty's father has family members living in San Angelo and Big Lake. He spent many summers at Big Lake.

The interest in Texas is both academic and athletic. Petty plans to major in finance, and both of his parents work in that field.

Petty has 40 offers entering the spring. That offer list includes SEC programs Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. 

He doubles as one of the top wrestlers in the Peach State having finished runner up each of the last two seasons in the 285 pound weight class. 

Just about everyone, everywhere was talking about the performances of Texas football players at the NFL combine.

If it wasn't NFL draft guru Daniel Jeremiah, it was Bo Jackson. If it wasn't Chris Simms, it was Chase Daniels. If it wasn't Rich Eisen, it was Tyreek Hill. Name someone, anyone, that had a microphone or access to social media, and they were gushing a wave of Longhorn love.

This weekend Texas, for the first time in so long, was not merely a participant at the combine. Instead, it was a Texas Takeover.

**

While Xavier Worthy stole the show, and literally the all-time combine 40-yard dash record of 4.21 seconds in the process, every other Texas players either improved their stock or held serve at the very least.

Adonai Mitchell checked in north of 200 pounds, taller than 6-foot-2, and ran an official 4.34 40-yard dash, while also having the longest broad jump of any receiver.

Byron Murphy trucked it down the straight-away with a 4.88 40-yard dash at 297 pounds. His running mate, Outland-winner T'Vondre Sweat, moved 366 pounds better than anyone would have thought - finishing with a 5.27 40-yard dash while also looking surprisingly agile in drills.

**

But what stuck out to me about this combine was not only how the guys who were being talked about as high draft picks, but also the depth of the Longhorns on display.

Ryan Watts and Christian Jones both helped themselves immensely with their performances, perhaps no one moreso than Watts.

Watts checked in at 6-2 7/8, 208 pounds with a 81-inch wingspan while running a pair of sub-4.55 40-yard dashes. For perspective, Watts' wingspan was longer than any Texas player at the entire combine outside of Jones.

Jones' performance yesterday was overshadowed by Worthy, Mitchell, Murphy and Sweat. But Jones may actually sneak in to the top 100 picks in this year's draft.

Teams love guys who have played a lot of snaps at a high level of competition (3200+ for Jones at Texas), remained healthy throughout their careers and have some position versatility.

I'm told he met with 26 teams over the weekend. That's a healthy number considering teams don't meet with every OL on the board.

**

Suffice to say, if the Texas Longhorns weren't on the minds of NFL fans  before this past weekend, they are now.

Texas has arrived in that regard.

Now, it's time for Texas to keep stacking up that talent and continuing to prove it to be a regular occurrence each and every year.

**

In case you missed it over the weekend, I broke the news that former Texas assistant director of scouting Bobby Merritt had left late last week to become the new general manager of Rice Football.

That's not the only movement behind the scenes.

I can also report that Tory Tekyl, whose dad Tim is a long-time high school coach in the state of Texas, is expected to return to Texas to work in the athletic department. Tekyl is currently the director of football operations for Stan Drayton at Temple. Tekyl is expected to move into an administrative role focused more on women's athletics.

The top offensive tackle target for the Texas Longhorns has locked in a June official visit. 

Lewisville (Texas) High's Michael Fasusi told OnTexasFootball that he will make his official visit to Texas June 21-23.

Fasusi, 6-5 and 300 pounds, will be on campus with his family for an unofficial visit this spring as well. The DFW area OnTexasFootball 5-star will make an unofficial visit April 9. It will be an opportunity to spend time with the entire Texas staff on a Tuesday around a spring practice.

Texas and Oklahoma have been the top two in the recruitment since prior to the 2023 season. Texas A&M and Missouri are also legitimately in the picture with Oregon attempting to make a run. 

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, offensive line coach Kyle Flood and running backs coach Tashard Choice made a school visit in late January, spending about an hour talking with Fasusi and his father. 

Those offers cover states from the West Coast to the East Coast. The Longhorns' staff has offered prospects from Maryland, Alabama, Mississippi, California, Georgia, Kansas and Texas. 

OnTexasFootball provides a rundown of the new offers in the 2025 cycle with several scheduled to visit Texas this spring.  

January, February and March offers by Texas

Faheem Delane, S, Only (Md.) Good Counsel
6-2, 195
Texas offered: January 6 
The recruitment: 29 offers, including Georgia, Texas and Auburn in January. Delane will visit Texas April 13-14.

Aylin Dear, RB, Quitman (Miss.) High
6-1, 200
Texas offered: January 8 
The recruitment: Tashard Choice was by the school in January. Has 23 offers with Ole Miss considered the favorite over Georgia and others. 

Kaleb Edwards, TE, El Dorado Hills (Calif.) Oak Ridge
Texas offered: January 16 
The recruitment: Up to 18 offers with Texas, Michigan State and Auburn offering since January.

Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill
5-11, 190
Texas offered: January 20 
The recruitment: Texas leads Baylor and Oklahoma State with a spring visit to Texas April 6, and an official visit June 14-16. 

Michael Terry, ATH, San Antonio (Texas) Alamo Heights
6-3, 210
Texas offered: January 20 
The recruitment: Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M and TCU mentioned the most in state.

Gus Cordova, DL, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis
6-4, 255
Texas offered: January 20 
The recruitment: Texas A&M, Texas, Oregon and USC mentioned the most. 

Ryan Fodje, OT, Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland - *Oklahoma commitment
6-4, 285
Texas offered: January 20 
The recruitment: Committed to Oklahoma February 4.

Smith Orogbo, EDGE, Alien (Texas) Hastings
6-5, 215
Texas offered: January 22 
The recruitment: Up to 30 offers with 23 since January. That includes six SEC offers. Spring visits to Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M likely. 

Chuck McDonald, CB, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
6-0, 180
Texas offered: January 23 
The recruitment: 25 offers with Texas being the most recent. 

Caleb Cunningham, WR, Ackerman (Miss.) Choctaw
6-3, 180
Texas offered: January 25 
The recruitment: Down to Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Jaedon Harmon, LB, Rome (Ga.) High
6-1, 215
Texas offered: January 25 
The recruitment: 32 offers with most recent Junior Day visits to Clemson and Florida State. Harmon has told OnTexasFootball twice in the last week that a spring visit is being planned. 

Josh Petty, OT, Roswell (Ga.) Fellowship Christian School
6-5, 275
Texas offered: January 27 
The recruitment: 40 offers, including 11 since December 1. Three sport varsity letterman.  

Jaime Ffrench, WR, Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin
6-1, 185
Texas offered: January 29 
The recruitment: Former Alabama pledge has 34 offers, including 13 SEC programs. Ffrench will visit Texas April 6. 

Major Preston, CB, Hopewell (Va.) IMG Academy
6-1, 175
Texas offered: January 30 
The recruitment: Holds 23 offers. Will visit Texas April 13-14. Also plans to visit Oklahoma in March, and Virginia Tech twice this spring. Has a June OV set up to Virginia Tech as well. 

Dallas Golden, S, Tampa (Fla.) Berkley Prep
6-0, 175
Texas offered: February 1 
The recruitment: Notre Dame considered the favorite out of 41 offers. Georgia, Clemson and Florida also receiving mention. 

Myron Charles, DL, Port Charlotte (Fla.) High
6-4, 290
Texas offered: February 1
The recruitment: 28 offers with the three in state powers receiving plenty of mention led by Florida State. Made Junior Day visit to Miami March 27. A spring and June official visit to Texas are being discussed. 

Josiah Sharma, DL, Folsom (Calif.) High
6-5, 300
Texas offered: February 1
The recruitment: Former Washington pledge made a visit to Alabama in late January. Has an official visit scheduled to Utah June 14-16. Sharma used to live in Arlington, and has family living in the Austin area. 

Jonathan Cunningham, LB, Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley
6-2.5, 185
Texas offered: February 1
The recruitment: The offer list is up to 13 with more than 20 expected by the conclusion of the spring evaluation period. Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. Has May 3-5 official visit scheduled to TCU. 

Courtland Guillory, DB/S, Houston (Texas) Klein Oak
6-1, 175
Texas offered: February 1
The recruitment: Official visit scheduled is Arizona State May 31-June 2, Texas June 7-9, Kansas June 14-16 and Oklahoma June 21-23. Texas A&M and Texas will also receive spring visits with the Horns March 25. 

Javar Thomas, LB, Aldine (Texas) Nimitz
6-3, 195
Texas offered: February 2
The recruitment: Texas was the ninth offer with the number now at 10. The Longhorns were the first SEC program to offer. Scheduled to visit Texas March 22. 

Devin Coleman, IOL, Cedar Hill (Texas) High
Texas offered: February 19 
The recruitment: Recruitment has kick started since playing on offensive line as a junior. January offers from SMU, Baylor, Texas, Mississippi State, Duke and Ole Miss.

Kevin Wynn, DL, Greensboro (Ga.) Greene County
Texas offered: February 20 
The recruitment: Florida State, Georgia and Alabama lead the way with programs such as Florida, Texas, Auburn and N.C. State trying to make a push.

Adonyss Currie, CB, Lancaster (Calif.) Quartz Hill
Texas offered: February 20 
The recruitment: Miami will for sure receive a visit this spring. Texas is working to get the long, rangy and speedy cornerback on campus. 

Malik Autry, DL, Opelika (Al.) Opelika - *Auburn commitment 
Texas offered: February 26
The recruitment: Texas working to get a spring or official visit. 

Linkon Cure, TE, Goodland (Ks.) High
6-6, 220
Texas offered: March 1
The recruitment: Offer list of 26 includes Texas, Colorado, Miami, UCLA, USC, Duke and Michigan State since January 1.

Texas has one offensive lineman participating in the activities today – Christian Jones.

• Height: 6-5
• Weight: 305
• Wingspan: 83 5/8
• 40-yard Dash: 5.05
• 10-yard split: 1.78
• Vertical Jump: 
• Broad Jump: 

***

Great opportunity for Jones to carry on the momentum started by previous Longhorns this weekend.

Also, a bit of a surprise to see Jones weigh in at 305 pounds. The Reese's Senior Bowl listed Jones at 318 earlier this winter.

Barnes, 6-2.5 and near 230 pounds, will visit Texas April 6. That is the Longhorns' big visit weekend prior to the spring game. The April 6 visit will be followed by an official visit in June with the date TBD (June 14-16 or 21-23). Barnes attended Junior day January 20. 

Yet another of Steve Sarkisian’s behind-the-scenes employees has left for increased responsibilities elsewhere.

Bobby Merritt, who was responsible for breaking down opposing film and evaluating prospects in the portal for the Horns in 2023, has been hired by Rice University as its new general manager.

The move has yet to be announced publicly but Merritt started with Rice on Friday.

Merritt’s former boss at Texas, Billy Glasscock who was the director of player personnel for the Horns, left in January to become the General Manager for Ole Miss.

That’s the price of winning. People will move up and get more responsibilities at other places.