Ukponu has been a familiar face around the 40 Acres after visiting once again back in January for the Junior Day. Since then, Ukponu's recruitment has really skyrocketed.

Now holding 32 offers, there was a revolving door of coaches in the hallways of Denton Guyer in late January to meet with the 6-foot-3 defensive lineman.

The spring months will be rather busy for Ukponu as well. He has plans to visit LSU, Missouri, Oregon, Cal, USC, Tennessee, Kansas, Texas A&M along with the trip to Austin to see Texas again.

There are three official visits locked in right now: Oklahoma State on April 12, Florida on May 31-June 2, and Texas A&M on June 21-23.

Ukponu tells me and new defensive line coach Kenny Baker speak almost every day and the details for a summer official visit will be discussed when he returns to campus April 6.

Whittington spoke with reporters Friday morning ahead of the wide receivers day Saturday.

The reason for the former Cuero star to not participate during the Reese's Senior Bowl was due to a hamstring injury he suffered in training. That issue has since lingered to the NFL Combine.

Whittington will only participate in the bench press this weekend in Indianapolis, before using the Texas Pro Day as one final on-field audition for NFL scouts.

On Texas Football has learned that the Longhorns will start LeBarron Johnson Jr. on the mound, while LSU will trot out Luke Holman.  This might just be the best pitching matchup we will see, regardless of team, in the month of March.

For Saturday's matchup against Texas State (3:00 PM), the Horns will start Charlie Hurley.

And on Sunday, when the Longhorns face off against No. 9 Vanderbilt (11:00 AM), Texas will start Cody Howard.

TV Info:

All of the tournament games will be televised by Space City Home Network and available on the channel in the entirety of the Astros five-state viewing area. Seven of the nine games will be on the primary channel, with Saturday’s afternoon and night games being aired live on the Space City Home Network alternate channel.

Additionally, all games will also be streamed live without a paywall on Astros.com and on the Astros X, Facebook and YouTube channels.

Four-star tight end Nick Towsend (Houston/Dekaney) has locked in a second official visit, and it's Texas.

Townsend, 6-3 and 220 pounds, will make an official visit to Texas June 21-23. There will be a visit to Austin prior to the official visit as well. Townsend is expected to visit April 6. A first visit of 2024 was the January 20 Junior Day.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and tight ends coach Jeff Banks stopped by Dekaney High in January.

The Houston area prospect that is a Power 5 level player on both sides of the ball is scheduled to begin his official visit process April 19-21 with a trips to Arizona State. He will make that visit with Dekaney WR/ATH Tanook Hines. 

Townsend sports more than 30 offers to date. The offer list includes SEC programs Texas, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas and South Carolina. Townsend's recruitment blew up when college coaches began making school visits in December. He added offers from Texas, Ole Miss, LSU, USC, Notre Dame, Florida State, Maryland, Miami, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas and South Carolina since December 1st.

June 21-23

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
Note: Will also attend the Texas spring game April 20.

Nick Townsend, TE, Houston (Texas) Dekaney 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Note: Will also visit Texas April 6.

Jackson Christian, IOL, Port Niches (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

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

Kade Phillips, DB, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

LB Jaylan Ford went through his measurements plus the vertical and broad jump but did not run or do field drills.

Defensive linemen and linebackers will get going today at 2:00 p.m. CST. We will have ongoing updates today from the NFL Combine not only from T'Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy and Jaylan Ford, but Ryan Watts and Ja'Tavion Sanders will begin their interview phases this morning as well.

***

DL T'Vondre Sweat

• Height: 6044 (6-foot-4 1/2 inches tall)
• Weight: 366 pounds
• Wingspan: 81 1/4 inches
• 40-yard Dash: 5.27
• 10-yard Split: 1.80
• Vertical Jump: 26 inches
• Broad Jump: 8'2"

***

DL Byron Murphy

• Height: 6004 (6-feet, half-inch)
• Weight: 297 pounds
• Wingspan: 77 1/8 inches
• 40-yard Dash: 4.88 || 4.90
• 10-yard Split: 1.68 || 1.70
• Vertical Jump: 33 inches
• Broad Jump: 9'3"

***

LB Jaylan Ford

• Height: 6023 (6-foot-2 3/8 inches)
• Weight: 240 pounds
• Wingspan: 74 3/8 inches
• 40-yard Dash:
• 10-yard Split:
• Vertical Jump:
• Broad Jump: 10'3"
• 3-cone Drill:
• 20-yard Shuttle:
• Bench Press

Missouri City (Texas) Marshall High 2025 cornerback Caleb Chester told OnTexasFootball that he has locked in an official visit to Texas. 

Chester, 6-1 and 170 pounds, will make an official visit to Texas June 7-9. That will be the first of three June official visits for the Houston area cover corner with long arms. He's scheduled to visit Arkansas June 14-16 and Texas A&M June 22-23 in the two weekends following Texas.

Chester has been on campus in Austin multiple times, including attending Texas Junior Day January 20. 

The Longhorns offered Chester May 16, 2023. Since that time, he has stayed in consistent communication with Texas defensive backs coach Terry Joseph. 

***

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

Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Spring unofficial visit: Texas April 6

Kelshaun Johnson, WR, Hitchcock (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Penn State May 31-June 2, Texas Tech June 7-9, Texas June 14-16, USC June 21-23

Andrew Marsh, WR, Katy (Texas) Jordan
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Note: Also making unofficial visit march 25.

Daylan McCutcheon, WR, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: USC June 7-9, Texas June 14-16 and Ohio State June 21-23

Lamont Rogers, OT, Mesquite (Texas) Horn
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Missouri May 31-June 2, Texas A&M June 7-9 and Texas June 14-16

Juan Gaston, OT, Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Georgia May 31-June 2, South Carolina June 7-9, Texas June 14-16 and Oregon June 21-23

John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Washington May 31-June 2, Texas June 14-16

Jonte Newman, OT, Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Brandon Brown, DL, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Tennessee June 7-9, Texas June 10-12, USC June 21-23

Hayden Lowe, EDGE, Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Lance Jackson, EDGE, Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove #AllGasNoBrakes
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Note: Also plans to attend the Texas Spring Game April 20.

Riley Pettijohn, LB, McKinney (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Official visit schedule: Texas June 14-16, USC June 21-23

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

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
Note: Also making unofficial visit April 6. Ohio State and Florida State are also serious players. 

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
Note: Also plans to attend the Texas Spring Game April 20.

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

D.J. Sanders, DL, Bellville (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4–star
Official visit schedule: 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

Elijah Barnes, LB, Dallas (Texas) Skyline
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4–star
Official visit schedule:  Nebraska April 26-28, SMU May 10-12, 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

***

There will be some mid-week officials locked in for early/mid June. Texas is still pushing for two big weekends towards the back half of the month with the June 21-23 weekend being one of the big one. 

I dropped some quick tidbits yesterday on the trip, but wanted to go more in-depth from our conversation today. Terry is up to 19 offers now in his recruitment and the Longhorns are squarely in the fold after offering officially during the January 20 Junior Day.

"It is a pretty fun process," Terry said of his recruitment. "Getting to meet all of the new coaches and seeing the facilities of where I could be playing. It is really cool."

The nation's top athlete has been recruited all over the place on the offensive side of the ball. Many programs see him as a do-it-all catalyst, while others envision the 6-foot-3 playmaker as a wide receiver and others at running back. Texas has yet to pick a side on the argument and instead are wanting to get Terry to campus again before truly siding with a specific position.

Luckily for the Longhorns, offering Terry on the Junior Day left a positive impression.

"That was a pretty cool experience," Terry said. "We went to Coach Sark's office and we all talked together. It was a pretty cool experience getting (the offer) from him."

Communication with the Texas staff bounces back and forth from Steve Sarkisian to Tashard Choice – it is worth mentioning that Tashard Choice was the first coach to extend an offer to Terry during his 8th grade season. Choice was still at Georgia Tech at the time.

As for spring visits, Terry has the Nebraska spring game on April 27 circled as a visit he is hoping to get out to. Aside from that, no other trips have been locked in just yet.

On the Texas Junior Day, Terry mentioned an unofficial top three of Texas, TCU and Texas Tech. Since then, other schools that have made a solid impression include Oregon, Nebraska and Texas A&M.

Texas is hanging around this recruitment right now, though I would throw caution anyone into pencilling Terry into the class at the moment. I believe it is a pretty open recruitment, though the staffs that are able to pitch position specifics and usage plans will have an upper hand in my eyes.

As we move forward, I would focus on Texas, TCU, Texas A&M out of the in-state schools. We will see if Terry gets up to Oregon, and I will follow up with how the Nebraska trip went.

OnTexasFootball 4-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn (McKinney, Texas/High) has locked in two official visits in June, and Texas is one of the two. 

Pettijohn, 6-2 and 215 pounds, told OnTexasFootball Wednesday night he is scheduled to make an official visit to Texas June 14-16. The official visit will be preceded by an unofficial visit for the Longhorns Spring Game April 20. 

The two visits to Texas will add to a list of several, including January 20 Junior Day. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian made a stop at McKinney High in late January as well. 

The DFW are athletic and instinctive linebacker is also scheduled to make an official visit to USC June 20-22. 

USC will also receive a spring unofficial visit, April 6. 

Texas and USC are two of five spring unofficial visits. Pettijohn is scheduled to visit Florida State March 23, Ohio State March 30 and Texas A&M April 13.