Jasper (Texas) High tight end Kiotti Armstrong has locked in a trio of spring visits, and one of those is to the Texas Longhorns. 

Armstrong, 6-5 and 250 pounds, will make an unofficial visit to Texas April 13. That will be the last of three visits currently scheduled. 

The Southeast Texas native will begin his spring unofficial visits with a trip to LSU March 23. He will follow that with a visit to Texas A&M April6. The Aggies are also working to get Armstrong on campus March 30. 

Armstrong attended Texas Junior Day January 20, and spent about 20 minutes talking with head coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian also stopped by Jasper High in January.

The former high school teammate of Texas freshman linebacker Tyanthony Smith made a pair of visits to Texas A&M prior to the quiet period. 

Armstrong caught 26 passes for 268 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. 

Well, hindsight is 20/20 as they say.

To remove any ambiguity, I developed this retrospective solely on players who played in the NFL (does not include taxi/practice squad) and take into consideration roster attrition.

2011 (21 signees/3 NFL players) - RB, Malcolm Brown; DB, Quandre Diggs; DB, Mykkele Thompson

Evaluation Rate: 3/21 = 14.29% (No. of players who made the NFL divided by number of signees)

Hit Rate: 3/21 = 14.29% (No. of players who finished their careers at Texas and made the NFL divided by number of signees)

Notes: The demise of Mack Brown can be directly tied to his final five recruiting classes. Both the 2009 and 2010 recruiting classes also had just three players make the NFL. Brown, at the time, was truly selecting the players he and his staff wanted. They did not do a good job overall. 

2012 (28 signees/6 NFL players) - DT, Malcom Brown; OL, Donald Hawkins; DT, Hassan Ridgeway; CB, Duke Thomas; DB, Adrian Colbert (transfer out); WR, Marcus Johnson

Evaluation Rate: 6/28 = 21.42%

Hit Rate: 5/28 = 17.86%

Notes: Better numbers made the league here but as a percentage it was still way too slight. Adrian Colbert became one of only two Mack Brown transfers who eventually made the NFL from elsewhere (JaMarcus Webb was the other).

2013 (15 signees/4 NFL players) - OL, Kent Perkins; OL, Desmond Harrison (transfer out); TE, Geoff Swaim; ATH, Montrel Meander (transfer out)

Evaluation Rate: 4/15 = 26.67%

Hit Rate: 2/15 = 13.33%

2014 (23 signees/4 NFL players) - DE, Derick Roberson (transfer out); DT, Poona Ford; TE, Andrew Beck; RB, D'Onta Foreman

Evaluation Rate: 4/23 = 17.39%

Hit Rate: 3/23 = 13.04%

Notes: Transition class from Mack Brown to Charlie Strong. Only one of Strong's recruits from the month of January ended up being an NFL player - Poona Ford.

2015 (27 signees/8 NFL players) - LB, Malik Jefferson; DB, Holton Hill; DB, Kris Boyd; DB, DeShon Elliott; DL, Charles Omenihu; OL, Connor Williams; DB, PJ Locke; P, Michael Dickson

Evaluation Rate: 8/27 = 29.63%

Hit Rate: 8/27 = 29.63%

Notes: This was the best Texas class in nearly a decade and showed that Charlie Strong not only could recruit but his staff also ultimately had an eye for talent; Strong immediately doubled the Hit Rate of any of the previous eight years.

2016 (28 signees/7 NFL players) - WR, Devin Duvernay, DB, Brandon Jones; DT, Jordan Elliott (transfer out); WR, Collin Johnson; DL, Malcom Roach; QB, Shane Buechele (transfer out); WR, LJ Humphrey

Evaluation Rate: 7/28 = 25%

Hit Rate = 5/28 = 17.86%

Notes: Yet again, Strong showed a relatively strong eye for talent. But his poor on-field performance hurt his recruiting some. 

2017 (18 signees/4 NFL players) - QB, Sam Ehlinger; DL, TaQuon Graham; OL, Sam Cosmi; DB, Josh Thompson

Evaluation Rate: 4/18 22.22%

Hit Rate: 4/18 22.22%

Notes: Transition Class from Strong to Tom Herman. Like Strong, Herman only added one new signee that would eventually become an NFL player - Sam Cosmi.

2018 (27 signees/11 NFL players) - DB, Caden Sterns; LB, DeMarvion Overshown; DT, Keondre Coburn; DL, Moro Ojomo; DE, Joe Ossai; CB, D'Shawn Jamison; RB, Keontay Ingram (transfer out); OL, Christian Jones; K, Cameron Dicker; DB, Jalen Green (transfer out); QB Cameron Rising (transfer out) (Players in italics have yet to be selected in NFL draft and make an NFL team)

Evaluation Rate: 11/27 = 40.74%

Hit Rate: 8/27 = 29.63%

Notes: This is the class that should have helped put Tom Herman over the top. Despite recruiting rankings to the contrary, he and his staff simply couldn't put two good classes together back-to-back.

2019 (28 signees/6 NFL players) - WR, Bru McCoy (transfer out); WR, Jordan Whittington; S, Tyler Owens (transfer out); RB, Roschon Johnson; TE, Jared Wiley (transfer out); DT, T'Vondre Sweat

Evaluation Rate: 6/28 = 21.43%

Hit Rate: 3/28 = 10.71%

Notes: Look at the lowest Hit Rate of the decade. Even Mack Brown's last classes didn't miss on this many. This is part of the reason why Steve Sarkisian was saddled early with a lack of NFL talent. Attrition clearly played a role here but so did evaluation.

2020 (22 signees/8 NFL players) - RB, Bijan Robinson; DL, Alfred Collins; ATH, Ja'Quinden Jackson (transfer out); OL, Jake Majors; DB, Jahdae Barron; LB, Jaylan Ford; DB Brenden Schooler; WR Tarik Black

Evaluation Rate: 8/22 =36.36%

Hit Rate: 7/22 = 25.93%

Notes: A solid class. The evaluation and hit rate are buoyed by the additions of Schooler and Black as transfers and Black never really did much as a Longhorn.

**

NFL Hit Rates of elite programs should average in the 25-35% range, so that's what Texas should focus on achieving. Yet the Horns matched or surpassed that figure just three times in 10 years. And the Horns barely averaged 25% from just an "Evaluation Rate", which doesn't take into account attrition/transfers.

Overall, poor depth and lack of top-end talent riddled Texas for much of the 2010s.

So did recruiting inconsistency. Poor years for Strong in 2016 and Herman in 2019 perhaps showed that neither could sustain success at Texas.

10-year average Evaluation Rate: 25.56%

10-year average Hit Rate: 19.45%

**

A quick look into the 2021, 2022 and 2023 classes thus far.

First, like his predecessors, Sark added at least one NFL player in his first month on the job in the 2021 class - Xavier Worthy. However, Sark also added Keilan Robinson who has a chance at the NFL as well. (Note to athletic administrators who make coaching changes: adding NFL players late in the process is just unlikely no matter who the coach is.)

As for the 2022 class, Sark's group looks on par if not better than both Herman's and Strong's second classes, which attracted eight and 11 NFL players, respectively.

The third class is where Sark diverges from Herman and Strong. While both Strong and Herman spiraled downward with third class, Sark is drastically different.

His third recruiting class was nothing short of outstanding. In fact, early returns suggest his 2023 recruiting class will be Sark's best yet.

Made the quick drive over to Bastrop to catch a workout this morning. There is plenty of talent coming up that I will get into later in the week, but 2026 defensive lineman Tiki Hola is the prize at the moment in Texas circles.

Hola visited Texas during the January 20 Junior Day, and while Texas had yet to make a hiring at the DL spot, Hola spent a lot of time with Coach Johnny Nansen and came away from the afternoon with rave reviews.

"I loved it," Hola said of his time on campus. "I got to meet with Coach Sark and talk to him for a little bit. I got to know him a little bit and he got to know me a little bit. Plus the basketball game, it was just a fun day in general."

The 6-foot-3 and 280-pound defensive lineman has become one of the jewels in the Austin area for the 2026 cycle and Texas is going to be a player here. Coach Sarkisian stopped by in the winter to catch a workout and is expected to return in the spring – most likely with Coach Kenny Baker.

"(Coach Sarkisian) is a great coach," Hola said. "But he is more than coach, he is a great person in general. He tries to genuinely get to know you and get a good conversation out of you."

Coach Baker had not yet been hired when Hola visited Austin, but the big takeaway from the trip was actually the time he spent with coach Johnny Nansen. Hola was originally born in California before moving to Bastrop at a young age, plus he is cousins with former Alabama LB Henry To'oto'o.

Texas has been a player here for a while. The initial offer came last June following a camp during the summer. 

Since January, Auburn, Miami, Nebraska, Texas A&M and USC have all gotten involved. 

Recruiting is really beginning to take off for Hola, yet the spring visit schedule is completely wide open. He mentioned a possible return to Austin for a spring practice or two, but has nothing locked in for Texas or anyone else for the time being.

This was my first time watching Hola in workouts and I was thoroughly impressed. For someone as big as he is at that age, there is so much fluidity in movements and plenty of flexibility. 

Hola played over the ball straight up last year, though you can expect many coaches to recruit him as a future 3-tech or 4i, which is more right over the guard/inside the tackle. One of the better interior defensive linemen in the state and only a 35-minute drive from campus.

Dallas, Texas - One of the top defensive targets on the board for the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 cycle is Dallas (Texas) Skyline High linebacker Elijah "Bo" Barnes. 

Barnes, 6-2.5 and nearing 230 pounds, was offered by Texas May 10, 2023. Since that time, the DFW area star has been on campus multiple times with the last visit January 20 for Junior Day. 

OnTexasFootball took in Skyline High track practice Monday and caught up with Barnes after the workout. 

"Texas is one of those top schools for me," Barnes told OnTexasFootball Monday. "They will be in my top 10, I will say that. Texas has been recruiting me hard for the last year and a half. Texas is one of those up and coming schools. I feel like they will go for a National Championship run again this year coming up. Texas is a great school in general. Some of my coaches went through Texas, you know. They tell me great things."

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian had a call with Barnes last night around 6:30 p.m. The messages heading into that call have been about the person, player and fit in the Longhorns' defense. 

"He just says he wants me. And things like that. They see me as a great fit in their defense. A leader in their defense. A vocal leader in their defense. He was telling me stuff like that. And that I'm a great guy, a great athlete and the sky's the limit."

New Co-DC and linebackers coach Johnny Nansen has made a strong impression early in just a few conversations. 

"Coach (Johnny) Nansen, I love Coach Nansen. He's a great guy in general. Down to earth. He knows the game of football. And I do feel like if I go to Texas, he can pour a lot into me. In an NFL type play style. He can teach me formation, down and distance and the personnel's and stuff like that."

Barnes believes Texas is ready for the move to the SEC, and in part because of the culture created by Sarkisian and staff. 

"It's made a big jump (with prospects). How they did this year. I know they are going to excel this coming season. Texas is going to be fine. They have a lot of great athletes that committed and signed that are there right now. I feel like Texas is one of those schools to be talked about 20 years from now. A great coaching staff they have, a great team they have and a great brotherhood they have there. A great bond. Just to be around everybody there."

Barnes runs on the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams for the Raiders. He will also run the open 100 meters this spring with a goal of 11.1, which would be ultra impressive at 225-230 pounds. 

Cedar Hill, Texas - The Cedar Hill Longhorns have one of the true recruiting rarities. Junior's Isaiah Coleman (6-1.5, 275), Devin Coleman (6-4.5, 320) and Jordan Coleman (6-5, 362) are triplets. 

And all three have division one offers with Isaiah Coleman having been offered by UTSA and Texas Tech. 

Jordan Coleman was offered by Texas June 11, 2023 after a stellar camp performance. And Devin Coleman was offered by the Longhorns February 19, 2024 after offensive line coach Kyle Flood made an in person evaluation in January. 

On Monday, OnTexasFootball stopped by Cedar Hill High to catch up with a the "large humans", which includes the most recent Texas offensive line offer.

For Devin Coleman, the offer was very meaningful. 

"It meant a lot," Devin Coleman told OnTexasFootball. "Because my brother, Jordan, already has a Texas offer. I've been telling him I want Texas, I want Texas. He was telling me to be patient and they are going to come. Coach (Kyle) Flood told me to be patient. When it came, I was real excited. Jordan had been in my ear saying it was going to come, be patient and keep working hard." 

Coleman picked up nine offers since January. Due in large part to playing a lot of snaps on the offensive line in 2023, which changed the trajectory of his recruitment. That 2024 offer list includes Texas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Colorado, Duke, Baylor and SMU. He received summer offers from Oklahoma and Houston.  

Coleman attended Texas Junior Day January 20, and plans to get back this spring. 

"I want to go to Ole Miss, Texas, Oklahoma, go out to Texas Tech. That's the plan." 

Jordan Coleman on Texas

"Large human" Jordan Coleman has seen his recruitment take off since the summer of 2023. He enters the spring with 17 offers, including six SEC programs. January and February have been fruitful in particular, adding seven offers. 

"The recruiting process is going good," Coleman told OTF Monday. "I just racked up a couple of offers from Ole Miss, Duke, Mississippi State and a whole bunch of places. I'm just planning some official visits and stuff like that."

While Coleman is yet to lock in dates for the spring or June official visits, he knows a few places he wants to see in person.

"I know we are going to go to Baylor, Texas, OU and we want to go to Colorado and Ole Miss. And I want to go to Tennessee."

Coleman has visited Texas on a trio of occasions, starting with the day he was offered. 

"The first time I went to Texas was at the camp (June 11, 2023). We had went in the indoor and outdoors, and I went undefeated (1 on 1 reps). I worked at guard and tackle, and I went undefeated. I talked to Coach (Flood),and he was telling that I was doing good in rills. And that's when he gave me the offer."

It's safe to say the Longhorns are in a good position headed into the spring. 

"I love Texas. Texas, Hook'em man. Coach Hutch (Marcus Hutchins) is always talking about Texas. He shines a good light on Texas, and I see what he's talking about." 

Coleman could play either tackle or guard at the next level with guard projecting the highest upside. 

Eleven Longhorns are going to Indianapolis where on-field drills will get started on Thursday. 

But before they get started, be sure to check out this week's Talkin' Ball with Rod and I as we talk where the Texas Draft hopefuls can improve their stock and a return down Memory Lane – Indy style for Rod with some stories from his time at the NFL Combine.

Texas is dipping into Alabama to offer current Auburn defensive end commit Malik Autry.

Autry, a 6-foot-6 and 320-pound interior defensive lineman, has been committed to Auburn since February of 2023. He received his offer from the Longhorns this afternoon from Coach Kenny Baker as the Longhorns continue their pursuit of having a deeper foothold in the SEC territory.

**

Jaray Bledsoe - "Looks great."

Alex January - "He's going to play this year."

Sydir Mitchell - "Improving. Body looks a little better."

**

The two freshman offensive linemen were singled out.

Brandon Baker is said to be an outstanding athlete and his off-field, weight-room demeanor has been similar to that of Kelvin Banks when Banks first arrived.

After the glowing about Baker finished, the source was quick to mention the professional demeanor of Daniel Cruz as well.

"Those two are keepers," the source said.

**

The source felt J'Mond Tapp "was coming on", specifically becoming a smarter player. He's always had the physical tools, but just needed to add good weight and play within the framework of the defense. He could be an X factor for the Texas D this year.

**

Anthony Hill Jr. - "He's locked in. He looks great."

**

Isaiah Bond - "Has some diva to him like a lot of wideouts. But he's not that way when he gets on the football field. Intentional worker."

**

Billy Walton - "Looks great. Really great athlete."

Tausili Akana - "A little small. Needs to add good weight. Working at SAM and edge."

**

Jake Majors - "Really had a good year last year. Did not go to the ground nearly as much. Have to give him credit, he's really made something of himself. You can count on him."

**

Tiaoalii Savea - "Better version of Trill Carter."

**

Team thoughts:

- Still concerned about stopping the run.

- Speed on offense is different this year.

- Need one or two interior DLs in the portal.

**

I'll share more as I get more...

As we know, there will be 11 Longhorns in Indianapolis this weekend to perform in front of NFL Scouts and Executives. With less than two months from the NFL Draft, the Combine poses as one last master interview opportunity before Pro Days. More specifically, which one drill means the most for each of the Texas combine attendees?

***

RB Jonathon Brooks – Interviews

Brooks is still recovering from his ACL injury and won't be participating in on-field drills unfortunately.

RB Keilan Robinson – 40-yard Dash

The Combine is a great chance for Robinson to put some big testing numbers on paper here. While I find it a bit of a climb to get into the Draft, Robinson has plenty of tape here to suggest he can make a roster from a special teams perspective.

WR Adonai Mitchell – 40-yard Dash

If AD Mitchell can put a low 4.5 of 4.4 time together at the combine, he will be a first round pick. He has the hands and the tape to put his name in the mix already, an elite 40 will put him over the top and into the first round.

WR Xavier Worthy – WR Gauntlet

We know Worthy is going to test well in the 40 and there will be good enough times in the agility stations. It is time for Worthy to silence doubters about his hands and put on a show in the gauntlet.

WR Jordan Whittington – 20-Yard Shuttle

Not performing at the Senior Bowl means this week gets even more important for J-Whitt. I have no doubt Whittington will perform well in the wide receiver drills with the quarterbacks, but I do wonder how his numbers will stack up testing wise, more so in the short distance and quick agility testing.

TE Ja'Tavion Sanders – Bench Press

Listen, I don't think Sanders has questions surrounding how strong he is, more so with his level of physicality. At the pro level, there must be a balance of production in the run and pass games at the tight end spot and Sanders putting up a big number on the bench can help alleviate those concerns about his willingness as a blocker.

OL Christian Jones – Bench Press

Starting 48 career games at the collegiate level has been huge for Jones' development. With the soccer background, I expect the testing times to be good enough. Question then turns to strength and the bench press can help his case.

DL T'Vondre Sweat – Weigh-in

It feels simple, but Sweat raised some question marks at the senior bowl weekend when he opted against the weigh-in. We know the tape will back up anything else that might be questioned on the field, but right now it is all about getting to a playing weight that NFL scouts feel appropriate.

DL Byron Murphy – 3-Cone Drill

There won't be many question marks with Murphy at the combine. He will put up big numbers on bench and I expect he surprises people in the broad jump. Murphy can really make some money and cement himself in the 1st round with a stellar three-cone drill.

LB Jaylan Ford – 60-yard Shuttle

I had this conversation over the weekend about the comparison of Jaylan Ford to Demarvion Overshown. While Overshown was the more athletic prospect, Ford had a deeper bag of statistics and on-field accomplishments. If Ford can put together any sliver of testing times that mirror that of Overshown, he will be a 3rd-4th round pick to me. Starts with the sideline to sideline speed. 

DB Ryan Watts – 10-Yard split in the 40

I wanted to get a bit more specific for Watts rather than saying just the 40. Of course we know how important showing off the top-end speed will be for Watts at the Combine. He has the analytical numbers that help his case for long distance speed, but the NFL needs quick burst more than anything – especially at DB. 

The 6-foot-4 edge prospect is the latest in the cycle to report an offer from the Texas Longhorn staff. Interestingly here, the offer was extended by Texas RB coach Tashard Choice who obviously has deep ties to the Georgia area.

Gibson was recently ranked as a top 25 national prospect per On3. It is not an easy task to pull an elite prospect out of the Peach State, but the Longhorns are officially in the running here.