The 6-foot-3 linebacker at Aldine Nimitz HS saw his recruitment grow in the month of January with offers from UNLV, Washington, Colorado State and Houston. Texas also got involved in Thomas' recruitment when they officially tossed their hat in the ring last Friday on the visit from Sarkisian and Banks.

Despite having visited campus on January 20 for the Junior Day, Thomas told me it was a total surprise when the offer arrived from the Texas staff. 

Continuing the trend of lengthy, long-levered linebacker prospects, Thomas is a prime candidate to see return to campus in March for a second unofficial of the year.

Production - Colin Simmons, Tyanthony Smith, Melvin Hills, Trey Owens

Hills may be the surprise of this list. But he was ultra-productive as a high school senior, registering 14.5 sacks.

Fastest - Ryan Wingo, Xavier Filsaime

Both Wingo and Filsaime have verified 100-meter times in the 10.5s.

Most Athletic - Jordan Washington, Aaron Butler, Xavier Filsaime, Kobe Black, Ryan Wingo, Colin Simmons

Lots of high caliber athletes in this class. These are probably the best of the group.

Acceleration - Aaron Butler, Wardell Mack

Butler's ability as a punt returner is impressive. Mack has the ability to turn on the jets quickly.

Quickest Feet - Christian Clark

Makes cuts I'm not sure anyone else on the roster can make.

Physically Most Ready (for their position) - Jerrick Gibson, Xavier Filsaime, Colin Simmons, Ryan Wingo

These are most ready body types for the rigors of college football. Simmons may surprise some here, but he's wiry strong and adding good weight.

Toughest - Daniel Cruz, Xavier Filsaime, Christian Clark, Jerrick Gibson, Nate Kibble, Colin Simmons

Don't try to take Daniel Cruz's or Christian Clark's school lunch. It won't end well for you.

NFL Prototype - Brandon Baker, Ryan Wingo, Trey Owens, Xavier Filsaime

Filsaime's speed, Baker's frame and athleticism, Wingo's size/speed combo, Owens' arm talent.

Body Type (long term) - Zina Umeozulu, Ryan Wingo, Jordan Washington, Wardell Mack, Trey Owens, Alex January, Brandon Baker

Find a better long-term body type on the roster than Zina on the defensive side of the ball.

Longest Arms (for their position) - Wardell Mack, Tyanthony Smith, Jordan Washington, Ryan Wingo, Zina Umeozulu

These guys all have the "length" Texas coaches have been looking for.

Strongest Hands - Daniel Cruz, Alex January

These two lock on you and you're in trouble.

Football IQ - Jordon Johnson-Rubell, Daniel Cruz, Tyanthony Smith, Santana Wilson, Parker Livingstone, Trey Owens

Johnson-Rubell, Smith and Cruz have played and started at multiple positions over multiple years. That's not easy.

Family Tree - Alex January, Santana Wilson, Ryan Wingo, Kobe Black, Aaron Butler

January's dad played at Texas. The others had relatives who played either college or pro ball.

Multiple Positions in HS - Christian Clark, Daniel Cruz, Zina Umeozulu, Xavier Filsaime, Tyanthony Smith, Wardell Mack, Kobe Black, Santana Wilson

Played Basketball - Jordan Washington, Kobe Black, Colin Simmons, Tyanthony Smith

Washington or Black would win the 1-on-1 contest among enrollees.

Played Baseball - Alex January, Parker Livingstone

Livingstone would have had a shot at professional ball.

Ran Track - Ryan Wingo, Xavier Filsaime, Parker Livingstone, Wardell Mack, Freddie Dubose Jr., Aaron Butler, Jordon Johnson-Rubell, Melvin Hills (throws)

Wrestler/Powerlifting - Daniel Cruz, Nate Kibble

Cruz is an elite wrestler.

Hampered By Injuries As A Senior - Freddie DuBose Jr., Christian Clark, Parker Livingstone, Ryan Wingo, Aaron Butler

These guys all missed time as a senior or were still nursing significant ones all year.

Four-year High School Starter - Daniel Cruz, Nate Kibble, Jerrick Gibson, Jordon Johnson-Rubell

State Champs - Colin Simmoms, Alex January, Michael Kern, Brandon Baker

K.J. Lacey’s next visit to Texas

OnTexasFootball spoke with a source very close to the recruitment of quarterback commitment K.J. Lacey Wednesday evening. 

Lacey, 6-0 and 180 pounds, cancelled an unofficial visit to Ole Miss last Saturday. The reason? That’s one visit the Texas staff pushed back on a little bit according to the source. Lacey instead attended the Senior Bowl, and spent some time chatting with T'Vondre Sweat. 

Ole Miss and Auburn are the two teams making the most effort to flip the OnTexasFootball 4-star signal caller. Alabama is not considered a threat at this time. 

Lacey is expected to make an unofficial visit to Texas this spring, but a date is not locked in. A June official visit will also happen, of course. He’s in daily contact with QB coach A.J. Milwee, and once or twice weekly with Steve Sarkisian. 

Texas and Rickey Stewart

OnTexasFootball made a stop at Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill High Wednesday. It’s safe to say the Longhorns are a heavy favorite to land OnTexasFootball 4-star running back Rickey Stewart. Stewart will make an unofficial visit with his mom in March. It’s not a lock his recruitment carries out until July or August. The timeline is fluid. Baylor is running second in the race. 

Texas and Demetrius Brisbon Jr.

Texas area recruiter and safeties coach Blake Gideon continues to evaluate the former SMU verbal, and current Baylor pledge. 

Brisbon, 5-11.5 and 170 pounds, could pop back up in Austin in March. Texas has told those close to the recruitment that they would like to get him back on campus in the spring. 

Kilgore High has three very talented prospects to know

Kilgore High has a trio of prospects Texas is monitoring. 

The first is ultra athletic 2025 defensive back Jayden Sanders. The 6-foot, 175-pounder with 4.46 speed attended Texas Junior day January 20. Area recruiter and safeties coach Blake Gideon watched Sanders during a Kilgore High basketball practice in January. Sanders made a visit to Oklahoma State last week, and was given the red carpet treatment by Mike Gundy and staff. The Cowboys are considered the slight favorite over Baylor. Kansas State offered Wednesday. Sanders father is former TCU standout cornerback Nick Sanders, who Gary Patterson signed out of Kilgore High in 2005. Sanders is a coach at Kilgore High. Jayden Sanders mother was an All-Conference sprinter at the University of Houston. 

The 2026 class has two prospects to know. Defensive tackle Cameron Christian is a player Texas is monitoring. The 6-foot-0.5, 275-pounder is among the best athletes at defensive tackle in the Lone Star State in the 2026 cycle. Watching Christian up close Wednesday, he is a Power 5 level athlete. His height will be the question, but he possesses plus arm length for his size, huge 11-inch hands and wears a 13 shoe. He’s still 15. 

Kilgore High 2026 LaKeyleon Graves is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound safety/LB with 4.6 speed. Graves has the frame to add considerable weight/muscle mass. 

I've gotten some right and some wrong. So don't take what I say or how I rank these players as the gospel. It's just another man's opinion based on what I've seen and what I've been told.

2024 Texas Recruits

1. WR, Ryan Wingo

2. Edge, Colin Simmons

3. S, Xavier Filsaime

4. OL, Brandon Baker

5. CB, Wardell Mack

6. OL, Daniel Cruz

7. RB, Christian Clark

8. TE, Jordan Washington

9. Edge, Zina Umeozulu

10. QB, Trey Owens

11. RB, Jerrick Gibson

12. OL, Nate Kibble

13. DL, Alex January

14. LB, Tyanthony Smith

15. CB, Kobe Black

16. WR, Parker Livingstone

17. S, Jordon Johnson-Rubell

18. DL, Melvin Hills

19. WR/ATH, Aaron Butler

20. CB, Santana Wilson

21. P, Michael Kerns

22. WR, Freddie Dubose Jr. (inj.)

Note: I'm interested to see if Dubose heals further from his injury. I would rate him differently if I knew that for sure.

A week later, head coach Steve Sarkisian and area recruiter Blake Gideon made a stop at Chapel Hill. 

“He (Sarkisian) was talking about that D (Demetrius Brisbon Jr.) and I are great players, and that he doesn’t come see guys in person that often,” Stewart told OnTexasFootball Wednesday. “He was saying how special we are. Smart kids, competitive. He said he wanted to see Demetrius and I back on campus this spring. We were just talking, and having a good time.”

Running backs coach Tashard Choice has also been in constant communication. 

“We talk once or twice a week," he said. "He sends me workout stuff, and for me stuff to do to get better. He will ask me how the family is doing, and then asks when I’m coming to see him again. The relationship for Coach Choice is more important than football. Bonding with each other.” 

Stewart's January 20 visit was his first time in Austin.

“It was exciting," he said. "It’s a great place to be. I was too happy. It was an experience that I haven’t felt before.

"I hadn’t really had the chance to see the campus, meet some of the players and coaches and see Coach Sark’s office. That office is big! That day, we were talking about the basketball game. He told me my film was great, I’m a smart kid and gave me an offer. And said it was committable. We had a great talk in his office.” 

Stewart, a one-time verbal to SMU, isn’t shy about his feeling towards Texas.

“Really, what stands out is the place in general," he said of UT. "The coaches, Coach Choice and everything really. That’s really my dream school. That was the school I was waiting for. I made my momma proud. Everyone at her job was excited.”

The East Texas star said Coach Choice told him the Longhorns would take two running backs in the 2025 class.

Schools still in pursuit of Stewart despite Texas' instant ascension are Baylor, SMU, Oklahoma State and some communication by Oregon. Stewart currently sports 21 offers. 

Stewart by the numbers

Stewart is part of a junior class at Chapel Hill that has been winners in every sport. He rushed for 2,855 yards on 271 carries (10.5 per tote) with 40 touchdowns, along with 18 receptions for 284 yards and four scores as a junior. That was after a standout sophomore season of 236 carries for 2,262 yards (9.6 per carry) and 20 scores in 2022. 

Stewart also delivered against the top competition on the schedule:

Vs. Gilmer - 19 carries for 278 yards and a TD

Vs. Van - 19 carries for 195 yards and 4 TD’s

Vs. El Campo (playoffs) - 16 carries for 222 yards and 3 TD’s

Vs. Kilgore (playoffs) - 32 carries for 230 yards and a TD

Vs. Davenport (playoffs) - 28 carries for 220 yards and 3 TD’s

His three year totals are 630 carries for 6,098 yards (9.7 per carry) with 64 touchdowns, and 28 receptions for 400 yards and six scores in 31 games. 

Edge

Colin Simmons, Zina Umeozulu

Player Grade: A

Simmons is a true blue chip. His explosiveness is rare. So too is his ability to bend the edge. He has long arms and good motor and a willingness to play through contact. There's a reason he's the two-time defensive MVP of the state championship game and a five star prospect. Umeozulu is situated differently. Texas passed on a couple of higher ranked prospects to further pursue Umeozulu, who is just starting to grow into his body. He's a long, lanky defender with good acceleration and outright speed. If he can properly hone his craft and body with years of development, he has as much upside as anyone in the class.

Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?

Texas needed two legit prospects in this recruiting class, ones who can get the QB to the ground. Sure, both of them may need a year or two of development, but they have the skill sets of elite pass rushers. I really like that Texas didn't over-sign at the position.

Pipeline Grade: A+

Defensive Tackle

Alex January, Melvin Hills

Player Grade: B-

Neither January nor Hills entered their senior seasons as "elite" prospects. Yet both performed exceedingly well in 2023. January, no longer playing baseball, continued his physical development, and showed tremendous strength at the point of attack and perhaps a better motor than analysts had thought. Hills put up some staggering numbers in a lower classification.

Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?

I don't think so. Not to the level needed. If D'Antre Robinson had stayed, then maybe I see things differently. But the interior of the DL needs at least three prospects in every recruiting class, hopefully two of which are highly regarded and the third who has a high floor. Simply not enough interior DLs in this class to warrant a higher grade.

Pipeline Grade: D

Linebacker

TyAnythony Smith

Player Grade: B+

Smith is a do-everything linebacker. He can play in coverage, he can play off the ball, and he really likes contact. He's actually probably at his best competing in space against fleet-footed players. His long arms, quickness and outright speed all really help him compress space.

Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?

Given they signed four LBs the previous year, Texas could have forgone the position altogether this year. So Texas really only wanted to sign one linebacker in this recruiting class. And they only entertained two of them - Smith and Justin Williams of Conroe Oak Ridge.

Pipeline Grade: A

Cornerback

Kobe Black, Wardell Mack, Santan Wilson

Player Grade: A-

Black is the highest ranked of the group but may actually have farther to go to get on the field because he's a multi-sport athlete who also played multiple positions in high school. Black is a gifted athlete, however. Mack and Wilson are somewhat similar. Mack routinely shows good quickness and smarts on the field, plus he has long arms. Wilson is the son of former all-pro safety Adrian Wilson, and clearly already understands the finer points of playing corner.

Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position:

Yes. Did they do it with a true lockdown corner that would push this grade to a high A? I'm not so sure. Of the group, I like Mack's long-term prospects the best. But there's also a lot to like with both Black and his athleticism as well as Wilson's pedigree and know-how.

Pipeline Grade: B+

Safety

Xavier Filsaime, Jordon Johnson-Rubell

Player Grade: A

Filsaime could end up being one of the key recruits of the class. He has elite speed (10.5 100 meters) and plays the game with a physical nature. The only question is whether or not he sees the game fast. That's the opposite of Johnson-Rubell, who already sees the game extremely well. Well enough, in fact, to be a real possibility at the nickel position.

Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position:

I like Filsaime as a long-term starter for the Horns. I like Johnson-Rubell as a starter in year two or three with the potential to contribute overall even sooner. This is a good class and sets the Horns up for the next go-round of safeties. Texas didn't over-sign yet laid the groundwork necessary at the position.

Pipeline Grade: A+

1. Brandon Harris' Promotion to GM

Sarkisian spoke very highly of new General Manager Brandon Harris. Off the bat, you can tell there is a lot of trust between Sarkisian and Harris. Several times during the presser, Sarkisian mentioned being able to rely on Harris to sit in meetings or accomplish an important role without him being present.

“His ability to communicate, I thought was incredible," Sarkisian said. "It was a guy that we’ve just grown our relationship over three years. So I felt like the time was right for him to assume this role.”

2.    Staff Additions

Interestingly, Sarkisian said that every coach on the Texas staff was offered a new job this offseason from a program looking to poach. Of course, Jeff Choate went west to Nevada and Bo Davis ended up back home at LSU, however Sarkisian was thrilled to return all three coordinators on his staff and spoke positively about the new additions, Kenny Baker and Johnny Nansen. Sarkisian mentioned the national perception of Texas football has changed since he arrived. In his opinion, national players are now more willing to give Texas a chance. He believes staff continuity has played a role. Adding Nansen and Baker will allow Texas to dive even deeper into the west coast and deep south, respectively. As Texas heads into the SEC, Sarkisian mentioned how important it would be for his staff to have in-roads to the backyard of where they will be playing a majority of their games.

3.    Wide Receiver Additions

It was clear that Sarkisian was thrilled with the pieces Texas added out of the portal. Oregon State WR Silas Bolden will join the program in the summer, but the two mid-year transfer wide receivers are already making solid strides. Sarkisian mentioned it would have been "malpractice" to not utilize the portal, to have entered a season with only three returning scholarship receivers – of which they group has only eight career receptions. “That room is going to be solid," he said. "We have just got to find that right group of guys once September rolls around.”

4.    Desire to Get Back to CFP

My biggest takeaway was the desire in which Sarkisian spoke about returning to contending for a National Title. Texas got a small taste with the semi-final game against Washington, however, the way in which Sarkisian spoke about getting back to that level and eventually winning a National Title left a strong impression on me. He is driven and wanting to do whatever it takes to bring a title back to Austin.

“I didn’t come here to just be a head coach again," he said. "I didn’t come here to say I am the head coach at UT. I came here to win a championship. I am borderline obsessed with it.”

5.    Important Dates

Sarkisian did mentioned more changes to the recruiting department were in store but did not provide finite details on when that might occur and what it might exactly look like. One thing he did give us a schedule for was spring football. Texas will undergo four more weeks of winter conditioning starting on Monday – so 4.5 weeks left for those pulling out the calculator. March 19 will mark the first day of spring practice. For NFL Draft hopefuls, the Texas Pro Day will take place March 20 in Austin. The Texas coaching staff will also host the coaching clinic on March 22, the weekend we are also expecting a pretty busy recruiting weekend.