On Texas Football has been told that three Texas players have been limited in off-season workouts:

- Tight end Amari Niblack

- Wide receiver Matthew Golden

- Defensive end Colton Vasek

Niblack is dealing with a foot injury. Like Niblack, Matthew Golden has also been in a boot for much of this off-season.

Vasek is dealing with an ankle injury.

None of the injuries are expected to keep players out long-term.

**

From an incoming transfer perspective, I am told one player has really stood out -- Trey Moore.

Moore, who recorded 14.5 sacks for UTSA last year, has worked at both SAM and Buck for the Horns in winter conditioning.

But it's not his versatility that has folks talking.

"He's a pro," a source told me. "He's in outstanding shape. He goes about his business (the right way). He has a real presence about him. It's almost Roschon (Johnson) like."

Moore is somewhat undersized for the position based on an NFL prototype, but "he's more athletic than you even see on tape. He's been even better than what I think we expected."

Of all the transfers, Moore has hit the ground running as well or better than any of them.

"He's a stud," the source said.

**

I also asked about the early returns of Arizona transfer defensive tackle Tioalli Savea. And it's positive.

"I think he's a better version of Trill Carter," the source said. "He's going to have a role."

**

Lots of freshman are impressing, and I'll go over those in a different post over the weekend. One to talk about today who continues to draw rave reviews is safety Xavier Filsaime.

What is there to like about him?

Beyond his speed and size combination, I'm told there's a little something extra.

"His demeanor is just really good," the source said. "He approaches things, he listens, he gets after. He's got the skill, there's no doubt about that. But when they're young like this, and they've got all of that (talent), and they're still getting after it mentally, that's when you say, 'ok, he might be a little something special here'."

**

We'll have team notes over the weekend. 

Missouri City, Texas - One of the most recent offers by the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 cycle is scheduled to talk to Steve Sarkisian Monday.

Hightower (Texas) High defensive back Kade Phillips was offered by safeties coach and area recruiter Blake Gideon Sunday. It was an offer Phillips and family had been waiting on for a few weeks.

"The Texas offer meant a lot to me," Phillips told OnTexasFootball. "Texas is a big school, big culture and it meant a lot. It felt great. Coach Gideon came to see me multiple times. He came to track practice, came by the field house multiple times just to talk. Texas is going to be up there. Up there." 

Now that the Longhorns have offered the 6-1, 178 pound versatile defensive back with an 80 inch wingspan and 10 inch hands, Phillips and Sarkisian are scheduled to begin their relationship developing part of the process. 

"I'm talking to the staff every day. We set up a phone call Coach Sark on Monday. We are going to get on the phone and chop it up. Coach Gideon wants me to get on the phone with him (Sark), and just begin to build that relationship."

Phillips attended Texas Junior day January 20. He has been on campus multiple times in the last year, including a game visit in 2023. 

Texas A&M and LSU the main competition

Phillips is the younger brother of former Texas A&M linebacker signee Kenneth Phillips, who had his career cut short after a devastating knee injury his senior season. He remains a student at Texas A&M. Kade Phillips was back on campus in College Station January 27 for Junior Day.

"Coach (Mike) Elko just wants everybody to be part of the recruitment. Not just your position coach, but all of the coaches. He wants it to be one big family. They offered me at corner, but like my versatility. Wherever the team needs me is what they said."

Phillips will make his first ever trip to LSU this spring. It's a visit that will be very key in the recruitment.

"I'm in contact with Coach (Corey) Raymond every day. He's just checking in on me, seeing how I'm doing. I just know it's LSU. Big facility, big program. It will be a big visit fore me when I go down there."

Arkansas, Oregon, Baylor and Kansas as schools also making runs right now. 

Phillips plans to commit either late in the spring, or after June official visits. 

Add another 4-star offensive target to the April 6th visit weekend for the Texas Longhorns. 

Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill's Rickey Stewart told OnTexasFootball Thursday morning that he is locked in for a visit April 6. He will make that visit with his mother. There is also a chance he will attend the Spring Game April 20. 

Stewart was one of a handful of 2025 prospects offered by Steve Sarkisian and staff January 20. Sarkisian and area recruiter Blake Gideon followed with a visit to Chapel Hill High the following week.

Since the Texas offer, the Longhorns have held a big lead in the race for the east Texas tar and one-time SMU verbal. 

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. 

April 6 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. 

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. 

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.

But it's with little surprise that his title will be Special Assistant to the Head Coach. It's a key role that signals Gilbert will be leaned on for not only his recruiting acumen and connections state-wide but also his understanding of how the big picture works for Steve Sarkisian and Texas football, i.e. how the sausage gets made.

The title is a credit to Gilbert and all of what he brings to the table.

Before leaving for North Texas a year ago, Gilbert had held the role of Director of High School Relations for Texas. Yet during his time in Austin, he wasn't just responsible for outreach to high school coaches for the Longhorns.

Gilbert was heavily involved in the recruiting department, making sure the Horns knew the ins and outs of every recruitment in South Dallas and other areas of the state. While working hand in hand with new general manager Brandon Harris and former head of player personnel Billy Glasscock, he also created friendships everywhere in the athletic department. Gilbert was liked and respected by players and coaches alike.

To put it frankly, his reach exceeded his grasp in short order.

Fast forward to today and I think there's a special opportunity for Gilbert in Austin. After losing Glasscock to Ole Miss a month ago, Sarkisian's move to pursue and hire Gilbert makes a lot of sense.

In Gilbert, Sark gets someone with loads of institutional knowledge. That knowledge allows Gilbert to hit the ground running at a time when recruiting is set to take center stage.

It also gives the Horns needed another experienced person in an off-field support role for Sarkisian and the program following Glasscock's departure.

And all of this matters because...

The Horns can not let anything derail this window of opportunity. Hiring someone like Gilbert helps do exactly that.

A great football program is never built by any one person. It's built by a collection of people who know what they're doing, who know how to get things done, and can do them well. Chris Gilbert is one of those people.

The Texas Longhorns are set to host the top offensive lineman on the board in April. Lewisville High's Michael Fasusi told OnTexasFootball that he will make a visit to Texas April 9th. 

Fasusi, 6-5 and 300 pounds, will make the visit with his parents. While a number of top offensive targets will be on campus April 6-7, Fasusi and family are going to come down mid-week and have the full attention of the entire Texas offensive staff.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, offensive line coach Kyle Flood and running backs coach Tashard Choice made a school stop at Lewisville High February 1. Sarkisian was the last head coach to make a visit to Lewisville High and see Fasusi, by design. 

Fasusi has a busy visit scheduled in March and April. He's currently scheduled to be on campus at Missouri, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oregon and Texas in March and April. He made January Junior day visits to Texas A&M and Missouri. He cancelled a trip to Oregon January 27. 

OnTexasFootball continues to hear the Longhorns are in a strong position in the recruitment with Oklahoma being able to claim the same. Texas A&M and Missouri are working to make up ground. 

Texas quarterback commitment K.J. Lacey (Saraland, Al./High) will be on campus twice this spring. 

OnTexasFootball was informed late Wednesday night that the 6-0, 180 pound Saraland High star will be a pair of visits in April. Lacey will first visit the weekend of April 6th to be in town for the Texas big offensive recruiting weekend that includes a number of offensive targets in the 2025 cycle. He will return two weeks later for the Longhorns Spring Game April 20th weekend. 

Head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterbacks coach A.J. Milwee made a stop at Saraland High January 30. The duo also attended Saraland High's final game of the season in 2023. 

Lacey committed to Texas June 3, 2023 over Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Tennessee. He has 29 known offers, including nine from the SEC. 

Ole Miss and Auburn continue to pursue Lacey. 

Lacey will be a rare four year starter on the varsity level at quarterback. He enters his senior campaign 439 of 652 for 6,841 yards with 83 touchdowns. Saraldn High is 28-2 the last two seasons, including a State Championship in 2022. They lost in the state title game in 2023. 

April 6 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. 

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. 

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.

Hitchcock (Texas) High speedy playmaker Kelshaun Johnson (5-11, 165) told OnTexasFootball Wednesday night that he will be back in Austin April 6th. Johnson, considered a Texas lean over Texas A&M, Penn State and USC, attended Texas Junior Day January 20. 

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and area recruiter Blake Gideon made a stop at Hitchcock High January 18 prior to the Junior day visit. 

The Longhorns offered Johnson June 11, 2023 after a standout camp performance. Sarkisian, Gideon and Chris Jackson have remained in constant contact since that time. 

Johnson attended Texas A&M Junior Day January 27, and was very impressed with wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins. 

April 6 visitor list:
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. 

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.

Gilbert spent last season as tight ends coach at North Texas.

Some updates on younger front seven prospects, the wide receiver outlook for 2024 and NFL Draft talk.

Give it a watch and let us know where you are leaning on this topic of most important Longhorns for 2024.