One of the late January offers made by the Texas Longhorns was 2025 versatile defensive back Major Preston (Hopewell, Va./IMG Academy). 

Preston, 6-1 and 185 pounds, was offered by safeties coach Blake Gideon on a school visit to IMG Academy January 30. 

"I kind of knew it was coming," Preston told OnTexasFootball Monday afternoon. "Three weeks before they offered, Blake Gideon was in the DMV and reached out to my family. Coach Gideon gave me a good, strong impression when he came to IMG. He coaches hard and develops. We definitely had a great conversation when he came to see me." 

Preston is scheduled to make a first trip to Austin the weekend of April 13. He will be joined by his mother and father. 

"I have never been to Austin before. I really don't know too much about Austin. One of my family members played with Texas strength and conditioning coach Torre Becton, so that's how Texas found out about me. My boy is Jordon Johnson-Rubell (teammates at IMG in 2023). He said he likes it a lot at Texas. He made the right decision. He said the workouts are tough."

Like many other top prospects, Preston watched the Longhorns on TV more than once in 2023.

"I watched Texas play a couple of times last season. I feel like they are a great team. Strong and fast. Texas is building something strong for the future." 

Gideon told Preston the Texas staff likes his versatility at defensive back being a player that could play any position in the secondary scheme. 

Preston popped onto the national scene in January

Major Preston is up to 22 offers, but it was the day after Christmas that his recruitment began to change. 

The Texas offer was one of eight since December 26. Florida got the run started the day after Christmas. The Gators were joined by Michigan, Indiana, Duke, Louisville, Oklahoma, Boston College, Texas A&M and Texas. Colorado quickly followed with a February 1 offer. 

One of the schools that is making a strong run of late is the Oklahoma Sooners. Preston is scheduled to visit Oklahoma March 9th weekend. He lists Virginia Tech (June 28-30 OV date likely), Florida, Colorado and Michigan as schools he also plans to visit this spring. 

Preston plans to make June official visits, and announce a decision prior to his senior season. 

But not necessarily in a typical way.

There’s not a single back expected to carry the load. There’s no Bijan Robinson expected to be RB1 off the board in the NFL draft.

Rather, it’s the cumulative nature of the RB room that has folks hopeful.

So I wanted to take a deeper dive on what those aspects, those strengths, are and perhaps take a look at perceived shortfalls, too.

Cedric Baxter

Relative Strengths: strong inside runner, good hands, willing blocker, one cut quickness, can run through arm tackles

Question Marks: could add even more strength, patience, can he make people miss?, durability

Jaydon Blue

Relative Strengths: acceleration, speed, excellent hands, feel for outside run

Question Marks: pass protection, ball security, tackle breaking, short-yardage

Tre Wisner

Relative Strengths: acceleration, quickness, darter, can make people miss, excellent hands

Question Marks: size, blocker?, can he handle every-down responsibilities?

Savion Red

Relative Strengths: quick feet, decisive runner, tough, can make people miss, well-rounded

Question Marks: what is he great at?, not a breakaway guy, consistency, size

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That leaves the two newcomers to consider.

We have little info about Jerrick Gibson and Christian Clark beyond their high school film.

And high school strengths don’t always translate. However, we know they have some specific traits.

Jerrick Gibson

Traits: Excellent size and strength; downhill runner

Christian Clark

Traits: Very tough, excellent feet in the hole; good quickness

With both Gibson and Clark, it’s about what else they can add to the room in Year One.

Can one of them become a short-yardage or goal-line back? That seems to be a possible opening for either to contribute early.

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As we talk about the RBs this off-season, let’s do so in the context of what they bring to the table and what roles they can fill based on their strengths. Because that’s what Steve Sarkisian is going to try to showcase.

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I traded messages earlier with 2026 five-star DL Jahkeem Stewart out of New Orleans (LA) about his communication levels with Texas. Stewart has been on campus multiple times since popping up on the recruiting scene as an eighth grader back in San Antonio during the All American Bowl combine. 

Stewart said that his communication with Texas is up in the air at the moment. Texas did stop by in January when Brandon Harris was asked to assume a coaching role while Sarkisian was filling the DL spot. I have heard from the Texas side of things here that communication is expected to ramp up as spring ball nears.

The 6-foot-6 lineman also mentioned Texas as school he was hoping to visit during the spring practice season. Stewart is currently ranked as the No. 3 player in the country for the 2026 class.

One thing that could be helping the Horns a bit here is Stewart's relationship with Barryn Sorrell, the two train together in the New Orleans area.

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Texas extended an offer to 2025 Cedar Hill OL Devin Coleman. There were some questions yesterday in regards to which position this offer was extended for as Coleman has also earned plenty of interest on the defensive side of the ball.

Coleman told me last night Coach Kyle Flood extended the offer on the offensive line and added Coach Flood is pitching an interior spot at the next level – most likely guard.

Plans to visit Austin have yet to be finalized, but Coleman does expect to make it down to Austin at some point near spring football.

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Texas added a few pieces to their Player Personnel department last night. The first being Jackson Gleeson, who I have heard has a great mind for identifying talent at early stages. Eager to see what kind of impact he has inside of Moncrief now, but there was some really positive early returns here.

The other being Jordan Mitchell, a former graduate of The University of Texas who is beginning to take the next steps behind the scenes. I have a couple of messages out to learn more about him and will update further when I do.

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Riley Pettijohn, LB, McKinney (Texas) High

Plus, which NFL Departure will the Longhorns miss the most in 2024.

The 6-foot-5 and 315-pound offensive lineman has four offers so far in his recruitment; Texas Tech, SMU, Duke and Colorado.

Devin is the twin brother of 2025 OL Jordan Coleman who the Longhorns offered back in November of 2023.

Let’s start the Monday afternoon nuggets with an update on Texas 4-star defensive line commit Brandon Brown (Melbourne, Fla./Eau Gallie). 

Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker and the 6-1.5, 285-pound explosive defender spoke on the phone for the first time late last week. 

According to Brown, the conversation lasted “about ten minutes”.

“He was letting me know that he was trying to get his family situated in Austin,” Brown told OnTexasFootball Monday. “He said he wanted to get me out in the spring to visit. He was talking about my twitch and the way I get off the ball - he liked that." 

The news of Baker and Brown beginning the relationship building process is key with Brown and the California Power 7v7 team headed to Austin March 22-24 for a tournament in the Austin area. Brown will also be in Texas April 5th weekend for a 7v7 tournament. 

The Texas commitment lists Texas A&M, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, USC and Ohio State as programs that are coming after him with an all in approach. 

Texas commitment set to visit
Calhoun (Ga.) High tight end and 4-star Emaree Winston told OnTexasFootball Monday that he plans to visit for the Spring Game April 20. 

Winston, 6-2 and 230’ish, received a visit from Steve Sarkisian, Jeff Banks and Tashard Choice in January. Winston did not attend Texas Junior Day January 20, but did make a UCF visit when in the Orlando area. 

Spring Game visitor list:
Emaree Winston, TE, Calhoun (Ga.) High #AllGasNoBrakes 
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Michael Terry, ATH, San Antonio (Texas) Alamo Heights
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas, TCU and Texas Tech the top 3 currently. 

Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas leads large over Baylor, SMU and Oklahoma State.

Gus Cordova, DL, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis
Texas, Texas A&M and Oregon are the three schools mentioned the most. 

More April visits

April 6 visitor list:
John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas will also receive an official visit June 14-16

April 13 visitor list:
Faheem Delane, S, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Major Preston, CB/DB, Hopewell (Va.) IMG Academy
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas offered January 30. Blake Gideon is in consistent communication. 

Told OnTexasFootball they plan to visit in April, but don't have date yet:
Kaliq Lockett, WR, Sachse (Texas) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Steve Sarkisian and Chris Jackson visited Lockett in late January. Texas, USC, LSU, Ohio State and TCU mentioned the most. 

Carmello Brooks, DL, Katy (Texas) Paetow
Defensive line coach Kenny Baker was by Paetow High in January. Barker has told Brooks he wants him to visit in April. Brooks, 6-3 and 270, may also make visits to Duke and California this spring. 

Ethan Utley, DL, Nashville (Tn.) Endsworth
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas was in top 2 prior to Bo Davis departing for LSU. Tennessee, LSU and Michigan serious players. 

Jaedon Harmon, LB, Rome (Ga.) High
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Steve Sarkisian, Tashard Choice were by Rome High to see the 6-1, 215-pound Peach State linebacker in January. 

Troy Huhn, QB, San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills - 2026
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

March visitor list

March 22-24 7v7 tournament in the Austin area:

Brandon Brown, DL, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie #AllGasNoBrakes
Will make a first visit to Texas while in town for 7v7 with California Power program/team.

Members the Texas Nightrydas team that are expected to stop and visit Texas while in the area for 7v7 tournament...

Kiotti Armstrong, TE, Jasper (Texas) High - 2025
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas and Texas A&M remain top 2 with Longhorns slightly trending as of late last week. 

Kade Phillips, S/DB, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
LSU, Texas and Texas A&M the three to know moving forward after the Texas offer Sunday evening. 

Javar Thomas, LB, Aldine (Texas) Nimitz - 2025
Texas offered February 2.

Kosi Okpala, LB, Houston (Texas) Mayde Creek - 2026
Texas offered January 22, and leads early. Mayde Creek defensive coordinator is former Texas National Campion linebacker Rashad Bobino.

Tai'Yion King, LB, Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial - 2026
Has 14 offers with Texas A&M standing out early on.

Noriel Dominguez, LB, Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall - 2026
Has 14 offers. Will visit Oklahoma March 9.

Grant Smith, QB, Spring (Texas) Grand Oaks - 2026
Texas QB coach A.J. Milwee is watching Smith throw in person during spring evaluation period. 

March 16-17 (subject to change since spring break for Texas team):
Peter Langi, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) Archbishop Rirordan - 2025
May reschedule for when team is practicing. This is spring break weekend. 38 offers, including the Horns. 

Our Lady of Good Counsel 4-star Faheem Delane tells OnTexasFootball he will make an unofficial visit to Texas April 13th weekend. 

Delane, 6-2.5 and 195 pounds, sports 30 offers currently. The Longhorns will be looking to ascend into the conversation with Oregon, Ohio State, Maryland and Tennessee as strong contenders. 

The SEC programs that have offered are Tennessee, Texas, Georgia (January 5) Auburn (late January), Alabama, LSU, Florida, Ole miss and Texas A&M. 

Texas offered Delane January 6 of 2024. Since that time, safeties coach Blake Gideon has remained in consistent communication. 

April 13 visitor list:
Faheem Delane, S, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star

Major Preston, CB/DB, Hopewell (Va.) IMG Academy
OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
Texas offered January 30. Blake Gideon is in consistent communication. 

Over the next four weeks, I will be taking a look at some of the biggest team needs going into spring ball based off conversations I have had with folks around the program. Today, we begin in the secondary.

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It was seven weeks ago when Michael Penix threw for 430 yards in the College Football Playoff against the Texas defense. A night where it felt like he could do no wrong, Penix torched a Texas secondary who had been suspect seemingly all season long. 

Texas has seen some attrition from the secondary room in those past seven weeks, and while the nucleus of the rotation remains the same, an influx of talent with fresh faces arriving this semester was needed.

I had a conversation with someone close to the program last week who mentioned there was not enough swagger in the Texas secondary last year. It is a topic that Rod and I have explored on Longhorn Livestreams over the past month, however, now I am hearing it from the inside.

There is a lot of confidence with this unit and it has been showing thus far in organized throwing sessions and offseason workouts. I don't think anyone will find it surprising that defensive backs like to talk. It is part of the position to have that confidence and approach to the game that results in jawing a bit during practice. 

That conversation about the DB room left me with the impression the on-field play will be much improved in large part because of the mindset in the room now. The return of Terrance Brooks and Malik Muhammad starts this conversation. I would be remiss if I did not include Gavin Holmes here in this conversation as well. I have also heard that adding Andrew Mukuba to the room has also brought an extra gear out of Jahdae Barron.

I expect to see a different and unrestrained Derek Williams. Despite a great freshman campaign, no spring ball kept Williams from really playing as loose and free as he would have with an extra 15 practices under his belt. 

This room is confident. There is more chirping from their side of the ball and an aura to return to the illustrious Defensive Back U title to the Texas defense which has seemingly been tossed to the wayside over the last decade. As we head closer to spring ball, expect to hear about this topic as a goal for the secondary in future updates.

The Texas One Fund continues to put its best foot forward to raise NIL funds for Texas student-athletes.

I'm told the group is working on a major charity gala set for mid-May.

And the venue will be...

DKR. The actual field itself.

Chris Del Conte began reaching out to major donors late last week.

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Speaking of the One Fund, the group is beginning to attract the interest of a few companies for sponsorships, among them Benchmark Bank, Covert Auto Group and Ticket City. Hat tip to those companies for their sponsorships.

One Fund is doing a nice job of reaching out to multiple levels of fandom IMO.

Whether it's corporate sponsorships, tailgates at the Sugar Bowl like the one at Manning's (thanks Rick!), or cultivating large donors in unique ways like the gala mentioned above, it's nice to see all Texas fans pulling in one direction when it comes to creating better teams.

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At the town hall last week, Chris Del Conte was asked about whether or not he would be scheduling Big 12 opponents for football in the future.

Del Conte stopped short of saying no.

But he articulated the theory that it's unlikely the Horns will play any Big 12 teams unless those teams are willing to only play in DKR.

The Horns would be unlikely to play any home-and-home series with any Big 12 team. And therein lies the rub.

Texas won't be playing any Big 12 teams, unless it's in a bowl game or the CFP.

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His prerogative not to schedule Big 12 opponents should not be taken as a desire to lighten the non-conference schedule overall.

Del Conte is telling folks that the Horns should be playing the Ohio States, Michigans and Notre Dames in non-conference play moving forward and will look to schedule such teams well into the future.