Really interesting trends in the state of Texas, plus a look into where the staff can create deeper inroads across the rest of the country.

That’s big. Like as big as it gets in college sports.

The two heavyweights of college sports are officially prepping to leave the NCAA.

So where do we go from here?

I truly don’t know. Like everyone else, I can pontificate what it should be - 48 teams? 64? - but I don’t know the exact answer.

The key question I have is this:

What is the financial model between player, team and league going to be?

Does college football follow the NFL model of financial parity? That’s unlikely because the Big Ten and SEC have already struck their own media deals. But there could be some abbreviated form of it that makes sense.

Or do we see more of a Major League Baseball model where there’s a salary cap but teams can go over it if they want. That’s a move that would allow there to be a Yankees and Dodgers of college football, which frankly seems kind of on point. There’s not a ton of parity in college football today and that’s part of what makes it interesting.

I don’t know which way this will go. But the model they construct will be the biggest question of all because it will determine what CFB looks like for generations to come.

***

If you’re interested in this topic further, I highly recommend reading the report of Yahoo!’s Ross Dellenger. The report yesterday included interviews with the commissioners of both leagues on this very topic.

I have linked that report below for those who want to read.

https://sports.yahoo.com/sec-big-ten-uniting-to-tackle-pervasive-issues-in-college-athletics--pressures-are-mounting-172832810.html

The 6-3, 195-pound linebacker is currently ranked a three-star prospect by both On3 and 247Sports.

Thomas also holds offers from Washington, SMU, Houston, UTSA, Baylor, TCU and Texas State.

I caught up a bit with Henderson following his offer to get the latest on his recruitment. Henderson received the offer from Jeff Banks and Steve Sarkisian on a joint phone call between the three.

The 6-foot-4 playmaker added that the offer is in fact as an athlete and added the Texas coaches were impressed with his versatility and overall athleticism. Henderson has also been to campus a few times already, calling it a "great experience" each time.

"It's a big stage," Henderson said. "I know how he likes to run his program and I think it is a very big deal and opportunity."

Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16476956/63b7c01c2ab127091c72dc9c

According to a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN, the two major conferences are planning to fund an advisory committee concerning the future of big-time college athletics.

The move is long overdue as the NCAA and its archaic structure continues to wilt under the pressure of a multitude of lawsuits, long-term mismanagement and rising public animosity against it. 

Is this the official first step of a new era of college sports, and college football in particular?

My educated guess is yes.

The NCAA's antiquated structure is unsalvageable, at least as it relates to big-time college football where the dollars reach into the billions. NCAA President Charlie Baker even perhaps agrees with that sentiment. Two months ago Baker penned a letter addressing the future of the NCAA and its membership. In it, he suggested that it's possible some larger football-playing schools may desire a different set of rules in the future, ones incongruent with and unable to be managed by the NCAA.

It looks like the SEC and Big Ten are ready to take Baker up on that suggestion.

New Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker hit the road immediately after officially being announced by Texas. 

OnTexasFootball provides the latest news and notes on defensive line recruiting to go with your Friday lunch. 

Kenny Baker’s known school stops since Tuesday

Landon Rink, Cypress (Texas) Cy Fair High
Texas offer: Yes
Father Shane Rink played on the defensive line at Texas, and is the defensive line coach at Cy-Fair High. Rink attended Junior Day’s at Texas A&M, Texas and Oklahoma in January. 

Floyd Guidry, Spring (Texas) High
Texas offer: Former DL coach Bo Davis offered December 19. 
Guidry attended Junior Day January 20. He’s gone from one Power 5 offer (Texas Tech) before the 2023 season to 14. He will attend Houston Junior Day February 3. Texas A&M jumped in with an offer last week. 

Chace Sims, Richmond (Texas) Randle
Texas offer: No
Texas invited the 6-3, 285-pounder to January 20 Junior day, but he did not attend. Sims will be at Texas A&M Saturday, and TCU and SMU Sunday. 

Carmello Brooks, Katy (Texas) Paetow
Texas offer: Yes
The 6-3, 270-pounder is a continued evaluation by the Texas staff. 

Zion Williams, Lufkin (Texas) High
Texas offer: Yes
Williams skipped Texas Junior Day January 20 to go to LSU. Texas, LSU, Texas A&M will be in an impactful East Texas battle with Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, etc… in the mix. 

Dilan Battle, Mansfield (Texas) Timberview
Texas offer: Yes.
Michigan, Texas, LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma were mentioned most throughout the season. Battle is scheduled to be at Florida this weekend. His father lives in Michigan, which could be impactful in an eventual decision. 

Xavier Ukponu, Denton (Texas) Guyer
Texas offer: Yes
Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. He also attended Texas A&M Junior day last weekend, and is scheduled to be at Florida this weekend. 

Two new offers this week

Josiah Sharma, Sacramento (Calif.) Folsom
Texas offered: February 1. 
Texas Co-DC and LB coach Johnny Nansen made the offer while at Folsom High. Nansen will be very key in the Longhorns’ recruiting efforts in California. Sharma backed off a Washington verbal December 27 after the coaching change. Oregon offered Thursday as well. Karen DeBoer is all in at Alabama. 

Myron Charles, Port Charlotte (Fla.) High
Texas offered: January 31
Texas TE and special teams coach Jeff Banks made the offer while hitting schools in the Southwest area of the Sunshine State. Charles, 6-5, 275, is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in the 2025 cycle. Florida and Miami received the most mention during the season. 

One DL commitment

Brandon Brown, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie #AllGasNoBrakes
Steve Sarkisian, Jeff Banks and Tashard Choice made a stop at Eau Gallie early in the week, which shows how valuable the 6-1.5, 285 pound explosive disruptor is to the Longhorns. Brown is expected to make a visit to Texas for a spring practice around a 7v7 tournament in the Lone Star State. A late June official visit is also expected. 

More names to know

Ethan Utley, Nashville (Tenn). Ensworth 
Texas offer: Yes
Texas Junior Day visit: No
Texas was in top two prior to Bo Davis’ departure to LSU. 

Gus Cordova, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis
Texas offer: Yes
Texas Junior Day visit: January 20
Texas A&M, Texas, Oregon three of the schools mentioned most right now. 

D.J. Sanders, Bellville (Texas) High
Texas offer: Yes
Texas Junior Day visit: No
Steve Sarkisian stopped by the school two weeks ago. Some schools like more on OL long term. 

Jyon Simon, Jacksonville (Fla.) Raines
Texas offer: Yes
Texas Junior Day visit: No
Expected to stay closer to home. Texas hasn't made a push since the coaching change. 

*OnTexasFootball expects this list of offers to expand more in Florida and into Georgia in the coming weeks. 

While Sark is mulling those options overall, I am hearing that two individuals are expected to receive a bump in title and responsibility: Brandon Harris and John Michael Jones.

Harris has been the Director of Recruiting for the Longhorns during Sark’s entire tenure in Austin. He recently went on the road when the Horns were down a staff member due to the departure of Bo Davis. Harris is seen as a trusted member of Sark’s circle.

Jones, a Texas grad and long-time staffer who worked for the team prior to Sark’s arrival, has been the team’s Assistant Director of Player Personnel. Jones has been a do-it-all type for the Horns behind the scenes. He’s not a name many will be familiar with but he knows the system as well as anyone.

Prior to Glasscock’s departure, a restructuring was thought to be under way. Glasscock was likely going to be elevated to a GM-like role (yet possibly not that exact title).

Time will tell what Sarkisian decides to do overall, but OTF expects Harris and Jones to be part of Sark’s solution.

OnTexasFootball begins Friday morning with some notes and nuggets. 

New DL offer Josiah Sharma has Texas ties

On Thursday the Longhorns extended an offer out west to 6-5, 300-pound defensive tackle Josiah Sharma (Folsom, Calif.). Linebackers coach Johnny Nansen met with Sharma and the Folsom coaching staff and extended the offer shortly after. 

A two-way player for his school, Sharma has seen a flurry of offers come in lately from programs such as Alabama, Washington, Oregon, Ole Miss and more. 

The Texas one, however, caught his attention. 

Sharma is originally from the Lone Star State and living here for years before moving to California. Not to mention he has family in Austin as well. 

Now the three-star prospect plans to head to campus soon for a visit. 

"I used to live in Arlington," he said. "All my family is in Texas, so absolutely, 100-percent I'm visiting." - Blake Munroe

Texas offers North Crowley 2025 fast riser

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and running backs coach Tashard Choice stopped by North Crowley Thursday. 

Junior linebacker Jonathan Cunningham caught the eye of new Texas Co-DC and linebackers coach Johnny Nansen early in his tenure. And Sarkisian officially extended an offer Thursday. 

"It’s a honor to receive an offer by Texas,” Cunningham said. “Not too many of high school players get this opportunity to go compete at the next level. Getting an offer from Texas and being from Texas is a blessing in disguise."

Cunningham, who is 6-3, 190, has been gaining national traction in January. Texas joins Miami, Utah, SMU, TCU, Houston, Arkansas and Oregon State in offering. That list is expected to grow to 20+ by the end of the spring evaluation period. - Gerry Hamilton

Kenny Baker on the road

There has been a constant theme amongst the early responses from recruits in regards to new Texas DL Coach Kenny Baker:

Energy and relatability.

Baker stopped by DFW yesterday to see Dilan Battle and Xavier Ukponu in person for the first time. Baker is now up to seven visits on the trail as a member of the Texas Longhorn staff:

1. Xavier Ukponu
2. Dilan Battle
3. Chace Sims
4. Landon Rink
5. Zion Williams
6. Floyd Guidry
7. Carmello Brooks 

We posted the quote from Landon Rink that mentioned the high energy Coach Baker brought to the meeting on Tuesday. I am here to echo that sentiment following conversations with several other prospects Baker has visited. 

Xavier Ukponu mentioned specifically that he felt like he could relate very well to Baker and mentioned the two had a lot in common. It has been a very strong start to the recruiting trail for the former Miami Dolphin assistant. It is worth noting that just one of Baker's visits has been accompanied by another Texas Coach – Sarkisian joined him to see Dilan Battle at Mansfield Timberview. - C.J. Vogel

Blake Gideon in Arizona 

Texas returned to Desert Edge, AZ this week to see 2025 CB Jamar Beal-Goines, this time with Blake Gideon who followed up Terry Joseph's visit from last week.

Texas still has yet to offer Beal-Goines, but there have been discussions on getting the 6-foot cornerback to campus for a visit. No discussion about the Arizona corner would be complete without mentioning his speed, which has become more of a priority with the Texas staff over the last cycle. Beal-Goines boats 10.6 speed in the 100m.

Oregon, USC, Arizona, Michigan State and Texas A&M have offered in the last week. - CJ Vogel

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