A big piece of the Wolverines success from a year ago was the work of their defensive line. Just as importantly for the Longhorns who play Michigan in Ann Arbor the second game of the upcoming season, the Wolverines' DL was supposed to be a strength of their 2024 team. 

That may have hit a bit of a snag Tuesday afternoon as word out of Jim Harbaugh’s LA Chargers camp leaked that Elston will be making the leap to the Pros.

Michigan did not have any roster attrition of note after the first round of its coaches departing to Los Angeles. However, with Elston now leaving, it makes things significantly more interesting for two elite interior defensive linemen, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, if they were to enter the portal. 

A quick look at the current state of each room for 2024 and beyond:

Wide Receiver

On Roster: Silas Bond, Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, Johntay Cook, DeAndre Moore, Ryan Niblett, Freddie Dubose, Ryan Wingo, Parker Livingstone, Aaron Butler

Coming Soon: We will see.

For 2024: In a room that was expected to be a huge question mark just over 45 days ago, the work done by the Texas staff has completely revamped the group of weapons for Quinn Ewers. Through the portal, Texas added Alabama's leading wide receiver, Oregon State's leading receiver and a 1,000 yard career receiver with 13 touchdowns. It is very likely this unit is a strength of the Texas roster in 2024 when you combine sophomore Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore, as well as former five-star freshman WR Ryan Wingo. The options are bountiful right now in this room. No need to dive back into the idea of a positionless offense, but the speed in this room is going to be at a level Texas hasn't seen in years, maybe even a decade-plus. Really exciting for Texas in year one of the SEC.

Beyond: You can chalk up Silas Bolden (grad transfer) and Isaiah Bond to being one-year rentals for the Longhorns this season. Yet, the 2025 outlook remains incredibly encouraging. Johntay Cook will be entering year three and Matthew Golden will most likely be back to bring you a very solid 1–2 look on the outside. Of course, Ryan Wingo will have at least two more years after the 2024 season before being eligible for the NFL Draft. How can Parker Livingstone and Freddie Dubose crack the lineup? Aaron Butler is a popular choice for most underrated prospect from the last class as well. Oh, and I have yet to even talk about the potential of a third year DeAndre Moore and Ryan Niblett. Plenty of options here, and it will be up to Chris Jackson to get those guys ready behind the scenes to catch passes from Arch Manning.

Tight End:

On Roster: Gunnar Helm, Armari Niblack, Juan Davis, Malik Agbo, Spencer Shannon, Will Randle, Jordan Washington

Coming Soon: 2025 Emaree Winston

For 2024: Texas fans were given very little time to weep following the departure of Ja'Tavion Sanders to the NFL. Sarkisian and Jeff Banks took a turn towards the portal almost immediately and jumped right on in for Amari Niblack following the retirement of Mr. Nick Saban. As a result, Texas will continue to be able to deploy a two tight end set with strengths both in the trenches and down the field vertically. We have mentioned Malik Agbo's use as a hybrid tight end and offensive lineman. Plus Juan Davis has game experience, albeit limited, but regardless an option that has been around a good bit.

Beyond: A bit of a question mark for 2025 and beyond. Who takes that next leap? Will Texas have the luxury of one of Helm or Niblack returning? Perhaps, but no guarantee. Big question remains in regards to Spencer Shannon and his development. He could be an immediate replacement for Helm as the in-line tight end in the Sarkisian offense as Texas continues to develop Jordan Washington behind the scenes. What kind of contribution from Will Randle will be seen. I am a big fan of Washington's, though a two tight end class is very likely for the 2025 class.

After stops at Texas A&M and LSU, Harris finds himself back on the schedule for the Texas Longhorns in 2024, this time as a member of Jeff Traylor's UTSA program.

An interesting storyline for when the two teams meet up September 14.

I traded messages with Sharma last night who mentioned a trip to Austin is likely to occur following the conclusion of the non-contact window. It is our understanding Texas will have a junior day-type visit weekend set up for the weekend of March 22.

The 6-foot-5 and 300-pound defensive tackle was offered by Texas on February 1 following an on-campus visit from Johnny Nansen. Shama was also mentioned in Gerry's best-case scenario class published on Monday.

Dorian Brew, CB, Conroe (Texas) High

OnTexasFootball spoke with a person close to the recruitment of the 6-foot-1.5, 190-pound cornerback Monday. A big question surrounding Brew's recruitment was if the Ohio State Buckeyes have slipped with commitments from 5-star corners Devin Sanchez (Houston/North Shore) and Na'eem Offord (Birmingham, Ala./Parker). That answer was not as much as some would believe according to the source. Ohio State remains in contention, as of last weekend. Texas is definitely one of those teams squarely in the mix. Brew attended Texas Junior day January 20, and is expected back on campus in the spring. USC, Oregon and LSU have also received visits. Steve Sarkisian, Ryan Day and Lincoln Riley were all by Conroe High in January. For Oregon, it was Tosh Lupoi and LSU sent Corey Raymond. This recruitment features some of the most formidable in the college game. 

Kamauryn Morgan, EDGE, Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and staff were by South Oak Cliff in January to see the OnTexasFootball 4-star, and teammates. That school visit followed the 6-foot-3.5, 225-pounder making a visit to Texas January 20 for Junior Day. In speaking with a source at South Oak Cliff Monday, the thought right now is the close to home programs will hold the advantage long term in this recruitment. Texas and Texas A&M were mentioned. Morgan, who played at Red Oak prior to transferring back to South Oak Cliff, has been on campus at both Texas and Texas A&M in recent weeks. SMU is also trying to make a big run.

Morgan comes from a family of former South Oak Cliff standout basketball players. His father Ronnie Morgan played college basketball at Louisiana Tech. His uncle J'mison Morgan was a 6-10 center that played at UCLA. 

Morgan racked up 89 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 11 sacks the last two seasons at Red Oak. 

Two Out of state names to know on the OL

OnTexasFootball has mentioned IOL prospect John Mills (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius) a number of times. Mills, 6-6 and 325, is planning a June official visit to Texas. Mills is an OnTexasFootball 4-star prospect with offers from Texas, Michigan, Washington, Florida, Texas A&M, USC, Oregon and many others. 

Two other names to know out of state are Peter Langi (San Francisco, Calif./Archbishop Riordan) and Nick Brooks (Cedar Rapids, Ia./John F Kennedy). 

Langi, 6-6 and 330'ish, was offered by Kyle Flood in September of 2023. Flood was by the school in December, and they have remained in communication. Langi has continued to see his stock rise since the end of the season with offers from Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Penn State and Miami. He has 38 offers. A spring and/or June official visit are both in play. 

Brooks, 6-7, 345, is considered an Iowa lean by many. That didn't stop Kyle Flood from making a trip to Cedar Rapids in late January to meet with Brooks. The 4-star prospect has 30 offers, including Texas. The Longhorns are working to get Brooks on campus in the spring. 

That is now three large humans to monitor in the 2025 cycle out of state. In the case of Mills, Texas is in a good position headed into the spring. 

Today we will be joined by Will Cain.  Will is a graduate of The University of Texas and worked for ESPN before becoming the weekend host of 'Fox and Friends' on Fox News.  He will join us to talk about Longhorn football and Texas sports in general.

I would also like to thank Texas Electricity Ratings for sponsoring today's show. 

One of the surprise visitors at Texas Junior Day January 20 was inside linebacker Gavin Nix (Orlando, Fla./IMG Academy).

Nix, 6-0 and 220 pounds, was offered by the Longhorns March 2nd of 2023. Since that time, it's been area recruiter Tashard Choice keeping the line of communication open. 

That meant a visit to Texas January 20 was a first real interaction with the entire staff. 

"It was great (visit)," Nix told OnTexasFootball Monday. "It was my first time being at Texas. I loved the new linebacker coach. Super smart dude that taught me a lot in a little time. Coach Choice, I’m close to because he recruited Jerrick (Gibson) at IMG for two years." 

Nix has stayed in contact with Texas since the visit, but that does not include Johnny Nansen. 

"I have not talked to the linebacker coach since the visit. I have talked to Coach Choice a few times."

Nix plans to get back to Texas in the spring to continue learning more about the program.

"Not yet (talked to Texas about an official visit). Mainly it’s just getting back in the spring and learning more how Texas operates. After that, I would think about an official visit." 

Sunshine State trio leads the way

The big three in state are the schools Nix's recruitment is centered around the most. After the Texas visit, Nix returned once again to Florida and Miami the last weekend in January, and FSU last weekend. 

“Really, I'm just continuing to keep building those relationships with the staffs. Florida has some new coaches on defense, so I got to meet with them. Florida State and Miami hasn't had that much change. So it was more of just continuing to build the relationships."

Nix is getting close to diving into the next part of the process with the in state programs. 

"The next main thing is starting to answer those real questions."

Six schools seriously in the mix

Along with the four schools mentioned, Nix is considering two national powers. 

"I would say besides those four, Notre Dame and Oregon are two others I'm seriously considering. I'm planning to visit both in the spring. I visited Notre Dame last summer, and the trip to Oregon will be my first." 

Nix has 25 offers to date. The offer list includes Texas A&M (January 19, 2024), Texas, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama (prior staff), Florida and South Carolina out of the SEC. The Miami Hurricanes were the first to offer in June of 2021. 

For each position, we will take a look at what the expected look will be for the 2024 season then a peak behind the curtain for what the position will gain and/or lose beyond the upcoming season.

Quarterback

On Roster: Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning, Trey Owens

Coming Soon: KJ Lacey

For 2024: It was never any secret what the position was going to look like when word around Quinn Ewers started to turn towards No. 3 returning for another season in Austin. The job is his, but he is going to be pushed very hard behind the scenes by a redshirt freshman Arch Manning and the incoming freshman, Trey Owens. Texas is entering the SEC with a top five quarterback in the country and a more than capable QB2. 

Beyond: Quinn Ewers is in the conversation for being the top quarterback off the board for the 2025 NFL Draft. Should Ewers depart, as is the consensus thought right now, Texas is expected to begin the Arch Manning era in Austin. The former No. 1 overall player in the 2023 class got a little taste of game action last fall where he had some 'wow' moments, but in very limited setting. KJ Lacey will join the fold as well, battling with Trey Owens for that QB2 role. I would expect to see Manning on campus for at least two years before departing for the NFL Draft.

Running Back

On Roster: CJ Baxter, Jaydon Blue, Savion Red, Tre Wisner, Christian Clark, Jerrick Gibson

Coming Soon: 2025 commit(s), 2026 Raycine Guillory Jr. 

For 2024: Talent is bountiful in the running backs room at the moment. Perhaps the deepest position room on the entire roster going into the 2024 season. The 1-2 punch of Baxter and Blue is very encouraging and figures to be a massive part of the Texas offense next fall. An extra year in the weight room should be noticeable for Baxter next year as he takes over the bell-cow role. The change of pace component in Jaydon Blue's game excites me; he possesses a level of speed that might not be matched by the rest of the room. Question is, what role does Savion Red play for the upcoming year? Can Tre Wisner scrap out a piece as well? Do the freshman lap anyone ahead of them? All good questions which we will get an idea about beginning in March.

Beyond: Tashard Choice has set this group up to be in the conversation for the best running back room in the country. It is likely the Longhorns could  run back the same unit in 2025, with Baxter entering his draft eligible season and Blue coming back for his senior season. What then happens to the backs behind them? Regardless, Texas has two freshmen backs in Jerrick Gibson and Christian Clark that already have folks buzzing inside of the facility. Texas should not be dry of talent at the running back spot any time soon.