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  • The 2022 Top 5 ranked recruiting class: How have they fared (Sunday 9:20 a.m. CST)

    Gerry Hamilton

    By Gerry Hamilton

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    The 2022 Top 5 ranked recruiting class: How have they fared

    Headed into spring practice the 2022 top 5 ranked recruiting class has been a key part of the Longhorns ascending to a Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff appearance. 

    Steve Sarkisian's first full class has produced six full time starters (counting specialists), four other players that have started a game and seven more players that are considered key players headed into the 2024 season. 

    When it comes to future NFL draft's, there are five players that are sure to be drafted and two or three others that could move up in the eyes of scouts in 2024. 

    OnTexasFootball.com takes a look at the returns of the 2022 class headed into year three in the program. 

    Quarterback 
    Malik Murphy    , QB,  (Calif.) Junipero Serra - Texas/Duke
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: None
    At Texas: Started two games in 2023. Completed 40 of 71 passes for 477 yards with 3 TD’s and 3 INT’s as a Longhorn. 

    Running back
    Jaydon Blue    , RB, Houston (Texas) Klein Cain
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: Could or should pop onto some scouts boards with ascending season in 2024. 
    At Texas: Posted 65 carries for 398 yards and three TD’s in 2023, along with 14 receptions for 135 yards and a score. Added three kick off returns for 80 yards in 2023. Rushed for 33 yards on 15 carries in 2022. 

    Savion Red, Grand Prairie (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: 3-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Posted 30 carries for 131 yards and a TD in 2023. Added two kick off returns for 29 yards in 2023. Caught six passes for 34 yards in 2022 as a slot receiver. 

    Wide receiver
    Brenen Thompson    , Spearman (Texas) High - Texas/Oklahoma
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    2023 season: Caught seven passes for 241 yards and two TD’s for the Sooners in 2023. He caught a touchdown pass in each of the last two games of the season. 

    Offensive line
    Kelvin Banks    , LT, Humble (Texas) Summer Creek
    Recruiting Ranking: 5-star
    NFL projection: 1st round selection in 2025 NFL Draft.
    At Texas: Appeared in 27 games, and started every game the last two seasons. First-team All-Big 12 following the 2023 season. Will appear on various All-American teams prior to the 2024 season. 

    DJ Campbell, RG, Arlington (Texas) Bowie
    Recruiting Ranking: 5-star
    NFL projection: Mid-round round selection in 2026 NFL Draft.
    At Texas: Appeared in 21 games with 14 starts in two seasons. Started every game at right guard in 2023. Year one was a learning curve year focusing on offensive line fully for the first time, and making the move to guard. 

    Cameron Williams, RT, Duncanville(Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: Could develop into first or second round selection in 2026 NFL Draft.
    At Texas: Appeared in 22 games in two seasons. Started one game vs. Kansas State in 2023. Will take over as starting right tackle in 2024. 

    Neto Umeozulu, LG, Allen (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: NFL Draft ability and measurables.
    At Texas: Appeared in 5 games in two seasons. Huge spring ahead for Umeozulu. Last few weeks of practice in 2023 were by far his best and most consistent at Texas. 

    Malik Agbo, OT/TE, Federal Way (Wa.) Todd Beamer High
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Appeared in 15 games, including 14 in 2023. Caught one pass for 6 yards. 

    Cole Hutson, OG/C, Frisco (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: 3-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Has appeared in 22 games with 13 starts in two seasons. Started every game at right guard as a true freshman. Missed spring of 2023 due to shoulder surgery. Battled knee injury much of the 2023 season. 

    Connor Robertson, OC, Austin (Texas) Westlake
    Recruiting Ranking: 3-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Has appeared in 14 games. Played significant snaps against Oklahoma in 2023 after Jake Majors went down early in the game with an ankle injury. Will battle with Cole Hutson and Daniel Cruz for the starting center position in 2025. 

    Defensive line
    Jaray Bledsoe    , Marlin (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Has appeared in nine games. Posted 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBP and 1 fumble recovery in 2023. Remains one of the highest upside players in the program. Weight up to around 290 pounds at end of the 2023 season. 

    Aaron Bryant, Southaven (Miss.) High
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Appeared in nine games. Posted one tackle in seven games in 2023.  

    Zac Swanson, Phoenix (Az.) Brophy Prep
    Recruiting Ranking: 3-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Appeared in three games. Has not seen meaningful game action in first two seasons. If he can get to 290 pounds, he could become a rotation player. Not void of ability to play at the Power 5 level. 

    EDGE
    Ethan Burke    , Austin (Texas) Westlake
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: Top three round pick in the 2025 or 2026 NFL Draft. A productive 2024 in the SEC would lead to a very tough decision following the season. 
    At Texas: Has appeared in 24 games with nine starts in two seasons. Honorable mention All-Big 12 in 2023 after recording 41 tackles, 9 TFL’s, 5.5 sacks and 2 PBU’s despite missing time with a knee injury. 

    Justice Finkley, Trussville (Al.) Hewitt-Trussville
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Appeared in 26 games in a reserve role. Recorded 14 tackles, three TFL’s, two sacks and four QB hurries in 2023. 

    J’mond Tapp, Donaldsonville (La.) Ascension Catholic
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Has appeared in nine games. Recorded 9 tackles, 1.5 TFL’s and 1 QBH in career. 

    Kristopher Ross, Houston (Texas) North Shore - in transfer portal
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Played in three games in 2023 as a key reserve before injury and removal from the program. 

    Derrick Brown, Texarkana (Texas) High - in transfer portal
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Redshirted prior to putting name in transfer portal. 

    Linebacker
    Travel Johnson    , LB, Arlington (Texas) Martin - Texas/UL-Monroe
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Transferred after the 2022 season. 

    Defensive back
    Terrance Brooks    , CB, Little Elm (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: Likely selection in either the 2025 or 2026 draft.
    At Texas: Has appeared in 23 games with 16 starts the last two seasons. Posted 20 tackles, 6 PBU’s and 3 INT’s in 2023. Recorded 9 tackles and 3 PBU’s in 2022. 

    B.J. Allen Jr., S, Aledo (Texas) High - Texas/North Texas
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    Transferred following the 2023 season. Never saw meaningful game action for the Horns. 

    Jaylon Guilbeau, N/S, Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Has appeared in 16 games with four starts (all 2022 season). Recorded 7 tackles, 2 PBU’s and 1 TFL in 2023. Totaled 19 tackles, 4 QB hurries, 2 PBU’s and 0.5 sacks in 2022.  

    Austin Jordan, N/S, Denton (Texas) Ryan
    Recruiting Ranking: 4-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Has appeared in 25 games the last two seasons. Has 11 tackles, 1 INT and 0.5 TFL’s in his career. 

    Larry Turner-Gooden, S, Playa Del Ray (Calif.) Bishop Alemany - Texas/San Jose State
    Recruiting Ranking: 3-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Never saw meaningful action prior to transferring after the conclusion of the 2023 season. 

    Xavion Brice, CB, Arlington (Texas) Seguin - Texas/North Texas
    Recruiting Ranking: 3-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Never saw meaningful game action. Transferred following the 2023 season.

    Specialists
    Will Stone    , Austin (Texas) Regents School
    Recruiting Ranking: 3-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Has handled kick off duties in each of the last two seasons. 

    Lance St. Louis, Gilbert (Az.) Williams Field
    Recruiting Ranking: 3-star
    NFL projection: N/A
    At Texas: Has handled long snapping duties in each of the last two seasons. 

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    goathumper

    The roster is all Sark's now. 

     

    A lot of Herman guys played key roles on the very good team last year, but they are pretty much all filtered out of the program now. Herman and Derek Chang had some very nice evals but I dont think many of those guys develop the same way under Herman

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    Gerry Hamilton
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    15 minutes ago, goathumper said:

    The roster is all Sark's now. 

     

    A lot of Herman guys played key roles on the very good team last year, but they are pretty much all filtered out of the program now. Herman and Derek Chang had some very nice evals but I dont think many of those guys develop the same way under Herman

    For sure. That development is the difference. 

    Of the 11 NFL combine invites ... 7 were recruited to Texas by Herman and staff

     

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    HookemHorns

    Always crazy how excited we are for the classes and then the inevitable attrition and guys that don’t pan out. 
     

    We really hit on the Oline. As good as advertised, which was HUGE for our program. 
     

    I think Blue will be a star and drafted in the 2026 draft

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    Horn89
    33 minutes ago, goathumper said:

    The roster is all Sark's now. 

     

    A lot of Herman guys played key roles on the very good team last year, but they are pretty much all filtered out of the program now. Herman and Derek Chang had some very nice evals but I dont think many of those guys develop the same way under Herman


    Still have AC, Broughton, and Sorrell but yeah, it’s pretty much all turned over now. Crazy to think

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    goathumper
    3 minutes ago, Horn89 said:


    Still have AC, Broughton, and Sorrell but yeah, it’s pretty much all turned over now. Crazy to think

     

    Gbenda, Majors and Conner as well! 

     

    All of those guys have the potential to play very important roles

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    Gerry Hamilton
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    2 minutes ago, John Moore said:

    It'd be interesting how different things would be if the exact same 2022 HS class was coming out this year. 

    For sure. That class in the state is still going to litter 2025 and 2026 NFL drafts … but a re-rank would be different for sure.

    and nationally 

    First class of NIL … and it has greatly impacted things IMO 

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    Gerry Hamilton
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    2022 class in Texas 

    Harold Perkins - NFL pick

    Evan Stewart - NFL pick 

    Kelvin Banks - 1st round 

    DJ Campbell - NFL pick 

    Bryce Anderson - NFL pick 

    Terrance Brooks - NFL pick

    Matthew Golden - NFL pick 

    Nic Scourton - NFL pick 

    Nick Anderson - NFL pick 

    Dillon Bell - NFL pick 

    Jeremiah Cooper - NFL pick 

    Ollie Gordon - NFL pick 

    Ethan Burke -  NFL pick

     Cameron Williams - NFL pick 

    Joseph Adedire - maybe

    Kip Lewis - maybe 

    Jaydon Blue - probably/maybe 

    Chris Brazzell - maybe 

    DJ McKinney - likely/maybe

    Obviously, a few other as well 

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    Gerry Hamilton
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    45 minutes ago, Dickerdakicker206 said:

    Do you think Hutson could sneak into draft with 2 solid seasons? Curious to see how the Hutson vs Neto battle shakes out this spring. 

    His injuries have racked up the last two seasons. If he remains healthy the rest of his time at Texas, not out of the question. Especially if he wins the center spot in 2025 … that could be his spot in pro ball … highly intelligent guy that had interest in playing center in college out of HS 

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    Dickerdakicker206
    3 hours ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

    His injuries have racked up the last two seasons. If he remains healthy the rest of his time at Texas, not out of the question. Especially if he wins the center spot in 2025 … that could be his spot in pro ball … highly intelligent guy that had interest in playing center in college out of HS 

    Discouraging that Neto still having trouble overtaking. Is it mostly processing? That floor v ceiling argument?

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    Gerry Hamilton
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    6 hours ago, Dickerdakicker206 said:

    Discouraging that Neto still having trouble overtaking. Is it mostly processing? That floor v ceiling argument?

    Really believe some guys are just on different development timelines... he turned it loose a lot more the last weeks of 2023 practice. Sign of being more comfortable and confident in the system.

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