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    Gerry Hamilton
    Port Neches-Groves (Texas) High 2025 IOL Jackson Christian told OnTexasFootball Sunday afternoon that he has locked in two official visits in June. 
    The first official visit will be to Texas A&M June 14-16. Christian, 6-5 and 313 pounds, will then make an official visit to Texas June 21-23. 
     
    The visit to Texas will be his second in a two month period. Christian also informed OnTexasFootball that he will make an unofficial visit to Texas April 13-14 weekend.
    The tackle for the 5A State Champion Port Neches-Groves will also make an unofficial visit to Texas A&M April 6. 
    Gerry Hamilton
    Midwest 4-star EDGE ready to visit Texas
    Four-star EDGE prospect Damien Shanklin (Indianapolis, In./Warren Central) is headed to Austin for an official visit June 21. That name was surprise to many still getting familiar with the the 2025 cycle of out of state prospects. 
    Shanklin, 6-5 and 232 pounds, is another sign of the Texas national recruiting approach, and growing appeal among top prospects.
    "When they first offered me, it surprised me," Shanklin told OnTexasFootball Sunday. "I have had an interest in Texas for a while watching the defensive tackles and defensive ends." 
    Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski offered Shaklin in late September of 2023. Since that time, the top ranked prospect in Indiana and Kwiatkowski have built a quality rapport.
    "I talk to Coach Pete (Kwitkoswki) a lot. He’s telling me about my film, and how much he likes it. The way he was telling me how he coaches is what I like too. He tells me about developing players when I first get there, the environment on the team and the program."
    Kwiatkowski stopped by Warren Central High in January for a more in depth conversation. 
    "He came to school in January. He was telling me about the facilities, the school and the history. And the base defense, and stuff. We talked for about an hour." 
    The communication with the Texas staff includes a recent conversation with Steve Sarkisian. 
    “He was just checking in on me. He was telling that my film was good, and I’m great player. And that he can’t wait to get me down there.” 
    Shanklin said he talked with Kwiatkowski two days ago.
    A visit prior to the June official visit
    Shanklin told OnTexasFootball that he and one of his coaches are looking at making an unofficial visit late in the spring prior to the June official visit.
    Texas is in Shanklin's top 5 prior to the visit
    Everyone is seemingly chasing Notre Dame headed into the spring. He will attend the Fighting Irish Spring Game April 20, and make an official visit June 7-9. 
    Tennessee (June 14-16), Michigan and Ohio State are also going to receive official visits. 
    "Right now, Texas is definitely in my top five." 
    And that's where the recruitment begins with Shaklin prior to spring and June visits. 
    Shanklin is busy with recruiting and track and field season currently. He sports personal records of 174’3” in the discus and 49’0” in the shot put. 
    CJ Vogel
    This was a very fun conversation I had with Gerry Hamilton yesterday discussing the possible personnel groups Texas could deploy on the offensive side of the ball in 2024.
     
    We also dropped our takes on whether or not Texas’ offense this upcoming fall would be more difficult to defend than what we saw in 2023.
     
    Gerry Hamilton
    Texas Recruiting: Longhorns in the top two 
    Texas has offered over 100 prospects in the 2025 cycle, but all offers are not the same. 
    The April visit list continues to take shape with three weekends expected to host more than 25 4-star prospects in the 2025 cycle expected on campus. 
    This morning, OnTexasFootball provides a list of prospects Texas is in the top two with headed into the spring. 
    Texas in the top two
    Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill
    OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
    Texas leads Baylor by a large margin. 
    Dakorien Moore, Duncanville (Texas) High - *LSU commit
    OnTexasFootball Ranking: 5-star
    This letter of intent will come down to LSU vs. Texas, barring a significant change. 
    Kelshaun Johnson, WR, Hitchock (Texas) High
    OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
    Texas leads this recruitment with USC and Texas A&M jockeying for second headed into the spring. 
    Marcus Harris, WR, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
    OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
    Texas is in the lead spot or top two as long as Sarkisian desires. 
    Nick Towsend, TE, Houston (Texas) Dekaney
    OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
    Jeff Banks has Texas in the top as long as the Horns recruit Townsend at tight end, his preferred position. 
    Kiotti Armstrong, TE, Jasper (Texas) High
    OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
    Armstrong will sign with either Texas A&M or Texas barring a significant change,
    Michael Fasusi, OT, Lewisville (Texas) High
    OnTexasFootball Ranking: 5-star
    Oklahoma and Texas have been top 2 for months. It’s up to Texas A&M or Oregon to change that. 
    John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius
    OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
    Texas is in a favorable position headed into the spring. Will it Michigan or Washington that becomes the clear top two with Texas?
    Tyler Thomas, IOL, Dickinson (Texas) High
    The Houston area guard prospect is very likely to come down to Texas vs. Texas A&M, unless LSU can make a major push this spring. 
    Riley Pettijohn, LB, McKinney (Texas) High
    OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
    Texas will live in the top two of this recruitment barring a change. 
    Elijah Barnes, Dallas (Texas) Skyline
    OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
    Texas will live in the top 2 of this recruitment, and arguably leads headed into the spring. 
    Zion Williams, DL, Lufkin (Texas) High
    OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
    Texas and LSU in front of Texas A&M with TCU fourth. 
    Kade Phillips, S/DB, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
    OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
    Texas’ offer a week ago vaults the Horns into the top two with LSU. Texas A&M is third, currently. 
    Dorian Brew, CB, Conroe (Texas) High
    OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
    Texas has made up ground since January 20, and now sits in the top 2 headed into the spring. 
    Cobey Sellers, CB, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek
    OnTexasFootball Ranking: 4-star
    Oklahoma the favorite over Texas to win out headed into the spring. 
    Michael Terry, ATH, San Antonio (Texas) Alamo Heights
    OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star
    Texas will be top two in this one as long as Sark and staff push this spring and in June. 
    Bobby Burton
    Continuing with a series of insider news and notes that began on Friday morning (you can find those here).
    This morning, let's discuss the secondary.
    **
    Let's start with the newcomers.
    Andrew Mukuba is considered a "good athlete". He acts right, does what he's asked but is more naturally a quiet young man, so don't expect a vocal leader, at least not right now, despite the fact that he's a three-year starter. Mukuba's working at safety, looks like a starter and future NFL player, albeit not necessarily an early round pick. He's a little slighter build (he's right at 180 pounds despite being a senior) than maybe some fans will be anticipating.
    Xavier Filsaime continues to receive rave reviews among the newcomers. He just has a "really good football demeanor", tries to get to the front of the line for more reps and then has the plus speed. "He's going to be good," the source said.
    Wardell Mack was also singled out as looking the part but currently a rung below Filsaime. Jordon Johnson-Rubell is behind a bevy of good players at nickel. Kobe Black has yet to really show out to the level of his recruiting ranking.
    **
    Back-up nickel Jaylon Guilbeau has been working *some* at corner during some winter workouts.
    It's for a combination of reasons. First, it is to see if he can break a four-man rotation at the position and the second is to find him yet another way on to the field and give him some position versatility. The Longhorns have always liked his overall ability and especially his sense for the game but Guilbeau did not initially come back strong from his injury in 2022. So it's taken awhile for him to get back on track.
    The feeling is that he's now done that, he will be a real contributor in the secondary "somehow" this season.
    Manny Muhammad and Terrance Brooks are the definite starters at corner. Gavin Holmes remains in the rotation. Holmes has the athleticism and speed but, according to some, needs to work more on his toughness in the run game this spring.
    Warren Roberson is also working primarily at corner and has no issues with toughness. In fact, Roberson shows flashes of excellent play, is a hard worker and always plays with an edge. But he needs to become more consistent this spring; he needs to become someone his coaches can depend on every play.
    **
    I purposely saved this for last:
    Derrick Williams has a chance to be special. A year ago, he had some small on-field issues, mostly from taking wrong angles on plays. The coaches and staff believe these small issues came from him playing almost like a linebacker position of sorts in high school.
    He is working on that aspect of his game this off-season and apparently looks more than the part.
    "I love this dude's future. He's very athletic, plays fast, and he's very physical," the source said.
    **
    Michael Taaffe is Michael Taaffe.
    "You look at him (physically) and you say, he probably shouldn't be playing here," the source said. "But then the game starts, practice gets going, and he does what he does, makes a few plays, and then you realize he's just a player.
    "I know he's going to be in the rotation this year. The question is, will he be the starter? Mukuba and Williams are a really strong tandem. with more speed and man-coverage ability."
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