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    Blake Munroe
    Good morning! Time to rise and shine with Coffee and Football on the On Texas Football YouTube Channel. Beginning at 8 AM CST, join me, Bobby Burton, CJ Vogel and Gerry Hamilton as we talk about the latest in Longhorns news, including recruiting, team news and more! As always, be sure to get your questions in and we'll get them answered. 
     
    Bobby Burton
    I always get asked how I would rank the Texas recruits within the recruiting class. I've been doing this for 20+ years now.
    I've gotten some right and some wrong. So don't take what I say or how I rank these players as the gospel. It's just another man's opinion based on what I've seen and what I've been told.
    2024 Texas Recruits
    1. WR, Ryan Wingo
    2. Edge, Colin Simmons
    3. S, Xavier Filsaime
    4. OL, Brandon Baker
    5. CB, Wardell Mack
    6. OL, Daniel Cruz
    7. RB, Christian Clark
    8. TE, Jordan Washington
    9. Edge, Zina Umeozulu
    10. QB, Trey Owens
    11. RB, Jerrick Gibson
    12. OL, Nate Kibble
    13. DL, Alex January
    14. LB, Tyanthony Smith
    15. CB, Kobe Black
    16. WR, Parker Livingstone
    17. S, Jordon Johnson-Rubell
    18. DL, Melvin Hills
    19. WR/ATH, Aaron Butler
    20. CB, Santana Wilson
    21. P, Michael Kerns
    22. WR, Freddie Dubose Jr. (inj.)
    Note: I'm interested to see if Dubose heals further from his injury. I would rate him differently if I knew that for sure.
     
    Gerry Hamilton
    Tyler, Texas - When Texas offered OnTexasFootball 4-star running back Rickey Stewart at Junior Day January 20, it was truly the dream offer. 
    A week later, head coach Steve Sarkisian and area recruiter Blake Gideon made a stop at Chapel Hill. 
    “He (Sarkisian) was talking about that D (Demetrius Brisbon Jr.) and I are great players, and that he doesn’t come see guys in person that often,” Stewart told OnTexasFootball Wednesday. “He was saying how special we are. Smart kids, competitive. He said he wanted to see Demetrius and I back on campus this spring. We were just talking, and having a good time.”
    Running backs coach Tashard Choice has also been in constant communication. 
    “We talk once or twice a week," he said. "He sends me workout stuff, and for me stuff to do to get better. He will ask me how the family is doing, and then asks when I’m coming to see him again. The relationship for Coach Choice is more important than football. Bonding with each other.” 
    Stewart's January 20 visit was his first time in Austin.
    “It was exciting," he said. "It’s a great place to be. I was too happy. It was an experience that I haven’t felt before.
    "I hadn’t really had the chance to see the campus, meet some of the players and coaches and see Coach Sark’s office. That office is big! That day, we were talking about the basketball game. He told me my film was great, I’m a smart kid and gave me an offer. And said it was committable. We had a great talk in his office.” 
    Stewart, a one-time verbal to SMU, isn’t shy about his feeling towards Texas.
    “Really, what stands out is the place in general," he said of UT. "The coaches, Coach Choice and everything really. That’s really my dream school. That was the school I was waiting for. I made my momma proud. Everyone at her job was excited.”
    The East Texas star said Coach Choice told him the Longhorns would take two running backs in the 2025 class.
    Schools still in pursuit of Stewart despite Texas' instant ascension are Baylor, SMU, Oklahoma State and some communication by Oregon. Stewart currently sports 21 offers. 
    Stewart by the numbers
    Stewart is part of a junior class at Chapel Hill that has been winners in every sport. He rushed for 2,855 yards on 271 carries (10.5 per tote) with 40 touchdowns, along with 18 receptions for 284 yards and four scores as a junior. That was after a standout sophomore season of 236 carries for 2,262 yards (9.6 per carry) and 20 scores in 2022. 
    Stewart also delivered against the top competition on the schedule:
    Vs. Gilmer - 19 carries for 278 yards and a TD
    Vs. Van - 19 carries for 195 yards and 4 TD’s
    Vs. El Campo (playoffs) - 16 carries for 222 yards and 3 TD’s
    Vs. Kilgore (playoffs) - 32 carries for 230 yards and a TD
    Vs. Davenport (playoffs) - 28 carries for 220 yards and 3 TD’s
    His three year totals are 630 carries for 6,098 yards (9.7 per carry) with 64 touchdowns, and 28 receptions for 400 yards and six scores in 31 games. 
    Bobby Burton
    Continuing the earlier discussion that focuses on whether or not - or just how well - Texas has refilled the roster pipeline this recruiting campaign, here's a look at the defensive side of the ball.
    Edge
    Colin Simmons, Zina Umeozulu
    Player Grade: A
    Simmons is a true blue chip. His explosiveness is rare. So too is his ability to bend the edge. He has long arms and good motor and a willingness to play through contact. There's a reason he's the two-time defensive MVP of the state championship game and a five star prospect. Umeozulu is situated differently. Texas passed on a couple of higher ranked prospects to further pursue Umeozulu, who is just starting to grow into his body. He's a long, lanky defender with good acceleration and outright speed. If he can properly hone his craft and body with years of development, he has as much upside as anyone in the class.
    Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?
    Texas needed two legit prospects in this recruiting class, ones who can get the QB to the ground. Sure, both of them may need a year or two of development, but they have the skill sets of elite pass rushers. I really like that Texas didn't over-sign at the position.
    Pipeline Grade: A+
     
    Defensive Tackle
    Alex January, Melvin Hills
    Player Grade: B-
    Neither January nor Hills entered their senior seasons as "elite" prospects. Yet both performed exceedingly well in 2023. January, no longer playing baseball, continued his physical development, and showed tremendous strength at the point of attack and perhaps a better motor than analysts had thought. Hills put up some staggering numbers in a lower classification.
    Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?
    I don't think so. Not to the level needed. If D'Antre Robinson had stayed, then maybe I see things differently. But the interior of the DL needs at least three prospects in every recruiting class, hopefully two of which are highly regarded and the third who has a high floor. Simply not enough interior DLs in this class to warrant a higher grade.
    Pipeline Grade: D
     
    Linebacker
    TyAnythony Smith
    Player Grade: B+
    Smith is a do-everything linebacker. He can play in coverage, he can play off the ball, and he really likes contact. He's actually probably at his best competing in space against fleet-footed players. His long arms, quickness and outright speed all really help him compress space.
    Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?
    Given they signed four LBs the previous year, Texas could have forgone the position altogether this year. So Texas really only wanted to sign one linebacker in this recruiting class. And they only entertained two of them - Smith and Justin Williams of Conroe Oak Ridge.
    Pipeline Grade: A
     
    Cornerback
    Kobe Black, Wardell Mack, Santan Wilson
    Player Grade: A-
    Black is the highest ranked of the group but may actually have farther to go to get on the field because he's a multi-sport athlete who also played multiple positions in high school. Black is a gifted athlete, however. Mack and Wilson are somewhat similar. Mack routinely shows good quickness and smarts on the field, plus he has long arms. Wilson is the son of former all-pro safety Adrian Wilson, and clearly already understands the finer points of playing corner.
    Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position:
    Yes. Did they do it with a true lockdown corner that would push this grade to a high A? I'm not so sure. Of the group, I like Mack's long-term prospects the best. But there's also a lot to like with both Black and his athleticism as well as Wilson's pedigree and know-how.
    Pipeline Grade: B+
     
    Safety
    Xavier Filsaime, Jordon Johnson-Rubell
    Player Grade: A
    Filsaime could end up being one of the key recruits of the class. He has elite speed (10.5 100 meters) and plays the game with a physical nature. The only question is whether or not he sees the game fast. That's the opposite of Johnson-Rubell, who already sees the game extremely well. Well enough, in fact, to be a real possibility at the nickel position.
    Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position:
    I like Filsaime as a long-term starter for the Horns. I like Johnson-Rubell as a starter in year two or three with the potential to contribute overall even sooner. This is a good class and sets the Horns up for the next go-round of safeties. Texas didn't over-sign yet laid the groundwork necessary at the position.
    Pipeline Grade: A+
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