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    Bobby Burton

    How I Would Rank Them

    By Bobby Burton, in Articles,

    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+
    CJ Vogel
    Steve Sarkisian graciously spoke for 50 minutes this morning, covering topics from the 2024 class, transfer portal additions, coaching changes, recruiting department promotions and the mindset heading into the spring. I wanted to share some quick thoughts on the press conference as well as the key points that will carry us into the remainder of winter conditioning.
    1. Brandon Harris' Promotion to GM
    Sarkisian spoke very highly of new General Manager Brandon Harris. Off the bat, you can tell there is a lot of trust between Sarkisian and Harris. Several times during the presser, Sarkisian mentioned being able to rely on Harris to sit in meetings or accomplish an important role without him being present.
    “His ability to communicate, I thought was incredible," Sarkisian said. "It was a guy that we’ve just grown our relationship over three years. So I felt like the time was right for him to assume this role.”
    2.    Staff Additions
    Interestingly, Sarkisian said that every coach on the Texas staff was offered a new job this offseason from a program looking to poach. Of course, Jeff Choate went west to Nevada and Bo Davis ended up back home at LSU, however Sarkisian was thrilled to return all three coordinators on his staff and spoke positively about the new additions, Kenny Baker and Johnny Nansen. Sarkisian mentioned the national perception of Texas football has changed since he arrived. In his opinion, national players are now more willing to give Texas a chance. He believes staff continuity has played a role. Adding Nansen and Baker will allow Texas to dive even deeper into the west coast and deep south, respectively. As Texas heads into the SEC, Sarkisian mentioned how important it would be for his staff to have in-roads to the backyard of where they will be playing a majority of their games.
    3.    Wide Receiver Additions
    It was clear that Sarkisian was thrilled with the pieces Texas added out of the portal. Oregon State WR Silas Bolden will join the program in the summer, but the two mid-year transfer wide receivers are already making solid strides. Sarkisian mentioned it would have been "malpractice" to not utilize the portal, to have entered a season with only three returning scholarship receivers – of which they group has only eight career receptions. “That room is going to be solid," he said. "We have just got to find that right group of guys once September rolls around.”
    4.    Desire to Get Back to CFP
    My biggest takeaway was the desire in which Sarkisian spoke about returning to contending for a National Title. Texas got a small taste with the semi-final game against Washington, however, the way in which Sarkisian spoke about getting back to that level and eventually winning a National Title left a strong impression on me. He is driven and wanting to do whatever it takes to bring a title back to Austin.
    “I didn’t come here to just be a head coach again," he said. "I didn’t come here to say I am the head coach at UT. I came here to win a championship. I am borderline obsessed with it.”
    5.    Important Dates
    Sarkisian did mentioned more changes to the recruiting department were in store but did not provide finite details on when that might occur and what it might exactly look like. One thing he did give us a schedule for was spring football. Texas will undergo four more weeks of winter conditioning starting on Monday – so 4.5 weeks left for those pulling out the calculator. March 19 will mark the first day of spring practice. For NFL Draft hopefuls, the Texas Pro Day will take place March 20 in Austin. The Texas coaching staff will also host the coaching clinic on March 22, the weekend we are also expecting a pretty busy recruiting weekend.
     
     
    Bobby Burton
    In my years following recruiting, I’ve seen top five classes not actually “fit” the needs of the program, either immediately or over the long haul. Texas has done that a few times in my career. The Horns would need more guys on offensive line yet come up short. Or perhaps they needed more guys in the secondary and it just didn’t get addressed as well as it could have.
    It’s typical, even for the very best classes, to have one or two positions that perhaps could have been better filled, or, worse, went completely unaddressed.
    Additionally, with the proliferation of the transfer portal, I no longer think simply grading a recruiting class for its overall composition of players does the topic complete justice. Instead, I think we need to look more at whether or not a recruiting class successfully addresses the long-term needs of the program -- the pipeline of talent entering the program.
    With all of that in mind, here’s my take on the 2024 Texas recruiting class, starting with the offense first, and whether or not the Horns adequately addressed their talent needs, both in term of quality and team needs.
    Quarterback
    Trey Owens
    I'm a big believer in Owens'. I'm not sure whether he will ever be a top-line starter because of potential mobility issues. But his arm strength and accuracy are high-level - his arm is every bit as talented as both Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. He will not look out of place in the Texas QB room. Despite his relatively lower national rating by others, I'm not giving a QB who I think will play pro ball lower than a grade in the A range.
    Player Grade: A-
    Did Texas fill pipeline at the position?
    Unquestionably, yes. This is the exact type of developmental quarterback Sark needed to follow Manning. Owens possesses the skills that are hardest to coach - the arm talent - but now he will need to work on his understanding of the offense and learning how to improve his maneuverability in the pocket, and he has ample time to do so.
    Pipeline Grade: A+
     
    Running Back
    Christian Clark, Jerrick Gibson
    I don't understand how Clark wasn't rated higher by national experts. Actually, I do have an inkling about it, I just don't agree with their reasoning. Clark's able to make people miss in the hole, is extremely tough and does not shy from contact. When Sark said in his signing day presser that Clark reminded him of Bijan Robinson, there's a reason the head coach went out on that limb. As for Gibson, he's a mix of brute size - he's truly going to be a 230-pound runner before he is finished in college - along with a strong feel for the game and workman-like attitude. Both of these guys are possible future pros. Clark actually reminds me of Tashard Choice as a running back.
    Player Grade: A-
    Did Texas fill the need at the position?
    Easily, so much so that some might think the talent in the room is almost gratuitous. But Sark looks like he's preparing to utilize backs, like they do in the NFL, with multiple ball carriers who have multiple skill sets. For example, the differences between CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue are very evident, yet Sark seemed determined to utilize both down the stretch when Jonathon Brooks was injured. If that's Sark's vision for the future - like he did with Reggie Bush and Lendale White at USC - then maybe the number of RBs isn't as gratuitous as it might otherwise seem.
    Pipeline Grade: A+
     
    Wide Receiver
    Ryan Wingo, Aaron Butler, Parker Livingstone, Freddie Dubose Jr.
    The only other receiver prospect in the same category as Wingo in the past 10 years is Xavier Worthy. Wingo is a legit five star, with legit speed, size, athleticism and plus ball skills. He's actually a better prospect than Worthy was IMO. Outside of Wingo, I'm not sure there is a likely No. 1 receiver in this group. Livingstone would be my next pick, but his injury history is now a thing we have to watch for. Dubose remained limited this year as well, also coming off of a knee injury. Butler is a bit of a wildcard for me. Some on the West Coast preferred him as a cornerback but he wants to play WR. I could see him challenging both Ryan Niblett and Deandre Moore for playing time in the slot.
    Player Grade: B+
    Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?
    I think the jury is out. Like I said, I think Wingo is a definite No. 1. I like the promise of Livingstone. The versatility of Butler is intriguing. And Dubose is a bit of a lottery ticket if he properly heals from his injury.
    Pipeline Grade: B
     
    Tight End
    Jordan Washington
    There is no player in this class that has a clearer path to success ahead of them. Washington, if he can continue to develop his body and his skills, is the dual-threat tight end that Texas and Sarkisian clearly covet. But we're also talking about someone who has been playing multiple sports most of his life, just stopping basketball a season ago. That means his body likely has farther to go in its development. But a year from now? I like Washington a lot. A whole lot. He could be the steal of the class IMO.
    Player Grade: A
    Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?
    Yes. My only question, should Texas have even taken another tight end prospect? Perhaps. But the Horns opted to address the short-term need in the portal, in part because of exactly what Washington might bring to the table long-term.
    Pipeline Grade: B+
     
    Offensive Line
    Daniel Cruz, Brandon Baker, Nate Kibble
    Player Grade: A
    Baker is a future starter and likely a future pro. It may not be this year or even next yearn when he contributes to the Horns, but so long as he stays healthy, he is as sure a bet to play pro football as any signee in this class. Cruz is an anomaly of sorts because he's such a menace as a run blocker - his natural strength is off the charts. He's also a fairly cerebral player. The only question surrounding his play will be pass blocking. Kibble's body type and arm length are ideal and Atascocita offensive lineman have had a really good history of turning out (Sam Cosmi, Kenyon Green, Kam Dewberry). Pass blocking looks like it will come natural to him.
    Did Texas fill the pipeline at the position?
    Given the Horns signed 11 OLs in the previous two classes, we knew this would be a lower year on numbers. Overall, I think Texas did a nice job of spreading out the numbers - one true tackle, one true guard and one combo center/guard. Could Texas have used another blue chip prospect at either guard or tackle? Sure. But, with this class, Kyle Flood continues to move the OL in the right direction - with size, athleticism and talent.
    Pipeline Grade: B
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