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    CJ Vogel

    In the Pipeline | QB & RB

    By CJ Vogel, in Articles,

    Wanted to introduce a series for the week that will take us position by position on the Texas roster and how it stacks up for the 2024 season and beyond. We will begin today with the quarterback and running back positions, two of the deeper positions in the Texas program.
    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.
    Gerry Hamilton
    Texas Best Class Scenario: February 5
    The Texas Longhorns 2025 class is currently ranked inside the top 10 with a handful of commitments. 
    Steve Sarkisian and staff hosted Junior Day January 20, and spent the month of January evaluating the 2025 class with more offers extended. 
    With the calendar turning to February, OnTexasFootball takes a first look at the 2025 Best Class Scenario. The number of players listed at 28, with a combination of 22-24 of this group a lock to be a fourth straight top 10 class. 
    Important to note, this list of prospects will change as Texas moves along in the 2025 cycle. 
    Quarterback (1)
    K.J. Lacey, Saraland (Ala.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Steve Sarkisian and A.J. Milwee made a visit to Saraland High last Tuesday. 
    Running back (1-2)
    Jordon Davison, RB, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. 
    Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Texas offered at Junior Day January 20. Steve Sarkisian and Tashard Choice made a stop at Chapel Hill in January. 
    Wide receiver (2-3)
    Dakorien Moore, Duncanville (Texas) High - *LSU commit
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 5-star
    Note: Texas will recruiting the LSU commit through the whistle. 
    Kelshaun Johnson, WR, Hitchcock (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. Steve Sarkisian and Blake Gideon were by the school in January.
    Marcus Harris, WR, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Scheduled to make official visit to Texas the last weekend in June. 
    Tight end (2)
    Kiotti Armstrong, TE, Jasper (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. Scheduled to make visit around spring practice March 22.
    Emaree Winston, TE, Calhoun (Ga.) High #AllGasNoBrakes
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Offensive line (5)
    Michael Fasusi, OT, Lewisville (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 5-star
    Note: Steve Sarkisian, Kyle Flood and Tashard Choice made a school visit last week. An official visit the last weekend of June is tentatively scheduled.
    Jonte Newman, OT, Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. Kyle Flood made a school visit last Thursday.
    Tyler Thomas, IOL, Dickinson (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 3-star
    Note: Kyle Flood made a school visit in January. Planning last weekend in June official visit.
    John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. Planning June official visit.
    Jackson Christian, IOL, Port Niches (Texas) PN-G
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. Steve Sarkisian stopped by PN-G in January. 
    Defensive line (4)
    Brandon Brown, DL, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie #AllGasNoBrakes
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Brown is expected to visit Texas in March around a spring practice. 
    Zion Williams, DL, Lufkin (Texas) high
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: New Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker stopped by Lufkin last Wednesday.
    Josiah Sharma, DL, Folsom (Calif.) Folsom
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Texas offered last week. Has ties to state of Texas, and used to live in Arlington. 
    Floyd Guidry, DL, Spring (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior day January 20. Kenny Baker stopped by Cy-Fair last Tuesday.
    -Or-
    Landon Rink, DL, Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior day January 20. Kenny Baker stopped by Cy-Fair last Tuesday.
    EDGE (2-3)
    Lance Jackson, Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove #AllGasNoBrakes
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Kamauryn Morgan, Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior day January 20.
    Linebacker (3-4)
    Riley Pettijohn, McKinney (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20.
    Elijah Barnes, Dallas (Texas) Skyline
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. 
    Anthony Williams, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek #AllGasNoBrakes
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 3-star
    Jonathan Cunningham, Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Junior Day January 20. Texas offered last week. A spring practice visit is expected. 
    Defensive back (3-4)
    Dorian Brew, CB, Conroe (Texas) High
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. 
    Jonah Williams, S, Galveston (Texas) Ball High
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Oklahoma considered the team to beat due to football/baseball combination.
    Cobey Sellers, CB, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Attended Texas Junior Day January 20. Oklahoma considered the team to beat. 
    Athlete (1)
    Nick Townsend, LB/EDGE, Houston (Texas) Dekaney
    Recruiting Ranking: OnTexasFootball 4-star
    Note: Not as publicized as others, but a player Texas likes a lot. 
     
    CJ Vogel
    Three of the five commits in the 2025 class currently live outside the state lines of Texas. As a result of the Longhorns finding some very talented early prospects from around the country, they will now be tasked with holding onto those verbal pledges as schools around the corner look to crack that door open any way they can.
    TE Emaree Winston was at UCF this weekend where Gus Malzahn made it a point to spend time with him during their trip together to the Knights' basketball game.
    DL Brandon Brown was with his 7-on-7 team at USC over the weekend as well for a quick unofficial visit. Fortunately for Texas, that same 7-on-7 team will be in the Austin area in a little over a month where he will be able to visit with the Texas staff.
    QB KJ Lacey was able to stop by the Reese's Senior Bowl on Saturday, a bit of a sigh of relief for Texas as there were reports expecting him to make it to Oxford to visit Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss program.
    Nothing is expected from either of the three at the moment, but this is the fight the Longhorns will continually be putting up against as the cycle continues.
    Bobby Burton
    I continue to be told that both Brandon Harris, currently the director of recruiting, and John Michael Jones, the assistant director of player personnel, are expected to be elevated.
    Harris is likely to become the team’s general manager or whatever terminology Steve Sarkisian opts to call it, a role which was expected to be held by Billy Glasscock prior to his move to Ole Miss last week. Harris has been a steady, trusted force in the recruiting department for the Longhorns under Sark.
    Jones is expected to become the director of player personnel. Jones has been a behind-the-scenes figure for Texas for several years. The team’s successful walk-on program can be partially attributed to his efforts beginning several years ago.
    **
    The Texas coaches are off this week. Many will be out of the office. Some are taking mini vacations, some are going to see family, etc.
    But as always, recruiting never stops this time of year.
    **
    There was a time when the first Wednesday in February was complete chaos for Texas and every other college football team. Not anymore.
    It’s almost crazy to consider the Horns will have a completely quiet second signing day.
    **
    The current litigation between the University of Tennessee, the states of Tennessee and Virginia, and the NCAA are focused around illegal recruiting inducements.
    The NCAA doesn’t want financial inducements to play a role in recruiting. The states of Virginia and Tennessee say that’s a ridiculous rule.
    What other “job” do you get where money is not a factor in your decision?
    And that’s the issue. The NCAA is clinging on to the idea that this is not about a job, it’s about education. The problem is, it’s actually about both for many of these young athletes.
    The NCAA can’t have its cake and eat it, too.
    I talked to a legal expert about this over the weekend. They say there’s no question the NCAA will lose this fight, too. 
    Gerry Hamilton
    Monday Morning Recruiting Nuggets
    The Texas Longhorns staff is coming off an extremely busy couple of months on the recruiting front. 
    January brought a Junior Day with around 150 combined prospects in the 2025 and 2026 classes in Austin. 
    The staff wrapped up the month with a number of new offers being made in 2025 and 2026, mostly out of state. 
    OnTexasFootball gets the week going with some Monday morning recruiting nuggets.
    Recruitments Texas can win
    Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill
    The Longhorns offered the one-time SMU verbal January 20 at Junior Day. Texas can win this one with a big push, and Steve Sarkisian was by Chapel Hill in January. There has been some Texas chatter in the last few days with Baylor also in play. Stewart’s teammate and friend Demetrius Brisbane Jr. has already flipped from SMU to Baylor. 
    Kelshaun Johnson, WR, Hitchcock (Texas) High
    The explosive wide receiver is considered a Texas lean headed into the spring. Johnson attended Junior Days at Texas and Texas A&M in January. The offensive scheme, the quarterback room and Texas trajectory are key reasons why every program is chasing the Longhorns. A decision is expected prior to his senior season. 
    Kiotti Armstrong, TE, Jasper (Texas) High
    The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Southeast Texas tight end is considered a Texas lean headed into the spring. He made Junior Day visits to Texas A&M and Texas in January. He will head back to Texas March 22 with his 7v7 team prior to a tournament in the Austin area. Armstrong currently plans to make June official visits and announce a decision around the start of the 2024 season. 
    OL John Mills planning June OV
    John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius
    Mills attended the Texas Junior Day January 20, and is planning to make an official visit in June. He has spoke with Texas OL coach Kyle Flood about visit dates. Mills also attended the Florida Junior Day January 27. Washington (a number of family members were athletes at UW) and Michigan also remain very much in the mix. Nebraska is working to make a push as well. 
    Speaking of June official visits, the last weekend of the month will be the big visit weekend for the Longhorns. Two prospects already expected to make official visits that last weekend are Lewisville (Texas) High’s Michael Fasusi and Dickinson (Texas) High’s IOL Tyler Thomas.
    One more note
    Hightower (Texas) High 2025 CB/DB Kade Phillips attended Texas Junior Day January 20 with hopes of an offer. That has yet to happen. Phillips was back on campus at Texas A&M Saturday. This recruitment is looking like a Texas A&M vs. LSU final barring a major change.
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