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    Gerry Hamilton
    Lufkin, Texas - Steve Sarkisian made stops at a number of schools in January to see top targets in the 2025 cycle. One of those stops was Lufkin High. 
    OnTexasFootball 4-star defensive tackle Zion Williams has been a top target of the Longhorns on the defensive front for more than a year. 
    Williams, who is 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds with an 80+inch wing span and a size 18 shoe, attended the Texas mauling of Texas Tech in November. At that time, it was then-defensive line coach Bo Davis who was in contact the most with Williams. 
    That means January was the first time for Williams to have a meaningful conversation with Sarkisian. 
    “Coach Sarkisian came through with Coach Blake (Gideon),” Williams told OnTexasFootball. “That was more just getting to know Coach Sark personally. We asked each other questions. A question I have learned to ask coaches during this recruiting process is, if I were to commit to this school right now at this exact time we’re talking, what would be the process to introduce me into the culture and the family. His answer was he was going to teach me the culture of Austin, which I didn’t know, and get me aquatinted with people around Austin and not just the school. He wanted me to get acquainted with people in the community, and do community service. I was like okay, that’s a pretty good answer.” 
    New Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker stopped by Lufkin High last Wednesday, his second day on the road. It was a chance for Baker to make a strong first impression.
    “Okay, so he’s a former NFL coach," Williams explained. :His recruiting process was way different than everybody else’s. He had a notepad. It was basically a rapid fire questions. He didn’t give me time to think, so he didn’t give me a chance to process the question. He spit questions and then was writing down my answers. He was seeing how I answered. I didn’t realize it until I looked down because I saw his hand moving the whole time. I was like, 'oh he’s writing down what I’m saying.' That was intimidating in a good way - if that makes sense. He asked what I wanted to do outside of football, what ere my hobbies, my family and stuff like that. He really liked my answers.”
    One key piece of news Williams said Tuesday was there are four schools he knows he wants to make an official visit to as of today. 
    Texas, A&M, TCU and LSU. 
    Williams on meeting with Brian Kelly
    LSU head coach Brian Kelly and Tigers defensive line coach Bo Davis made the trip to Lufkin from Baton Rouge in January to sit down with the 4-star. 
    “It was basically more of getting to know Coach (Brian) Kelly because Coach Bo (Davis) and I are already cool," Williams said. "It was mostly Coach Kelly and I doing a bunch of talking. For me, in what was about an hour conversation, he’s a pretty cool ole’ dude. You can tell he’s not from the south. I liked getting to talk to Coach Bo again. That was nice. We talk once or twice a week. When he’s not busy, I’ll reach out to him, or he will reach out to me.”
    Williams made a first-ever trip to LSU January 20. And it definitely presented a home-like feel. 
    “My initial thoughts was that it feels like East Texas," he said. "It’s like really weird how it felt like I didn’t leave Texas at all. And that’s a pretty cool thing to me. It felt like a Piney Woods area. People were cool, nice people. The new coaching staff is pretty cool.” 
    Williams on meeting with Mike Elko and Sean Spencer
    Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko and Sean Spencer also met with Williams last month. 
    “It was just talking again," Williams said. "He wanted to let my momma know what his plans are if I were to go down there. He was talking about developing me as a young man, and keeping my head on straight if you know what I mean. He said a lot of places don’t care, you are just a number when you go there. He said he doesn’t want to treat his players like a statistic. I liked that. Coach Elko, I’m not going to lie, was a little intimidating. He didn’t break eye contact at all our entire conversation. I like Coach Elko. He’s a pretty cool dude. When I first met him, I thought about the uncle from Alvin and the Chipmunks. He kind of looks like him to me, that was my first thought. Coach Spencer is loud, but I like it if that makes sense. He’s not an annoying loud. When he starts talking, everyone gets hyped.' 
    TCU impresses more on every visit
    Williams is a distant relative of former Lufkin High standout, Oklahoma defensive lineman and TCU defensive line coach JaMarkus McFarland. 
    Last weekend, Williams was on campus in Fort Worth for Junior Day.
    “TCU is a good school," he said. "I like it more and more every time I go up there. The coaching staff is good. I got to meet the new DC, and he is a good dude. While we were up there, JaMarkus got some of his players to come up and talk for a minute. I would say, that was the first time I got to spend with players on a visit. JaMarkus left for a little bit, and I got to ask some questions and I liked the answers I got from the players.”
    Texas Tech is a fifth school that Williams is fond of when it comes to the coaching staff. He’s a fan of the energy of Joey McGuire and says he has being a foodie in common with defensive line coach Zarnell Fitch. 
    CJ Vogel
    Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston is headed to the NFL.
    A big piece of the Wolverines success from a year ago was the work of their defensive line. Just as importantly for the Longhorns who play Michigan in Ann Arbor the second game of the upcoming season, the Wolverines' DL was supposed to be a strength of their 2024 team. 
    That may have hit a bit of a snag Tuesday afternoon as word out of Jim Harbaugh’s LA Chargers camp leaked that Elston will be making the leap to the Pros.
     
    Michigan did not have any roster attrition of note after the first round of its coaches departing to Los Angeles. However, with Elston now leaving, it makes things significantly more interesting for two elite interior defensive linemen, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, if they were to enter the portal. 
    CJ Vogel

    In The Pipeline | WR & TE

    By CJ Vogel, in Articles,

    Today in part two of the In The Pipeline series, we will cover the pass catchers on the Texas roster in 2024 and beyond. Of course, a lot has happened in these two position rooms since the end of the season and by all means, I am expecting the wide receivers to remain a strength of the Texas program.
    A quick look at the current state of each room for 2024 and beyond:
    Wide Receiver
    On Roster: Silas Bond, Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, Johntay Cook, DeAndre Moore, Ryan Niblett, Freddie Dubose, Ryan Wingo, Parker Livingstone, Aaron Butler
    Coming Soon: We will see.
    For 2024: In a room that was expected to be a huge question mark just over 45 days ago, the work done by the Texas staff has completely revamped the group of weapons for Quinn Ewers. Through the portal, Texas added Alabama's leading wide receiver, Oregon State's leading receiver and a 1,000 yard career receiver with 13 touchdowns. It is very likely this unit is a strength of the Texas roster in 2024 when you combine sophomore Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore, as well as former five-star freshman WR Ryan Wingo. The options are bountiful right now in this room. No need to dive back into the idea of a positionless offense, but the speed in this room is going to be at a level Texas hasn't seen in years, maybe even a decade-plus. Really exciting for Texas in year one of the SEC.
    Beyond: You can chalk up Silas Bolden (grad transfer) and Isaiah Bond to being one-year rentals for the Longhorns this season. Yet, the 2025 outlook remains incredibly encouraging. Johntay Cook will be entering year three and Matthew Golden will most likely be back to bring you a very solid 1–2 look on the outside. Of course, Ryan Wingo will have at least two more years after the 2024 season before being eligible for the NFL Draft. How can Parker Livingstone and Freddie Dubose crack the lineup? Aaron Butler is a popular choice for most underrated prospect from the last class as well. Oh, and I have yet to even talk about the potential of a third year DeAndre Moore and Ryan Niblett. Plenty of options here, and it will be up to Chris Jackson to get those guys ready behind the scenes to catch passes from Arch Manning.
     
    Tight End:
    On Roster: Gunnar Helm, Armari Niblack, Juan Davis, Malik Agbo, Spencer Shannon, Will Randle, Jordan Washington
    Coming Soon: 2025 Emaree Winston
    For 2024: Texas fans were given very little time to weep following the departure of Ja'Tavion Sanders to the NFL. Sarkisian and Jeff Banks took a turn towards the portal almost immediately and jumped right on in for Amari Niblack following the retirement of Mr. Nick Saban. As a result, Texas will continue to be able to deploy a two tight end set with strengths both in the trenches and down the field vertically. We have mentioned Malik Agbo's use as a hybrid tight end and offensive lineman. Plus Juan Davis has game experience, albeit limited, but regardless an option that has been around a good bit.
    Beyond: A bit of a question mark for 2025 and beyond. Who takes that next leap? Will Texas have the luxury of one of Helm or Niblack returning? Perhaps, but no guarantee. Big question remains in regards to Spencer Shannon and his development. He could be an immediate replacement for Helm as the in-line tight end in the Sarkisian offense as Texas continues to develop Jordan Washington behind the scenes. What kind of contribution from Will Randle will be seen. I am a big fan of Washington's, though a two tight end class is very likely for the 2025 class.
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