CJ Vogel

The addition of Tiaoalii Savea out of the NCAA Transfer Portal marks the eighth portal prospect to declare their intentions to play for the Texas Longhorns for the 2024 season. Three wide receivers combine for 220+ career receptions. Add in Amari Niblack and the Longhorns may not skip a beat after sending four pass catchers to the NFL from a year ago. Andrew Mukuba brings over 30 career starts and Freshman All American accolades. Off the edge, Trey Moore's 22.0 sacks over the last two seasons puts him in an elite category among pass rushers around the country. Now Texas is adding depth at positions of need with the addition of Kendrick Blackshire out of Alabama and the most recent news of Tiaoalii Savea from Arizona. Both will be a part of the rotation and allow for a sigh of relief for each position group heading into the spring. Really impressive work thus far, and the expectation is that the Longhorns add to this list before fall camp begins. View full news

Eight portal additions this offseason, incredible work so far.

Another portal victory for the Texas Longhorns! Texas earns its eighth overall commitment in the month of January, this time from former Arizona defensive lineman Tiaoalii Savea! Savea visited over the weekend for an official visit and despite leaving campus without shutting things down, it does not take long before seeing a decision come. The Longhorns have been looking to replace the departures of T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy to the NFL Draft and Trill Carter who is now at Auburn. Savea recorded six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last year at Arizona. The Longhorns are adding another capable piece to their defensive line for the 2024 season to go along with Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton and a number of younger prospects. Nice addition for the Longhorns here. View full news

One of the fastest rising prospects in the Houston area has reported a Texas offer. Alief Hastings outside linebacker prospect Smith Orogbo was offered by Jeff Banks this afternoon. Banks has been busy in the Houston area this afternoon and the Longhorns are now officially in the running for the 6-foot-4 pass rushing prospect. Orogbo has received offers from Texas, Oklahoma, Cal, Oklahoma State and Kansas in the last week alone.

I am a really big fan of Royal Capell's game.

Gotta have it!

Lifetime Longhorn Rod Babers and I get together for the latest episode of Talkin' Ball. Texas hired a new defensive analyst with the addition of William Gay. Plus the portal pursuit carries on with the recruitment of Jabbar Muhammad. Rod and I also get to talking about how an increase of swagger can help the Texas secondary with on-field play. Special thank you to our sponsor John Donovan at Longhorn Wealth Management Group for supporting this week's Talkin' Ball! View full news

Texas has extended an offer to 2026 Mayde Creek LB Kosi Okpala. Interestingly enough, the offer comes from Texas special teams coordinator and TE coach Jeff Banks. There are some pro-Texas ties here as well that could end up playing a favor later on in the recruiting cycle. Okpala was at Texas Tech last weekend for an unofficial. The Red Raiders were the first school to offer him, Texas now becomes the second.

I actually heard iron makes stronger iron 😉

Let's go! Welcome to the board!

I have some clips of Jalen's on the freshman team in 2022, just absolutely freakish stuff. Apple didn't fall far if you get what I mean.

While the focus of the Junior Day on Saturday was to get the ball truly moving in the 2025 class, the Longhorn staff hosted an impressive crop of 2026 prospects as well. The weekend allowed for the Longhorns to get their 2026 class started with the commitment of Aledo RB Raycine Guillory Jr., though some of the top in-state prospects in the state for the class were able to meet with the Texas staff and see campus. A few updates on some important sophomores that were on campus: *** A pair of Temple (TX) prospects made the trip down i35 for the Junior Day – DL Jamarion Carlton and DB Jason Bradford. Bradford is a 6'2" defensive back with tremendous fluidity. I have watched him a few times in person in training sessions and each time he has been better than before. High upside with offers from Oklahoma State and Texas State. The Temple staff is also very high on Jamarion Carlton as well. Five offers in the books already – Nebraska, UNT, SMU, Baylor and Houston. *** Texas hosted 2026 Panther Creek WR Jalen Lott, formerly of Lovejoy. Lott spent plenty of time with Coach Steve Sarkisian on the visit with one-on-one time in his office. Jalen is the son of Texas Hall of Honor inductee James Lott for those unfamiliar. I think there is five-star potential here. *** Another WR to be on notice for is 2026 San Marcos Henry Harris. The 6-foot-5 wide out from San Marcos plays like he is 6-feet tall. He is quick and can move very well. Add Harris to the offer watch list as the Longhorn staff continues out of the trail in the open window. *** Texas has not offered a 2026 quarterback so far. Sarkisian is quite picky with his quarterback prospects and likes using the "We are only recruiting you" approach at the quarterback position. Right now, Tampa (FL) QB Will Griffin is the one I am keeping my eyes on the closest for the 2026 QB picture. Griffin arrived Friday night and spent all of Saturday with the Texas staff, including Steve Sarkisian. Griffin, a 6-foot-3 gunslinger, is the No. 4 quarterback in the class per 247Sports composite. View full news

Jonah was always a maybe to attend this weekend in Austin. Would be really big to get him on campus again here in the winter months.

He did not.

Texas hosted 120+ prospects on campus this weekend for their first junior day of the 2024 calendar year. Among that group was a great deal of offered prospects that made the trip as well. A quick recap, to the best of my knowledge, of the names from the 2025 class that visited campus on Saturday that currently hold an offer in hand: Quarterback – KJ Lacey visited campus on January 13th and will be back on January 27th. No other 2025 QBs were on campus. Running Back Mater Dei RB Jordon Davison Chapel Hill RB Rickey Stewart** Southlake Carroll RB Riley Wormley Texas is prioritizing Davison and he was able to earn some 1-on-1 time with Coach Sarkisian on the trip. Stewart was offered on the trip and was rather emotional when discussing his reaction to being offered. Wide Receiver Shadow Creek WR Carterrius Brown Lancaster WR Emmanuel Choice Dekaney WR Tanook HInes Hitchcock WR Kelshaun Johnson SA Brandeis WR Jaden Perez Tomball Memorial WR Ashton Ansley Shadow Creek WR Jacorey Watson Jacorey Watson was unable to stay too late, but was on campus. One to watch here is Kelshaun Johnson, the speedy playmaker has risen up the priority list as of late. Tight End Jasper TE Kiotti Armstrong Dekaney TE Nick Townsend Texas has Emaree Winston in the fold at the moment in the 2025 class, but hosted two very talented prospects out of the Houston area. Offensive Line Prosper OL Connor Carty** Port Neches Grove OL Jackson Christian Bridgeland OL Ryan Fodje** St. Ignatius College Preparatory (CA) OL John Mills Bridgeland OL Jonte Newman Mesquite Horn OL Lamont Rogers DeSoto OL Byron Washington A familiar group of names were on campus this weekend. Texas is leading the pack for Byron Washington at the moment. Kyle Flood offered Ryan Fodje and Connor Carty on their trips. As for John Mills, he arrived Friday night and was able to stick around all day for the junior day. Defensive Line Spring DL Floyd Guidry Cy Fair DL Landon Rink Denton Guyer DL Xavier Ukponu No defensive line coach on campus did not stop a handful of Texas offers from seeing campus. Defensive End South Oak Cliff EDGE Kamauryn Morgan Pleasant Grove EDGE Lance Jackson Summer Creek EDGE Chad Woodfork Lake Travis EDGE Gus Cordova** Texas offered 6-foot-5 Lake Travis edge rusher Gus Cordova on the visit this weekend. Kamauryn Morgan said Texas was in his top five as well, plus the Longhorns earned a commitment from Lance Jackson. Linebackers Shadow Creek LB Anthony Williams McKinney LB Riley Pettijohn Dallas Skyline LB Elijah Bo Barnes IMG Academy LB Gavin Nix South Oak Cliff LB Jayden Shelton Anthony Williams was doing some hard recruiting for the Longhorns behind the scenes on the visit. Johnny Nansen was also out last week to see Elijah Bo Barnes in person and was able to double-dip by getting him onto campus for the visit. Defensive Backs Conroe CB Dorian Brew Westgate (LA) CB Jaboree Antoine Shadow Creek CB Cobey Sellers Fort Bend Marshall CB Caleb Chester Brew stuck around campus until about 6:30 p.m., a great sign for Texas' chances to make up ground. OTF has been told the Texas staff was a big fan of Caleb Chester on the visit as well. Plus, Austin has been a common destination for Jaboree Antoine over the last few months too. Athletes Alamo Heights ATH Michael Terry III** Chapel Hill ATH Demetrius Brisbon Michael Terry III was quick to add Texas to his top group following the trip – Texas, TCU and Texas Tech. The offer of Rickey Stewart was a big moment for Brisbon when on campus as well. ** Indicates player received an offer on the visit. View full news

Texas is hosting former Arizona DL Tiaoalii Savea this weekend for an official visit. Savea dropped the Horns in a tweet this afternoon as well. OTF has confirmed this is not an indication of a commitment, however we do believe things are moving in the right direction here for the Longhorns. Of course, Texas is in the market for interior defensive line help, and the 6-foot-4 and 305 lb Savea would be a welcomed addition to the Texas defense. View full news

The fireworks continue! Texas earns its second verbal commitment following their Junior Day from Saturday, this time in the 2025 class. Pleasant Grove EDGE Lance Jackson has announced his verbal commitment to Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns. Jackson, a 6-foot-5 pass rusher spent most of his time with Texas DC Pete Kwiatkowski while on campus yesterday. The Longhorns made a run in his recruitment during the football season and were quick to green-light him for the class. The 2025 class is now up to five members, as Jackson now joins Emaree Winston, KJ Lacey, Brandon Brown and Anthony Williams. Great start to the class. View full news