Gerry Hamilton

Major Preston talks Texas offer and April 13 visit One of the late January offers made by the Texas Longhorns was 2025 versatile defensive back Major Preston (Hopewell, Va./IMG Academy). Preston, 6-1 and 185 pounds, was offered by safeties coach Blake Gideon on a school visit to IMG Academy January 30. "I kind of knew it was coming," Preston told OnTexasFootball Monday afternoon. "Three weeks before they offered, Blake Gideon was in the DMV and reached out to my family. Coach Gideon gave me a good, strong impression when he came to IMG. He coaches hard and develops. We definitely had a great conversation when he came to see me." Preston is scheduled to make a first trip to Austin the weekend of April 13. He will be joined by his mother and father. "I have never been to Austin before. I really don't know too much about Austin. One of my family members played with Texas strength and conditioning coach Torre Becton, so that's how Texas found out about me. My boy is Jordon Johnson-Rubell (teammates at IMG in 2023). He said he likes it a lot at Texas. He made the right decision. He said the workouts are tough." Like many other top prospects, Preston watched the Longhorns on TV more than once in 2023. "I watched Texas play a couple of times last season. I feel like they are a great team. Strong and fast. Texas is building something strong for the future." Gideon told Preston the Texas staff likes his versatility at defensive back being a player that could play any position in the secondary scheme. Preston popped onto the national scene in January Major Preston is up to 22 offers, but it was the day after Christmas that his recruitment began to change. The Texas offer was one of eight since December 26. Florida got the run started the day after Christmas. The Gators were joined by Michigan, Indiana, Duke, Louisville, Oklahoma, Boston College, Texas A&M and Texas. Colorado quickly followed with a February 1 offer. One of the schools that is making a strong run of late is the Oklahoma Sooners. Preston is scheduled to visit Oklahoma March 9th weekend. He lists Virginia Tech (June 28-30 OV date likely), Florida, Colorado and Michigan as schools he also plans to visit this spring. Preston plans to make June official visits, and announce a decision prior to his senior season. View full news

I think UT and A&M will offer more similar/same players moving forward ... first reason is move to SEC for Texas means recruiting different body types. That will bring the two schools closer on some prospects. And I do think the rivalry is coming back, and that will carry over to recruiting. Momentum does still matter in the day and age of NIL.

Big spring for him. This is the spring to begin to make a dent. Last year was a good learning year for him.

10-2 is always a good starting point unless Nick Saban has been your coach in college football for a 15 year run. The schedule has become very favorable with the Michigan HC/staff changes + the huge talent loss, and Florida struggling to get it going under Napier.

For sure. And Tennessee competes well in DMV when they are strong. Ohio State, Maryland, Oregon and Tennessee are your four talked about most in recent weeks.

Blake Gideon going to DMV for an entire day is a sign the Horns think they could have legit shot if April visit goes well. Texas feels like they have legit shot at Major Preston too.

Ole Miss, Colorado and Duke January offers. Colleges evaluating him at IOL now are seeing him different vs. DL IMO

We will go over that soon. Texas hasn't really offered that many. If you are going to have a 5 man OL class ... you are going to offer 12'ish guys and then make pushes on 6-8 to get your five.

This poor kid had zero chance ...

Michael Fasusi John Mills Riley Pettijohn Zion Williams etc…

Heard it, but he’s going to make a lot of visits this spring/summer. ball is in Texas’ court on this one IMO

Friendswood, Texas ... this week. Somewhere else in the state next week. The Southeast Region at times in March, April and May!

Texas has offered a few kids in the DMV the last couple of classes. Very difficult area to break through IMO. Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and Notre Dame are so strong. The fact that Blake Gideon spent two days there in January is noted, however. Even if you just recruit Good Counsel, Dematha, Gonzaga and St. John's College High ... probably worth the effort. Those three schools, and their conference is where the bulk of talent comes from.

Monday afternoon recruiting nuggets Let’s start the Monday afternoon nuggets with an update on Texas 4-star defensive line commit Brandon Brown (Melbourne, Fla./Eau Gallie). Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker and the 6-1.5, 285-pound explosive defender spoke on the phone for the first time late last week. According to Brown, the conversation lasted “about ten minutes”. “He was letting me know that he was trying to get his family situated in Austin,” Brown told OnTexasFootball Monday. “He said he wanted to get me out in the spring to visit. He was talking about my twitch and the way I get off the ball - he liked that." The news of Baker and Brown beginning the relationship building process is key with Brown and the California Power 7v7 team headed to Austin March 22-24 for a tournament in the Austin area. Brown will also be in Texas April 5th weekend for a 7v7 tournament. The Texas commitment lists Texas A&M, LSU, Tennessee, Florida, USC and Ohio State as programs that are coming after him with an all in approach. Texas commitment set to visit Calhoun (Ga.) High tight end and 4-star Emaree Winston told OnTexasFootball Monday that he plans to visit for the Spring Game April 20. Winston, 6-2 and 230’ish, received a visit from Steve Sarkisian, Jeff Banks and Tashard Choice in January. Winston did not attend Texas Junior Day January 20, but did make a UCF visit when in the Orlando area. Spring Game visitor list: Emaree Winston, TE, Calhoun (Ga.) High #AllGasNoBrakes OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Michael Terry, ATH, San Antonio (Texas) Alamo Heights OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Texas, TCU and Texas Tech the top 3 currently. Rickey Stewart, RB, Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Texas leads large over Baylor, SMU and Oklahoma State. Gus Cordova, DL, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis Texas, Texas A&M and Oregon are the three schools mentioned the most. More April visits April 6 visitor list: John Mills, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) St. Ignatius OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Texas will also receive an official visit June 14-16 April 13 visitor list: Faheem Delane, S, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Major Preston, CB/DB, Hopewell (Va.) IMG Academy OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Texas offered January 30. Blake Gideon is in consistent communication. Told OnTexasFootball they plan to visit in April, but don't have date yet: Kaliq Lockett, WR, Sachse (Texas) High OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Steve Sarkisian and Chris Jackson visited Lockett in late January. Texas, USC, LSU, Ohio State and TCU mentioned the most. Carmello Brooks, DL, Katy (Texas) Paetow Defensive line coach Kenny Baker was by Paetow High in January. Barker has told Brooks he wants him to visit in April. Brooks, 6-3 and 270, may also make visits to Duke and California this spring. Ethan Utley, DL, Nashville (Tn.) Endsworth OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Texas was in top 2 prior to Bo Davis departing for LSU. Tennessee, LSU and Michigan serious players. Jaedon Harmon, LB, Rome (Ga.) High OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Steve Sarkisian, Tashard Choice were by Rome High to see the 6-1, 215-pound Peach State linebacker in January. Troy Huhn, QB, San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills - 2026 OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star March visitor list March 22-24 7v7 tournament in the Austin area: Brandon Brown, DL, Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie #AllGasNoBrakes Will make a first visit to Texas while in town for 7v7 with California Power program/team. Members the Texas Nightrydas team that are expected to stop and visit Texas while in the area for 7v7 tournament... Kiotti Armstrong, TE, Jasper (Texas) High - 2025 OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star Texas and Texas A&M remain top 2 with Longhorns slightly trending as of late last week. Kade Phillips, S/DB, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower OnTexasFootball ranking: 4-star LSU, Texas and Texas A&M the three to know moving forward after the Texas offer Sunday evening. Javar Thomas, LB, Aldine (Texas) Nimitz - 2025 Texas offered February 2. Kosi Okpala, LB, Houston (Texas) Mayde Creek - 2026 Texas offered January 22, and leads early. Mayde Creek defensive coordinator is former Texas National Campion linebacker Rashad Bobino. Tai'Yion King, LB, Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial - 2026 Has 14 offers with Texas A&M standing out early on. Noriel Dominguez, LB, Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall - 2026 Has 14 offers. Will visit Oklahoma March 9. Grant Smith, QB, Spring (Texas) Grand Oaks - 2026 Texas QB coach A.J. Milwee is watching Smith throw in person during spring evaluation period. March 16-17 (subject to change since spring break for Texas team): Peter Langi, IOL, San Francisco (Calif.) Archbishop Rirordan - 2025 May reschedule for when team is practicing. This is spring break weekend. 38 offers, including the Horns. View full news

Jared Curtis is also a possibility to visit. But that one is less likely.

Texas A&M is in it.

lol Well Done! One of the DMV schools I have been to over the years in the business ... Their NFL pipeline is pretty strong! Kris Jenkins - Michigan DT Stefon Diggs Kendall Fuller - NFL DB Josh Paschal - NFL DL Keandre Jones - NFL LB Sam Mustipher - NFL OC Dorian O'Daniel - Clemson/NFL LB Blake Countess - Michigan/Auburn/NFL DB Jelani Jenkins - Florida/NFL LB https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Good_Counsel_High_School_(Maryland)

And Kade Phillips is scheduled to be in the Austin area March 23-24 for 7v7. So a stop by Texas on Friday the 22nd is certainly possible.

Was told be a second source this morning ... the Texas is a big one for Kade Phillips. Will not be surprised if it's not LSU vs. Texas if both make the red carpet push this spring.

IMG Academy 2025 Safety/DB Major Preston Jr. told OnTexasFootball that he remains set to visit Texas April 13... http://www.hudl.com/v/2McLUJ

Faheem Delane junior HUDL: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/1899545/655ed9f215f75f0440139907