Gerry Hamilton

Texas commitment Landon Jackson talks Longhorns and baseball Texarkana, Texas - OnTexasFootball 4-star Lance Jackson committed to Texas January 21 following a junior day visit. Jackson, 6-5 and 260, is not just one of the top football prospects in the state and country. He’s also expected to ascend to be one of top baseball prospects in Texas in the 2025 cycle. OnTexasFootball spent two hours at Pleasant Grove High Thursday, and had the opportunity to sit down and speak with Jackson about a number of topics. Lance Jackson Q & A Gerry Hamilton: What was it that led you to pick Texas? Lance Jackson: “I’ve always liked Austin, even when I went there during my brothers (Landon Jackson) recruitment. So that was a good reason. And I’ve known PK (Pete Kwiatkowski) since Landon was getting recruited. He’s a good dude, and I feel like he is real. He won’t be fake to you, so he’s probably one of the realist coaches.” Hamilton: What position did PK specifically tell you they were recruiting you to play? Jackson: “I don’t want to be wrong on that, but it’s the one that doesn’t drop as much.” Hamilton: What was it Coach Sarkisian and PK told you they like about your game? Jackson: “I’m big and athletic. I can play either side of the ball, and I can move well.” Hamilton: Do you prefer one side of the ball? Jackson: “It’s just whatever. If I got there and they told me to play tight end, I would be fine with it. It’s whatever they need me to do.” Hamilton: Is it UT, Austin and everything that appeals to you? Jackson: “Yes sir. I love everything about it. There is nothing I don’t like about it. Hamilton: Are you in touch with any of the guys committed to Texas? Jackson: “Yes sir. A lot of them follow me on instagram. K.J. Lacey.” Hamilton: What is next for you in football? Jackson: “I’m not so much focused on me right now. I mean, I have personal goals, but my main goal is to win a State Championship for my team. We are a young team this year and I haven’t won one yet, so it would be a cool thing to do. My personal goals aren’t really needed. But I want 15 sacks and over 700 yards receiving.” Hamilton: What are your goals this spring in baseball? Jackson: “Also with baseball, my goals are to win a State Championship because we are highly favored to do that this year. And then my personal goal, is to hit 97 and have good command.” Hamilton: Do you plan to graduate in December of 2024, or stay for baseball? Jackson: “I’m kind of still deciding. Depends on how the season goes this year, and summer ball. I want to graduate early. That’s kind of what’s on my mind right now, but that could change.” Hamilton: Have you talked to Coach Sarkisian about the baseball possibility in college? Jackson: “Yes. They told me they were totally fine with playing baseball at Texas if I want to. They said they would work it all out for me.” Hamilton: Have you had any interaction with the baseball staff at Texas? Jackson: “Not really as of yet. They follow me on social media and stuff, but we haven’t talked yet.” Hamilton: Guys like you can end up facing a tough decision between football and the MLB Draft possibilities. What are your early thoughts on that? Jackson: “I’m kind of just laying back on it right now because I was injured last year and didn’t get to play summer ball. That’s one of your most important years. After this summer, I will probably know more because I will get to play some of the bigger tournaments. So I just don’t know right now.” Hamilton: When you were growing up, did you envisions yourself with a football helmet or baseball cap on? Jackson: “When I was growing up, I was baseball. I feel like it was what my dad worked with me more on. Landon or I wasn’t really football players (first). Landon was basketball. I just grew up loving baseball. That was my thing. Then in middle school I started getting noticed for football, and kind of molded me.” Hamilton: What did you learn about the recruiting process watching Landon go through it? Jackson: “I’ve kind of learned to notice fakeness. I know certain things - the talk a lot vs realness.” Hamilton: Who did you actually choose Texas over? Who was No. 2 and who was No. 3? Jackson: “Arkansas and Tennessee.” Hamilton: Watching Texas this year, what were your thoughts? Jackson: “I like how they rotate a lot. I mean they get everybody in there playing. All defensive linemen change a lot, and I like that.” Hamilton: Did Texas moving to the SEC impact your recruitment? Jackson: “Probably not Texas because it’s Texas, but I have always known I wanted to play in the SEC. Maybe a little bit.” Hamilton: What is more difficult, baseball or football? Jackson: “I would probably say baseball because it’s a little more mental. It’s not as physically hard as football, but it’s more difficult mentally.” Hamilton: What is your favorite part about being a pitcher? Jackson: “I just like throwing hard, and it’s mental like I said. So it helps you work on the mental part in football too. Baseball relaxes me. I just love being out there.” Hamilton: What are you working on from a defensive EDGE position headed into your senior season? Jackson: “I can probably improve on my moves (pass rush), and be more fluid. Right now I’m just trying to use my strength and speed. Being more fluid in my moves.” View full news

It's all of the above. The game tape won't change, obviously. But they will get a continued look at guys in spring practice. The football part, body development, conversations with high school stats, etc... it's just the continued overall evaluation of prospects

Nine state title for Carthage High since 2008 … amazing

Yes it is. Was 145 pounds a year ago … now 6-1, 177 … he will be a 15+ offer QB

Jett Surratt has a REAL future in golf guys and gals

Summer Creek 2025 EDGE Chad Woodfork junior HUDL: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/16580529/65812ae7d21b100a7cbcc68b

Carthage High 2026 LB Qui Beck Sophomore HUDL: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18094592/Qui-Beck Texas offered February 2, 2024

Carthage 2026 RB KJ Edward sophomore HUDL: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/17658768/657877478cd42206cc126eeb

Carthage High 2026 QB Jett Surratt sophomore HUDL: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/18752950/658e43d71762710130cc5cac

Texas High 2027 6-6, 270 pound OT Donquavious Ford freshman varsity HUDL: http://www.hudl.com/v/2N50Jq

Texas High 2026 DL Duncan McGhee sophomore HUDL: http://www.hudl.com/v/2MyiYj

Texas High 2026 RB Tradarian Ball sophomore HUDL: http://www.hudl.com/video/3/16877010/6501b82bff02390b70aaca4c

Friday Morning Recruiting Nuggets OnTexasFootball begins Friday morning with recruiting nuggets and notes. The first is OnTexasFootball 4-star EDGE Chad Woodfork out of the Houston area. OTF also made stops at Texas High, Pleasant Grove High and Carthage High Thursday. Chad Woodfork and Texas Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and Jeff Banks made a stop at Humble (Texas) Summer Creek in late January to see OnTexasFootball 4-star EDGE Chad Woodfork. The stop at Summer Creek followed up Woodfork attending Texas Junior Day January 20, where he got to spend some one-on-one time with Sarkisian in the office of the head coach. The message from Texas has been consistent in liking his upside ability as a pass rush prospect with long levers. Woodfork, 6-4.5 and 218 pounds, plans a return visit to Texas this spring. Trips to LSU (January 29 offer), Michigan (January 31 offer) and TCU are expected. Spring or summer trips to Florida State (January 26 offer) and Ole Miss (February 2 offer) are also possible. Texas is in solid position with Woodfork headed into the spring. It’s not a lock Woodfork’s recruitment plays out until July. Texas commit Lance Jackson One coach in the area that has gone against the 6-foot-5, near 260 pound two-sport star believes Jackson’s highest upside could actually be tight end. This East Texas head coach gave Jackson high praise from a hands, catch radius and movement skills standpoint. Texas plans to begin Jackson’s career at EDGE with a frame that can carry 275-280 pounds well proportioned. Tradarian Ball is smooth What makes Texas High 2026 running back Tradarian Ball a high-end prospect at the position? Ball, 5-10.5 and 183 pounds, is a very smooth mover with versatility. Speaking with Texas High head coach at Texas High Thursday, it the versatility that is key. Ball played a lot in the slot in 2023, putting up 500 yards receiving in addition to over 1,300 on the ground as a sophomore. Texas is considered the current front-runner according to one source in the area - not a member of the Texas High staff. Ball enters the spring evaluation period with 30 offers. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and area recruiter Blake Gideon stopped by Texas High in January. Jett Surratt is a two-sport future star When talking about two-sport stars in the state of Texas, the football and golf combination isn’t one that happens very often - at all. In the case of Surratt, he’s going to be en elite prospect in both. Surratt, now 6-1 and 177 pounds, has hit a physical maturity spurt in the last year. He was around 145 pounds at one point during his freshman year. After spending three hours in Carthage Thursday, I’m ready to be the first to make Surratt a 4-star prospect. The reasons are very simple: He possesses very high end understanding, feel, anticipation with elite accuracy, feet and calmness in the pocket, toughness and leadership in spades. He currently has offers from Texas Tech, Houston and UTSA. That offer list will grow during the spring evaluation period. One of the school coming to watch him throw this spring will be Texas (A.J. Milwee). As talented as he is at quarterback, he’s going to be offered by every golf program that watches him in person. Suratt has won both high school tournaments this season with 65 as his low round. He has extremely high-end ability as a golfer. He’s a natural at golf with club head speed in the 127-128 range and ball speed in the 187-188 range as a 16 year old. For those that don’t follow golf, those numbers are that of few on the PGA Tour. And he’s got a tremendous pair of hands that translate to the short game and putting. Jett Surratt is an OnTexasFootball 4-star prospect in the 2026 cycle. Carthage 2026 RB KJ Edwards Spent some time at Carthage High Thursday afternoon with the best coach in the Lone Star State, Scott Surratt. What makes Edwards a OnTexasFootball 4-star and national recruit? It’s his ability to press the hole, jump cut and accelerate instantly. Those qualities are elite. Georgia offered in early November, and Oklahoma State and Arkansas offered in January. Texas remains in contact with the Carthage staff. Edwards rushed for 1,706 yards and 24 TD’s in 2023. Kiotti Armstrong’s TE offers are elite Spoke with a source at Jasper High Thursday night. OnTexasFootball watched Kiotti Armstrong at a 7v7 tournament last weekend. He’s currently 6-5, 250 with skinny ankles and a waist of a 6-3, 210 pound type of player. The source said Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, LSU, Florida, Ole Miss and Mississippi State all offered as a tight end. Texas or Texas A&M remains expected to be the eventual winner of this recruitment with the Aggies trying to make a big push knowing the Longhorns surged in January. Pleasant Grove has future 4-stars Pleasant Grove has produced a number of 4-star prospect in recent years. Up next will be 2027 OL Jaden Withered. Seeing his up close Thursday, he has the size, arm length, flexibility, agility and frame upside to be a national recruit. Withered checks in at 6-4 and 284 pounds currently. An eighth grader, yes 8th grader, was head turning prospect Thursday. Kedrid Smith (6-3, 195) will be a highly recruited prospect if he ascends over the next couple of years. He’s a TE/EDGE player long term with the frame and movement skills. His older sister is LSU Women’s basketball forward Sa’Myah Smith, who played in high school at DeSoto High. Texas High has two names to know Class of 2027 offensive tackle Donquavius Ford will be a national recruit if he continues to ascend toward his ceiling. Ford, 6-6 and 270 pounds, is a fluid mover that can run with arm length. He has early offers from Mississippi State, Arkansas, Texas Tech, SMU, Houston, Arizona State and UTSA. Texas is aware of Ford. Sophomore DL Duncan McGhee (6-4, 280) is another name to know at Texas High in the 2026 cycle. He has early offers from Mississippi State, Baylor, Texas Tech, SMU, Houston and UTSA. View full news

100% agree with toughness in more of slender RB frame

Some pics from a big visit weekend … the last one Colin Simmons and Dakorien Moore

Favorite beef jerkey on the road remains the same!

Texas went into Arizona and got a pair of 4-stars

Another favorite of my nine from travels seeing the 2024 class …

My favorite photo from the 2024 cycle! Austin Bergstrom Airport

Okay, I'm having to do research on this one!

For sure. He' s a4-star athlete, that could well end up a 4-star prospect by next year.

No doubt! Texas High has a 2027 OT that is going to be a national recruit. The 2026 class has multiple guys

I'll have more on PG in the morning, but they have two more likely big time guys coming up in the program