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@Gerry Hamilton has already posted one set of scrimmage notes that you can find here, but I spoke with another source to get some information as well. Here’s what I learned: - Defense was the name of the game today. They were impressive from the get go and didn’t let up at all. - One thing they did a lot was bring pressure and show different looks to try and catch the offense off guard. - The defense forced multiple turnovers today. - We have some conflicting reports, but I was told Andrew Mukuba intercepted Quinn Ewers and Jelani McDonald intercepted Arch Manning. Obviously this is slightly different than what Gerry heard (Mukuba picking off Manning), but we do know Mukuba definitely had a pick. - I was told a cornerback also forced a fumble, but unfortunately the source didn’t get the name of the player. (Edit: @CJ Vogel has confirmed Jahdae Barron caused the fumble while playing CB.) - The linebackers were “very solid.” - On offense, I’m told the running backs were “okay” - Jaydon Blue, Christian Clark, Jerrick Gibson and Tre Wisner all got work with the first team. - Derrion Gullette ran with the second team at RB. - WRs had some outstanding catches and a pretty solid day overall - The tight ends looked really good, especially the first group which consisted of Amari Niblack, Juan Davis and Gunnar Helm. All three ran with the first team. - Both Helm and Davis had “impressive catches” and Davis got a touchdown of his own. - Jordan Washington turned in a solid performance, including a long reception that went for about 25-30 yards. - I’m told third string QB Trey Owens had a very impressive drive that ended in a touchdown after marching down the length of the field. - Trey Owens also threw an interception, but I'm not sure who made that play. (EDIT: Walk-on Graham Gillespie is the one who picked off Trey Owens.) I’ll update later with anything else I get. — More notes (3:45 PM): - The defense actually forced another fumble after Jordan Washington’s big catch, knocking the ball loose from Washington during the tackle, but it bounced out of bounds. - “The defense looked good,” a source told me. “The front seven was getting after it. Every position group. This defense is stingy” - More tight end praise, as I was told every tight end who took snaps today made plays that helped the offense. - I’m told Tyanthony Smith is a PLAYER. “He’s going to be a beast,” a source said. “Mark my word, he will play this year.” - Liona Lefau was another linebacker who received praise. “He is good. He’s fast to the ball and consistently just seems to be in the right place.” — 4:05 PM Update: I asked a source to pick an MVP on each side of the ball. Offense: Ryan Wingo Defense: “I’d give it to the whole defense. They got after it.”

2025 Mansfield Timberview DB Nathan Tilmon will make his decision tomorrow. Utah, TCU and Texas are the final three in the decision

2025 Bellville DL DJ Sanders has made his decision. The interior defensive lineman has committed to Texas A&M according to Hayes Fawcett. Sanders was down to Texas, Michigan and Texas A&M and ultimately the Aggies come away with the win.

D.J. Sanders Update: Wednesday There has been some questions of when the Bellville (Texas) High defensive lineman D.J. Sanders will announce his decision. OTF was told again a few minutes ago that it's going to be on Thursday night, the 8th. The announcement will be via social media around midnight. Texas, Texas A&M and Michigan are the finalists. There is some cautious optimism with Texas. But I will reiterate, this is a wildcard recruitment.

OnTexasFootball does have Thursday, August 8 as the date we expect Bellville (Texas) High defensive lineman D.J. Sanders to announce his decision. This is not expected to be a press conference, hats on the table type announcement. It's will likely be a social media commitment. Texas and Michigan considered the top two from one source. But OTF isn't ready to say Texas A&M can't win this one too. It's a wildcard recruitment. Sanders and his family have been in constant communication with Sarkisian, Kenny Baker and area recruiter Blake Gideon.

Practice kicks off in 15 minutes. Will have updates from the start in the thread here.

2025 Mansfield Timberview DB Nathan Tilmon has announced his decision is coming next Saturday. The decision will come down to Texas, Utah and TCU. A tightly contested race will finally come to a conclusion with the Longhorns looking to make a final push.

2026 Saraland (Ala.) DL Antonio Coleman has flipped from Auburn to Alabama. (Again). Coleman accompanied KJ Lacey on the visit to Texas this past weekend. I’m sure this one still has plenty to go.

OnTexasFootball expects 2025 DL JJ Hanne (Berlin, Germany/Rancho Santa Margarita) to commit to Georgia sooner rather than later - barring a major change. Georgia has been considered the favorite since offering in early June. Hanne has an OV scheduled to Georgia September 7-9 and Texas September 28-29. OTF doesn’t believe he will make the OV to Texas if he commits UGA soon.

OnTexasFootball 4-star+ OL Nick Brooks will not be attending John F. Kennedy High on Cedar Rapids, Ia. as a senior. OTF has learned that the 6-7, 355 pounder will be attending high school in the Atlanta area as a senior. He attended a private school in Alpharetta, Ga. as a sophomore prior to his family moving back to the Cedar Rapids area.

OnTexasFootball has been told that the visit for Hanne is going very well. Hanne has set up an official visit date. We are waiting for the exact date, likely in September.

Galveston (Texas) Ball 4-star+ safety Jonah Williams and parents visited Texas today. Williams spent a lot of time with Steve Sarkisian, Blake Gideon and the defensive staff. Of course, baseball is part of the equation with the Williams recruitment. Williams, 6-3 and 205 pounds, was not able to meet with the Jim Schlossnagle or the staff in person today as the staff is out of town. He did have a FaceTime call with Schloss and staff members today. Williams will head to LSU tomorrow ahead of an August 14 decision. Texas put their best foot forward, and believes they are in contention. Where Texas truly sits, they don’t yet have a feel for inside the facility.

Steve Sarkisian had a message at the Texas High School Coaches Association this afternoon: “I’m generally not one to panic especially in the middle of June and July. Let’s talk in December and see where we land.”

OnTexasFootball getting the Thursday recruiting thread going early. The event begins around 1pm officially, but prospects will be on campus prior. The Pool Party begins around 4 pm

Five-star DB Jonah Williams will make a decision August 24th he just announced. Williams has a top five of Oregon, USC, Texas, LSU and Texas A&M. We are also expecting Williams to be in Austin on Thursday.

Texas is back in the portal and come out with a strong pull out of Florida. The Longhorns have secured a commitment from Northwest Florida State College where he hit .346 with 15 HR this past spring. Texas fills their 1B hole with a big time bat with plenty of upside.

Texas has extended an offer to Anthony Davis Jr., a 2026 linebacker out of Grayson High School in Loganville, GA. The last five offers for the 6-foot-2 linebacker include USC, Penn State, Oklahoma and Ohio State to give you an idea on the athletic profile he possesses. Looks like it was Tashard Choice was the Texas assistant to extend the offer to the Georgia native. Texas continues to push deeper into the Peach State.

Decision Day: 4-star WR Kelshaun Johnson Hitchcock (Texas) High 4-star wide receiver and explosive playmaker Kelshaun Johnson is scheduled to announce his decision at around 5:30 p.m. central today. Headed into Monday, Texas A&M has been trending for three weeks with the Houston area speedster. The work of Holmon Wiggins has been strong in the favor of the Aggies with an assist from Mike Elko. Texas has attempted to turn up the heat in the last week and half with Steve Sarkisian and Chris Jackson in constant contact with Johnson and his mother. Johnson and his mother spoke with Sarkisian and Jackson a final time Monday headed into Tuesday's decision. OTF believes Johnson ended Monday continuing to lean to the Aggies. OTF will continue to check in with sources close to the recruitment to see if there is any change today headed into the announcement.

2025 IMG Academy LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng tells me he has been in contact with Texas recently. Texas just added its second linebacker to the 2025 class with the addition of Jonathan Cunningham out of North Crowley. Owusu-Boateng was reported to be visiting Texas during the weekend of April 13, however he did not make it to campus. Still, however, there remains interest on his side and a visit at the end of the month or near the beginning of the season could be in store. Nothing has been locked in yet, but certainly a situation to monitor at the moment.

I reported a little over a week ago that the Longhorns felt good about both Jalin Flores and Jared Thomas returning to next year’s squad. Unfortunately, Thomas was selected No. 42 overall by the Colorado Rockies and that ship has sailed. The good news, however, is Texas’ optimism was well warranted, as Flores made the news official yesterday that he would remain in Austin. That move is huge for Schlossnagle and his staff for several reasons. Obviously it provides the Horns with a reliable and experienced bat, as Flores finished the 2024 season with a .340 average, hitting 82 times in 241 at bats, while going yard 18 times in that span. More importantly it helps shore up the infield and gives Texas it’s starter back at shortstop. Sources have expressed concern about the position behind the scenes and I was told it was a major question mark heading into the fall. In short, Flores coming back might be the biggest victory of the offseason thus far. *** Many fans have been wondering about where things stand with RHP Lebarron Johnson Jr. and the possibility of him returning to the Forty Acres as well. LBJ was also drafted by the Rockies with the No. 139 overall pick. The truth of the matter is, no one seems to really know. What I can tell you is that Texas has made their pitch and is in wait and see mode. Personally I think it would benefit LBJ to come back. CJ and I both noted over the course of the season that his pitching left a lot to be desired and was, well… flat with little movement on his most common pitches. Many people I spoke with also felt working with new pitching coach Max Weiner would benefit him. Stay tuned, as we should know very soon. *** Texas has taken a number of pitchers since the new staff arrived in Austin, adding guys from the high school ranks to JUCO to taking transfers. I liked what @CJ Vogel said the other day, when he compared Schlossnagle/Weiner adding pitchers to Steve Sarkisian/Kyle Flood adding offensive linemen. There’s so much truth to that “the cupboard is bare” comparison. So don’t be surprised when the Horns continue add more in the near future. They’re still actively evaluating and pursuing players at this time. *** When it comes to the rotation, there’s still a lot up in the air. Obviously nothing is set in stone this early and that will all get settled between now and February. With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if a weekend starter is still out in the portal. *** Elite RHP Drew Rerick took his name out of the MLB Draft yesterday. Rerick, who boasts a 96 mph fastball along with a handful of other pitches, is considered one of the top 75 high school players in the nation. Yet another major win for the Horns. *** Finally, a lot of you have asked about Stanford ace pitcher Nijaree Canady. Information has been extremely tough to come by, but I can tell you Texas continues to recruit Canady since she entered the portal. Texas and OU are the two options I continue to hear the most, with Florida also having a shot. One school that is trying hard to get in the mix of things is Oklahoma State. There’s only one problem… they’ve taken two pitchers out of the portal already. Mix that with what’s already on campus and they have a bit of a logjam at the position. The Sooners are also facing that same problem. They, too, have added two, as Campbell transfer Isabella Smith and Louisiana transfer Sam Landry have committed to Oklahoma.

Texas SS Jalin Flores will be back in Austin for 2025, OTF can confirm. Kendall Rogers first to report. Absolutely huge news for Jim Schlossnagle in year one.

OnTexasFootball spoke with Ruston (La.) High 4-star CB Aidan Anding in the last ten minutes. Anding, 5-11 and 175, has four schools remaining in the mix: Texas, Arkansas, Miami and LSU. Anding remains scheduled to visit LSU the last weekend in July. With that said, he told OTF that there is the possibility he cancels that visit. A decision will be made on that by Sunday night. If LSU is canceled, Texas or Arkansas will likely be the pick in the next week to 10 days.

Five-star Lewisville OT Michael Fasusi will make his decision August 21 per Hayes Fawcett. Fasusi has a final five of Texas, Oregon, Missouri, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. However, we at OTF believe it is a Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma battle with the decision likely coming down in Red River Shootout fashion.

We all know change is coming at some point to college football and more specifically the world of NIL. The Oklahoma Sooners have made an interesting move to get out ahead of what could be known as the salary cap era when it comes to NIL. 'General Managers' have popped up in college football this offseason, but in terms of spending the actual allocation of funds on prospects, this takes it to a whole 'nother level.

The Tampa (Fla) Tech 4-star+ WR and Oregon verbal has been in contact with Texas frequently since May. This is one the Horns have been recruiting heavily behind the scenes.