DB Recruiting: Midweek visitors, Texas pushing for flip, new RPM goes in
Let’s take a look at some noteworthy items regarding defensive back recruiting.
First, we’ll start with three midweek official visits set to begin today. Those players are Dijon Lee, Dorian Brew, and Nathan Tilmon. If you look at ratings you’ll sing “one of these is not like the other,” but the staff continues to covet speed at safety and Tilmon has it.
Midweek visitors
Dijon Lee, CB, Mission Viejo (Calif.)
On3 Industry Rating: 95.44, 5-star
When a visit like this comes seemingly out of nowhere you can assume the staff knows something the public doesn’t. It’s okay to give the millionaires who do this for a living the benefit of the doubt. Anyone remember all the way back in the 2024 cycle when Texas offered Xavier Filsaime late?
I’d assume Texas is playing the long game and will look to add a numbers buster later in the cycle.
Georgia is Lee’s most likely destination at this point.
Dorian Brew, CB, Conroe (Texas)
On3 IR: 95.60, 5-star
I like the low-key midweek visit, but to be sure, Texas has a lot of work ahead. We have USC out front so Texas needs to strike all the right chords. Brew’s mother is the key person of influence in this recruitment and she’s a sharp gal. The less chaotic visit could help Texas coaches, support staffers, and yes the First Lady of Texas Football, L’Oreal Sarkisian, connect with her.
Nathan Tilmon, Mansfield (Texas) Timberview
On3 IR: 85.97, 3-star
We know a lot about this kid without knowing a lot about him. If Texas is recruiting him despite being in good shape with a number of other DB’s we can tell the mental evaluation is very strong — not just that he’ll be a good program guy but that he has high football IQ. You have to love that Utah is after him — that tells us a lot too. The Utes want smart, tough football players. Tilmon provides some versatility. He could be an eraser at field safety or perhaps drop down and play Star. Regardless of where he plays that 10.7 speed will come in handy.
Texas has other good options at safety, notably Kade Phillips and Trestin Castro, so we’ll see how hard they push for Tilmon.
Will Texas land one of Phillips and Castro?
Kade Phillips is viewed as a safety while Trestin Castro has versatility to play corner, Star, or safety so they could theoretically both end up in the class. Phillips will visit this weekend while Castro, a USC commit, just visited this past weekend. Both are 6-foot-2.
Castro is really intriguing. I’m not sure he’s explosive enough to remain at corner but, man, that kid knows how to play the ball in the air, especially with that length. I wouldn’t be shocked if Texas pulled off the flip and I could see him ending up as a ball-hawking safety.
Phillips’ recruitment has taken some turns. He was initially viewed as an A&M lean but the UT offer changed that. Then LSU crept into the picture only to slide back down. Now, I think Texas is again the team to beat as he prepares to see Austin. It doesn’t hurt that his friend Caleb Chester picked Texas last week.
As far as recruiting footprint, I’d love to see Texas continue to have success in SoCal. Castro is from Upland in the Inland Empire. I’d also love to see continued success in southwest Houston. The area has long been underrepresented on the Texas roster. Phillips is from Fort Bend Hightower.
Speaking of DB footprint, what about Louisiana?
RPM goes in for Aidan Anding
I’m a big fan of the kid from Ruston, Louisiana. I see a potential lockdown field corner. He does remind me of the type of player Gary Patterson would ID out of nowhere before tormenting Big 12 quarterbacks with. Jason Verrett? (Can you believe Verrett is 33 years old? WTH)
I’m going with a prediction of 75% ahead of his official visit to Texas this weekend. Miami has made some noise and LSU is kicking the tires but I think this will get done for Texas and stay that way.
The kid has it all and I especially like he’s a corner 100%.
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