Texas 2024 Class: Some Final Predictions

The Texas Longhorns will likely finish with the No. 6 ranked class February 7. That will be a third straight top 6 class for Steve Sarkisian and staff.

The Longhorns top 6 class has 22 signees with only No. 4 Ohio State (21 signees) having less in the top 6. The average number of signees in the top 6 ranked classes is 25.3.

When looking at the average rating of the players in the On3 Industry Team Rankings, Texas checks in at No. 4 with a 91.41 average rating per player. Only Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State are ahead of the Longhorns.

A jaw-dropping 18 of the 22 signees in the class are already enrolled and in classes at Texas.

Here are some final thoughts and predictions for players in the class:

Two On3 Industry Ranking 5-stars

Colin Simmons, EDGE/LB, Duncanville (Texas) High – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11
State Ranking: No. 4 in Texas
Simmons will provide instant EDGE rush ability. Seeing him in person at the Under Armour All-America Game in December, he’s adding good weight and strength to his frame already. Long term, a frame similar to Robert Mathis with slightly more arm length.

Brandon Baker, RT, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 31
State Ranking: No. 2 in California
Baker will begin his career at right tackle, but will cross train at left tackle as well on a path similar to Cameron Williams. Gives Texas three really talented young tackle prospects along with Trevor Goosby and Jaydon Chatman.

Top 100 in the On3 Industry Ranking

Ryan Wingo, WR, St. Louis (Mo.) Collegiate High – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 35
State Ranking: No. 2 in Missouri
Wingo will be physically ready to compete at the Power 5 level from game one. That is not always the case at wide receiver. If he picks up a complex system, he will see the field despite plenty of experience competition.

Xavier Filsaime, S, McKinney (Texas) High – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 43
State Ranking: No. 8 in Texas
Filsaime’s laser focus on the safety position will likely get him in the rotation from game one. He brings a size/speed combination with a physical nature.

Kobe Black, CB, Waco (Texas) Connally – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 50
State Ranking: No. 10 in Texas
Black is 6-foot-2 and around 200-pounds, but he hasn’t even scratched the surface in terms of physical development. He has the look of some prospects from the Sunshine State that blow up physically quickly once they get into a college S&C program. Black being 6-2 and 210-215 long term is not out of the question.

Jerrick Gibson, RB, Gainesville (Fla.) IMG Academy – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 76
State Ranking: No. 13 in Florida
Gibson would start a list in the Texas class if the topic was physically ready today. Gibson has the look of a third year college running back physically. He possesses a powerful compact build. Prepping at IMG Academy for two years, Gibson is ready to come and compete at the Power 5 level this spring.

Ranked in the top 200 of the On3 Industry Ranking

Wardell Mack, CB, Marrero (La.) John Ehret – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 114
State Ranking: No. 4 in Louisiana
Mack arrives in Austin with a terrific frame for the position and wide receiver ball skills. Locking into one position and one side of the ball full-time for the first time is key in accelerating his development.

Aaron Butler, WR, Calabasas (Calif.) High – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 194
State Ranking: No. 17 in California
Butler has high-end ability after the catch. This is a player long term that could outperform his national ranking. Was a verbal to both USC and Colorado (Deion Sanders) during his recruitment.

Ranked in the On3 Industry Ranking Top 300

Daniel Cruz, OC, North Richland Hills (Texas) Richland – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 217
State Ranking: No. 40 in Texas
Cruz will out perform his national ranking barring serious injury setbacks. He literally has everything Texas is looking for at the center position. He brings a Kasey Studdard like mentality to the offensive line, along with all his strength and skill.

Zina Umeozulu, EDGE, Allen (Texas) High – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 249
State Ranking: No. 44 in Texas
The upside of the 6-foot-4.5, 230-pounder is higher than any national ranking. He flashed that upside at the Under Armour All-America Game week of practices. His length is very high-end, and he also possesses plus quickness for his size. An Ethan Burke path is in play in here.

Santana Wilson, CB, Phoenix (Az.) Desert Mountain
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 255
State Ranking: No. 4 in Arizona
A rare May graduate in the class. The son of former NFL safety current NFL executive Adrian Wilson will arrive in Austin with an advanced understanding of scheme and the position. Wilson committing to Texas was a big stamp of approval for Sarkisian prior to the 2023 season.

On3 Industry Rankings 4-stars

Christian Clark, RB, Phoenix (Az.) Mountain Pointe – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 324
State Ranking: No. 6 in Arizona
Clark will very likely show he has the best vision, ability to press the hole and quickest lateral cuts in traffic of any running back in the program this spring. He has a tremendous running back build and frame. If Clark doesn’t outplay his national ranking, it would be a surprise.

Parker Livingstone, WR, Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 332
State Ranking: No. 50 in Texas
Livingstone will develop into a receiver that can be counted on in the scheme in every way. Patience will be the key with freshman receivers not named Wingo. The Longhorns will need a dependable big target moving to the SEC, and the DFW area pass catcher can certainly develop into that role.

Jordon Johnson-Rubell, S/N, Fort Worth (Texas) IMG Academy – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 332
State Ranking: No. 50 in Texas
JJ-R steps foot on campus in Austin prepared physically and mentally. A leader of the IMG Academy ultra talented program the last two seasons is an instinctive and versatile safety. A good bet in the class to out perform his national ranking.

Jordan Washington, TE, Houston (Texas) Langham Creek – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 353
State Ranking: No. 53 in Texas
Washington has plenty of upside as an athletic tight end prospect that is a more than willing blocker. His ability to make plays on the ball down the field is a perfect fit for the Texas offense. Having a year to season playing behind Amari Niblack is a near perfect situation. Washington will be 6-4.5, 245-250-pounds by the time his role increases for Texas.

Tyanthony Smith, LB, Jasper (Texas) High – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 355
State Ranking: No. 55 in Texas
Smith needs a year to develop physically, but one can’t teach his combination of quickness, instinct, pursuit speed and 79-inch wingspan at 6-foot-1.5. He’s also a very good culture fit, and has versatility.

Freddie Dubose Jr., WR, Spring Branch (Texas) Smithson Valley – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 368
State Ranking: No. 57 in Texas
Dubose sports high-end athletic ability that translated on the football field and track. His ability to stretch the field vertically and make athletic plays on the ball in the intermediate game made him attractive to the Texas staff. A year to develop and patience will be key for the San Antonio area standout.

Trey Owens, QB, Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 374
State Ranking: No. 61 in Texas
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterback was among the most improved in the class as a senior. A true pocket passer at the Power 5 level, Owens showed improved ability to move in the pocket as a senior. That will be the key for him at the next level because he can make all the throws Sarkisian requires. Has the feel for changes ball speeds, and possesses very good trajectory and feel on vertical throws.

Three-stars in the class

Alex January, DL, Duncanville (Texas) High – *Early enrollee
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 436
State Ranking: No. 69 in Texas
January should have been a consensus 4-star prospect, period. He’s one of the more under valued prospects in Texas in the 2024 cycle. Texas needs him to play snaps as a freshman. That means his work with new defensive line coach Kenny Baker is going to be paramount.

Nate Kibble, IOL, Humble (Texas) Atascocita
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 464
State Ranking: No. 76 in Texas
Kibble was a rare four year starter on varsity at the 6A level in Texas. He features long arms for a 6-foot-2.5 player. His ability to create power and push in the run game and react with quickness are strengths. A high school tackle that will make the move to guard at Texas.

Melvin Hills, DL, Lafayette (La.) Lafayette Christian Academy
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 650
State Ranking: No. 18 in Louisiana
It remains to be seen if Hills will stick with the Longhorns. Conversations with new defensive line coach Kenny Baker loom large here.

Michael Kern, P, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 2332
State Ranking: No. 291 in Florida
If Texas doesn’t go to the portal for an experience punter prior to, the 2024 season that tells fans just how high Jeff Banks is on Kern.
It remains

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