Texas vs. Texas A&M head-to-head recruiting battles on the way

Texas and Texas A&M haven’t engaged in a large number of head-to-head battles in many cycles in recent years.

With Texas’ move to the SEC now official, the Longhorns and Aggies are expected to dual for more prospects in the Lone Star State.

With Junior Day visits underway, the Aggies and Longhorns will continue making pushes with a number of prospects in the cycle. There are at least 17 prospects scheduled to make Junior Day visits to both schools this month with several true head-to-head battles likely to emerge.

On3 takes a look at the prospects that will make appearances in Austin and College Station shortly.

Dallas/Fort Worth

Michael Fasusi, OT, Lewisville (Texas) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 14 (5-star)
Junior Day visits: Texas A&M January 12, Missouri January 20, Oregon January 27
What to know: Texas and Oklahoma were the two favorites during the season with the Longhorns slightly ahead. Texas A&M is now in the mix with last weekend’s push by the new staff in College Station.

Kamauryn Morgan, EDGE, Red Oak (Texas) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 75 (4-star)
Most recent offer: TCU January 6
Junior Day visits: Texas A&M January 13, Texas January 20, Baylor January 28
What to know: Morgan is emerging as the top EDGE prospect in the state in the 2025 cycle. And that means both in-state powers will battle.

Elijah Barnes, LB, Dallas (Texas) Skyline
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 84 (4-star)
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27
What to know: Texas has the advantage over Texas A&M headed into Junior Day visits. This is more than a two team race. Oklahoma and Florida State are all in. Barnes cancelled Oklahoma for Texas A&M two days ago, however.

Deondrae Riden, RB, DeSoto (Texas) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 177 (4-star)
SEC offers: Ten
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M February 3
What to know: It remains to be seen which of the two school will make the biggest push this spring.

Marcus Garcia, IOL, Denton (Texas) Ryan
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 311 (4-star)
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27, Baylor January 28 and Washington February 3.

Connor Carty, IOL, Prosper (Texas) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 386
Offers: 19, including four SEC teams.
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Penn State January 27, Texas A&M February 3

Emmanuel Choice, WR, Lancaster (Texas) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 422
Offers: 10
December offers: Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Oklahoma January 27

Xavier Ukponu, DL, Denton (Texas) Guyer
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 597
Offers: 19, including 14 power 5’s
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27, Baylor January 28, Florida February 3

Houston area

Jonah Williams, S, Galveston (Texas) Ball
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 12 (5-star)
Most recent offer: Mississippi State January 4
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20 (*Maybe), Oklahoma January 27, Texas A&M or Ohio State February 3
The Battle: Both teams are now recruiting Williams at safety. And baseball is a real factor.

Dramodd Odoms, OT, Houston (Texas) Lamar
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 104 (4-star)
Offers: 15, including five SEC programs
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27, Baylor January 28
Of note: It remains to be seen which of the in-state powers will push the hardest.

Kade Phillips, S/DB, Missouri City (Texas) Hightower
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 315 (4-star)
SEC offers: Texas A&M, Auburn, Arkansas, Ole Miss
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27, Florida February 3
The battle: Brother Kenneth Phillips signed with Texas A&M, and is a student following career ending injuries. Texas is very popular with the 6-foot-1, 178-pound long-armed and versatile defensive back that prefers cornerback.

Jonte Newman, OT, Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 342 (4-star)
Offers: 12, including 11 Power 5’s.
SEC offers: Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Missouri.
Junior Day visits: TCU January 13, Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27
Note: A head-to-head battle likely if both schools make the same push.

Jackson Christian, IOL, Port Niches (Texas) PNG
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 376
Offers: Eight, all from programs in the state of Texas. 
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M February 3
What to know: Both staff’s are higher on Christian than the offer list would suggest.

Ryan Fodje, OT, Cypress (Texas) Bridgeland
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 384
Offers: 10, all Power 5’s.
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27
What to know: Texas A&M has made the biggest push prior to the Junior Day’s the next two weekends. The visits will be huge in establishing an in-state favorite early on.

Landon Rink, DL, Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 409
Offers: 27
December offers: Syracuse, Arizona State, Stanford and Pittsburgh
Junior Day Schedule: Texas A&M January 13, Texas January 20, Oklahoma January 27
What to know: The Texas legacy has not taken on the recruiting process like he’s a loc kto end up Austin.

Nick Townsend, TE/LB, Spring (Texas) Dekaney
On3 Industry Ranking: N/R
December offers: Texas, USC, Tulsa, Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame
Other Junior day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27
What to know: Those at Dekaney High believe Townsend may well come down to a head-to-head battle between the longhorns and the Aggies. While Townsend is not ranked currently, he will be a top 150’ish level prospect in the country when all is said and done.

Caleb Chester, CB, Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall
On3 Industry Ranking: N/R
SEC offers: Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss.
Junior Day visits: Texas January 20, Texas A&M January 27, TCU January 28
What to know: Both programs like Chester as a cover corner. Will both push equally is the question, however.

Golden Triangle/SE Texas

Kiotti Armstrong, TE, Jasper (Texas) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 89 (4-star)
SEC offers: Texas A&M, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas and Florida.
Junior Day visits: Texas A&M January 13, Texas January 20
The Battle: Teammate of Texas signee Tyanthony Smith, the long-time Texas A&M commitment that flipped prior to signing day. The Aggies were considered the team to beat during the season.

East Texas

Zion Williams, DL, Lufkin (Texas) High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 273 (4-star)
SEC offers: Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas and Tennessee
What to know: This will be one of the key head-to-head battles in 2025. Over the ball defensive lineman with SEC size and strength.

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