4-star EDGE Damien Shanklin sets Texas official visit
One of the top prospects in The Hoosier State will make his way down to Texas for an official visit this summer.
On Friday, Indianapolis Warren Central four-star EDGE Damien Shanklin announced that he has locked in an official visit with the Longhorns for June 21-23. Texas joins Tennessee as programs that are now expected to host the 6-foot-4.5, 215-pounder for June OVs.
Texas offered Shanklin at the end of September and is now looking to get in the mix for his pledge. Notre Dame is currently trending for the four-star, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).
Shanklin is the No. 143 overall prospect and No. 16 EDGE in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player in Indiana.
On3 ranks Shanklin higher than other recruiting services. He checks in at No. 107 overall and No. 11 at the EDGE position in the updated 2025 On300.
Texas Class Breakdown
Texas’ 2025 class was kicked off with a bang back in June, as Saraland (Ala.) four-star quarterback K.J. Lacey pledged to the Longhorns. The gunslinger has continued to rise in the On3 Industry Ranking and now checks in as a top-10 player at his position.
“So some of the main things that stood out to me about Texas were how much they value relationships,” Lacey told On3 upon his commitment. “What coach Sark and coach Milwee preached to me was that they don’t just offer quarterbacks because they are talented. They also want to know what type of person you are towards your teammates and peers and see if the leadership role comes to you naturally or not.
Lacey has since been flanked by four others since December. Calhoun (Ga.) four-star tight end Emaree Winston and Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie four-star defensive lineman Brandon Brown committed to UT on back-to-back days.
Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek three-star EDGE Anthony Williams and Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove four-star athlete Lance Jackson each pledged in January to add some in-state defensive flair to the pledge list in Austin.