Elite 4-star WR Jaime Ffrench takes Texas visit
Steve Sarkisian and the Texas staff had their hands full this weekend, as a host of elite prospects were on The Forty Acres for a major couple days of recruiting.
There were plenty of impressive pass-catchers in Austin, including Jacksonville Mandarin four-star WR Jaime Ffrench. He’ll return for an official visit this summer, but this weekend was an important one as the Longhorns looked to cement their status as a contender for the former Alabama pledge.
Ffrench was one of the headlining names in Austin as Texas continues to look for a centerpiece pledge in the 2025 cycle. He’s now set to visit Tennessee on April 8, while the likes of Ohio State, Florida State, LSU, Miami are also in the mix for his commitment.
Recruiting insiders talk contenders for Ffrench
Last week, On3’s Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons talked the recruitment of Ffrench and the host of top-notch programs that are after him:
“My RPM is on Ohio State, one of the first ones I locked since joining this network,” On3 VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong said. “I think that they’ve set the bar in this recruitment with what Brian Hartline & Co. have done at the position. I think he sees it as a place that he can really excel.”
“Watch out for Tennessee,” On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons said. “Kelsey Pope, Josh Heupel — those guys did a great job getting him on campus in March. Really hit a home run not just with him, but I’m told with his parents as well. Of course, Florida State has always been there. He was back at Miami here recently. I agree with Steve, right now setting the pace is Ohio State. But watch out for a school like Tennessee here.”
Texas Class Breakdown
Thanks to five commits — all of whom are four-star prospects — Texas currently has the No. 10 class in the nation — which also checks in at No. 5 in the SEC and No. 1 in The Lone Star State.
The 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.
Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove four-star athlete Lance Jackson pledged in January to add some in-state defensive flair to the pledge list in Austin. Tyler (Texas) Chapel Hill four-star running back Rickey Stewart Jr. is the newest addition to the class, as the former SMU pledge committed to the Longhorns on Saturday.