Texas insider logs prediction for Longhorns to flip 5-star safety Xavier Filsaime from Florida

Buzz surrounding Texas and McKinney (Texas) five-star safety Xavier Filsaime has continued to pick up steam ahead of National Signing Day.

On Saturday, Texas insider Eric Nahlin logged a pick in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) for the Longhorns to flip the Florida commit. He accompanied the pick with a 70% confidence level, bumping Texas’ chances to land the elite defensive back up to 43%.

Earlier this week, Sarkisian and Longhorns safeties coach Blake Gideon went in-home to visit the No. 32 overall prospect and No. 2 safety in the 2024 cycle. Filsaime is expected to take an official visit to Austin from Dec. 15-17.

“I think things continue to trend a little bit towards Texas here. That official visit, as you know, you make two visits in a short amount of time, that’s not good news for Florida,” Texas recruiting insider Gerry Hamilton said on The Inside Scoop.

Longhorns looking to flip second prospect from Florida

Gators head coach Billy Napier is expected to go in-home with Filsaime ahead of his Texas OV, but the momentum appears to be with the Longhorns late.

“It’s not going to be easy to flip him, but it’s probably 50-50 right now,” Florida insider Corey Bender said. “I truly think it’s a coin flip, I don’t even think Xavier knows where he wants to go, so I think that in-home and obviously that official visit in Austin is going to be a huge factor.”

Florida’s 2024 recruiting class is still currently ahead of the Longhorns’ in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, but the Gators have lost multiple blue-chip pledges this fall, including Marrero (La.) John Ehret four-star cornerback Wardell Mack, who flipped to Texas on Nov. 12.

“Florida doesn’t have to get him back on campus to sign him,” Hamilton said. “The key there is can they weather the storm? Texas is now a College Football Playoff team. There’s a lot of momentum with this Texas program and it’s the opposite with Florida … Florida continues to leak oil in that class and that only helps Texas.”

Xavier Filsaime Scouting Summary

“Athletic, physical safety with versatility on the back end. Measured at over 5-foot-11.5, around 180 pounds prior to his junior season. Has average to below average length for the position with a 30.75-inch arm. Turned in very strong track times as a sophomore, with multiple sub-11.0 second marks in the 100 meters, highlighted by a personal best of 10.52 seconds. Primarily worked as a safety as a junior, lining up deep and in the slot. Makes most of his plays as a cover down defender. Physical and throws his body around. Shows pop as a striker.

…Closes quickly when moving forward. Sniffs out quick passes. Plays with some attitude. Has the speed and fluidity to line up on receivers in man coverage. Did not have much ball production as a junior at safety but was a wide receiver as a sophomore, alleviating questions about ball skills. Did not replicate his sophomore track times as a junior. Younger for the class with an April birthday.”

Filsaime has an On3 NIL Valuation of $231K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.