Where the top recruits in Texas signed in the 2024 class

No state in the country produces top football recruits like Texas does — everything is indeed bigger in the Lone Star State. Some of that can be attributed to its massive population, but it continually outpaces the likes of California and Florida by a significant margin. The 2024 cycle is no different, with six of the nation’s 32 five-star recruits coming from Texas and 15 of the top 100.

With the conclusion of the cycle upon us and all major recruiting services having locked in their rankings, On3 looks at who the top 10 recruits in Texas are and where they’ll begin their college football careers.

1. QB DJ Lagway – Florida

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 3
School: Willis (Texas)
Scouting Summary: “DJ Lagway is a thickly-built quarterback prospect with one of the better combinations of arm talent and athleticism in the 2024 cycle. Has measured at around 6-foot-2.5, 230 pounds with a 9.5-inch hand. Tests as a good athlete in the combine setting. Flashes palpable arm strength, with the the ability to make throws to every level of the field. The ball pops out of his hand. Hits far hash throws with relative ease. Arm talent shines when forced to throw from multiple arm slots or off-platform. Makes some very impressive reactive plays. Efficient with his movements in the pocket and comfortable working outside the pocket. Owns some of the best mobility among top 2024 quarterbacks. Has quick feet and is able to extend plays and pick up yards on the ground. Ripped off a number of big gains on scrambles as a junior.

… His size and athleticism also provide the makings of a dangerous between the tackles threat on designed quarterback runs. Productive in a smaller sample as a junior, passing for 2,081 yards at 10.4 yards per attempt for 24 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Rushed for 517 yards and 7 scores on 50 carries. Shows some outstanding flashes, but needs to be more consistent on a throw to throw and week to week basis. Accuracy and performance can waver at times, with a wider than desired variance from game to game. Has yet to lead his team to a winning record entering his senior season. A touted two-sport athlete who has also received multiple offers as a baseball player.”

2. LB Justin Williams – Georgia

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 6
School: Conroe Oak Ridge
Scouting Summary: “Justin Williams is a rangy linebacker with elite speed that makes him a near prototype at the position. Measured in at around 6-foot-2, 210 pounds prior to his senior season. Added very good weight as a junior. Owns plus length for the position with arms a shade under 33 inches. The fastest top linebacker in the combine setting in 2024. Backed that up on the track with a stellar 11.01 second mark in the 100 meters. Transfers that high-end athleticism over to the field. Originally a safety, he moved to linebacker full-time as a junior and had a very productive season, notching 105 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Lines up as a mike backer for his high school.

…Shows the ability to stack and shed incoming blockers. Excels bringing down ball players from sideline to sideline and in the backfield. Flashes an elite first step and ability to close. Draws on his experience as a safety to aid in coverage and playing in space. Will need to continue adding mass and strength. A strong tackler in his first year as a linebacker but can improve the pop in his hands and overall play strength. Flashes considerable upside given his high-end combination of athleticism, length and range.”

3. ATH Terry Bussey – Texas A&M

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 11
School: Timpson (Texas)
Scouting Summary: “Terry Bussey is a do-it-all athlete who is arguably the best high school football player in the state of Texas. Measured a shade over 5-foot-10 and around 180 pounds prior to his senior season. A top athlete, both in the combine setting and on the track. One of the fastest prospects in the 2024 cycle. Ran a personal best of 10.66 seconds in the 100 meters as a sophomore, finishing 3rd in the state meet. Posted strong marks in the long jump (23-4.75 feet and triple jump (45-11 feet) as a junior. Lines up at quarterback and defensive back for Timpson. Has eviscerated the level of competition dating back to his freshman season. Boasts a rare combination of top-tier explosiveness and fluidity. Gashes defenses with his legs. Shows range while working as a defensive back, both as a safety and corner.

… Does a nice job staying in phase in man coverage. Physical defender and is willing to stick his face into traffic. Shows the ability to track the ball as a receiver. A dominant player on Friday nights with elite production. Finished his junior season with 4,773 yards and 72 touchdowns from scrimmage en route to being named Mr. Texas Football. Also picked off five passes, returning four for touchdowns. A four-sport athlete with a sterling multi-sport profile. Averaged 19.6 points per game in basketball and has the ability to throw down dunks at 5-foot-10. Has genuine positional ambiguity at the next level, with his highest upside appearing to be as a defensive back given his natural athleticism and playmaking ability. Is not overly refined as a receiver and would need time to develop as a route-runner. May lack some size, but is an elite athlete with an undeniable body of work as a high school player.”

4. WR Micah Hudson – Texas Tech

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 12
School: Temple Lake Belton
Scouting Summary: “Micah Hudson is a playmaking receiver who wins in every phase. Arguably the best wide receiver after the catch in the 2024 cycle. Measured at around 5-11.5, 195 pounds prior to his senior season. Has good length, with a 32.5-inch arm. A high volume target on the high school level who makes plays in a variety of ways. Finished his junior season with 1,198 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on 65 catches. Also carried the ball 32 times for 243 yards and two scores. An above-the-rim athlete who is capable of skying to come down with spectacular acrobatic grabs. A shifty route-runner. Uses his lateral agility and coordination to shake defenders mid-route. A menace in the open field, taking short passes to the house. Uses his change of direction and balance to force missed tackles. Uses his stout build to become a running back after the catch. Capable of lining up anywhere within the formation, even in the backfield. Highly competitive on Friday nights. Also participates in basketball and track. While his long speed in the open field is good, he can continue improving the top gear and stride length.”

5. EDGE Colin Simmons – Texas

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 15
School: Duncanville High
Scouting Summary: “Colin Simmons is a speed rushing dynamo who stars for one of the top high school programs in Texas. Arguably the most dominant defensive player in the 2024 cycle, registering 22.5 sacks as a junior while playing in Texas’ highest classification. Measured at around 6-foot-2.5, 225 pounds with a 34-inch arm prior to his senior season. Primarily lines up at defensive end for Duncanville. Uses first-step quickness, play speed and dip to create issues for opposing offensive tackles. Shows good curvilinear movement with his ability to turn corners as a pass rusher. Length aids in disengaging from offensive linemen, finishing plays and disrupting passing lanes. Looks to play with a very strong effort level. Has an innate knack for disrupting passing lanes, batting down a number of passes as a junior. Took over the state title game in a key second-half sequence that led to Duncanville’s win. Has a smaller frame than most elite EDGE prospects and will need to put on weight early on in college to aid in his ability to hold up against the run.”

6. DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye – Georgia

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 29
School: Conroe Oak Ridge
Scouting Summary: “Joseph Jonah-Ajonye is an athletic, versatile defensive lineman with one of the higher developmental upsides at the position in the 2024 cycle. Measured at around 6-foot-3.5, 275 pounds prior to his senior season. Has a big frame and plus length with a 10.5-inch hand and arms that measure over 34 inches. An easy, natural athlete who moves like a much smaller player. Lines up at defensive end and inside on Friday nights. Flashes outstanding speed in pursuit, running down plays from the backside. Plays to the whistle and makes second effort plays. Shows quick hands at the point of attack. Is a mismatch due to his quickness and overall athleticism when he slides inside. Capable of overpowering offensive tackles as a edge setter against the run. Will need to continue honing his skill and growing as a player. Could stand to improve his pass rush. Born in Nigeria and did not start playing football until his freshman year of high school. Also extraordinarily young for the cycle, with a November birthday. Is the age of a 2025 prospect. Has notable upside based on his lower level of development and the room for growth relative to most other top 2024 prospects.”

7. CB Kobe Black – Texas

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 37
School: Waco Connally
Scouting Summary: “Kobe Black is a big-bodied defensive back with coverage instincts and ball skills. More filled out than most of his highly-rated peers at the position. Checked in at 6-foot-1 and around 185 pounds prior to his senior season. Has plus length for the position with a wing-span over 6-foot-7. Works as an outside corner on Friday nights. Instinctive in coverage. Reads and jumps routes. Technically sound in coverage relative to this stage. Smooth in his movements. Has the length, size and strength to reroute receivers at the line. Projects as a plus run defender. Shows ball skills and made plays on the ball as a junior with 9 pass breakups and 2 interceptions. Also lined up at wide receiver for Waco Connally where he showed playmaking skills and overall coordination. Tracks the football over his shoulder and comes down with high-point grabs in traffic. Not an overly twitchy athlete relative to most high-end cornerback prospects. Quicker than fast. Could also project at safety long-term given his strengths and physical skill set. Also plays basketball and runs track. Very young for the cycle with a late June birthday.”

8. RB Taylor Tatum – Oklahoma

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 40
School: Longview High
Scouting Summary: “Taylor Tatum is a downhill, one-cut back with burst and three-down ability. Has a good build for the position, checking in at over 5-foot-10 and over 200 pounds prior to his senior season. Registers as a strong athlete in the combine setting with his speed stacking up well among his fellow top backs. Area champion in the 200 meters as a junior, with a personal best of 21.70 seconds. Plays in an offense that is often under center, lining up in a deep backfield. Turned in a productive junior season against good competition in Texas, rushing for 1,840 yards, 33 touchdowns at 8.9 yards per carry. Shows a notable initial burst, exploding to the second level. Excels in running outside concepts.

… A natural long-strider with a light-footed, bouncy gait. Runs through contact at the second level. Lowers his shoulder on contact and keeps his legs moving. Has some subtle moves to sidestep defenders. A good receiver in both camp settings and in limited opportunities on Friday nights. Attacks the ball and makes grabs with his arms extended. Looks natural in running routes out of the backfield. At his best when he can get a runway due to his longer stride. Can improve lateral agility, but made some strides in that area as a junior. Also can continue shoring up his ball security. Younger for the class with a late April birthday.”

9. SAF Xavier Filsaime – Texas

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 41
School: McKinney High
Scouting Summary: “Xavier Filsaime is an 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.”

10. SAF Aaron Flowers – Oregon

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 52
School: Forney High
Scouting Summary: “Aaron Flowers is a versatile defensive back who lines up at both corner and safety but projects at the latter long-term. Measured at around 6-feet, 180 pounds in the spring prior to his junior season. Has plus length for the position with a 6-foot-4 wing-span. Has high-end agility, consistently posting shuttle times under 4.2 seconds. Displays good range in coverage when working as a two high safety. Has the ability to line up in man coverage on the outside or in the slot. Plays with a physical presence as a tackler and run defender, driving through ball carriers. Quicker than fast and can continue to improve his fluidity and lower body flexibility. Younger for the cycle with a spring birthday.”