ESPN becomes the latest outlet to praise the Texas Longhorns for their recruiting and portal efforts
More publications have now heaped praise on Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns for their work done both on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal ahead of the 2024 season.
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The Longhorns already brought in the No. 6 2024 signing class in December 2023 with five-star talent Colin Simmons headlining a group that featured eight players in the top 150 of On3’s rankings. In addition via work done in the winter and spring transfer portal windows, Texas added the No. 5 transfer portal class with 11 quality additions (though Kendrick Blackshire has already elected to leave the program). Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond was the main attraction but defensive tackles Tia Savea, Bill Norton, and Jermayne Lole helped to address the Longhorns’ biggest need on defense.
Now, ESPN has joined On3 in singing Texas’ praises. On Thursday, ESPN said that among newcomer classes which factor both high school and transfer portal additions, Texas brought in the best in the nation ahead of Ohio State, Ole Miss, Miami, Oregon, Alabama, Texas A&M, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Auburn.
Here’s what ESPN’s Craig Haubert and Billy Tucker had to say about Bond, Norton, Savea, Lole, Matthew Golden, Andrew Mukuba, Trey Moore, Silas Bolden, Amari Niblack, and Jay’Vion Cole.
Texas’ No. 5 recruiting class includes impact freshmen on both sides of the ball. Wingo is receiving coaching reviews similar to those of five-star WR Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State. Wingo’s size, speed and natural pass-catching skills are already elite. Simmons may have a harder time getting meaningful reps given the talent around him, but he’s being compared to Anthony Hill Jr. as a pass-rusher because of his speed, bend and power. Both are mature and explosive true freshman playmakers.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, a one-time Alabama assistant, benefitted from the coaching change in Tuscaloosa. Texas landed receiver Bond, who led Alabama with 48 catches, and tight end Niblack, who was among the Tide’s leaders in receptions and touchdowns. Bringing in Golden from in-state Houston was another coup. The four-star 2022 recruit was an immediate contributor for the Cougars and should replace lost production in both the passing and return games. Bolden is coming off his most productive season at Oregon State with 54 catches in 2023, doubling his output from the first three years. Defensively, the Longhorns stacked the trenches with run-stuffers. After adding Norton and Savea from Arizona, Lole was a recent flip from Oklahoma. Texas addressed the void at defensive tackle after losing Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat to the NFL.
The Longhorns have high expectations as they enter their first season in the Southeastern Conference. FanDuel has set Texas’ regular season win total at 10.5. Sarkisian’s program has the third-best odds to win the national title at +750, only behind Ohio State at +450 and Georgia at +300. Texas trails only Georgia in best odds to win the SEC, with UT carrying +310 odds. Even quarterback Quinn Ewers has the second-best odds to win the Heisman at +900 behind UGA’s Carson Beck.
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Much of the potential for success for Texas in 2024 is attributable to excellent recruiting and portal additions, something more and more outlets are noticing now that the season is 100 days away.
