Skip to main content
Texas

On Texas Football: Grading the offensive players in the 2023 signing class

Steve Habelby: Steve Habel12/22/22stevehabel
QB Arch Manning
Tim Warner | Getty Images

On the latest edition of On Texas Football, Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton and Gerry Hamilton brave the cold winds and lack of sleep to grade the Longhorns’ offensive haul in this year’s early signing class.

[Get Inside Texas Plus until the start of the 2023 season for $10!]

Reviewing the class from an athletic standpoint

The duo lauded the signing of quarterback Arch Manning, who was the top-rated quarterback in the signing class. Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, had to play under duress in high school in his prep career in New Orleans and is better for that, according to both Burton and Hamilton.

“Obviously, technically Manning’s far advanced as he should be, right?” Hamilton said. “He can make all the all the throws from the pocket. He has the arm strength… then he can make the off platform throws. He’s a better athlete than people will give him credit for. He stands in the pocket and he’s willing to take hits. He plays under duress because he’s had to play under duress.”

“The part that gets blown out that we need to hit on is he’s a ‘Manning,’” Burton said. “He gets the benefit of the doubt and to some degree, I agree with that. But I would also say he gets the benefit of that. I mean because you can’t have one without the other.”

Grade from Inside Texas: A+/A+

Running backs fill a need for the Horns

Texas signed Cedric Baxter, the top-rated running back in this signing period in On3’s rankings, and Tre Wisner. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Wednesday that he was looking for versatility and different skill sets at the position.

Hamilton compared Baxter to Roschon Johnson in his leadership skills.

“I feel like Sark is looking at that mix and match at running back and Baxter and Wisner fit that need,” Burton said. “With running back you’re taking two to get one really. I don’t think Wisner is a No. 1 back, I hate to say he’s a ‘boutique’ back, but he’s more of a complementary back.”

Grade from Inside Texas: A/A+

Signing jut two wide receivers may have been a disappointment for Horns

Texas was chasing a bunch of wide receivers but landed just two – Johntay Cook and Ryan Niblett – a result that Burton considered a bit of a disappointment.

The two players are not disappointing, though; both are highly regarded and will make an impact, just in a different timeframe and in different ways.

“Of all the receivers in the state of Texas, Cook may be the most ready,” Burton opined.

“The first thing when you look at both those guys is Texas continues to address speed,” Hamilton added. “Niblett is an explosive player and Cook plays fast with a football right under his arm. Both of those guys can make somebody miss and go from 40 to 50 or 60 or 70 yards. And that’s what the program continues to need, in my opinion.”

Grade from Inside Texas: A/A-

Watch the whole video for more about the above players and for how Burton and Hamilton evaluated the rest of the offensive class.

You may also like

Arch Manning
Inside Texas

A Field With A Ball

RT Young•07/31/25

I wrote this article last summer, but with fall camp underway and college football just 30 days from kickoff, it felt fitting to run it back. A lot...