Texas trending up in a big way with elite 2025 LB Riley Pettijohn
Four-star McKinney (Texas) linebacker Riley Pettijohn has been a central focus for Texas’ 2025 recruiting class as one of the nation’s best defensive prospects.
The Longhorns have hosted the DFW-area star multiple times since the fall, including over the weekend for their spring game. And coming out of that visit, Texas continues to trend as the top school in his recruitment.
And they’re currently the overwhelming favorite to land him in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), thanks in part to a pick from InsideTexas.com recruiting analyst Justin Wells.
Pettijohn has multiple other official visits scheduled, but Wells feels very confident in the pick he made in early March.
“Pettijohn is probably still going to take those [official] visits, but I still love where Texas is at,” he said Monday during On3’s Inside Scoop recruiting show. “… Texas is in a great, great position with Riley Pettijohn right now. The kid ran a 10.7 [100 meters] last week at the linebacker position, he’s a high-end four-star. He’s exactly what linebackers coach Johnny Nansen and this bunch need to get. Texas only took one linebacker in the last cycle — Tyanthony Smith out of Jasper (Texas), they flipped an A&M guy. Pettijohn is just as imporant as Elijah Barnes.”
Buzz is growing around the Longhorns
On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons recently updated where things stand in the race for Pettijohn, as he’s also set officials to Ohio State, USC and Texas A&M. The Longhorns look to be in the front of the pack, however.
“I think there’s some correlation there that Texas is in a great spot. He liked the University of Texas. They have a new linebackers coach he’s connected with there in Austin. I like where Texas sits. But, he will take the process out; he will take some spring trips, summer OVs and then make that decision,” Simmons said.
“I’d say for one their trajectory in college football, one of the top teams,” Pettijohn’s father Duke said of UT to On3 VP of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong. “Being in the SEC and in Texas.
“Now after getting to know and meet Sark a couple times and him bringing Coach (Johnny) Nansen and his experience as a former head coach, offense and defense coordinator experience, and this type of defense they run, I feel like it would be a great fit for Riley.”
Pettijohn is the No. 39 overall prospect and No. 2 LB in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 9 player in Texas.