2025 TE Emaree Winston commits to Texas: 'Texas has what I am looking for'

Emaree Winston knew entering his junior season that he wanted to make an early decision. Back in August, that was in his mind, and the school on top of his list at that time was Ohio State. The four-star tight end out of Calhoun (Ga.) continued to have the Buckeyes high on his list, but as the season progressed, the list changed.

Winston traveled to Dallas for the Red River Shootout as a Texas recruit. Then the four-star took in his first game in Austin when the Longhorns hosted Kansas State. In October and November, things shifted from Ohio State to Texas and the No. 224 prospect in the 2025 On3 Industry Rankings has committed to the Longhorns.

“Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to play in the SEC,” Winston told On3. “The more I saw Texas, and the more I saw how they used their tight ends, I started to think more about them. I love the coaches at Texas, I like the offense Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian) runs and the city of Austin really put Texas on top for me.”

There wasn’t a specific moment that Texas took over as Winston’s top school. It evolved over time. Texas was on his radar early, and as the season played out, he knew he wanted to be a Longhorn.

“Texas has what I am looking for. Since I was a little kid, I wanted to play in the SEC. As a tight end, I want to be used in the offense and Texas is a great fit for that. Austin is a place I can grow and start the next chapter in my life. I have great relationships with Coach Jeff Banks and Coach Tashard Choice too.

“As my recruitment progressed, things just led me to Texas. I have known for a little while that is where I wanted to be.”

Winston likes the fit for his game at Texas

Sarkisian’s creativity, his offensive mind and seeing the performance of JT Sanders has Winston excited about his future in Austin.

“Coach Sark always looks for ways to keep his tight ends involved,” Winston said. “Like when they ran the flea-flicker in the Big 12 Championship game, they easily could have thrown that to a wide receiver, but they got it to Sanders. Coach Sark finds a way and that really has me excited.”

Winston gave Texas the news of his commitment almost two weeks ago. He expects Sarkisian to be by his school to check on him in January and the new Longhorn commit is ready to shut his recruitment down.

“I only plan on visiting Texas moving forward. Something extreme would have to happen for me to visit other schools. I am locked in with Texas.”