4-star RB Jerrick Gibson on Texas: 'This is where I need to be'

For a moment, Georgia might have had a shot at landing one of the nation’s premier running backs in the 2024 recruiting class. At least until Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy four-star running back Jerrick Gibson made his way back to Austin, Texas.

On an official visit to Athens, Gibson said that Georgia might be the school to give Texas “a run for their money,” — until he returned to see the Longhorns again. Then, Gibson said he knew “This is where I need to be.”

Gibson is the nation’s No. 86 overall prospect and No. 5 running back in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is getting ready to play in the 2024 Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 3, and spoke with reporters about his recruitment to Texas in the lead-up to event practices.

Gibson’s relationship with Tashard Choice

Gibson committed to the ‘Horns on June 24 and that pledge remained strong all the way through National Signing Day. Relationships were a key part to his recruitment, and that includes his relationship with running backs coach Tashard Choice. Choice joined the staff in Austin in 2022 after spending three seasons at Georgia Tech.

“Just his energy, you know? I really feel like he has genuine love towards me,” Gibson said about Choice. “Just the way he develops his running backs and how I see myself fitting in as well to produce to get to the next level.”

Longhorns star running back Jonathon Brooks tore his ACL three weeks before the Big 12 Championship and was honored with taking the field in victory formation against Oklahoma State despite his injury. Meanwhile, it has been ‘next man up’ for Texas as they try to get to a national championship game for the first time since 2009.

“I applaud coach Choice for that because he pours into all his running backs that it’s next man up no matter what it is,” Gibson said. “You’re just as good as the dude that was in front of you. So they’ve all got that mentality to go out there and just handle business.”

Steve Sarkisian ‘lets his coaches coach’

Other relationships Gibson has formed with the staff at Texas include one with head coach Steve Sarkisian. Gibson spoke about Sarkisian’s coaching style and how he manages his staff.

“I just like how he lets his coaches coach,” Gibson said. “He’s not too big into, like, interfering into what they’ve got going on. He lets them do their own thing with their position group. I like how he lets coach Choice do his own thing with his backs, he puts his trust into him to do what he’s got to do.”

Gibson went on to say that these relationships he has built with coaches — as well as with other players — were his top highlight of the recruiting process.

“Just the relationships I built over these past years with the players and also the coaches,” Gibson said. “All the things they put into me, poured into me to become a young man. Because going through this recruiting process has shaped me into becoming a better young man at the end of the day. So I appreciate all the coaches that gave me a chance.”