On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine: Texas trending for RB Christian Clark

Few programs — if any — have recruited the running back position better in recent years than Texas. Even prior to Steve Sarkisian’s arrival, the Longhorns had already signed Bijan Robinson, who was a five-star recruit coming out of high school. And after landing five-star Cedric Baxter Jr. in the 2023 class, Texas is trending for two of the country’s top running backs in 2024.

The Longhorns have been considered the favorite for four-star Jerrick Gibson, the nation’s No. 1 RB, for some time now. But after a new prediction from InsideTexas.com’s Gerry Hamilton, the ‘Horns are also trending for Mountain Pointe (Ariz.) four-star Christian Clark.

Following Hamilton’s pick, Texas now holds an 89.2 percent chance of landing Clark’s commitment, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

“Running backs coach Tashard Choice and Sarkisian have quickly built a solid relationship with the 6-foot-0, near 200-pounder in a short amount of time,” Hamilton wrote. “After Clark made an unofficial visit to Texas March 25 for Junior Day, there was some chatter that the Longhorns were ascending to the top of the list along with USC.

… Since that time, there has been more talk about Texas’ standing on the West Coast. In the last two days, intel received said the Longhorns are considered the favorite by those in the state of Arizona.”

Texas making Christian Clark feel like a priority

In 2022, Clark totaled 737 yards on 103 carries, scoring 11 touchdowns. He was also a weapon in the passing game, hauling in 37 catches for 368 yards and five more scores. 

The Longhorns like his versatility, and Choice told Clark that he sees similarities between he and Bijan Robinson.

“He sees a lot of Bijan in me,” Clark told InsideTexas last month. “He said that when he watched my film. He was like, ‘this is literally a mini Bijan, another one.’ That means a lot, that he recognizes my talent for Bijan’s because I think he should be a top-five pick this year.”

Clark is the No. 261 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 22 running back and the No. 4 recruit in the state of Arizona.

Among the other contenders to land him are in-state Arizona and Arizona State, Oregon, USC, Georgia, Alabama, Florida State and Auburn. He recently visited the Seminoles, and they are also making a strong push to land him.

“First of all, I love the coaches, the culture of everything, what Coach Norvell is bringing to the program,” Clark told Warchant. “The campus is beautiful. I love it. My uncle and my mom, they went here, and they said it’s way different from when they went here.”