Four-star WR Aeryn Hampton commits back to Texas, Steve Sarkisian

Four-star WR Aeryn Hampton has returned back to a familiar place.

After navigating through different contenders across the SEC for the bulk of the offseason, Hampton is back where his recruitment started. On Friday, the No. 25-ranked wide receiver in the On300 for the 2024 recruiting cycle committed back to Texas.

Steve Sarkisian has taken a lead role in recruiting Hampton back to Texas with the vision of the 5-foot-10, 175-pound playmaker out of Daingerfield (Texas) High School in East Texas being a playmaker on both sides of the ball. Ultimately, Sarkisian’s plan — and more importantly his connection — was the difference in a tight race with Alabama throughout the offseason.

“They’ve been recruiting me hard,” Hampton said of Texas’ push — both before and after the four-star pass-catcher backed off his initial pledge to the Longhorns last November. “When I transferred to Carthage, they recruited me hard. This whole process and since they offered me, Texas has been recruiting me hard. That’s what I like about Texas — they always kept in touch. Sark always kept in touch and from Coach (Brennan) Marion to Coach (Chris) Jackson, I have a good relationship with the staff.”

“They could have gone after different receivers, but Coach Sark always had a plan for me. Coach Sark always told me I was one of his favorite players. He sees something in me and he has a plan for me,” he explained, including snaps on both sides of the ball at receiver and also in the secondary and on special teams.

“He has a great plan for me,” added Hampton, who piled up 55 receptions for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, along with 57 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and two fumbles forced as a junior in 2022.

Hampton has been courted by many different coaches at programs across the Southeast and Texas. One relationship that stands tall above the rest is his connection with Longhorns safeties coach Blake Gideon.

Hampton’s ties to Sarkisian, Gideon and Jackson over the past half-year loomed large, especially with the Crimson Tide heavily involved.

“Coach Gideon — he’s a real dude. If I called Coach Gideon right now, or at 12 at night, he’d answer the phone,” Hampton asserted. “That’s the kind of guy he is. He tells me how it is and lets me know how it is. He talks to me like I’m his very own son, and that’s very important to me.”

“I like Coach Jackson. He comes from the league and he has a lot of experience there. Obviously, any receiver wants to be coached by a coach from the league,” he added. “It’s his first year there and he’s getting in the loop of things. I think he’s a good dude and we have a very good relationship.”

Hampton checks in as the No. 138 overall recruit in the country, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also checks in as the No. 26-rated player from the talented Lone Star State.