Steve Sarkisian looks ahead to 2024 recruiting class

Teams haven’t finished putting together their 2023 recruiting cycles yet. Still, with the Early Signing Day behind them, most classes have taken their shape and there are those looking ahead to 2024 already. Coaches have already been recruiting that cycle, looking to build for the future.

Now, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian gave a brief look ahead to the 2024 recruiting class.

“Probably a little early just to narrow it all down,” Steve Sarkisian said. “I know some position groups that I think are pretty well highlighted.”

Sarkisian then praised the talent in Texas at a number of positions for the 2024 cycle. This, of course, shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Texas is one of the best states for producing football talent and there’s no reason for 2024 to be different.

“I think the edge position, outside linebacker, in our state is as strong as I can remember. I think the running back position is very strong next year in-state. I think the wide receiver position is very strong next year in-state. DBs for sure, as well. They’re all good. I mean there’s too many players in the state of Texas for it not to be good. So, I’d be remiss to say–not every position is–but we’ve got to kind of fine-tune.”

In the meantime, as Sarkisian explained, the Longhorns need to figure out what their needs will be in that cycle and go from there to fill those holes.

“We’ve got to get to know the roster we have. We’ve already started recruiting the ’24 class, but sometimes that shifts some based on what your own roster starts to look like and take shape,” Steve Sarkisian continued. “So, we’re well underway that way, but gosh, man, you just fast forward 365 days on me. So, I just flew over a lot. I feel like I was flying to Hawaii again right there. So, we’ll see.”

Texas has an incredibly strong 2023 class, currently ranked third in the On3 Consensus Football Team Recruiting Rankings. To this point, Texas is a little off that pace in 2024, with the 11th-ranked class. However, 2024 is still based solely on verbal recruits and there is plenty of time for change.

Steve Sarkisian on the importance of making recruits feel at home

One thing that Steve Sarkisian has wanted to emphasize is that it’s important to make recruits feel at home.

“I think we really have a great connection with our players. I think our assistant coaches do a great job, I think our support staff does a great job. But I think the most important piece of it is I think our locker room does a great job of really bringing these guys in, putting their arms around them and not just rubbing their neck,” Steve Sarkisian said.

“We’re demanding and pushing them to be the best they can be. But in the end, when there’s Thanksgiving, everybody’s at the house. We’re getting ready to go to a bowl game; we’re going to be in San Antonio for Christmas. Our doors are open Friday, we’re having a Christmas meal at our house Friday, we’re having a Christmas dinner in San Diego as a team on Sunday. But that’s got to be 365. That can’t just be the special occasion days. We’ve got to make that connection with our players on a daily basis and really dig into it.”