Texas insider says Longhorns have 'legitimate shot' at flipping 5-star Florida commit

As it continues to put the finishing touches on its 2024 recruiting class, Texas is looking to poach a second blue-chip defensive back from Florida this cycle.

The Longhorns flipped Marrero (La.) John Ehret four-star cornerback Wardell Mack away from the Gators on Nov. 12. With National Signing Day less than a month away, they’re trying to do the same with McKinney (Texas) five-star safety Xavier Filsaime.

The 6-foot, 185-pounder has been pledged to Florida since April 13, but Texas is keeping its foot on the gas to try and keep the defensive back in-state. He recently visited The Forty Acres, and according to Texas insider Gerry Hamilton, Filsaime coming to Austin is not out of the question.

“The visit went very well for Texas, from everything I heard,” Hamilton said on The Inside Scoop. “He went on the visit with his father — one-day visit. He went and watched Texas practice, so he got a chance to look at them in a game-prep situation, which I think is what he actually wanted to do with this visit process here at the end. Spent time with Steve Sarkisian, the defensive staff, everything I heard was a very productive visit for the Texas side and they believe they have a legitimate shot here.”

Filsaime also did the same with Florida, as he remains one of three five-stars pledged to Billy Napier and the Gators. UF has lost two other four-star prospects in addition to Mack down the stretch, so keeping the top recruits in the class will be of the utmost importance in Gainesville.

The next step for Texas is finding a way to get Filsaime back on campus before it’s time to put pen to paper.

“The key will be getting him on campus once again, because he went back to Florida Friday and watched their final game day prep for the game against FSU. So, it’s going to be one of these two schools. He took a visit to USC but that’s not gonna happen. It’s gonna be Texas or it’s gonna be Florida here at the end,” Hamilton said. “Early playing time at safety is a key here, but he got to watch both teams prep for a game, and that’s what he really wanted to get out of this week.”

With the Longhorns playing in the Big 12 Championship this weekend, the window for another visit is tiny. The Gators will also do what they can to get Filsaime back down to Gainesville, making the upcoming weeks vital for both staffs as they look to land the elite DB.

…There’s a chance it happens,” Hamilton said of another visit to Texas. “It can’t be this weekend, Texas is playing in the Big 12 Championship game, so that really leaves you with Dec. 9. The key there is you know Florida is going to fight to get him back on campus that weekend instead of go on an official visit to Texas. Texas will take an official visit however they can get it, but I do think there’s a good chance he’ll be back on Texas’ campus.”

Filsaime is the No. 29 overall prospect and No. 2 safety in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 7 player in the Lone Star State.