Texas working to flip Florida 5-star safety commit Xavier Filsaime

Texas sits just outside the top 10 of the updated On3 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings, and with just over two months until the Early Signing Period, the Longhorns are looking to make some moves.

Steve Sarkisian and Co. are strongly in contention for a pair of uncommitted five-stars: wide receiver Ryan Wingo and cornerback Kobe Black. But they also have eyes on flipping one of the nation’s top committed prospects away from a future SEC rival.

On Monday, the Longhorns offered five-star McKinney (Texas) safety Xavier Filsaime, making him one of the biggest known flip targets to date.

Blessed to receive an offer from University of Texas @Coach_Gideon @McKinneyHS_FB pic.twitter.com/o0SVYZs83S

— Xavier Filsaime🇭🇹 (@XEF_19) October 9, 2023

“In the case of Filsaime, Texas isn’t the only school making a push,” InsideTexas.com senior recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton wrote on Monday. “Georgia is also turning up the heat here a little this season. One source ultimately believes Filsaime will either play college ball in Florida or Texas, but didn’t want to discount the power of the Bulldogs in recruiting right now. Georgia is the team nationally, and everyone else is competing for second. Texas is expected by McKinney High late this week.”

Xavier Filsaime Recruiting Profile

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Filsaime has been committed to the Gators since April, when he chose Billy Napier’s program over offers from Georgia, Oklahoma, LSU, Oregon and more.

He is the No. 27 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Filsaime also ranks as the nation’s No. 2 safety and the No. 8 recruit in the state of Texas.

On3’s Scouting and Rankings team writes this about him as a prospect:

“Athletic, physical safety with versatility on the back end. Measured at over 5-foot-11.5, around 180 pounds prior to his junior season. Has average to below average length for the position with a 30.75-inch arm. Turned in very strong track times as a sophomore, with multiple sub-11.0 second marks in the 100 meters, highlighted by a personal best of 10.52 seconds. Primarily worked as a safety as a junior, lining up deep and in the slot. Makes most of his plays as a cover down defender. Physical and throws his body around. Shows pop as a striker. Closes quickly when moving forward. Sniffs out quick passes. Plays with some attitude. Has the speed and fluidity to line up on receivers in man coverage. Did not have much ball production as a junior at safety but was a wide receiver as a sophomore, alleviating questions about ball skills. Did not replicate his sophomore track times as a junior. Younger for the class with an April birthday.”