Big targets still on the board for Texas in the 2024 cycle

Texas made a big leap earlier this summer in the On3 Industry Football Team Recruiting Rankings, moving up from the mid-50s to where they sit now at No. 18 nationally. In the span of just a couple of months, the Longhorns went from two commitments to 15, including seven who rank among the top-300 nationally in the On3 Industry Player Rankings.

Five-Star Plus+ EDGE Colin Simmons
School: Duncanville (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 5
On3 RPM: Texas 47.7%, LSU 34.4%, Alabama 6.9%, Georgia 5.4%

The Skinny: It’s decision week for Simmons, who will come off the board on Thursday afternoon (August 10) to one of three finalists: LSU, Texas or Miami. But in reality, this is a race that is boiling down to the Longhorns and the Tigers. Those two programs have been the most consistent throughout his recruitment and are the only two with major buzz at different points this summer. Texas made a big impression on his official visit in June, and then LSU swung some momentum back its way the last weekend in July when he returned to Baton Rouge. This is a true tossup heading into one of the biggest commitment announcements of the cycle.

5-star DL Dominick McKinley
School: Lafayette (La.) Acadiana
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 23
On3 RPM: Texas 49.7%, LSU 42.8%, Texas A&M 2.4%, Oklahoma 2.0%

The Skinny: Pulling top prospects out of Louisiana and away from the home-state Tigers is a daunting proposition, but Steve Sarkisian and his staff have made massive in-roads in The Boot (see Arch Manning and Derek Williams). LSU was considered to be the leader for much of the past year with McKinley, who burst onto the national scene as a junior. But behind the scenes, Texas has been building a lot of momentum, as had Oklahoma. According to On3 national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman, the in-state Tigers are likely running third right now with a decision expected from McKinley before his senior season begins on Sept. 1.

5-star WR Ryan Wingo
School: St. Louis (Mo.) University High
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 24
On3 RPM: Texas 33.6%, Tennessee 19.4%, Notre Dame 14.5%, Georgia 11.8%, Missouri 6.1%

The Skinny: The state of Missouri hasn’t exactly been fertile recruiting grounds for the Longhorns in recent years, but Texas has some serious buzz with the Show-Me State’s No. 2 prospect. Wingo took an official visit to Austin in June, as well as a few other programs, and Texas built some momentum. The three major contenders at this point look to be Texas, Tennessee and Missouri, and don’t count the in-state program as Wingo plans to decide in December.

5-star CB Kobe Black
School: Waco (Texas) Connally
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 25
On3 RPM: Texas 91.8%, Texas A&M 2.0%, Oklahoma 1.2%

The Skinny: There was lots of chatter around Black shutting down his recruitment and committing to the Longhorns this summer, but we’ve reached the second week in August and he is still uncommitted. Texas A&M, Oklahoma and a few others are still pushing for the coveted cornerback, but all signs still point in the direction of him ultimately ending up on the Forty Acres right now.

4-star CB Wardell Mack
School: Marrero (La.) John Ehret
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 72
On3 RPM: LSU 62.3%, Texas 35.0%, Florida 1.2%

The Skinny: Similar to McKinley, Wardell Mack was another prospect who many thought was LSU’s to lose in the past year. But there’s a very real possibility that Texas again ends up with the two best football recruits in the state of Louisiana. Mack was scheduled to visit the Tigers at the end of last month, but instead tripped to Florida, who has also become a major contender in this race. A commitment from Mack could come at any time.