Texas Longhorns trending with a trio of five-star prospects, other top targets

Under Steve Sarkisian, the summer months appear to be prime recruiting season for the Texas football program. In both the 2023 and 2024 cycles, the Longhorns have started slowly with just a few commitments through the spring before blowing up in the months of June and July.

In the past six and a half weeks, Texas has landed 12 commitments — including eight four-stars — and jumped from outside the top 50 of the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings to No. 19 as of Monday afternoon. With only 14 total commits, there are still a number of big fish that Sarkisian and his staff are going after.

And according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM), the Longhorns are trending with three five-star prospects, as well as three other top targets on the defensive side of the ball.

Five-Star Plus+ EDGE Colin Simmons

School: Duncanville (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 5
On3 RPM: Texas 58.5%, LSU 21.1%, Alabama 8.3%

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) favors the Longhorns right now for Simmons, who has received a couple of expert predictions in Texas’ favor recently. After hosting him in June for his official visit, Texas moved up the list. And if they can get him back on campus later this month, it would be a shock to see him commit anywhere else.

“Colin Simmons stays in the headlines. He is a big name, he is the top prospect in Texas and he has stayed on the road the last couple of months,” On3’s Chad Simmons wrote last month. “His final visit in June was an official visit to Texas, and the Longhorns sit in a great spot. …The conference, the location, the comfort for him and his family and opportunities on and off the field in Austin make the in-state program very appealing. LSU and Texas A&M remain schools to watch, but heading into July, Texas is setting the pace.”

5-star WR Ryan Wingo

School: St. Louis (Mo.) University High
On3 Industry Ranking:
On3 RPM: Texas 34.0%, Tennessee 19.3%, Notre Dame 14.7%, Georgia 12.0%

The twists and turns in Ryan Wingo‘s recruitment have already been significant, with a handful of teams considered to be the leader at different points. Early on it was Notre Dame, then Georgia and Tennessee, and now the momentum has shifted to Texas.

Wingo won’t announce his decision until December 20 and could very well take a few more official visits. But the Longhorns, along with Missouri, look to be in the best place right now.

“The Vols are still very much in the mix, and the SEC program in Knoxville is expected to receive an official visit in the coming months, but Texas and Missouri are the schools now with the most chatter around them,” Simmons wrote last week. “Eliah Drinkwitz would love nothing more than to keep Wingo home. The Longhorns though, one source feels, has become the team to beat entering fall visits.”

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%

Longtime Texas lean Kobe Black hasn’t been shy about his affinity for the program on the Forty Acres. He regularly retweets Texas commits and fans, and the ‘Horns have been considered the favorite for some time now.

There was buzz that he would commit in early July, but a commitment date still hasn’t been set.

“Texas remains in a strong position with the On3 four-star cornerback,” InsideTexas.com’s Justin Wells wrote on Monday. “Texas would love to get Black back on campus, but he’s still looking at an unofficial to Texas A&M in late July. He could potentially take official visits to Alabama and LSU this fall. 

4-star CB Corian Gipson

School: Lancaster (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 73
On3 RPM: Texas 95.5%, Clemson 1.5%

Much like Black, four-star cornerback Corian Gipson has long been considered a lean to the Longhorns. But programs like Clemson and Ohio State have made it very interesting.

He took official visits to each of those three programs, but Texas still holds a heavy lead in the On3 RPM with a decision date set for July 22.

“Gipson wrapped up a busy summer with his Texas official visit for the Longhorns’ biggest recruiting weekend of the offseason,” On3 national recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman wrote last week. “There was optimism about Gipson staying in-state in the spring and it’s never waned.”

4-star DL Zina Umeozulu

School: Allen (Texas)
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 242
On3 RPM: Texas 86.3%, Oklahoma 5.6%, Texas A&M 2.4%

With his older brother, Neto, currently on the Longhorns’ roster, some have considered Zina Umeozulu a foregone conclusion to Texas. But the 6-foot-4, 220-pound edge rusher isn’t in any hurry to make the call.

He took official visits to both Texas and Oklahoma in June, and while the Sooners are putting up a good fight, all expectations are that he will don the burnt orange.

On3 4-star DL D’antre Robinson

School: Orlando (Fla.) Jones
On3 Industry Ranking: No. 405 (#271 in the On300)
On3 RPM: Texas 94.0%, Florida 1.6%

Texas has had some significant success recruiting in Florida under Sarkisian, and On300 defensive lineman D’antre Robinson is their next big target. The 6-foot-3, 315-pounder took official visits to Texas, Florida and Georgia in June, but the Longhorns have emerged as the heavy favorites.

He is expected to announce his decision on July 20.