Texas trending for coveted in-state wide receiver Kelshaun Johnson

Texas is already off to one of the hottest starts in the 2025 recruiting cycle nationally, with five early commitments by the end of January.

That includes one of the nation’s top quarterback prospects, K.J. Lacey. And now Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns are looking to add playmakers around him. Texas already has commitments from four-star athlete Lance Jackson and four-star tight end Emaree Winston, but they’re trending to add one of the top receivers in the state as well.

The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM) heavily favors the Longhorns for Houston (Texas) Hitchcock four-star wideout Kelshaun Johnson. That follows an expert prediction from recruiting insider Gerry Hamilton over the weekend.

“The No. 199 ranked prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking made his way back to Austin Saturday for Junior Day,” Hamilton wrote about Johnson on Monday. “The 5-foot-11.5, 165-pounder playmaker with 10.5 100 meter speed was already a lean to the Longhorns entering the visit. Saturday only pushed the Texas lead further out in front ahead of a Junior Day visit to USC this weekend.

… Today, I entered an On3 RPM pick at 70% for the Longhorns to eventually win out for the explosive wide receiver that is a near perfect scheme fit. Head coach Steve Sarkisian continues to make Johnson feel like a priority, and wide receivers coach Chris Jackson and area recruiter Blake Gideon are strong in the relationship building part of the equation.”

Longhorns have been involved in Johnson’s recruitment for a while now

Jackson offered the 5-foot-11, 165-pound receiver after an impressive camp performance in June, and he has continued to be a priority this cycle. 

Along with Texas, USC, Penn State, Texas Tech and Oregon are also among the contenders to land him.

Last week, Sarkisian visited Johnson at his school, as well.

Appreciate y’all for coming #HookEm 🤘🏾 pic.twitter.com/38sXwyeah6

— Kelshaun Johnson ✞. (@kelshaunj8) January 18, 2024

Looking for another top-five recruiting class

The Longhorns’ five commitments in the 2025 recruiting cycle are good enough for the No. 9 class currently in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Lacey headlines the group. He’s joined by Winston and Jackson, as well Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie four-star defensive lineman Brandon Brown and Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek three-star EDGE Anthony Williams.

“Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to play in the SEC,” Winston told On3. “The more I saw Texas, and the more I saw how they used their tight ends, I started to think more about them. I love the coaches at Texas, I like the offense Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian) runs and the city of Austin really put Texas on top for me.”