Closing the book on Texas' 2021 recruiting class

The Texas Longhorns’ 2021 recruiting class is more conventional than the others in that there’s no need to do the math associated with COVID-19 eligibility. These players entered college in 2021, specifically signing up to play for Tom Herman, and so were not afforded the extra seasons so many have taken advantage of.

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This group, ranked No. 14 in the nation, signed up to play for Herman but ended up spending their whole career in Steve Sarkisian‘s program as Sarkisian was hired barely even a month after 21 recruits put pen to paper. They’d later be joined by Xavier Worthy, who was let out of his letter of intent with Michigan before he signed with Texas.

Results for this group are mixed. Several are already in the NFL. Several never amounted to much in Austin but found success elsewhere. As their class’ time in Austin comes to an end, with one uncertainty in the form of career back-up Max Merril, it’s time to assess just how well this transition class of sorts fared during the first four seasons of the Sarkisian era.

Ja’Tavion Sanders, ATH, Denton (Texas) Ryan

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 12 overall (five-star)

It took a season of development spent mostly on special teams for Sanders to become one of the best tight ends in the nation. Once he did, he shot up the Texas record books. Sanders’ 2022 and 2023 seasons were two of the best by a tight end in school history, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors both years. He was picked by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, and lived up to every bit of his five-star billing. Good thing he stayed on offense.

Xavier Worthy, WR, Fresno (Calif.) Central East

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 55 overall (four-star)

Michigan’s loss was Texas’ gain. After he was let go from his letter of intent with Michigan, a previous connection to Sarkisian attracted Worthy to the Longhorn football program and the offense it ran. He was a standout player in all three of his seasons as a Longhorn, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2021 and 2023 and second-team accolades in 2022. He earned All-America honors as a punt returner, and finished fourth in school history with 2755 career receiving yards. Worthy was picked No. 28 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 draft.

JD Coffey, S, Kennedale (Texas)

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 148 overall (four-star)

Coffey recorded 11 tackles, mostly on special teams and in garbage time, during his two years in Austin. He transferred to San Diego State and was a significant contributor in 2024, notching 47 tackles and a pick-six.

Ishmael Ibraheem, CB, Dallas (Texas) Kimball

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 215 overall (four-star)

Ibarheem spent two years at Texas that were plagued by injury and legal issues. After his second suspension, he transferred to Marshall where he recorded six tackles in two years. He once again entered the portal and recently committed to Southern Miss.

Terrence Cooks, LB, Pearland (Texas) Shadow Creek

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 221 overall (four-star)

Cooks played in one game for Texas before he transferred to TCU. A season-ending injury in 2022 put a damper on his career. He has seven career stops.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Hallettsville (Texas)

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 231 overall (four-star)

Brooks stepped into the void left by Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson and became one of the critical pieces on a conference championship team and a College Football Playoff semifinalist. His 2021 and 2022 showed promise, but opportunities were limited before he took over in 2023. Rushing for 1139 yards and 10 touchdowns in just 10 games, Brooks quickly became a fan favorite and went off the board in the second round of the 2024 draft to Carolina. The Longhorns made an early evaluation that paid off big time in Brooks.

Morice Blackwell, LB, Arlington (Texas) Martin

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 233 overall (four-star)

Blackwell swapped between safety and linebacker at one point in his career where he saw action in 48 games. He eventually settled in as a depth piece at linebacker but was always a major contributor on the Longhorns’ special team units. He finishes his career with 65 tackles including four for loss.

Byron Murphy II, DL, DeSoto (Texas)

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 284 overall (four-star)

There were early glimpses that Murphy was a special talent as he notched 15 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and 2.0 sacks during his freshman season. An improved 2022 season behind Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn set up his standout 2023 campaign. Murphy was a force teams could not deal with, he posted 29 tackles with 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He earned Big 12 defensive lineman of the year honors and second-team All-America accolades before he was picked No. 16 overall by the Seattle Seahawks

Hayden Conner, OL, Katy (Texas) Taylor

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 292 overall (four-star)

A recruiting win over other in-state programs, Conner played in eight games during his freshman year in 2021 before taking over at left guard and never looking back. A steady presence, Conner was a consistent pass blocker and was part of many high highs for the Longhorns over the past several years. Conner was a team leader and will look to earn a spot on a NFL roster in the coming months.

David Abiara, EDGE, Mansfield (Texas) Legacy

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 321 overall (four-star)

Texas added Abiara to the class late when Sarkisian and Pete Kwiatkowski saw a dearth of EDGE players. After one season without an appearance at Texas, he transferred to SMU. Abiara had eight tackles for the Mustangs in his three years on the Hilltop.

Jamier Johnson, CB, Pasadena (Calif.) John Muir

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 369 overall (four-star)

Johnson saw a decent amount of playing time over his two years at Texas, playing in 17 games and logging seven career tackles. He transferred to Indiana and enjoyed a quality 2024 season with the Hoosiers, posting 35 tackles and an interception on the College Football Playoff squad.

Jordon Thomas, EDGE, Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 389 overall (four-star)

Thomas never played a snap for Texas and eventually transferred to Stephen F. Austin for a short career.

Derrick Harris Jr., EDGE, New Caney (Texas)

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 409 overall (three-star)

Harris missed most of his high school senior season due to a knee injury. He played in three games at Texas, including one in 2022, before entering the portal. He found a new home at South Florida, where he tallied 61 tackles, 6.5 TFL, and 2.0 sacks for the Bulls.

Jaden Alexis, WR, Pompano Beach (Fla.) Monarch

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 450 overall (three-star)

Alexis missed the 2021 season due to a knee injury, then made his only career appearance in burnt orange versus ULM in 2022. He entered the portal in the spring of 2023 and transferred to South Florida. That season, he caught 23 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. He was on USF’s 2024 roster but did not play this past season.

Keithron Lee, WR, Bryan (Texas) Rudder

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 562 overall (three-star)

Lee’s career ended before it started following a domestic violence arrest during the summer prior to his freshman season.

Juan Davis, ATH, Everman (Texas)

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 591 overall (three-star)

Davis committed after a Texas camp and told reporters the news. When asked at the time if he cared if it was released, said it did not matter and that the media could do whatever it wanted with the information. He did it all with a big smile, as Davis eventually found a home in Texas’ tight end room. He appeared in over 40 games for the Longhorns. His career started with one catch at Arkansas, and his career ended with one catch versus Ohio State. A lot of special teams snaps were mixed in, but Davis became a trusted starter during his senior season in Austin.

Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, New Orleans (La.) Holy Cross

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 684 overall (three-star)

A member of the Texas defense’s starting lineup for most of the successes of the Sarkisian era, Sorrell blossomed into a quality strongside end and a major leadership figure for the Texas Longhorns. His final season in burnt orange was his best as he notched 44 tackles with 11 for loss and six sacks. He ends his career with 25.5 TFL and 15.5 sacks and possesses a strong college resume as he looks to start a NFL career.

Gunnar Helm, TE, Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 722 overall (three-star)

After waiting his turn, Helm stepped into a more featured role in 2023 as TE2, catching 14 passes for 192 yards and two scores. That jumped big time across 16 games in 2024 following Sanders’ departure, when Helm led Texas in catches and had a tight end program record 786 receiving yards along with seven touchdowns. One of the best in the nation at his position, Helm developed over his four-year career from a special teams piece into a critical starter.

Casey Cain, WR, New Orleans (La.) Warren Easton

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 836 overall (three-star)

During his redshirt freshman year, Cain had eight catches for 201 yards, most of them coming in the Alamo Bowl versus Washington where a late Hail Mary attempt put him over the 100-yard mark. He played sparingly in 2023 before transferring to UNLV. With the Rebels, Cain had seven catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

Charles Wright, QB, Austin (Texas) High

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 880 overall (three-star)

Wright played in four games during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but did not appear in 2023. He was part of Texas’ corps of players and coaches who signaled in plays in 2023, and following the season elected to transfer to Appalachian State. He did not remain with the program long and saw his football career end before it took off in Boone, N.C.

Max Merril, OL, Houston (Texas) Strake Jesuit

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 1067 overall (three-star)

Merril has not played at Texas.

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Isaac Pearson, P, Sydney (Australia) ProKick Australia

On3 Industry Ranking: No. 1740 overall (three-star)

A former coal miner, Pearson punted once for 15 yards in 2022 before he was replaced by Daniel Trejo. He transferred to SMU and in 2024, posted a quality season with 45 punts with an average of 43.3 yards per kick.

This is the final class that was not brought to Texas by Sarkisian, yet many critical pieces in back-to-back College Football Playoff runs were part of this group. As their time on the 40 Acres ends, nine of the 22 who signed up to play for Herman were major parts of successes in years three and four of the Sarkisian era.