Does Texas really have the best roster in college football? Using On3 data to determine the answer

Urban Meyer’s recent comments offering the highest of praise to the Texas football roster caused quite the stir not just with Longhorn fans, but with college football fans around the country.

[Get SIX MONTHS of Inside Texas Plus for only $29.99!]

Meyer’s familiarity with the 85-man roster coached by Steve Sarkisian and company isn’t known. Maybe he spent the offseason pouring over players from Quinn Ewers down to the 2023 signee in need of some development, but it’s more likely he’s working off other data to paint the picture of what the 2023 Longhorn team looks like.

On3 has several avenues available to go about determining just how talented the Texas roster is. Let’s dive in, starting with a look at the talent still on campus from each recruiting class since 2018.

2018

Players remaining: 1
On3 Industry Ranking three-stars: 1

Christian Jones is the elder statesman on the roster and the only remaining member of Texas’ No. 3 ranked class.

2019

Players remaining: 3
On3 Industry Ranking four-stars: 1
On3 Industry Ranking three-stars: 2

Jordan Whittington, who was the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 38 prospect, is back along with T’Vondre Sweat, and David Gbenda. All three players are likely to contribute heavily this fall.

2020

Players remaining: 8
On3 Industry Ranking four-stars: 5
On3 Industry Ranking three-stars: 3

Most of the players remaining from the 2020 class are starters or are likely to get regular snaps, including Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, Kitan Crawford, Jerrin Thompson, Jake Majors, Jahdae Barron, and Jaylan Ford.

Ford and Barron were On3 Industry Ranking three-stars but are the most important cogs on the 2023 defense.

2021

Players remaining: 12
On3 Industry Ranking five-stars: 1
On3 Industry Ranking four-stars: 5
On3 Industry Ranking three-stars: 6

Ja’Tavion Sanders and Xavier Worthy, the two highest-rated members of the class, have been key to the Longhorn offense’s efforts. Included within the four-star ranks are Jonathon Brooks, Morice Blackwell, Byron Murphy, and Hayden Conner. Three-stars Barryn Sorrell, Gunnar Helm, Casey Cain have developed into contributors.

Of note, kicker Bert Auburn and Michael Taaffe, both unranked walk-ons, were in this class.

2022

Players remaining: 25
On3 Industry Ranking five-stars: 2
On3 Industry Ranking four-stars: 16
On3 Industry Ranking three-stars: 7

Five-star O-linemen DJ Campbell and Kelvin Banks headlined the class that finished No. 3 in the nation. The only attrition from this class so far is Brenen Thompson, Derrick Brown, and Trevell Johnson.

2023

Class size: 25
On3 Industry Ranking five-stars: 4
On3 Industry Ranking four-stars: 12
On3 Industry Ranking three-stars: 9

The 2023 class, also ranked No. 3, included On3 Industry Ranking five-stars on both sides of the ball.

Transfers

Players still on roster: 9
2021: Keilan Robinson
2022: Quinn Ewers, Ryan Watts, Isaiah Neyor
2023: AD Mitchell, Jalen Catalon, Gavin Holmes, Trill Carter, Ryan Sanborn

On3 College Rating four-stars: 5
On3 College Rating three-stars: 1

Robinson, Sanborn, and Carter were not rated.

[Sign up NOW for the Inside Texas newsletter for Texas Longhorns daily updates and breaking news in your inbox!]

Total

Total scholarship players signed from the high school or transfer portal ranks: 83

The above total does not include Taaffe or Jett Bush, who was a 2019 On3 Industry Ranking three-star. Both players were placed on scholarship during their career at Texas, bringing Texas to the 85-man limit.

Bush will be included in the tally below.

On3 Industry Ranking five-stars: 7
On3 Industry Ranking four-stars: 39
On3 Industry Ranking three-stars: 30

On3 College Rating four-stars: 5
On3 College Rating three-stars: 1

Total five-stars: 7
Total four-stars: 44
Total three-stars: 31

Taafe, Carter, Sanborn, Robinson, and Auburn being unranked provide the total of 82.

Fifty-one out of 85, or 60 percent of the Texas roster, is composed of four- or five-star players. Conventional wisdom says at least 50 percent of the roster needs to be made up of four- or five-star talent in order to compete at the highest level in college football.

Having the best roster isn’t solely about recruiting data, though it does obviously play a huge part. Coaching and scheme continuity, the ability for assistants to develop, and the ability to win in the transfer portal all are significant factors.

Even with strong grades in those areas, Texas would have to zoom past programs like Georgia and Alabama to have the best roster. Over the past four years…

2020 class 4/5-star percentage

Georgia: 76 percent
Alabama: 84 percent
Texas: 75 percent

2021 class 4/5-star percentage

Georgia: 85 percent
Alabama: 96 percent
Texas: 59 percent

2022 class 4/5-star percentage

Georgia: 70 percent
Alabama: 92 percent
Texas: 71 percent

2023 class 4/5-star percentage

Georgia: 85 percent
Alabama: 93 percent
Texas: 64 percent

Texas has only passed one of those two schools one one occasion in the last four recruiting cycles. Other programs that have made College Football Playoff appearances like Michigan and Ohio State weren’t included in this exercise but those teams likely believe they provide better competition than the Longhorns to the Crimson Tide and the Bulldogs. While all of those programs have had their fair share of attrition, and even saw some players transfer to Texas, the bulk of the rosters for those squads is made up of star-studded recruiting classes.

Of course, all teams have concerns and Texas is no different. Even with 10 returning starters on offense and portal additions to a veteran defense, there are some spots that opponents may view as exploitable in the upcoming season.

None of this is evidence to suggest Texas won’t be in contention for the top spot in the Big 12.

But as far as Meyer’s contention that Sarkisian oversees the best roster in the country? It may not be to that level quite yet.

This story was edited on May 11 to update the transfer numbers.