A number of former Texas targets will be at 2024 SEC Media Days

There will be a handful of former Texas recruiting targets representing their schools at the 2024 SEC Media Days in Dallas next week. Let’s take a look through the past.

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Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas via Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove

The older brother of 2025 Texas commit, Lance Jackson, Landon was once a highly-sought prospect on the Texas big board.

After 30+ offers, Jackson committed to LSU in the Class of 2021. After Ed Orgeron was dismissed as head coach in Baton Rouge, he transferred to Arkansas and was named All-SEC in 2023.

Texas and others were squarely in the mix, but after the Tigers had 14 players drafted in the 2020 NFL Draft following their national championship season, Jackson jumped in the boat quickly.

As a recruit: Jackson was the No. 158-rated prospect, No. 14-rated EDGE, and No. 27-rated prospect in Texas for 2021, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama via Katy (Texas) Tompkins

Before Quinn Ewers was a Texas commit, #Milroe was the future guy in Austin. But once Ewers gave the Horns a verbal pledge to the C/O of 2021, Milroe de-committed and was soon headed to Tuscaloosa.

On3 Personal File: Milroe arrived at Alabama in the Class of 2021 as a four-star recruit from Katy (Texas) Thompkins High School. The Under Armour All-American led Thompkins to a 9-0 record in 2020 with 1,136 passing yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 259 yards and four scores. As a junior in 2019, he passed for 2,689 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 300 yards and seven scores. After playing in four games in 2021, Milore was primarily used as the backup quarterback to Bryce Young in 2022. He finished the season with 297 total yards on 31-of-53-passing with five touchdowns. Emerged as Alabama’s starter in 2023, where former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Milroe developed into a team leader. “I think he’s gaining more and more confidence,” Saban said. “He’s also gaining the ability to stay focused on the next play and not get frustrated in terms of what happened on the last play.”

As a recruit: Milroe was the No. 89-rated prospect, No. 12-rated quarterback, and No. 16-rated prospect in Texas for 2021, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Harold Perkins, LB, LSU via Cypress (Texas) Cy Park

Nobody handled NIL better than Perkins. The five-star linebacker from H-Town originally committed to Texas A&M, but parlayed that into an LSU pledge before NSD. Texas came on for two years, including multiple trips to Austin, but ultimately landed in Baton Rouge.

On3 Personal File: Perkins, a three-way star for Cypress Park, was named his district’s newcomer of the year as a sophomore and was a first-team all-district pick as a sophomore and junior. Along with starring as a linebacker, he excels on offense as a running back and on special teams. Perkins is also a guard for the Cypress Park basketball team, playing in 21 games as a junior. Perkins plans on majoring in sports broadcasting in college. He lists his hobbies as sports and gaming.

As a recruit: Perkins was the No. 9-rated prospect, No. 1-rated LB, and No. 2-rated prospect in Texas for 2022, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma via Denton (Texas) Ryan

The former Texas commit was the one that got away from the Denton Ryan bunch. With Ja’Tavion Sanders and Austin Jordan headed to the Forty Acres, and Anthony Hill Jr two years later, Bowman changed his mind before his senior season.

He’s been a fun part of the Red River Shootout in the last two seasons. Bijan Robinson gave him a stiff arm he’ll never forget in 2022, then destroyed Sanders on a pass break-up in the end zone during 2023’s win.

As a recruit: Bowman was the No. 60-rated prospect, No. 2-rated athlete, and No. 12-rated prospect in Texas for 2021, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

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Shemar Turner, DL, Texas A&M via Desoto (Texas)

While Turner was the five-star with accolades, his teammate, Byron Murphy, turned out to be a trophy for the Longhorns. Even the Horns pushed hard for the Metroplex talent, they went ahead and flipped Murphy from Baylor, who went in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft in April.

As a recruit: Turner was the No. 13-rated prospect, No. 5-rated defensive lineman, and No. 4-rated prospect in Texas for 2021, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.