Jerrick Gibson commits to the Texas Longhorns

Four-star running back Jerrick Gibson has committed to the Texas Longhorns.

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The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder with a 4.57 laser 40-yard dash selected the Longhorns over Miami and Tennessee. The one-time Florida Gators verbal made June official visits to Georgia June 2-4, Miami June 9-11 and Tennessee June 16-18 prior to Texas this weekend.

The No. 48 ranked prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking had the Longhorns in the lead for several months prior to his commitment. The Sunshine State runner and his family have a very close bond with Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice.

“Yes sir, he is (my best relationship),” Gibson told On3 in Nashville May 30. “I think we click so much because he’s got a great personality, and electric energy around him. You can’t be sad around him. And I like how he keeps in touch with my family members to see how they are doing. They have a great relationship. And I like that. He’s going to make sure the family is straight, and you have got a bond before he recruits you.”

This is the second straight cycle that Choice has gone into the Sunshine State and reeled in a nationally ranked running back. The nation’s No. 1 ranked back in the 2023 cycle, Cedric Baxter Jr., was an early enrollee and the host of Gibson on this weekend official visit.

IMG Academy Head Coach on Gibson

There is not a better person to ask about IMG Academy’s top prospects than head coach Billy Miller. Miller is the one that sees his players at their best in situations where they have to respond to adversity, and he receives the reports daily on how players handled it both on the field and off it.

In early May, Inside Texas made a stop at IMG Academy to watch the Longhorns targets. During the visit, Miller talked to IT about Gibson.

“As a kid, he’s awesome, right?” Miller told IT. “Always got a smile on him. Has a great personality. He’s a pleasure to be around, and a pleasure to coach. As a player, you can see how stout he is. He’s done a great job in the weight room all winter, so he can take a bunch of carries during the season. He’s put the work in, and I expect big things from Jerrick.”

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Excerpt from the recruiting notebook

Gibson has some similar qualities to Texas running back Jonathon Brooks. He is very smooth with easy change of direction and plant-and-go ability, and is comfortable catching out of the backfield. He looks like he’d be very comfortable in outside zone, setting up his blockers before planting and cutting into the creases. He’s several burgers and lifts away from being a feature back but his frame and short area quickness suggest he could get there in time. – Ian Boyd

Coach Says:

Strengths — Decent height and weight for the position. Shows excellent first step and I’ve yet to find a false step on film. Runs behind his pads. Quick acceleration with excellent patience and vision. Straight line speed is well above average and has an extra gear when he sees daylight. Very good agility suggesting he’ll show a really nice shuttle time. Nice side steps. Tremendous balance allowing for some really great one-cut running in zone concepts. Presses the hole consistently and rides the blocker’s hip really nicely. Shows some devastating hesitation and counter moves at the line and in the open field. Not afraid of contact and shows a nice stiff arm as well as the ability to lower the shoulder. Feet keep moving on contact and strings together multiple moves in rapid succession suggesting he sees the game develop quickly. Some limited pass highlights show soft hands out of the backfield.

Areas for Improvement / Concerns — Pass blocking unknown. Lining up at WR is unknown (but I suspect he could be great in the slot with his short area quickness).