Texas Longhorns: A National Recruiting Powerhouse, Not Just a Regional Giant

For decades, there’s been a theory that the University of Texas should focus almost exclusively on in-state recruiting. Given the depth of talent in Texas high school football, it’s easy to see why this mindset developed. The state consistently produces top-tier players, and Texas has long benefited from that pipeline.

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However, in today’s college football landscape, the idea that Texas should only recruit in-state talent is outdated. Texas is not just a regional powerhouse; it’s a national brand. With elite resources, a strong NIL presence, and a coaching staff with deep connections across the country, Texas is in a position to cherry-pick top talent nationally—and they should.

Why Texas Can’t Limit Itself to In-State Recruiting

While Texas is home to some of the best high school football in the country, not every position group is equally strong every year. Recruiting must be needs-based—not just geographically restricted. Some years, Texas produces an elite offensive line class (like in 2026), while other years, the state might lack elite defensive linemen, quarterbacks, or safeties. The reality is that to win national championships, you need to recruit nationally.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff understand this better than anyone. Texas’ recruiting footprint is expanding, and their ability to secure top talent nationwide is a testament to their relationships, coaching staff diversity, and the brand’s national appeal.

Texas’ Nationwide Recruiting Pipeline

Texas’ ability to recruit across the country is driven by a staff with deep ties in multiple regions:

Southeast

• Jeff Banks (Ties in the Southeast from his time coaching in Alabama)
• Kyle Flood (Ties in the Southeast from his time coaching at Alabama)
• Kenny Baker (Defensive Line Coach, strong connections in the Southeast)

West Coast

• Steve Sarkisian (California and Pacific Northwest ties)
• Chris Jackson (California, Arizona, and Pacific Northwest ties)
• Johnny Nansen (Connections throughout the West, including Utah, Nevada, and California)
• Jeff Banks (Born and raised in California, played at Washington St.)
• Pete Kwiatkowski (Texas Defensive Coordinator, has deep ties on the West Coast from his coaching career, particularly at Washington and Boise State)

Northeast and Midwest

• Mark Orphey (New corners coach, has ties in the Northeast and Midwest due to his time coaching at Rutgers)
• Kyle Flood (Strong ties in the Northeast and Midwest from his time as head coach at Rutgers)
• Chad Scott (Spent a long time at West Virginia, has deep ties in the Northeast and Midwest)
• Pete Kwiatkowski (Also has ties in the Northeast and Midwest from his coaching career, especially from his recruiting reach while at Washington and Boise State)

Texas

• Chris Gilbert (Assistant to the Head Coach, former Texas high school coach, well-respected in the state)
• Mark Orphey (Originally from Texas, doubling up his efforts in-state)
• Jahmal Fenner (High school relations, former high school head coach
• Jeff Banks (Has coached in the state for a long time and has built strong relationships throughout Texas)

This diverse coaching staff allows Texas to pull talent from multiple regions, ensuring they don’t miss out on elite players outside of Texas.

Relationships Matter More Than Geography

In today’s recruiting world, relationships drive commitments more than state loyalty. Players want to find the best fit—not just the closest school.

Consider recent recruiting wins:

• Arch Manning (2023 QB, Louisiana) – Texas beat out Alabama and Georgia for one of the biggest recruits in history.
• Colin Simmons (2024 Edge, Texas) – A five-star in-state prospect proving Texas still dominates key battles in its home state.
• Brandon Baker (2024 OL, California) – The nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle who picked Texas over USC, Oregon, Nebraska, and Ohio State.
• Ryan Wingo (2024 WR, Missouri) – Texas won his recruitment over Missouri, Notre Dame, and Michigan.
• Justus Terry (2025 DL, Georgia) – Texas was able to win this battle over Georgia and other SEC programs, proving that the Longhorns can now go into the heart of SEC country and secure elite defensive line talent.

Texas isn’t just settling for in-state talent—they’re securing the best players available, regardless of location.

The 2026 Recruiting Landscape: The Case for National Recruiting

The 2026 class is a perfect example of why Texas must recruit beyond state lines.

Offensive Line (Rare In-State Depth)

It’s not often that Texas has this much elite offensive line talent in one class. The Longhorns are prioritizing these in-state prospects while also evaluating national recruits to build the most dominant offensive line possible.

• Felix Ojo (Mansfield Lake Ridge)
• Zaden Krempin (Prosper)
• Drew Evers (Flower Mound)
• John Turntine III (North Crowley)

Defensive Line (Some Interior Talent In-State, but Elite Trench Play is National):

While Texas does have strong in-state talent like Jaimeon Winfield (Richardson) on the interior defensive line, a lot of the elite trench play on the defensive line is out of state. To build a dominant front seven, Texas must continue recruiting the best defensive linemen nationally.

This is how elite programs operate—they take the best talent available, regardless of where they’re from.

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The Results Speak for Themselves

Some may still believe Texas should stick to only in-state talent, but let’s look at the results:

• Texas is winning on the field. Sarkisian’s recruiting strategy has resulted in Texas competing for championships, as evidenced by their College Football Playoff run.
• Texas is producing NFL talent. The Longhorns had their first double-digit NFL Draft class and set to have another one this upcoming draft, proving their ability to develop top-tier players.
• Texas is back among the elites. Schools like Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State don’t limit themselves to in-state recruiting—they dominate nationally. Texas is now doing the same.

If Texas wants to win national championships, they have to think like a national powerhouse. Sark and his staff understand this, and the results are showing up on Saturdays—and even more importantly, they will show up on Sundays in the NFL.

Texas isn’t just becoming a national brand—it already is one.