The highest-rated defensive recruits of the Steve Sarkisian era... so far
By – Lawton Paddock: Since taking the helm as the head coach of the Longhorns in 2021, Steve Sarkisian has developed a reputation as a persuasive, aggressive, and overall effective recruiter during his tenure in Austin. With fans assigning him commendatory monikers such as “Sark After Dark,” Sarkisian has tallied quite a number of splash recruiting hits since supplanting Tom Herman. After looking over the offensive additions, we now turn our eyes to the defense.
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Defensive Tackle: Former four-star Jaray Bledsoe and his On3 Industry Ranking average of 93.3 from the 2022 class is the highest rated interior defensive lineman Sark has managed to get his hands on. Since signing with Texas as an early enrollee, Bledsoe has been revered for his athleticism and flexibility, but similar to fellow tackle Alfred Collins, has yet to reach his potential. Bledsoe is competing for a spot on the two deep this fall and is thought to have a promising future.
EDGE: Sarkisian made major headlines after steering Five-Star Plus+ EDGE Colin Simmons (98.36) away from LSU in the 2024 cycle. Simmons had an illustrious high school at Duncanville, winning two state championships before bringing his talents from DFW down to Central Texas this winter. Despite possessing generational talent, Simmons will likely take on a rotational role in 2024 to be developed before being handed the reins as a starter in his upperclassman years.
Linebacker: Anthony Hill’s (97.87) storied recruitment delighted Longhorn fans as he eventually spurned Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M program before signing with Texas as a centerpiece of the 2023 class. Hill managed to earn significant playing time in the linebacker rotation in 2023, flashing superstar potential with an electrifying performance against Alabama and otherwise consistent production all season. Hill is primed to break out in 2024 and has the potential to hear his name called in the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Secondary: Freshman Kobe Black (96.70) at cornerback and Xavier Filsaime (96.67) at safety were key components to the star-studded 2024 class. Black, a Waco (Texas) Connally product, and Filsaime, hailing from DFW, were both fringe five-star players per the On3 Industry Ranking. Both have a lot to prove this fall before cracking the rotation in a competent secondary, but the talent is certainly there and the two project to be focal points of the defense down the line.
It is worth noting that with Texas battling for five-star safety Jonah Williams (97.6), five-star corners Dorian Brew (95.6) and Dijon Lee (95.44), and four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn (95.27), this list has the potential to be shaken up as ratings are finalized and signing day approaches this December.
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All things considered, it is clear Sarkisian’s reputation as a stellar recruiter is well deserved. When evaluating his recruits retroactively, the game-changing caliber of talent that he’s brought to Austin has obviously been a leading difference maker in the program’s performance since he arrived. In addition, with every recruit on this list returning to this fall, Longhorn fans only have more substance to fuel their national championship hopes in 2024.
