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Three recruits Texas needed to visit in the search for another No. 1 class

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•03/30/25•

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Mark Bowman, Brandon Baker
Mark Bowman, Brandon Baker (Justin Wells/Inside Texas)

The Texas Longhorns hosted some of the nation’s best players for a spring practice on Saturday. Getting a few of the top recruits on the Longhorns’ board back in Austin has Texas in position to not just bolster the roster, but continue established recruiting pipelines at positions of need.

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Here are three recruitments where Texas needed to get the prospects back on campus in order to continue Steve Sarkisian‘s quest for another No. 1 signing class.

Mark Bowman, TE, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei

Texas already has a good footing in California with Sarkisian’s connections and multiple SoCal stars on the Longhorns roster. But the battle for a prospect like five-star tight end Mark Bowman is going to involve schools from all over the nation.

Bowman returning to campus to see practice and how players like former Monarch Spencer Shannon operate in Jeff Banks‘ tight end room was needed for the Longhorns. The track record from Texas tight ends is strong with Ja’Tavion Sanders and Gunnar Helm, but there are other schools contending for Bowman’s signature that have strong histories at the position, too. Texas getting more face time with one of California’s best has the Horns in position to keep a talented pipeline flowing.

Bowman is ranked as the No. 20 overall prospect, the No. 2 tight end, and the No. 4 player in California in the On3 Industry Ranking. On3 ranks Bowman as the No. 21 overall prospect, the No. 2 tight end, and the No. 4 player in California. He is an On3 Industry Ranking five-star.

Ezavier Crowell, RB, Jackson (Ala.)

Crowell needed to meet new running backs coach Chad Scott, plain and simple. There was already interest prior to the switch but meeting Scott and seeing how Texas operates was needed for Texas to remain relevant in this recruitment.

It’s going to be difficult to get Crowell out of Alabama, as the Crimson Tide have made him a priority. But Saturday’s visit will at a minimum make that process more difficult for Kalen DeBoer and company, and it may have helped Texas gain good positioning in the race for Crowell.

Crowell is ranked as the No. 28 overall prospect, the No. 2 running back, and the No. 3 player in Alabama in the On3 Industry Ranking. On3 ranks Crowell as the No. 24 overall prospect, the No. 2 running back, and the No. 2 player in Alabama.

Richard Wesley, EDGE, Los Angeles (Calif.) Sierra Canyon

All three of the prospects mentioned are reclassifications from 2027 to 2026, and all three look the part of elite prospects no matter their age. Wesley is no different, and with the EDGE recruiting picture slightly murky at this juncture, the Longhorns needed to gain recognizable traction with someone they were recruiting at pass-rusher.

Wesley doesn’t look out of place in his class. The Longhorns need to keep a strong position group stocked for Pete Kwiatkowski‘s defense, and Wesley visiting is a step toward that end.

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Wesley is ranked as the No. 111 overall prospect, the No. 16 EDGE, and the No. 14 player in California in the On3 Industry Ranking. On3 ranks Wesley as the No. 41 overall prospect, the No. 7 EDGE, and the No. 7 player in California.

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