Rivals updated the 2024 Rivals250 rankings for the first time since August, so there was bound to be a ton of movement up and down the list. Here’s a quick breakdown of where Texas-relative prospects land.
*****
Texas commits
No. 132 (5.8) Jaden Allen, Aledo CB
No. 180 (5.8) Hunter Moddon, Clear Lake WR
No. 236 (5.8) Trey Owens, Cypress Fair QB
My take: All three Longhorns commit land inside the Rivals250 with Moddon and Owens landing their fourth stars. Texas has a solid foundation in the early stages of its 2024 recruiting class.
*****
5-star targets (6.1)
No. 3 Colin Simmons, Duncanville WDE
No. 6 Micah Hudson, Lake Belton WR
No. 12 Kamarion Franklin, Lake Cormorant (Miss.) SDE
My take: Simmons and Hudson are day-one difference-makers on the next level and are the obvious priorities for the staff in this cycle. Both have been on campus multiple times and Texas is right in the mix for the two. Franklin plans to visit Texas in the spring and has a growing relationship with Bo Davis.
*****
High 4-star targets (6.0)
No. 22 Justin Williams, Conroe Oak Ridge OLB
No. 26 Jordon Johnson-Rubell, IMG Academy S
No. 31 Dylan Williams, Long Beach (Calif.) OLB
No. 41 Kobe Black, Waco Connally CB
My take: Texas has established themselves as serious contenders to land Johnson-Rubell and Black, two of the elite defensive backs in the 2024 cycle. Williams has always liked Oregon and that’s who could be the team to beat at this point. That said, the Longhorns are chipping away in the recruitment of an in-state defender that could easily finish as a five-star prospect.
*****
Mid 4-star targets (5.9)
No. 50 Dre’lon Miller, Silsbee WR
No. 52 Blake Frazier, Austin Vandegrift OT
No. 58 Jerrick Gibson, IMG Academy RB
No. 62 Taylor Tatum, Longview RB
No. 75 Nigel Smith, Melissa SDE
No. 76 D’Antre Robinson, Jones (Fla.) DT
No. 77 Payton Pierce, Lovejoy ILB
No. 88 Corian Gipson, Lancaster S
No. 92 Ka’Davion Dotson, Duncanville S
No. 95 James Peoples, SA Veterans Memorial RB
No. 114 Aeryn Hampton, Daingerfield ATH (former UT pledge)
No. 124 Selman Bridges, Lake Belton CB
No. 129 Parker Livingstone, Lovejoy WR
No. 141 Kingjoseph Edwards, Mill Creek (Ga.) WDE
My take: Gibson is the clear top target for Tashard Choice at running back, while Tatum is also emerging as a big-time recruit at the position. The Longhorns are also firmly in the race for the likes of Gipson, Dotson, Bridges, and Livingstone, to name a few of the group above.
*****
Low 4-star targets (5.8)
No. 145 Tyanthony Smith, Jasper OLB
No. 165 Bryant Wesco, Midlothian WR
No. 169 Zina Umeozulu, Allen WDE
No. 177 Gekyle Baker, Brownsboro WR
No. 185 Blake Ivy, Clear Springs OT
No. 188 Terry Bussey, Timpkins ATH
No. 205 Jeffery Rush, Pascagoula (Miss.) DT
No. 221 Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Conroe Oak Ridge SDE
My take: Texas is very much in the thick of things for Smith at linebacker and Wesco out wide. Umeozulu has the obvious brother connection to the Longhorns but is also listening to OU and A&M. Baker is one of the top guys that this staff wants at receiver, while Ivy and Rush were on campus for junior day. Bussey is one of the most electric players in the entire state. Jonah-Ajonye has a rising stock and is high on Texas.
