Steve Sarkisian, the head coach of the Texas Longhorns, is not concerned about his team’s reported recruiting deficiencies this cycle. The Texas Longhorns haven’t had the finest recruiting luck in the 2025 cycle.
In recent months, they have missed out on numerous major targets, the most notable of which is five-star Duncanville (TX) wide receiver Dakorien Moore, who committed to Oregon earlier this month.
That is not to imply that the Longhorns haven’t been successful. Just this month, they signed four quality players: linebacker Jonathan Cunningham, tight end Nick Townsend, safety Kade Phillips, and edge rusher Smith Orogbo.
Still, they are missing the big, splashy addition to the class that other programs have landed in recent weeks, and it has been a cause for discourse among fans.
However, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is not concerned and is pleased with where the Longhorns sit heading into the end of July. “I’ve never been one to panic in recruiting,” Sarkisian said at the Texas High School Coaches Association Convention on Monday. “I think history kind of shows we usually close pretty good as we get into the season, as we get into December. I do believe a lot of times in the summer right now, a lot of recruiting is kind of the hype machine. But you actually have to put the product on the
field. You have to play and perform… So we believe in our process.” Throughout his first three years with the program, this procedure has paid off.
Sarkisian and the Horns finished with the nation’s No. 5 class in 2022, No. 3 in 2023, and No. 6 in the final cycle in 2024.
And in each of those classes, the Horns made significant moves late in the process in December, most notably with Kelvin Banks in 2022, Anthony Hill in 2023, and Xavier Filsaime in 2024.
They have also made a significant splash from August to December in the past. Just last cycle, five-stars Ryan Wingo, Collins Simmons, Kobe Black, and Brandon
Baker and Filsaime, the Longhorns’ top-five recruits in the class, all announced their commitments after the summer. Part of the reason for the late pledges is that the Longhorns are exceedingly selective in the athletes they bring into the program, prioritizing cultural fit and character above all else.
In other words, Sarkisian and his program look to be moving along as normal. “At the end of the day, I believe we have a fairly strong procedure for what we do. I just want to make sure that the kids that commit to us do so for the right seasons and for the right reasons,” Sarkisian stated. “I am not saying that, kids.
are committing to other colleges for the wrong reasons, but such things can come true. Kelvin Banks was not committed to us at the time he decided to arrive. He is a preseason All-American. Anthony Hill was not committed to us at the time. “And he’s a decent player for us.” “At the end of the day, when we evaluate our recruiting classes, are we meeting the needs of our roster?” Are we creating a squad that will be better next year than it was this year? Do they fit us? Do they fit our character? “Do they fit us culturally?”
So, what comes next for the Longhorns?
Well, there are still many significant targets.
Five-star safety Jonah Williams, five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi, five-star receivers Kaliq Lockett and Jaime Ffrench, and five-star athlete Michael Terry III are all anticipated to make decisions in the coming weeks and months. That doesn’t even include four-star linebacker Madden Faraimo, four-star defensive tackle DJ Sanders, four-star offensive tackle Nick Brooks, and other major targets.
Suffice to say, as Sark stated, there is no reason to panic just yet.
“To go back to my very first statement, I’m generally not one to panic in recruiting, especially in the middle of June and July,” Sarkisian told reporters. “Let’s talk in December and see where we land.”
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