Top 3 for 2024 recruiting for the Longhorns so far

Peyton Woodyard, Texas football. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro – USA TODAY.

Movement on the recruiting trail for Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian in the 2024 class is pretty quiet right now. Texas has commitments from just three Class of 2024 recruits just a few months before the 2023 season begins.

In addition to not having a commit in the 2024 class (247Sports Composite), Sark and the Longhorns haven’t committed in about six months. The latest non-special teamer to commit to the Longhorns in the 2024 class is touted four-star Cypress (TX) Cy-Fair quarterback Trey Owens, who pledged to Texas on January 11, 2023.

Sark and his staff are playing a very patient game while building the 2024 class this offseason. And while it appears the Longhorns are in a good position with many of their top targets in the 2024 class heading into the summer, this patient strategy on the recruiting trail could still be risky.

Texas football’s biggest recruiting gaps in the 2024 class so far

Texas has already lost out on some key recruits, particularly some in-state targets it once prioritized at the start of this cycle. Here’s a look at the three biggest 2024 recruits in the Longhorns cycle.

Payton Pierce, LB

One of the most important linebacker recruits in the 2024 season for the Longhorns and defensive coordinators/linebackers coaches Jeff Choate and Pete Kwiatkowski was highly touted four-star Lucas (TX) Lovejoy product Payton Pierce. Pierce, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound in-state blue-chip linebacker recruit, was one of the first priority targets, visiting Texas several times since last offseason.

Going back to the start of the 2022 offseason, Pierce made unofficial visits to Austin half a dozen times. His last visit was an unofficial trip to the first Junior Day of the offseason on Jan. 21.

Texas appeared to be one of the top schools in the running for Piece’s commitment in the winter of 2023. He made several successful visits to Texas late last summer during the first day of juniors this offseason. Pierce and his family also made good connections with Texas coaches.

However, an early offseason offer from the Ohio State Buckeyes changed the nature of this recruitment into the spring. Ohio State made a huge move in the race to land Pierce’s commitment with a late March unofficial visit (specifically March 25).

The Buckeyes outlasted the likes of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas in Columbus’ late March visit to Ohio State. Pierce committed to Ohio State on April 12, 2023.