College football ain’t for the faint of heart. It’s a ruthless game where only the smartest—and the slickest—survive. And right now? Steve Sarkisian is out here playing 4D chess while Kirby Smart and Georgia are still trying to dust themselves off. Texas took two Ls from Georgia in the 2024 season, but guess what? What’s gone is gone. The Longhorns flipped the script and ran up the scoreboard in the recruiting battle. That No. 1 recruiting ranking? Yeah, Texas snatched it, leaving Georgia sitting at No. 2, breathing heavily like they just ran a marathon. And while it might look like business as usual on the surface, an insider just pulled the curtain back on Sark’s real game plan. Spoiler alert: this man ain’t playing checkers.
On February 24, college football analyst and recruiting specialist Steve Wiltfong jumped on On3 and spilled all the Texas tea. He broke down Sarkisian’s strategy, and let’s just say—it ain’t what the competition was expecting. “Texas is in the three-h-le, but they’ll have a chance to make a move. They’re in there battling Alabama and others for four-star running back Ezavier Crowell,” Wiltfong said. Translation? Texas ain’t just scooping up recruits—they’re waiting, calculating, and striking at the perfect moment. The Longhorns are making their moves, going after the No. 4 running back and No. 43 overall recruit in the 2026 class, who just reclassified from 2027.
See, Sark ain’t out here trying to load up on early commitments like some desperate HC in a fantasy draft. He’s keeping his pockets deep, waiting for the perfect moment to flip elite recruits late in the cycle. Wiltfong even spelled it out: “So look, Texas—number one ranked recruiting class in the country and On3 in this 2025 cycle. They’re taking their time; they’re being diligent. They don’t want a bunch of early commitments, so people can just come in and flip their guys. They like to be the ones with the spatula out at the end.” Ain’t gonna lie, this approach is hella important in today’s recruiting world, where NIL deals and late-cycle flips are more common than ever.
And boy, they have been cooking. Just ask Georgia native Justus Terry. That man was supposed to be a Bulldog, but Texas pulled up with a better NIL deal and flipped him with ease. That’s what Texas does—they sit back, watch teams celebrate their early commitments, then walk in and snatch up the best ones when it matters most. Last year? They did the same thing, landing Kobe Black and Brandon Baker late in the process. So while Georgia might be feeling good about that No. 2 ranking, let’s keep it a buck—Steve Sarkisian is still holding cards. Texas ain’t just stacking talent; they’re flipping recruits left and right, securing five five-stars and 13 four-stars in the 2025 class. And now they’re setting their sights on the next big 5-star trench fish.
Steve Sarkisian is lining up a big-time visit for a 5-star recruit
Just when you thought Texas and Steve Sarkisian’s done flexing, they’re back at it again. The Longhorns are locking in a monster visit from five-star OT Felix Ojo, and yeah, things are about to get really spicy.
According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Felix Ojo has locked in an official visit with Texas from June 13-15. But he’s keeping his options open—he’s also checking out Ole Miss between April 18-20, Ohio State at the end of May, Michigan (June 6-8), and Oklahoma (June 20-22). Sark and his staff got some work to do. But if history tells us anything, they know exactly how to close deals.
Colorado St. v Texas AUSTIN, TEXAS – AUGUST 31: Head coach Steve Sarkisian of the Texas Longhorns reacts after the game against the Colorado State Rams at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
At 6’7” and 274 pounds, Ojo is a straight-up beast. He’s the No. 2 offensive tackle in the 2026 class, the No. 3 player in Texas, and the No. 19 overall prospect. And guess what? The Longhorns have been in his ear since day one. “Texas and Ohio State have been the most consistent teams in my recruitment,” Ojo told Greg Powers of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. “Texas has been steady since day one, and Ohio State has made me feel like a priority despite the coaching change.”
That’s some big talk, but let’s keep it a buck—Texas is riding shotgun with this one. On3’s predictions got the Longhorns sitting pretty with an 83.5% shot to bag Ojo. Oklahoma? Way back in the rearview at 4.6%. Ole Miss? Barely hanging on at 2.6%. Ohio State and Michigan? Well, they’re at 2.2%. But let’s not get it twisted—numbers don’t mean squat ‘til that pen hits the paper. Texas knows they gotta close this one out strong if they want to keep Ojo dripping in burnt orange.
Texas ain’t just trying to recruit top talent—they’re making sure they get the right ones at the right time. If Sark sticks to his playbook, it’s only a matter of time before Ojo and a few other five-stars find themselves rocking burnt orange when it’s all said and done. So what’s the verdict?
Steve Sarkisian ain’t just recruiting—he’s straight-up orchestrating. While other programs are rushing to lock in early commitments, Texas is moving with patience, precision, and a whole lot of swagger. They aren’t just playing the game; they’re flipping the board. Georgia may have won on the field in 2024, but on the recruiting trail? Texas just made them bite the dust. And if Sark keeps pulling strings like this. The Longhorns aren’t just gonna be a problem in the future—they’re about to be the problem.
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