Texas Football: 5 biggest recruiting busts since 2000

One of the best programs in the nation on the recruiting trail over the past 19 years, Texas football did have a few busts that surfaced since 2000.

Texas football recruiting sat among the top programs in the nation since we reached the modern century. Modern recruiting rankings also didn’t take hold until early in the 2000’s. And they’re still gaining more of a grasp in the importance of the general college football landscape year in and year out.

The modern era of recruiting also brings more of an emphasis in the traditional rivals for Texas off-the-field. Since Texas and the Texas A&M Aggies no longer meet year in and year out in the Lone Star Showdown, the in-state recruiting battle takes center stage. Head Texas football coach Tom Herman and Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher are bringing their respective programs back to national prominence.

However, Texas A&M isn’t the only big rival for Texas on the recruiting trail. The Oklahoma Sooners battle Texas for top prospects in the Big 12 recruiting territory. Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley is doing just as well on the recruiting trail as Fisher and Herman for the past two cycles.

In this piece, I’m taking a look back at previous Texas football recruiting classes since the year 2000. The giant recruiting ranking website 247Sports lists recruiting classes for Texas dating back to 1999. But the 1999 Texas football recruiting class didn’t hold any rankings from 247Sports.

Take into consideration too the fact that all signees from the 2017, 2018, and 2019 recruiting classes for Texas might not have enough time yet to fully develop their skill set. Classifying a player that is a sophomore or younger as a bust heading into the 2019 campaign is too early.

Here’s a look into the five biggest recruiting busts since 2000 for the Texas Longhorns football program, also heading into the 2019 regular season.