Texas Football: 3 can’t miss prospects for remainder of 2021 cycle

2) Can’t miss prospects for the 2021 Texas class: Shemar Turner, Defensive End

For each of the last two recruiting cycles, the Longhorns did well to fill in at the defensive end position. Texas landed multiple blue chip prospects to fill out the defensive line in the 2020 signing class (I.E. Alfred Collins, Prince Dorbah, Vernon Broughton, etc). And that trend should only continue for the 2021 recruiting class.

Thus far in the Longhorns 2021 class, they’ve landed commitments from four-star Memorial weak-side defensive end Jordon Thomas, four-star New Caney weak-side defensive end/linebacker Derrick Harris Jr, and Sanders (who could potentially play at linebacker or defensive end).

But the Longhorns could definitely still add one more to this defensive line class before the Early Signing Period arrives. Potentially the biggest target they have remaining along the defensive line for this cycle is the talented four-star DeSoto strong-side defensive end Shemar Turner. This in-state 6-foot-3.5 and 285 pound defensive end has nearly 40 schools on his offer sheet and has a ton of national recognition to his name.

Turner holds offers from Texas, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, TCU, Texas Tech, Utah Washington, and Wisconsin. It will be difficult for the Longhorns to win out in the race to land Turner.

But if they can nab his pledge when it’s all said and done, they would be getting the nation’s No. 115 2021 high school prospect, No. 9 strong-side defensive end, and No. 21 prospect out of Texas (247Sports Composite). The Top247 slots him as the nation’s No. 65 high school prospect, No. 6 strong-side defensive end, and No. 9 prospect out of Texas.