3 5-Star recruits Texas football could land with Arch Manning

Caleb Downs, S

If you really want to see the type of impact that landing a commitment from Arch is opening new doors on the recruiting trail for Sark and the Longhorns staff, look no further than the pursuit of the elite five-star Mill Creek (GA) safety Caleb Downs. Texas was not a realistic destination for Downs in the slightest bit until the last couple of weeks.

You can thank Arch and this newfound wave of momentum on the recruiting trail for the Longhorns 2023 class as to why Texas is actually getting a shot to make an impression on Downs.

Texas is now set to host Downs for an unofficial visit later this month for the July BBQ. Downs is one of the early visitors on the list for the BBQ, which is set to take place on the final weekend of July.

And if this visit goes well for Downs in Austin later this month, that might be enough to get him to take an official visit at some point this fall. That would be a major win on the recruiting trail for the Longhorns staff if they could get Downs on the books for an official visit this fall.

Any shot that Texas has to insert themselves among the top schools for Downs heading into the fall means getting that aforementioned official visit on the schedule as soon as possible.

Yet, Texas has a ton of ground to make up here. It looks like Downs is pretty heavily involved with a group of three or four top schools at this point of his recruitment. I would say the top three schools this summer for Downs are the Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Bulldogs, and Alabama.

In all likelihood, the most that Texas can do this summer is to get Downs to reconsider his top schools heading into the fall. If Texas is able to move the needle with Downs and his camp enough to at least push back his decision timeline this fall, that would be a success.