Predicting every remaining 5-Star defensive 2023 commit for Texas football

Ahead of the start of fall camp for Texas football in a couple of weeks, there is still a large focus on the results on the recruiting trail down the stretch this summer for the 2023 class. Texas’ 2023 recruiting class is on a roll right now, more than tripling the size of the numbers in the mix since early-to-mid June.

During this insane run on the recruiting trail for the Longhorns 2023 class, the offense took hold of most of the headlines in the last few weeks. Commitments from top recruits such as the elite five-star Isidore Newman quarterback Arch Manning and five-star DeSoto wide receiver Johntay Cook really launched this class on the offensive side of the ball.

But Texas has started to add some impressive commits among the defensive recruits in the 2023 class of late too. Just in the last few weeks, Texas has landed key commitments on the defensive side of the ball in the 2023 class from the likes of the five-star Westgate (LA) safety Derek Williams, five-star South Oak Cliff cornerback Malik Muhammad, and four-star Bergen Catholic (NJ) defensive lineman Sydir Mitchell.

And it looks like Texas is far from done on the defensive side of the ball for the 2023 class heading into the fall.

Top priorities remaining on defense for the 2023 Texas football recruiting class

With that in mind, here’s a look at a prediction of every remaining five-star commit on the defensive side of the ball in the Longhorns 2023 class.

Honorable mentions

David Hicks, DL

The most realistic of the honorable mentions for the Longhorns to get in the 2023 class is the elite five-star Katy-Paetow defensive lineman David Hicks. Texas has mostly looked like a top school that is still somehow remaining in the background in the recruitment of Hicks in the last eight or 10 months.

But Texas was seemingly trending up with Hicks since landing a commitment from Arch back on June 23. This insane run that the Longhorns are on for the 2023 class has looked to at least move the needle with Hicks a considerable degree.

For Texas to really make a sizable move with Hicks, though, it will take this team showing some pretty massive strides on the defensive side of the ball on the field this fall. A successful run for the Texas defense this fall could mean the Longhorns become a real challenger for Hicks with the likes of the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies.

Damon Wilson, EDGE

One of the newest top recruits on the scene for the Longhorns 2023 class heading into the fall is the five-star Venice (FL) 6-foot-4 and 235-pound edge rusher Damon Wilson. Texas has recently established more contact with the talented Florida EDGE Wilson.

And it looks like Texas could really pick up the pursuit of Wilson on the recruiting trail depending on what happens in the next few weeks with other top edge rusher targets. If Texas is able to land at least two of their three top edge rusher targets of the 2023 class in four-stars Derion Gullette, Colton Vasek, and Braylan Shelby, I don’t know how real the smoke will be surrounding Wilson.

Wilson recently included Texas in his five finalist schools which were dropped on social media on July 14. The other four finalist schools in his latest round of cuts are the Alabama Crimson Tide, Miami Hurricanes, Georgia Bulldogs, and Ohio State Buckeyes.