Texas football pushing for former 4-Star A&M DL commit Johnny Bowens

As we are winding down the 2023 recruiting cycle ahead of the Early Signing Period in December, Texas football is finding ways that it can fill up the final few spots in the 2023 class. Texas’ 2023 recruiting class currently has 21 commitments as of Oct. 26, with more likely to come in the next three or four weeks.

One position group that the Longhorns look to be prioritizing to round out in the 2023 class in the near future lies along the defensive line, specifically at edge rusher.

While he doesn’t play off the edge, one target that is coming back to the forefront along the defensive line for the Longhorns at this point of the cycle is the touted and athletic four-star Converse Judson defensive lineman Johnny Bowens.

Texas offered Bowens back in June 2021 after he camped with the Longhorns. But the communication started to fall off that summer when Bowens started to find more traction with the Texas A&M Aggies. Bowens wound up committing to Texas A&M in December 2021.

Yet, Bowens would open up his recruitment on June 28, 2022, thus opening the door for other programs to try and get his commitment. Bowens looks to maintain strong communication with Texas A&M, despite the June de-commitment, along with the Oregon Ducks.

Texas football DL coach Bo Davis back in communication with 4-Star Johnny Bowens

But it now looks like defensive line coach Bo Davis and the Longhorns are trying to get back involved in the recruitment of Bowens of late. According to a report from Gerry Hamilton of Inside Texas on Oct. 25 (paid content), Texas is “in contact” with Bowens and is trying to set up a visit to campus for sometime next month.

Bowens mentioned in this report that he “talked to Texas” and that he’s “going to go up there for a game and see what Coach Davis is talking about”.

Texas looks like it will at least get to shoot its shot with Bowens before he makes a final decision in the next couple of months in all likelihood. This IT report notes that Texas A&M and Oregon are likely to be the top two schools that Bowens announces prior to making this eventual visit to Austin for a Texas game.

But the fact that Bowens is hearing out Davis and the Longhorns shows that Texas could still have a chance here if they really make a solid pitch to him and his camp whenever he makes it to campus.

Moreover, Bowens could be joining a group of a few key defensive linemen to watch for the Longhorns 2023 class ahead of the Early Signing Period. A few other names to watch for this position group in the 2023 class include four-star Garland Naaman Forest DL Markis Deal, five-star Texas A&M commit David Hicks and Fort Myers Hinds CC’s Derick Hunter.

There is no official date set at the moment for a Bowens visit to Austin. But we will continue to monitor this recruitment as it progresses. The two remaining home games on the schedule for the Longhorns come against the TCU Horned Frogs on Nov. 12 and the Baylor Bears on Nov. 25.