3 Texas football commits on flip watch heading into signing day

Ryan Niblett, WR

Another blue-chip Texas commit that took the unofficial trip to see Houston this weekend is the highly touted four-star Aldine Eisenhower (TX) wide receiver Ryan Niblett. The speedy and potent 5-foot-11 and 170-pound wideout took his first visit to a school that’s not Texas this weekend, and it doesn’t sound like the staff was aware that it was taking place.

I would definitely say that Niblett making the unannounced and abrupt trip to Houston this weekend is more concerning for the coaching staff than Spencer’s visit. Niblett is one of just two wide receivers committed to the Longhorns 2023 class.

And considering how Texas was looking to take three or four receivers (especially if you include additions by way of the NCAA Transfer Portal) in the 2023 signing class, it’s pretty problematic to see Niblett getting put on flip watch this late in the cycle.

I wasn’t expecting that Sark and wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator Brennan Marion were going to have to fight through the whistle to retain Niblett’s commitment. He seemed pretty locked in with Texas throughout the fall, and Houston didn’t look like a threat for a long time now.

But Houston is proving to be a thorn in the side of the Longhorns on the recruiting trail in the 2023 class this fall. Houston hosted two blue-chip Texas commits for a pair of visits this weekend. And the Cougars already essentially flipped the commitment of the four-star Spring Dekaney wide receiver Jonah Wilson a couple of months ago.

Sark, Marion, and the Longhorns are probably going to do all they can to retain Niblett’s commitment and get him to sign on the dotted line on Dec. 21. But it is clear at this moment that the Cougars are a real threat to flip Niblett in the coming days and/or weeks.