Texas Football: Position-by-position grades for the 2023 class post-NSD
There could still be some action left in store for the 2023 Texas football recruiting class during the Early Signing Period, which officially wraps up on Dec. 23. But we’re talking about one, maybe two, more recruits that have some movement on the trail in regard to Texas in the next couple of days.
For the time being, though, head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns should be proud of being able to sign all 22 commitments to the 2023 class early on the first National Signing Day (Dec. 21). It didn’t take long for Texas to get each of the commitments to the 2023 class signed, including the one additional pledge that the Longhorns reeled in on Dec. 21.
Texas was able to land a commitment from the highly touted four-star Skyridge (UT) edge rusher/outside linebacker Tausili Akana on the afternoon of Dec. 21, bringing the tally of signees in the 2023 class up to 22.
According to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings, the 2023 Texas recruiting class ranks at No. 3 in the nation and in the top spot in the Big 12 ahead of the Oklahoma Sooners. Keeping this class ranked in the top three in the nation for this cycle would be a good way to finish out for the Longhorns.
Position-by-position grades for the 2023 Texas football recruiting class, led by Arch Manning
Here’s a look at position-by-position grades for the Longhorns in the 2023 class post-NSD1.
Who you believing them or me? #Hookem pic.twitter.com/GsoPWhnhNm
— Gavin Holmes (@GAVINH0LMES) December 21, 2022
The transfer class so far
Since the NCAA Transfer Portal class for the Longhorns is far from over, I wanted to include this group separately from the rest of the position grades for the high school recruits in the 2023 class.
That said, it was big for the Longhorns to be able to sign the two portal pickups that Sark and his staff already landed as of the end of the day on NSD1.
Gavin Holmes, CB (from Wake Forest)
The surprise commitment that Texas got out of the portal on Dec. 21 came courtesy of the former Wake Forest Demon Deacons redshirt sophomore cornerback Gavin Holmes. The third-year Louisiana native corner was a reliable and productive rotational starter in the defensive backfield for Wake Forest in the last couple of seasons.
Holmes will be able to come in and compete right away for starting reps at field corner upon the anticipated departure of senior CB D’Shawn Jamison.
Ryan Sanborn, P (from Stanford)
Texas special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Banks was also to fill a need for the punting unit by signing the former Stanford Cardinal senior punter and grad transfer Ryan Sanborn on Dec. 21. Sanborn was the first portal commit for the Longhorns in the 2023 class, and he’ll be taking the spot on the punting unit from former Texas Wesleyan transfer Daniel Trejo.
I like the portal class so far for the Longhorns. But the job is far from over. Texas was able to plug a need on special teams and add important depth in the secondary. We still need to see more numbers being added at wideout and at multiple position groups on the defensive side of the ball (i.e. an impact edge rusher and safety).