Texas Football: 3 elite 2024 recruits the Longhorns can land in January

With the Early Signing Period now in the rearview mirror, most of the focus and attention for Texas football recruiting will be paid to the 2024 class. Texas will be looking to build a solid foundation in the 2024 class in the next few months. A lot of the priorities in terms of positional needs for Texas’ 2024 class are now clear after the first signing day for the 2023 cycle in late December.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns have filled most of the scholarship spots in the 2023 recruiting class since the conclusion of the first signing period a couple of weeks ago. The 2023 signing class certainly gives the 2024 class a lot to live up to as it ranks in the top five in the nation after the first signing period.

January will be an important month on the recruiting trail for the Longhorns 2024 class. Highlighted by Junior Day, there will be a couple of critical visit weekends this month and at least a couple of commitments worth watching.

5-Star S Peyton Woodyard and the elite 2024 recruits Texas football could nab in January

With that in mind, here’s a look at three elite 2024 recruits the Longhorns could land in January.

Corian Gipson, S

There are a few notable safety targets for the Longhorns 2024 class that could be inching closer to decisions after the turn of the calendar year. And one of the key safety targets on the Longhorns’ radar in the 2024 class is the highly touted four-star Lancaster (TX) product Corian Gipson.

Texas hosted Gipson on multiple unofficial visits to Austin last year, including a trip for the TCU Horned Frogs game in November.

We are coming up on a year since Texas originally offered Gipson. Texas has made it clear in the last year or so that Gipson is a priority for the defensive staff in the 2024 class from the first day they offered him.

Gipson has a great relationship with safeties coach Blake Gideon and multiple other Texas staffers.

But one factor to watch in this recruitment is the departure of the former Texas director of high school relations Chris Gilbert, who recently took a job on staff with the North Texas Mean Green. Gilbert has a tight bond with Gipson and his camp as he used to coach at Lancaster High School.

Yet, I do believe the departure of Gilbert is something that Texas could still overcome in this recruitment. Texas is still making it known that Gipson is a priority that the staff wants in the 2024 class.

A piece from Gerry Hamilton of Inside Texas on Jan. 2 (paid content) detailing the Longhorns’ “best class scenario” for 2024 still included Gipson as a big name on the board at the safety position.

At the moment, I don’t know of any confirmation that Gipson will be attending Junior Day in Austin on the weekend of Jan. 21. That will be something to watch to see if Texas is still moving in the right direction in this recruitment. If so, I imagine that Texas could remain either the outright favorite in the race to land Gipson’s commitment, or at least one of the top couple of schools.