Texas Football: 2 blue-chip 2024 commits who took recent SEC visits

Jaden Allen, CB

The first prospect that committed to the Longhorns 2024 class is the touted four-star Aledo cornerback Jaden Allen. The 5-foot-10 and 155-pound defensive back committed to Texas back in December 2021. He committed to Texas nearly one full year before the next pledge that joined the mix in the 2024 class.

However, Allen shook things up a bit when he made the unofficial trip to Tuscaloosa last weekend for Junior Day to see the Alabama Crimson Tide. This was the first visit that Allen has taken since committing to Texas roughly 15 months ago.

Allen’s unofficial visit to Alabama for Junior Day specifically took place on Jan. 28.

According to a report from Hudson Standish of Horns247 on Jan. 30 (paid content), it doesn’t sound like there was a whole lot of certainty from people in and around the Texas program that Allen was going to make the trip to Alabama last weekend. I’m not necessarily saying that it completely took Texas’ staff by surprise. But it doesn’t sound like this trip was widely known and communicated before it took place.

Allen was active on social media during the visit to Tuscaloosa last weekend, including him posting a picture in Alabama gear on Twitter.

We should also note that Allen appears to be very intrigued by the pitch from the Tide. A report from Eric Nahlin of Inside Texas on Feb. 3 (paid content) indicates that Allen “is listening to” Alabama’s pitch to him since the visit took place.

It’s obviously something to note when Alabama is pressing a Texas commit as it is with Allen. When head coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide put their foot on the gas in a recruitment like this, especially for a blue-chip defensive back, it is always a potential threat to take seriously.