Texas Football: 5 key recruits impressed by the spring game

Brandon Baker, OT

Another one of the most important visitors on campus for the spring game for the Longhorns this weekend was the elite five-star Mater Dei (CA) offensive tackle Brandon Baker. The No. 1 rated offensive tackle recruit in the nation in the On3 Consensus and 247Sports Composite was a huge addition to the visitor list for the Orange-White Game last week.

And it sounds like Flood and the Longhorns took major advantage of the opportunity to host two of the top offensive tackle recruits in the nation in the 2024 class this weekend in Calhoun and Baker.

The 6-foot-5 and 285-pound Baker reportedly mentioned that he enjoyed his “conversations with coach Sark” and liked how he sold the program. Sark is apparently utilizing his connection to the west coast along with Flood’s ability to recruit and develop blue-chip offensive linemen as the selling points for Baker to come to Texas.

Jerrick Gibson, RB

The highest-priority recruit at the running back position for RB coach Tashard Choice and the Longhorns this spring is the elite five-star IMG Academy product Jerrick Gibson. The No. 1 ranked running back recruit in the nation in the 2024 class has become a frequent visitor on the 40 early this offseason.

Gibson visited Austin unofficially for the second time this offseason, and the third time since last summer. He will also make it back to Austin for the third time in 2023 when he officially visits the 40 on that aforementioned enormous visit weekend starting on June 23.

I love where Texas stands in this recruitment coming out of Gibson’s first trip to Austin for a spring game at DKR. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports wrote up a piece on Gibson’s trip to the 40 this weekend following the spring game action on April 15. This piece from Wiltfong saw Gibson describe this visit for the spring game as “amazing”.

Choice has a fantastic relationship with Gibson, and the five-star running back recruit enjoyed the time he got to spend with the second-year Texas RB coach this weekend.

"“Getting around them again, them just showing me how they are and Coach Choice he’s got electric energy. Just being around him with him showing me the running backs and everything it was fun.”"

Gibson continues to have nothing but positive things to say about his multiple trips to Texas in the last few months. And the very fact that Texas has gotten Gibson to campus so many times this offseason, and will continue to do so heading into the summer, is a positive sign of where the Longhorns sit among the top schools in the race to land his commitment.

It’s also worth noting that Gibson got to spend some time with Sark during the spring game festivities this weekend. Whenever Sark is committing this much time to an out-of-state skill position recruit, that is an indication that he is a top priority in this class for the Longhorns.