Texas Football: 10 key recruits impressed by Longhorns OV weekend
![Deshawn Warner. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Breen-Arizona RepublicHigh School Football Hs Football Desert Edge At Barry Goldater Desert Edge At Barry Goldwater Deshawn Warner. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Breen-Arizona RepublicHigh School Football Hs Football Desert Edge At Barry Goldater Desert Edge At Barry Goldwater](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f018251af5b91e596c386ef271552fa756f5ba6bf045a7ad506a85d13d0abb17.jpg)
Melvin Hills, DL
A name we heard a lot of buzz about coming out of the official visit weekend was the 6-foot-4 and 270-pound Lafayette Christian Academy (LA) three-star defensive lineman Melvin Hills. Texas and defensive line coach Bo Davis continued to move the needle with Hills during his first trip to Austin since the second Junior Day of the offseason on March 25.
Lafayette Christian Academy 2024 DL @IiiHills on his official visit at Texas. @InsideTexas Official visit weekend live thread …https://t.co/YWIr3nfN4Z pic.twitter.com/Y11tiN6svQ
— Gerry Hamilton (@GHamilton_On3) June 17, 2023
I think this weekend’s official visit only helped Texas’ standing in this recruitment if Davis and the Longhorns staff continue to push for a commitment from Hills.
It is probably as simple as saying that if Texas keeps its foot on the gas with Hills for the rest of the summer, it will beat out the Ole Miss Rebels to get his commitment. If Texas doesn’t push, Ole Miss will probably be the choice for Hills.
Brandon Baker, OT
One of the highest-rated recruits that officially visited Texas last weekend was the elite five-star Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei offensive tackle Brandon Baker. The No. 1 rated offensive tackle recruit in the nation in the 2024 class made his first return trip to Austin last weekend since he visited unofficially for the Orange-White Game on April 15.
https://twitter.com/On3Recruits/status/1670612731488247809
Offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood connected with Baker one-on-one for some film study and analysis during the official visit last weekend. Baker also got to see how Flood and the Longhorns could develop him in the mold of the former five-star offensive tackle recruit and sophomore Kelvin Banks Jr.
Horns247 reported on June 19 (paid content) that Texas is being given “strong consideration” from Baker and his family. It was also mentioned in this Horns247 report that Texas is expected to be “in the mix” through the whistle on signing day.
I can’t undersell the importance of Texas making another move in this recruitment during Baker’s official visit over the weekend. Texas is chipping away at the presumed lead the Oregon Ducks have with Baker the last few months. And if this recruitment goes the distance, who knows what will happen with a recruiter as good as Flood involved with Baker?