Texas Football: Ten recruits the Horns need to sign in 2024 recruiting class

Colin Simmons, EDGE

The top-priority recruit for the Longhorns in the 2024 class this summer is the elite five-star Duncanville edge rusher, Colin Simmons. The top-rated edge rusher recruit in the nation in the 2024 class, Simmons, has remained a Texas lean since he had a successful late June official visit to Austin.

Simmons teased a commitment date on social media on July 19. Maybe a late-summer decision is possible for the elite edge rusher recruit out of South Dallas?

No other recruit in the 2024 class could make a bigger immediate impact at a position of need for the Longhorns than Simmons. Texas has needed an impact edge rusher to improve the pass rush the last few years, and Simmons would be that guy.

Jerrick Gibson, RB

The other Texas commit in the 2024 class on this list is the high-four-star IMG Academy running back Jerrick Gibson. Running backs coach Tashard Choice and the Longhorns did a fantastic job landing the top-ranked running back recruit in Florida in the 2024 class when Gibson committed to Texas during his official visit on June 24.

Unlike Cruz, I could see other schools (especially big-time programs in Florida, such as Miami and the Florida State Seminoles) recruiting Gibson through the whistle on signing day in December. This recruitment could play out similarly to that of the nation’s No. 1 rated running back recruit in the 2023 class, five-star Orlando (FL) Edgewater product CJ Baxter Jr.

Gibson is firmly committed to Texas, but the top-rated recruit in the 2024 class is imperative for the Longhorns to sign. I guess you could say that Gibson and Cruz are on this list because I believe they are two of the most important Longhorns’ commits in the 2024 class.