Texas football hosting 4-Star Miami TE commit for official visit vs. KSU

Entering the final month of the regular season, Texas football has just two home games remaining to host visiting recruits from the 2024 class before signing day in mid-December. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian are amassing a solid group of visiting recruits for their matchup this weekend at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Nov. 4 against the No. 25 Kansas State Wildcats.

Sark and the Longhorns staff will host some newer targets on the board in the 2024 class for visits this weekend for the Kansas State game too. Among the newest flip targets on the big board for the Longhorns in the 2024 class this fall is the highly touted four-star Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman tight end and Miami Hurricanes commit Elija Lofton.

Lofton might be considered more of a re-engagement for the Longhorns on the recruiting trail in the 2024 class this fall than a new target entirely. Texas offered Lofton a while back, and he made an unofficial visit to Austin for the Longhorns’ first Junior Day of the offseason in late January 2023.

Texas football to reportedly host 4-Star Miami TE commit Elija Lofton on an official visit for the Kansas State game

Inside Texas reported on Oct. 31 that Lofton will take an official visit to Austin on Nov. 4 for the top-25 matchup at DKR between No. 7 Texas and No. 25 Kansas State.

This will be the first official visit Lofton has taken since he committed to Miami in mid-June. He also took official visits to Miami and Arizona State (May 26) during the offseason. Lofton committed to Miami over Texas and Arizona State, among a handful of other Power Five offers, including Colorado, Texas A&M, Cal, Utah, and Washington, on June 15, 2023.

Texas’ staff looking at options to add a second tight end from the high school ranks in the 2024 class

Special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Banks and the Longhorns appear to be expanding their scope at the tight end position this fall in the 2024 recruiting class. Banks has reportedly been pursuing Lofton on the recruiting trail for nearly 12 months heading into his official visit to Texas this weekend.

Texas already holds a commitment from a tight end in the 2024 class, three-star Houston (TX) Langham Creek product Jordan Washington.

With the expected departure of All-Big 12 junior tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders to the 2024 NFL Draft following the conclusion of the 2023 season, Banks and the Longhorns will have a gaping hole to fill in the tight end room next offseason. And since Washington is expected to be more of a developmental receiving tight end in his first couple of years in college, Texas is looking to add depth and another skilled prospect at the position in the 2024 class heading into signing day next month.

Lofton is a powerful tight end that has the versatility to block and be a receiving threat

Lofton is a sturdy and powerful 6-foot-2 and 220-pound tight end who has a strong lower half and is a capable receiving threat and a steady run blocker. He’s a good route runner with good hands and can fight for yards after the catch with decent speed and elusiveness in the open field. Lofton’s strong lower base also makes it extremely difficult to get him to the ground.

Lofton is a productive receiving tight end who keeps improving for Bishop Gorman in the last couple of years. He registered 30 catches for over 750 receiving yards and roughly 25 yards per catch with 11 touchdown catches during his junior season in 2022 (per MaxPreps).

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He’s flashed with some big games during his senior season thus far, including a four-touchdown game in a win for Bishop Gorman over Miami Central High School in a 39-35 win on Sep. 1. Lofton has 500 total yards and a whopping 16 total touchdowns this season for Bishop Gorman.