Texas Football: Alabama making run at 4-Star UT ATH commit

We are still in the thick of flip season for Texas football in the 2024 recruiting class before signing day on Dec. 20. Texas is pursuing some flip candidates on the recruiting trail in the 2024 class late in this cycle, such as the elite five-star McKinney (TX) safety and Florida Gators commit Xavier Filsaime and four-star Lexington (MS) Holmes County defensive lineman/Mississippi State Bulldogs commit Terrance Hibbler.

But the flip candidates go both ways for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns in the 2024 class before signing day in a couple of weeks. Texas has to work to hang on to some key skill position commits in the 2024 class, namely four-star IMG Academy running back Jerrick Gibson and four-star Daingerfield (TX) athlete Aeryn Hampton, from competing SEC foes on the trail late in the cycle.

Texas football trying to hold off Alabama from flipping 4-Star ATH commit Aeryn Hampton in the 2024 class

Florida is still working to chip away at Gibson’s commitment to Texas heading into signing day. There were some rumors he was looking to take an official visit to Gainesville this weekend. But that doesn’t look too likely a couple of days before the weekend begins.

Hampton, meanwhile, remains in communication with the Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban late this cycle. Pictures posted on social media confirm this week that Saban and the Tide visited Hampton at Daingerfield High School.

Alabama still showing interest in Hampton before signing day

Hampton re-committed to Texas over Alabama when he announced his decision in early July last offseason. But Alabama continues to prioritize his recruitment, which is evident by the fact that Saban visited Hampton while he was in Texas on Dec. 6.

On3 reported on Dec. 7 that Alabama has stayed in “heavy” communication with Hampton during his recruiting process since he committed to Texas in the summer. Smoke is reportedly “definitely building around Hampton” and the Tide late in the cycle.

Hampton is Texas’s only pure athlete commit in the 2024 class. He could play at wide receiver or cornerback, assuming Texas holds on and he ultimately signs with the Longhorns in a couple of weeks during the Early Signing Period.