Position-by-position grades for Texas's 2025 signing class

Running back

James Simon, Shreveport (LA) Calvary Baptist Academy 4-Star

The first running back to commit to the Longhorns in the 2025 class was Louisiana native four-star James Simon, who picked Texas over the LSU Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Texas A&M Aggies.

Simon, at 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, is that type of downhill running back who fits Sarkisian's system that can run between the tackles and in the zone ground game. He possesses good size, strength, quickness, and cutting ability.

In a couple of years, I think Simon could be a huge part of this Texas running back room. His type of power and quickness running the football makes Simon a natural fit to potentially be a future bellcow-type back in Sarkisian's offense.

Rickey Stewart, Tyler (TX) Chapel Hill 4-Star

The second of the two running backs that Tashard Choice and the Longhorns signed today in the 2025 recruiting class is in-state four-star Rickey Stewart. At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, Stewart is more of a speedy home-run hitter at running back.

Stewart and Simon form a sort of thunder and lightning duo in this running back class for Choice and the Longhorns for 2025. Stewart has rushed for well over 7,000 yards in his high school career at Chapel Hill in Tyler, TX. He is an explosive back who can find the hole and hit it in the blink of an eye for big plays on the ground.

While Simon is going to be more of the traditional run between the tackles back in Sarkisian's offense at Texas, Stewart will be a more explosive and multiple rusher who can get involved in the outside running game and the receiving game out of the backfield.

Grade: B+