Predicting Texas's next 2025 commit after RB James Simon

Riley Pettijohn, LB

After Texas landed a commitment from the highly touted four-star Dallas (TX) Skyline linebacker Elijah "Bo" Barnes last month, the attention for 2025 linebacker recruiting turned to another top-notch prospect at the position from DFW.

The elite high-four-star McKinney (TX) linebacker Riley Pettijohn is the clear top priority for linebacker recruiting for Johnny Nansen and the Longhorns for the 2025 cycle. The top 35 recruit nationally in the 2025 class in the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry Ranking hasn't officially named the Longhorns as his top school entering summer official visits.

But the consensus among those in the recruiting industry has favored Texas as the frontrunner in the race to win Pettijohn's commitment since the start of spring practice a couple of months ago.

On3's Chad Simmons and Steve Wiltfong both picked Texas as the current frontrunner in Pettijohn's recruitment as of late May.

From multiple standpoints, the tea leaves read as Texas having the momentum with Pettijohn entering his summer official visits. He's visited Texas unofficially more than any other school since late last fall. And he's got some of the best relationships with the Texas coaches, fellow recruits, and players of any he's associated with throughout his recruitment.

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