Texas football lands elite 5-Star CB priority Kobe Black

Texas football added a commitment from one of its "must-win" recruits in the 2024 class on Dec. 13, the elite five-star Waco (TX) Connally cornerback Kobe Black. During an announcement at the Connally High School gymnasium on Dec. 13, Black committed to Texas over his other finalist schools, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas A&M Aggies, LSU Tigers, and Oregon Ducks.

Texas was long considered the favorite in the race to land a commitment from Black. Since the end summer official visits, the Longhorns faithful were anxiously awaiting a decision from Black. However, this recruitment wound up getting drawn out until the week before signing day on Dec. 20.

Black was among the "must-win" defensive priority recruits for the Longhorns in the 2024 class. He and the elite five-star Duncanville edge rusher commit Colin Simmons, were arguably the two biggest in-state priorities in the 2024 class for Texas since the spring.

And Texas has succeeded in getting both of these immediate impact elite talents in this class upon the move to the SEC in 2024.

CB coach Terry Joseph played an instrumental role in Texas football landing the commitment of 5-Star CB priority Kobe Black

Relationships and the opportunity to make an immediate impact at cornerback for the Longhorns were two of the biggest contributing factors to Texas winning Black's commitment.

Cornerbacks coach Terry Joseph has built a great relationship with Black and his family. Joseph's relationships in this recruitment were the biggest reason Texas was in such a good spot among Black's top schools since the spring.

Co-DC Pete Kwiatkowski also did a nice job in this recruitment, pitching Black as a fit as an impact boundary corner from the day he steps on campus in Austin.

Texas is well within striking distance of another top-five ranked recruiting class in the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings

After landing Black's commitment on Dec. 13, Texas is up to 21 high school commitments in the 2024 class. Black is the fourth five-star prospect and the 18th blue-chip to commit to the Longhorns in the 2024 class.

According to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings, the 2024 Texas recruiting class ranks sixth in the nation and fourth in the SEC.

Florida is the school that sits in the five spot right now in the 2024 national class rankings in the 247Sports Composite.

Suppose Texas can flip the elite five-star McKinney (TX) safety Xavier Filsaime from the Florida Gators heading into signing day next week. In that case, Texas will jump head coach Billy Napier's program in the national class rankings. Filsaime is set to officially visit Texas on the last weekend before signing day in a couple of days.

What Black brings to Texas

The 6-foot-2 and 200-pound elite Cen-Tex cornerback recruit Black is a high-floor defensive back with the ability to immediately impact Texas's secondary. Black has excellent length and athleticism at cornerback.

He brings good straight-line and recovery speed and above-average agility. He has no trouble keeping up with most wide receivers he matches up with one-on-one in man or zone coverage. Black also has good and fluid hips, allowing him to be sticky in one-on-one coverage and show good speed with his change of direction.

Black is a natural cover corner. He's got good hands, as he's played running back and occasionally lines up out wide at Connally High School throughout his career. Black's reliable hands, timing, and anticipation make him a disruptive force in coverage.

He could be a real playmaker at the next level with his ability to time and jump routes, along with good enough hands to bring in the interception.

In run defense, Black shows good physicality and the ability to effectively play downhill around the line of scrimmage. His ranginess, agility, and physicality means he can effectively contest space in run defense and blow up plays around the line of scrimmage.

Areas of improvement

While Black possesses above-average straight-line speed and agility, he's not the fastest defensive back you'll find in this class. He can occasionally get caught up in space, taking bad approaches and missing tackles.

Black must improve his consistency and tackling approach when he's contesting space in pass coverage or run defense.

Projection and fit at Texas

It is clear that Black will have the chance to immediately compete for a spot on the two-deep at Texas. He's a high-floor prospect who has the physical traits and skills as a cover corner to make a positive impact on this secondary for the Longhorns right away in the SEC.

Texas has always pitched Black as a boundary corner throughout his recruitment. And with redshirt junior boundary cornerback Ryan Watts either headed for the NFL Draft next spring or potentially making a switch to safety if he returns to school for another season, Black will have the opportunity to earn the starting job there immediately in spring ball.