Texas Football: Top 5 remaining must-have recruits for 2025

DJ Sanders, DL

The most important uncommitted defensive linemen in-state for the Longhorns to get in the boat for this cycle is the big 6-foot-4 and 325-pound Belville (TX) four-star defensive tackle DJ Sanders.

The No. 1 defensive line recruit in Texas in the 2025 class in the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry Ranking is one of the top prospects on the board at an incredibly important position for the Longhorns this summer. Texas knocked it out of the park with Sanders during his summer official visit last month.

What makes Sanders' recruitment so important for the Longhorns is the fact that he could now be the top defensive line target that is realistically in play for Texas for the 2025 class this summer. Texas missing out on four-star defensive tackles Josiah Sharma (Oregon commit) and Myron Charles (Florida State commit) last week makes Sanders paramount for Texas to get in the 2025 class by the fall.

Horns247 reports that Sanders doesn't have a concrete decision timeline this summer. But he is reportedly expected to announce in the next couple of months before the start of his senior season.

Brandon Brown, DL (Texas commit)

Four-star Melbourne (FL) Eau Gallie defensive lineman and Texas commit Brandon Brown has become a critical recruitment for the Longhorns since the spring. Texas has worked to fight off challenges from Bo Davis and LSU on the recruiting trail to keep Brown's commitment firm throughout this cycle for the last few months.

Brown had a tremendous official visit to Texas back in mid-June. Texas was able to re-affirm Brown's pledge when he visited Texas a few weeks ago, which was a big win in and of itself for the Longhorns in this recruitment.

There's a significant reason why Brown is the only Texas commit on this list for the "must-win recruitments" for 2025 for Kenny Baker and Co. this summer. After missing out on Sharma and Charles last week, Texas must retain Brown's commitment in the 2025 class and get Sanders in the boat entering signing day in December.

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