Predicting Texas's next commit after DL Justus Terry
Ty Haywood, OT (Alabama commit)
On the final day of the Early Signing Period, only one five-star SEC offensive tackle commit remains unsigned in the 2025 recruiting class on Dec. 6.
Five-star Denton (TX) Ryan offensive tackle and Alabama Crimson Tide Ty Haywood has reaffirmed multiple times this week that he's planning on waiting until February to sign on the dotted line during the late signing period.
Texas pursued Haywood for a while early in his recruitment. He visited Texas a couple of times unofficially, including for the first Junior Day of this past offseason in late January 2024.
The contact fell off between Haywood and the Longhorns during the spring evaluation period last offseason, as Kyle Flood and Texas started to pursue other in-state blue-chip offensive tackle recruits. Texas missed on five-star Lewisville (TX) offensive tackle Michael Fasusi, who signed with the Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday (Dec. 4).
I will say that there hasn't been any confirmed reporting of contact between Haywood's camp and the Longhorns on the recruiting trail this fall, or since the signing period began a few days ago this week.
We do know that the Longhorns could be in the market for a starting-caliber offensive tackle in the transfer portal during the winter window (starting Dec. 9).
Texas is losing potentially two starting offensive tackles to the NFL Draft next spring. Kelvin Banks Jr. is definitely leaving for the NFL Draft, as a guaranteed first-round pick in 2025. Cam Williams could also leave school early to be a Day 2 or Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft next spring.
Getting a replacement at right or left tackle could be hard to do given how much Texas is trying to replace along the offensive line, with four starters potentially leaving the Longhorns from the O-Line next offseason.
If the Longhorns don't find the offensive tackle they're looking for in the portal during the winter transfer window, it is a viable option to kick the tires on the idea of pursuing Haywood on the trail before the late signing period next February in a couple of months.