Texas may have found its Easton Royal replacement in underrated 3-star WR Jacob Thomas

Just a couple of weeks ago, five-star wide receiver Easton Royal flipped his commitment from the Texas Longhorns to the Florida Gators.

Now, the Horns and head coach Steve Sarkisian have seemingly zeroed in on their next wideout target: three-star Jacob Thomas. Just one problem stands in their way: he is currently committed to the Pittsburgh Panthers.

However, earlier this week, Thomas announced he would be on the 40 Acres for Texas's game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, creating a perfect opportunity for Sarkisian to show off everything his program has to offer.

While Thomas cannot claim the same star rating as Royal, he is known for his speed and agility on the field, something that the Horns are always looking to add to their roster.

In fact, a commitment from a prospect like Thomas would pair perfectly with current Texas commits Briceson Thrower (4-star WR), Kyron Brown (3-star WR), Brock Williams (4-star TE), and JT Geraci (3-star TE).

One step is standing in the way of Longhorns bringing in a new wideout

Thomas, a native of the greater Miami area, committed to the Panthers over a slew of other Power Conference teams, including his home-state teams like the Florida State Seminoles and the Miami Hurricanes.

However, since committing to Pitt in March of last year, Thomas has continued to take both official and unofficial visits across the country. Now, his latest trip will be one to the 40 Acres.

One trip to Texas, especially if the Horns complete the expected domination of Mississippi State, can seal a prospect's attraction to the program.

Yet, there is another hurdle standing between the Longhorns and Thomas, other than Pitt, and that is the fact that Sarkisian and his staff have yet to actually extend an offer to the three-star wide receiver.

So, while the visit for the game against the Bulldogs is as much for Thomas to see what the Horns have to offer him, it is also a chance for Texas to see whether or not the program actually wants to extend him an offer.

Thomas is a top-100 prospect out of Florida in the 2027 recruiting cycle and has received offers from powerhouse teams like Miami, Georgia, Indiana, and more. So, the Horns are virtually playing catch-up when it comes to his recruitment.

Also read: Horns' recruiting back on track with LB Raymond Hudson flipping from Clemson to Texas

Beyond the pair of wideouts and pair of tight ends, Texas's class of 2027 has 13 blue-chip recruits to its name, alongside nine other elite commits. The class is headlined by five-star prospects Ismael Camara (interior offensive lineman) and Landen Williams-Callis (running back).

The class ranks ninth in the nation and fourth in the SEC, trailing Texas A&M, Florida, and Oklahoma. A commitment from an underrated recruit like Thomas could be the exact kind of thing that propels the Horns' recruiting class back up the rankings.

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