Texas set to host numerous commits, elite targets for USC game

The Texas Longhorns could essentially construct an entire two-deep — a tremendously talented one, at that — with the amount of key commits and targets set to flock to the Forty Acres this weekend for the USC game.

Elite prospects from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 classes will be in attendance; many of which are firmly positioned at or near the top of Texas’ big board, such as five-star athlete Bru McCoy and five-star running back Trey Sanders, which will each be in Austin for their official visit. The former is high on the Horns, but largely considered a USC lean so, of course, Texas sending the Trojans home with a loss could be the spark Tom Herman’s program needs to pull a major recruiting upset. Sanders, on the other hand, wasn’t expected to visit Austin until November, so the news that the nation’s top-ranked running back will be at DKR for arguably the most electric environment of the season could prove tremendously beneficial. Although options such as Alabama and Florida are widely considered the frontrunners, a source told The Football Brainiacs that “Texas is, quietly, his leader.”

Aside from uncommitted 2019 targets, at least 10 Texas commits are expected to be in attendance, including four-star Houston North North Forest offensive tackle Javonne Shepherd. With Texas A&M pushing once again and the Aggies just days removed from securing a pledge from key 2020 Texas target and Shepherd’s teammate, five-star receiver Demond Demas, there’s chatter and Crystal Ball projections predicting a flip.

It could go without saying that in regards to the Horns hopes of keeping Shepherd on board, this weekend is monumentally important.

The same can be said for the Longhorns recruiting efforts as a whole, though.

With Texas A&M surging and Oklahoma cruising through the 2019 cycle, Texas is set to welcome key prospects such as Marcus Washington, Lewis Cine, Elijah Higgins, and Jalen Catalon. Simply put, what takes place this weekend could serve as a springboard or quicksand for the Longhorns recruiting efforts to close the 2019 class and beyond.

On a more positive note, could Texas’ 2019 class be on the verge of building upon its top 15 ranking in the coming days? If so, the name to know is four-star Georgia running back Derrian Brown, who will be in Austin for an official visit, and potentially three-star safety Tyler Owens.

2019

• Bru McCoy — 5-star ATH — Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei — OV
• Trey Sanders — 5-star RB — Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy — OV
• Jordan Whittington — 4-star WR — Cuero — Texas commit
• Jake Smith — 4-star WR — Scottsdale (Az.) Notre Dame Preparatory — Texas commit
• De’Gabriel Floyd — 4-star OLB — Westlake (Calif.) Village — Texas commit
• Demariyon Houston — 4-star WR — Oklahoma City (Okla.) Millwood — Texas
• commit
• Kenyatta Watson II — 4-star CB — Loganville (Ga.) Grayson — Texas commit
• Javonne Shepherd — 4-star OT — Houston North Forest — Texas commit (maybe)
• Brayden Liebrock — 4-star TE — Chandler (Az.) — Texas commit
• Tyler Johnson — 4-star OT — Conroe Oak Ridge — Texas commit
• Marcus Washington — 4-star WR — Saint Louis (Mo.) Trinity Catholic — OV
• Jalen Catalon — 4-star S — Mansfield Legacy
• Derrian Brown — 4-star RB — Buford (Ga.) — OV
• Elijah Higgins — 4-star WR — Austin Bowie
• Lewis Cine — 4-star S — Cedar Hill Trinity Christian School
• Peyton Powell — 4-star WR — Odessa Permian (maybe)
• Marcus Tillman Jr. — Orlando (Fla.) Jones — 3-star OLB — Texas commit
• Jared Wiley — 3-star TE — Temple — Texas commit
• Marques Caldwell — 3-star CB — Alvin — Texas commit
• Chux Nwabuko III — 3-star APB — Hutto
• Tyler Owens — 3-star S — Plano East

Hudson Card, the Longhorns’ lone 2020 commit, will be in attendance, and he’ll be joined by several key Texas targets. The headliner of the bunch is top-ranked running back Zachary Evans, who’s high on the Horns but trending to the Aggies. Fellow five-star and perceived Texas A&M lean Dwight McGlothern will be on hand as well.

Although Texas picking up a 2020 pledge isn’t expected, the Longhorns will welcome key targets such as Jaylon Jones, Bryson Washington, and Mookie Cooper. Each of the three and considered to be Longhorn leans and the latter is enamored with the program, so Cooper committing early would be a welcomed surprise.

2020

• Zachary Evans — 5-star RB — Houston North Shore
• Justin Rogers — 5-star OG — Oak Park (Mi.)
• Dwight McGlothern — 5-star CB — Cedar Hill Trinity Christian School
• Demond Demas — 5-star WR — Houston North Forest — Texas A&M commit
• Hudson Card — 4-star QB — Lake Travis — Texas commit
• Darius Snow — 4-star S — Carrolton Hebron
• Damieon George — 4-star OT — Houston North Shore
• Prince Dorbah — 4-star WDE — Dallas Highland Park
• Jaylon Jones — 4-star CB — Cibolo Steele
• Mookie Cooper — 4-star RB — Saint Louis (mo.) Trinity Catholic
• Bryson Washington — 4-star S — Houston C.E. King
• Vernon Broughton II — 4-star SDE — Houston Cy Ridge
• Kelvontay Dixon — 3-star ATH — Carthage
• Michael Henderson — 3-star QB — Carrollton Ranchview
• Jovan Ferguson — 3-star ATH — Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas
• Avery Helm — 3-star CB — Missouri City Fort Bend Marshall
• Princely Umanmielen — 3-star SDE — Manor

2021

• Hayden Conner — 4-star OT — Katy Taylor
• Landyn Watson — 4-star WDE — Hutto
• Donovan Jackson — 4-star OT — Bellaire Episcopal
• Shadrach Banks — 4-star WR — Houston North Shore
• Latrell McCutchin — 4-star CB — Austin LBJ
• Donovan Jackson — 4-star OT — Bellaire Episcopal
• Bryce Foster — 4-star OT — Katy Taylor
• Rueben Fatheree — 4-star OT — Richmond Foster
• Tunmise Adeleye — Unranked SDE — Katy Tompkins
• Jackson Fleming — Unranked WR — Klein Cain

Visit confirmations courtesy of Burnt Orange Nation, Twitter, The Football Brainiacs, 247Sports.