Sarkisian Faces A Huge Recruiting Test On Texas-Ohio State Weekend

Texas Longhorns' head coach Steve Sarkisian strategically leverages game-day experiences to lure top-tier recruits like five-star edge rusher Kameron McGee to Austin.

Steve Sarkisian’s latest game-day recruiting swing is bringing another major name to Austin.

As Texas gets ready to host Ohio State in Week 2, five-star edge rusher Kameron McGee will be on the 40 Acres for the matchup, giving the Longhorns another high-profile visitor to work with as the staff keeps pressing for commitments and trying to strengthen the ones already in the fold.

McGee is the No. 6 edge in the class of 2028, the No. 18 overall prospect in the cycle, and the No. 2 recruit out of Illinois. He already owns a long list of offers from powerhouse programs, and his upcoming schedule now includes four game-day visits:

Florida State Seminoles - Sept. 7 - Florida State - vs. SMU Mustangs

Texas Longhorns - Sept. 12 - vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

Oregon Ducks - Oct. 10 - vs. UCLA Bruins

Georgia Bulldogs - Oct. 17 - Auburn Tigers

For McGee, the Texas trip and the Florida State stop will be his first visits to those schools. Oregon and Georgia are a little more familiar; he’s already been to both once before. Altogether, he has made 14 visits in the recruiting process so far.

Texas won’t be relying on the coaching staff alone when McGee arrives. Current commits like Easton Royal and Ismael Camara are part of the pitch, too, and their involvement has become more visible on social media. That kind of peer-to-peer recruiting has helped before, and the Longhorns are counting on it again as they try to make visitors feel at home in Austin.

The goal is simple: make the experience convincing enough that top recruits can picture themselves in burnt orange. With McGee in town, Texas will want every edge it can get.

So far, Sarkisian has landed one player from the class of 2028, and it was a big one. Four-star quarterback Neimann Lawrence picked the Longhorns over dozens of Power Conference programs, including Miami, Ohio State, Michigan, and others.

Now Texas is hoping a strong showing on game day can help McGee become the next elite prospect to join him.

In Other News...

Texas Freshmen Could Force A Rotation Battle Earlier Than Expected

Texas is heading into the season with the kind of roster that usually leans on experienced upperclassmen, rising sophomores and transfers, but a strong freshman class could make that plan harder to stick to than expected. Even before the 2026 recruiting haul has a chance to fully settle in, there are already a few newcomers who look like they could complicate the depth chart in a hurry, especially if their talent shows up quickly enough to force the staff's hand.

Jermaine Bishop Jr., Tyler Atkinson and Samari Matthews all bring traits that fit real needs for the Longhorns, and each one arrives with a path to the field if the right opening presents itself. For Texas, the question is less about whether those players have upside and more about how soon they can turn that upside into trust from the coaches, because once the season starts, every snap will tell a little more about where they fit in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]

Texas May Have Found The Answer For Ohio States Biggest Weapon

Jeremiah Smith has already given Texas a couple of chances to test its defensive plan against Ohio States most dangerous weapon, and the Longhorns have come away feeling as if theyve found something workable. In the 2024 Cotton Bowl, Texas leaned on a two-high safety look and bracket coverage to make life difficult for the junior receiver, then followed that up in the next meeting with a more physical approach that cut down on the extra help over the top.

For Texas, the bigger question now is whether that blueprint travels the next time these teams line up. Smith is the kind of receiver who can change a game with a handful of plays, which is why any defense that slows him down without overcommitting has to treat the plan as more than a one-off. If the Longhorns keep mixing leverage, bodies and coverage help the way they have before, they may have found a credible answer to Ohio States biggest threat. [Read more 🡒]

Marcus Spears Jr. Is Giving Texas Fans A Reason To Dream

There is a lot to like around Texas basketball as the Longhorns begin sorting out their pieces for the upcoming season, and true freshman Marcus Spears Jr. has already added to the buzz. The early looks in practice suggest he is settling in with ease, fitting into drills with a comfort level that has stood out on a roster getting a boost from a highly ranked recruiting class and transfer additions.

Sean Miller also has reason to feel encouraged by the way the rest of the group is coming together. Returning center Matas Vokietaitis has been praised for his physical condition, and the backcourt has another welcome development with Isaiah Johnson back on the floor after his thumb injury, giving Texas a fuller picture of what this roster could look like once everything starts to click. [Read more 🡒]