Steve Sarkisian and Texas took a big swing at one of the biggest names in the 2028 class, but Brysen Wright ended up staying closer to home.
The Longhorns had made Wright a major priority after losing five-star wide receiver Easton Royal from their recruiting class of 2027. Wright entered the picture as the No. 1 receiver and No. 3 overall prospect in the class of 2028, and Texas pushed hard to make the 40 Acres a real option despite the fact that the Florida native also had offers from Miami and Florida.
That effort got the Horns all the way to the final three, but it wasn’t enough. On Thursday, Nov. 5, Wright announced for Miami, choosing the Hurricanes over Texas and Florida.
His commitment came with plenty of theatrics. Surrounded by family, Wright opened a briefcase packed with Miami-themed diamond chains, then spoke briefly before putting on a “U” hat. His family members followed suit by wearing Miami shirts and gear.
The sting for Texas got even sharper when Wright also announced that he was reclassifying to the 2027 cycle, which means he’ll arrive in Coral Gables next season rather than in a year and a half.
For the Longhorns, the miss leaves them still searching for a headliner at receiver in the 2028 class. So far, Texas has two commitments in that cycle: four-star quarterback Neimann Lawrence and four-star running back Micah Rhodes.
Wright would have been the kind of addition that put the class over the top, especially with the offensive front already trending in a strong direction. Now Sarkisian and his staff have to reset and keep working the board.
There are still plenty of wideouts on the table. Among the top uncommitted names are four-star Jaylen Addai, the No. 2 receiver in 2028 from Pearland, Texas; four-star Braylon Clark, the No. 4 receiver from Charlotte, North Carolina; four-star Joshua Parker, the No. 5 receiver from Brandon, Mississippi; and four-star Madoxx Davis, the No. 6 receiver from Cartersville, Georgia.
Texas has options, but the challenge is the same one it faced with Wright: those prospects are drawing heavy interest, and most of them are being courted by their home-state programs too. If the Longhorns want to land a true blue-chip wideout in 2028, the work isn’t close to finished.
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Texas Just Lost A Backfield Piece It Couldnt Afford To Lose
Texas backfield has already been stretched thin this season, and now it looks like the Longhorns will have to finish the year without Hollywood Smothers. He was ruled out for the upcoming game against Missouri, and the expectation is that he will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after injuries have repeatedly limited his availability.
Smothers absence is a tough blow for a running back group that has already had to adjust on the fly, with Raleek Brown stepping into a larger role during his time out. For Texas, the issue is no longer just replacing a player who flashed when healthy, but trying to keep the ground game steady without one of the pieces it was counting on most. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces A New Receiver Battle After Missing On Top Target
Texas is already shifting its attention to the next wave of wide receiver recruiting after missing on Brysen Wright, a loss that adds another wrinkle to a class the Longhorns are trying to build early. The 2028 board is still taking shape, but the staff is clearly working to keep momentum in Texas and beyond, especially with several promising pass catchers already in the mix.
Among the names drawing the most attention are Mays, a highly ranked Texas native, and Wiley, who has shown strong interest in the Longhorns. The challenge now is familiar for Texas: keeping pace with regional rivals like Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Oklahoma while making sure the next receiver battle does not slip away the way the last one did. [Read more 🡒]
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Smothers had battled injuries throughout the year, but he still ranked second on the team in rushing yards before going down. His absence removes a proven runner from the rotation and leaves Texas preparing for Missouri without one of the few backs who had managed to provide both experience and production when available. [Read more 🡒]