Texas will have a prime recruiting stage on Oct. 17, and the Longhorns are hoping the Florida game gives them a real shot to move the needle with one of the best running backs in the 2028 class.
Jayshawn Mitchell, a four-star back from San Antonio Brennan, is set to be in Austin for the matchup. He’s listed at 5-10, 195 pounds and sits at No. 116 overall, No. 8 among running backs and No. 13 in Texas in the current Rivals Industry rankings. Rivals’ own board is even higher on him, slotting Mitchell at No. 40 nationally and No. 1 at his position.
Texas has spent months working on that relationship, and Mitchell says the connection with the staff has stood out.
“I’ve been excited about Texas because of the relationship I’ve been building,” Mitchell said. “The coaches have been showing me love, and I’ve always respected the program. I’m looking forward to getting back up there for that game.”
The visit lands in the middle of a busy October for Mitchell. He’s also expected to make trips to Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma, giving several heavyweight programs a chance to make their case.
The timing matters, too. Florida is coming into DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17 with momentum after a 52-28 win over Ole Miss, and Texas’ official schedule lists the game as an SEC home matchup with an early kickoff window.
That makes this more than a routine game-day visit for the Longhorns. Mitchell is one of the most sought-after backs in the class, and Oklahoma is currently sitting in a strong spot in his recruitment. Rivals’ prediction model has the Sooners well out in front, so Texas needs every opportunity it can get.
The Longhorns do have one obvious edge: Mitchell plays his high school football in San Antonio, which gives Texas repeated chances to keep him close and keep him coming back to campus.
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