The Texas Longhorns are still one of the biggest draws in the 2026 cycle, but the recruiting trail just handed Steve Sarkisian and his staff a tough one. Five-star receiver Monshun Sales picked Indiana over Texas, and that miss leaves the Longhorns looking to protect the class they already have while staying active on a few other targets.
Sales was no ordinary fallback option. He was the No. 2-ranked receiver in the class, and Texas had been in the fight until the very end. Landing him would have only added more firepower to a group that already has serious star power, but the Hoosiers won out in a battle that came down to the wire.
The bigger concern now is keeping Easton Royal in the fold. Royal is already committed to Texas and is the No. 1-ranked receiver in the country for the 2027 cycle, which makes him a major piece of the Longhorns’ future plans. That commitment is under pressure, though, with LSU making a strong push to flip him and keep him home.
Texas may have a little more flexibility now, too. With Sales headed elsewhere, the Longhorns could have extra NIL resources available to make Royal’s package even more appealing and reinforce that commitment.
Sarkisian’s staff isn’t stopping there. Along with holding onto Royal, Texas still has work to do with the rest of the class, and there could be more additions coming. The Longhorns are also looking at flip chances, especially on defense at linebacker, where there may be room to keep building.
For now, the main job is clear: keep Royal committed, keep the top-five class together, and make sure the losses on the trail don’t start piling up before signing day.
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For the Longhorns, the concern is less about one opponent than the trend itself. This offense can stretch coverage until passing lanes open up, but it also creates room in the run game when defenses try to compensate with lighter boxes or extra pressure. Tennessee has already shown how dangerous that balance can be, which is why Texas is now facing not just a scheme, but a wave of SEC teams built to run it. [Read more 🡒]