The Texas Longhorns pulled off a significant last-minute dedication on Tuesday, flipping 2025 five-star defensive again Kade Phillips from the LSU Tigers.
Phillips, ranked the No. 23 participant within the Class of 2025, is a local of Texas, and had initially dedicated to the Longhorns again on July sixth. Nonetheless, he flipped to the Tigers only one month later, and had been pledged to LSU till re-committing to the Longhorns on Tuesday, simply in the future earlier than the early signing interval.
The 6’1”, 185-pound cornerback is taken into account to have one of many larger ceilings within the 2025 class, because of his elite athleticism stemming from a robust monitor background.
Phillips has good versatility as effectively, as he initially dedicated to Texas to play security, however is now anticipated to be a cornerback for the Longhorns, as he was recruited by corners coach Terry Joseph this time round.
With Phillips within the fold, the Longhorns have a top-five class within the 2025 cycle and commitments from 5 5-stars: security Jonah Ball (No. 6 in 2025 class by 247), defensive finish Lance Jackson (No. 8 in 2025 class by On3), broad receiver Kaliq Lockett (No. 16 in 2025 class by 247), Phillips (No. 23 in 2025 class by On3), and broad receiver Jaime Ffrench (No. 27 in 2025 class by Rivals).
“They’ve been pushing actually onerous to get me again to Texas. Their message has been that they nonetheless need me they usually need to present what they will do for me,” Phillips instructed On3. “Sark is constructing one thing large and I need be part of that and have a influence.”
Texas has recruited the secondary onerous within the 2025 class, as Ball and Phillips headline the group, whereas the Longhorns even have commitments from four-star cornerback Graceson Little, four-star security Zelus Hicks, and three-star cornerback Caleb Chester.
Phillips is the highest-rated cornerback that the Longhorns have landed underneath Steve Sarkisian and the second-highest-rated defensive again, marking the magnitude of the transfer.
Together with his dedication, the Longhorns are as much as 23 gamers of their 2025 class they usually’re not executed but.
Texas is concerned within the recruitment of one of many high uncommitted gamers within the nation: five-star defensive lineman Justus Terry, who will make his determination tomorrow on early Nationwide Signing Day.
As well as, they’re attempting to maintain five-star offensive deal with Michael Fasusi residence, because the Lewisville native is at present pledged to the Oklahoma Sooners. That battle may very well be a tricky one to win, however Texas has the assets and will make a significant transfer within the trenches in the event that they win on the market over the subsequent 24 hours.
One five-star recruit that the Longhorns are trending for is Michael Terry III, the highest athlete within the nation. A local of San Antonio, this one appears to be a battle between Texas and the Nebraska Cornhuskers for the five-star broad receiver, and can be one other recruitment to observe on Nationwide Signing Day.
Total, the Longhorns obtained one in every of their greatest targets to flip, as Phillips is ready to signal with Texas after his last-minute de-commitment from LSU. NIL seemingly performed an element on this recruitment, however it’s a giant one for Texas, who get a defensive again with one of many highest upsides within the recruiting class.