High School

Texas recruiting: How Longhorns' high school football commits fared this week

2025 QB KJ Lacey throws 3 TDs; 2024 corner Aeryn Hampton helps Daingerfield (Texas) post first shutout in nearly 3 years.

Cody Thorn

While the University of Texas football handed Kansas its first loss of the season, 40-14, on Saturday to move to 5-0, the Longhorns' recruits were putting up standout performances in high school stadiums around the country. 

Texas, the No. 3 ranked team in college football, has the nation's 15th-ranked recruiting class of 2024, according to 247 Sports.

The strength of the class was recently bolstered by the commitment of 5-star Mater Dei (California) offensive lineman Brandon Baker. Overall, the class is made up of two 5-stars, five 4-stars and 11 3-stars. In 2025, coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns have landed one hard commit — Saraland (Alabama) 4-star quarterback KJ Lacey.

SBLive Texas is taking a look at how Longhorn commits fared this week in their respective high school football seasons.

HOW LONGHORNS COMMITS FARED IN HIGH SCHOOL THIS WEEK

Brandon Baker, offensive line, 2024

High school: Mater Dei (California)
Measurables: 6-5, 285
247 Sports Composite: 5-star, No. 1 OT in nation; No. 3 prospect in California.

The four-star tackle helped his squad improve to 6-0 on the season with a 49-0 win over Anaheim Servite as his quarterback, Elijah Brown, threw five touchdown passes. 

Christian Clark, running back, 2024

High school: Phoenix Mountain Pointe (Arizona)
Measurables: 6-0, 195
247 Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 24 RB in nation; No. 6 prospect in Arizona.

Was held out of the end zone as his team lost 28-0 to Ty Detmer-led American Leadership Academy on Friday.

Daniel Cruz, interior offensive line, 2024

High school: Richland (Texas)
Measurables: 6-3 1/2, 295
247 Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 22 IOL in nation; No. 60 prospect in Texas.

The Royals rolled up 488 yards — 286 on the ground — in a 57-22 win against W.T. White.

Aeryn Hampton, cornerback, 2024

High school: Daingerfield (Texas)
Measurables: 5-10, 175
247 Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 23 athlete in nation; No. 46 prospect in Texas.

His squad snapped a 2-game losing streak with a 42-0 win over Hughes Springs. He caught a long pass that set up a score in the third quarter. It was the Tigers’ first shutout in almost three years — Oct. 15, 2021 was the last one.

Melvin Hills, defensive line, 2024

High school: Lafayette Christian Academy (Louisiana)
Measurables: 5-10, 175
247 Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 23 athlete in nation; No. 46 prospect in Texas.

He didn’t play in his team’s 52-14 win over Avoyelles. Coach Hunter Landry told Landry The Daily Advertiser that Hills was held out of the game due to "something happening at Ruston” on Sept. 22. 

Michael Kern, punter, 2024

High school: St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida)
Measurables: 6-3, 165
247 Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 4 punter in nation; No. 285 prospect in Florida.

His Raiders picked up a 38-6 win over Miramar on Friday.

Nate Kibble, offensive line, 2024

High school: Humble Atascocita (Texas)
Measurables: 6-2 1/2, 315
247 Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 58 IOL in nation; No. 132 prospect in Texas.

The Eagles put together their best game of the season by scoring 71 points in a shutout win over Beaumont West Brook on Thursday.

Trey Owens, quarterback, 2024

High school: Cy-Fair (Texas)
Measurables: 6-5, 205
247 Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 28 quarterback in nation; No. 66 prospect in Texas.

The Texas pledge connected with four different receivers for five touchdowns — twice to Wyatt Herbel — to help the Bobcats beat Jersey Village, 49-28, on Thursday. He was 13 for 16 for 330 yards and had a 92-yard touchdown pass 

Zina Umeozulu, defensive end, 2024

High school: Allen (Texas)
Measurables: 6-4, 210
247 Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 17 edge in nation; No. 45 prospect in Texas.

For the third week in a row, the Eagles' defense held a foe to 10 or fewer points. Prosper Rock Hill was limited to only 13 yards passing and 174 total yards. He had a sack in the win. 

Jordan Washington, tight end, 2024

High school: Langham Creek (Texas)

Measurables: 6-4, 225
247 Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 20 tight end in nation, No. 56 prospect in nation.

The Lobos lost 38-15 to Cypress Falls on Saturday.

Santana Wilson, cornerback, 2024

High school: Scottsdale Desert Mountain (Arizona)
Measurables: 6-0, 180
247 Sports Composite: 3-star, No. 33 cornerback in nation, No. 8 prospect in Arizona

The Wolves improved to 6-0 with a 24-22 win over Horizon on Friday. Wilson had one catch for 11 yards and a touchdown. He was in Austin on Saturday to watch the Longhorns beat Kansas.

KJ Lacey, quarterback, 2025

High school: Saraland (Alabama)

Measurables: 6-0, 170
247 Sports Composite: 4-star, No. 8 quarterback in nation, No. 9 prospect in Alabama

He had three touchdown passes — a week after throwing five — in a 70-20 win over Foley. The junior now has 1,181 yards passing with 15 touchdowns and 2 INTs in six games. 

OTHER 2024 RECRUITS

Freddie Dubose Jr, WR, Smithson Valley (Texas): idle this week

Colin Simmons LB; Alex January DL, both from Duncanville (Texas): idle this week.

Derrick Gibson RB, Jordan Johnson-Rubell, CB, both from IMG Academy (Florida): were idle this week

Parker Livingstone, WR, Lucas Lovejoy (Texas): idle

D’antre Robinson, DL, Orlando (Florida) Jones: idle

-- Cody Thorn | codythorn1981@gmail.com | @sblivetx

Featured photo by John Bowers.

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Cody Thorn
CODY THORN

Cody Thorn is a veteran journalist who covers high school sports across the state of Texas and Missouri. He is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has covered sports and news since 1999.

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