Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian appears on sideline at UIL high school football semifinals: Look

Several players in DeSoto, Southlake UIL 6A Division II state semifinal reportedly on Texas' radar

Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports | Dec 10, 2023

University of Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian made an appearance on the sidelines of the Texas high school football state semifinals on Saturday.

The Longhorns coach and several staffers donning UT gear were in attendance as nationally ranked DeSoto held off UIL power Southlake Carroll 45-38 in the UIL 6A Division II semis at Allen ISD Stadium.

Texas is reportedly in the mix for two 4-star class of 2025 prospects on DeSoto, the top-ranked team in Texas. Running back Deondrae "Tiger" Riden has an offer from UT and has reportedly been linked to coach Tashard Choice, per 247 Sports.

DeSoto defeats Southlake Carroll: Live score, updates of Texas high school football semifinals (12/9/2023)

Riden's top rating comes from Rivals, which pegs him as the No. 5 running back in the nation and No. 12 overall prospect in Texas (No. 67 in nation) in 2025.

Byron Washington, 4-star offensive lineman, also holds an offer and is being pursued by the likes of TCU, Arizona State and Oregon, but has received at least one prediction to Texas (Jordan Scruggs, 247 Sports).

It's unclear who Texas was in Allen to see exactly, but Southlake Carroll also holds a pair of uncommitted Power 5 prospects.

Dragons 2025 tight end Jack VanDorselaer and 3-star 2024 running back Riley Wormley also both hold offers from Texas.

Nine of the Longhorns' 20 commits in the class of 2024 are from the state of Texas. Sarkisian has amassed the nation's No. 10 recruiting class, per 247 Sports.

Third-ranked Texas (12-1) is preparing for a New Years Day Sugar Bowl matchup with Washington to open the College Football Playoff.

All photos by Michael Horbovetz.

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southlake carroll desoto football texas semifinals uil 6a division ii michael horbovetzIR6_2943

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MORE FROM SOUTHLAKE CARROLL VS. DESOTO:

Deondrae Riden Jr.'s monster outing leads DeSoto back to Texas high school football title: 'They unleashed me'

Should Southlake Carroll's near-TD have counted in Texas high school semifinal loss to DeSoto?

Published Dec 10, 2023

ANDY BUHLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Andy Buhler is a Regional Editor of Texas and the national breaking news desk. He brings more than five years of experience covering high school sports across the state of Washington and beyond, where he covered the likes of Paolo Banchero and Tari Eason served on state tournament seeding committees. He works on the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. He has covered everything from the Final Four, MLS in Atlanta to local velodrome before diving into the world of preps. His bylines can be found in The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), The Associated Press, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington), The Oregonian and more. He holds a degree from Gonzaga and is based out of Portland, Oregon.