In a significant shift from traditional college football recruiting practices, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has transformed the Longhorns’ approach by delegating home visits to his assistant coaches. This strategic move comes amid a dramatically accelerated recruiting calendar that has fundamentally changed how top programs pursue elite talent.
“As a head coach, I don’t do home visits anymore,” Sarkisian revealed during his appearance at the Touchdown Club of Houston. “That used to be, I always felt as a head coach, but it might have been the most important aspect of your job, which was getting into the home of a recruit, especially one that was still in the decision-making process.”
Texas Football Doubles Down on Recruiting as Steve Sarkisian Emphasizes Home Visits in Spring Push
The changing landscape of college football recruitment has forced Texas to adapt quickly. With signing day moved to early December and prospects making campus visits earlier than ever, assistant coaches are hitting the road to establish crucial relationships with recruits and their families.
“The whole thing is kind of sped up that way,” Sarkisian explained. “Being adaptable, I think, is the key right now, and being really well organized, and where our coaches are going and what we’re trying to do.”
This spring, Sarkisian’s staff is focusing intensely on in-state talent. “I can tell you our guys are hammering the state of Texas this week,” he said. “We don’t go out as early as maybe some other schools because our spring ball goes a little later, so we have to be really efficient here over the next month.”
The results speak for themselves. Under Sarkisian’s leadership, Texas has emerged as a recruiting powerhouse, securing the nation’s top-ranked 2025 class and developing a robust NFL pipeline. The Longhorns had 12 players selected in the 2025 NFL draft setting a new program record for a seven-round draft.
“That is now a new program record for a seven-round draft. That is one better than the previous record, which was set just last year. That was 11 in 2024,” Sarkisian proudly shared. This impressive development of NFL talent has become a powerful recruiting tool for the program.
The accelerated timeline has changed how Texas coaches approach the entire recruitment cycle.
Where they once used spring visits to invite seniors to summer camps, followed by fall game visits and winter official visits, the process now moves much faster, with many recruits having already visited campus multiple times before their senior year begins.
Texas football’s strategic shift reflects the program’s commitment to building for sustained success. With an impressive 23 players drafted in the last two drafts, more than any other team in the country, the Longhorns have established themselves as a premier destination for top talent looking to reach the NFL.
“That’s now six first round picks in three years, which is a cool deal. And to think when we got here, I think there were 32 active NFL players from UT in the NFL, and we’ve had 28 guys drafted now in the last three drafts,” Sarkisian said.
“We’re excited. We’re pumped, we’re proud of that, that we’re developing our players and getting them an opportunity to go do that.”
KEEP READING: Texas Longhorns Fans Pumped for 2025 Season
This revamped approach to recruiting has helped Texas build a championship-caliber program. As the Longhorns prepare for a new season with championship aspirations, their recruiting foundation appears stronger than ever under Sarkisian’s innovative leadership.
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