You can’t talk about Texas recruiting without starting with the guy. Vince Young wasn’t just the top recruit in the country in 2002—he was a once-in-a-lifetime talent from Houston Madison, standing 6’5″ with wheels and an arm that defied logic. His high school tape looked like a video game.
The last name says it all. Arch Manning, the crown jewel of the 2023 class and the No. 1 player in the nation shocked the college football world when he chose Texas over Alabama and Georgia. Grandson of Archie, nephew to Peyton and Eli, and the face of a new Longhorn era.
A five-star wrecking ball from Dallas Woodrow Wilson, Kindle could hit like a freight train and move like a safety. Texas beat out Oklahoma for his commitment, which made fans cheer even louder.
A legacy recruit—son of former NFL star Jim Jeffcoat—Jackson was a five-star defensive end from Plano West and one of the top overall players in his class. He was long, explosive, and built to wreak havoc in the Big 12.
Before Jordan Shipley, there was B.J. Johnson. A five-star WR from South Grand Prairie, he was part of a 2000 class that helped put Texas’ passing attack on the map.
How do you top a high school career with 10,881 rushing yards and a national record of 205 touchdowns? You commit to Texas, of course. Gray was a legend from Aledo High and the top running back in the nation in 2012.
One of Mack Brown’s best recruiting steals, Wright came in the same class as Vince Young and became an anchor on the 2005 national championship defense. Big, fast, and smart, he started as a freshman and never looked back.
The newest name on this list, Williams, is a five-star safety out of Galveston, Texas, and the cornerstone of the 2025 class. He’s big (6’3″, 203 pounds), athletic, and projects as a future star in the secondary.
A rare pull from Ohio football country, Hicks was the No. 1 LB in the nation and turned down Ohio State to come to Texas. He battled injuries but bounced back in a big way as a senior in 2014, posting 147 tackles and leading the defense.
Allen was once called “the most physically gifted OL prospect in years.” A five-star recruit from South Grand Prairie, he had offers from everywhere but chose Texas with huge expectations.
