Recruiting losses that would be the biggest whiffs for Texas

The Texas Longhorns are in the mix for significant recruits. A handful of those are players Steve Sarkisian can ill afford to lose.

Texas has endured some huge misses in recent years. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Garrett Wilson come to mind. Both were Texas high school products who for whatever reason slipped from the Longhorns’ grasp.

Although Texas already has an excellent class, there are a few players that would be tough for the Longhorns to stomach if they whiff.

In this list, we won’t name some of the more long-shot recruiting targets. Players like David Hicks and Duce Robinson would vault toward the top of Texas’ 2023 class, but are not players I expect Texas to win.

With Texas included in many high profile competitions, here are eight players whose losses could hurt Texas the most.

8
Braylan Shelby, EDGE, Friendswood (TX)

The Friendswood product is among the higher priorities for the Texas staff. His interest in Texas is strong, but some believe his interest in USC could send him to California. Texas desperately needs edge players to avoid duplicating the pass rushing woes of late.

7
Jordan Matthews, CB, Baton Rouge (LA)

Texas has an opportunity to build a lethal secondary, unlike in recent years. Last season, Texas ended its cornerback recruiting woes bringing in elite prospect Terrance Brooks. With Malik Muhammad in the fold, Texas can build a great class at cornerback, rather than simply owning this year’s safety class.

6
Colton Vasek, EDGE, Austin (TX)

Vasek is a must-get player, but his ties to Austin make him even more essential. Texas has strong competition from Oregon and Oklahoma. Losing out on another great edge prospect would certainly hurt the class.

5
Jalen Hale, WR, Longview (TX)

Texas currently has a strong…