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Replay: Texas football adds nearly two dozen top recruits on early signing day

It’s already been a memorable week for the Texas football program. Could get even better on Wednesday’s first day of the early signing period?

Currently, Texas' class ranks fifth-best in the country, per 247Sports' composite. The Longhorns have 22 commitments (four five-stars, 15 four-stars) and are behind No. 1 Georgia (27 pledges), No. 2 Ohio State (22), No. 3 Alabama (22) and No. 4 Florida State (23) heading into Wednesday.

Follow along as Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff fill out what looks like a powerhouse class.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has guided the Longhorns into the College Football Playoff and also have one of the top recruiting classes for the 2024 cycle. The Longhorns had 22 commitments, including four five-star players, heading into Wednesday's first day of the early signing period.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has guided the Longhorns into the College Football Playoff and also have one of the top recruiting classes for the 2024 cycle. The Longhorns had 22 commitments, including four five-star players, heading into Wednesday's first day of the early signing period.

CB Aeryn Hampton spurns Texas, picks Alabama

Daingerfield cornerback Aeryn Hampton flipped from Texas to Alabama this afternoon, giving Sarkisian and his staff a rare loss on early national signing day. A 4-star recruit who was once committed to Baylor, Hampton chose Alabama after a recent home visit from Tide head coach Nick Saban.

The action seems to be over today for Texas, except for a possible decision by Texas A&M linebacker recruit Tyanthony Smith. The Jasper, Texas, native is a 6-foot-1, 205-pound linebacker with great speed who would fill a gaping hole for Texas in this recruiting class. The Longhorns loaded up on linebackers a year ago but do not have one pledged for 2024.

Smith is expected to make his decision later today.

5-star WR Ryan Wingo makes it official, signs with Texas

Despite some anxious moments on Wednesday, 5-star wide receiver Ryan Wingo signed his letter of intent with Texas. Wingo made the Texas coaching staff wait later than all but one of the 22 Longhorn pledges, but he tweeted out "Done deal" just before noon.

Wingo, a St. Louis native, had been a Missouri commitment before Texas flipped the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder in October. He's ranked as the No. 7 receiver prospect in the country, according to 247Sports.

Daingerfield cornerback Aeryn Hampton is the only pledges to not yet email in a letter of intent to Texas. Hampton is reportedly considering a late push from Alabama and is expected to sign an NLI today.

5-star WR Ryan Wingo, CB Aeryn Hampton only unsigned pledges

And then there were two. And one in particular – St. Louis receiver Ryan Wingo – has Longhorn fans concerned as national signing day approaches the midway point.

As of 10:30 a.m., Wingo and Daingerfield cornerback Aeryn Hampton were the only two pledges not to email in their letters of intent to Texas. Wingo is a 5-star receiver that Texas flipped from Missouri last month while Hampton is reportedly considering a late push from Alabama.

Will Texas flip any more recruits on Wednesday? Eyes on LB Tyanthony Smith

It’s recruiting, so you never know. Texas is pursuing Texas A&M pledge Tyanthony Smith, a four-star linebacker from Jasper, but he has remained loyal to the Aggies so far. Keep an eye on Smith, who has yet to email in his signature to the Aggies. The Longhorns don't have a linebacker recruit in this class, which is a big selling point to Smith.

Texas also hopes to lure several defensive linemen from other schools, including Baylor pledge Alex Foster and Texas A&M pledges Dealyn Evans and Dominick McKinley. However, those three linemen are expected to wait until national signing day on Feb. 7 to sign.

Early Signing Day almost complete for Texas

Sarkisian hasn't wasted much time in collecting the signatures of most of the class. Colin Simmons, the 5-star edge from Duncanville, headlines a group that now includes 20 signees. One of four 5-star pledges in the class, Simmons is expected to push for immediate playing time at a position of need.

McKinney North safety Xavier Filsaime, Waco Connally defensive back Kobe Black, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy running back Jerrick Gibson, Marrero (La.) John Ehret cornerback Wardell Mack, Cypress Cy-Fair quarterback Trey Owens, Allen edge Zina Umeozulu, Houston Langham Creek tight end Jordan Washington, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy safety Jordon Johnson-Rubell, Orlando (Fla.) Jones defensive tackle D’antre Robinson and Lucas Lovejoy wide receiver Parker Livingstone have all signed and are expected to enroll in January.

Smithson Valley wide receiver Freddie Dubose, Humble Atascosita offensive guard Nate Kibble, Lafayette (La.) Christian Academy defensive tackle Melvin Hills and Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas punter Michael Kern have also signed.

Texas lands first 5-star in Brandon Baker

Texas reeled in its first 5-star pledge with the signing of offensive tackle Brandon Baker from Southern California. The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Baker, who starred at prep powerhouse Mater Dei, has the athleticism to play multiple spots across the offensive front, but he’ll likely be the top choice to replace Kelvin Banks Jr. when the current Texas left tackle decides to turn pro. Banks can’t enter the NFL Draft until 2025, but he projects as a first-round selection.

Will Baker follow in Banks’ footsteps? Five-star offensive linemen are often the safest best in the wild world of recruiting.

More: Who has Texas football signed? A look at the newest Longhorns as they sign on Wednesday

Son of former NFL player adds to CB depth

Texas added yet another young cornerback with the signing of Santana Wilson, the son of longtime NFL back Adrian Wilson.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Santana Wilson, a 4-star recruit from the Phoenix area, was rated as the No. 2 recruit in Arizona for the 2024 class. With good size and a willingness to tackle, he could garner immediate playing time. And the Texas coaches showed this season that they won’t shy away from playing true freshmen in the secondary, when needed.

RB from Arizona joins Texas

As Texas found out this season, a team can never have too much depth at running back. And the Longhorns added to that depth with the signing of Christian Clark, a 3-star recruit from Phoenix.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Clark recently visited some of his other finalists in Alabama, Georgia Florida State and Oregon but stuck with the Horns. Clark may not boast home-run speed but he’s a powerful and decisive runner between the tackles and could see early action, especially in short-yardage situations.

Texas signs massive DT from Duncanville

Texas picked up another big human with the signing of Alex January, a 6-foot-4, 325-pound defensive tackle from back-to-back state champion Duncanville.

January committed to Texas over offers from Florida State, LSU and Texas Tech, and the 3-star recruit will continue a family tradition. His father, Mike,  played linebacker at Texas back in the 1980s.

Texas defensive line coach Bo Davis likes January’s potential to put on even more size and develop into a dominant, space-eating noseguard or tackle, much like the development of T’Vondre Sweat.

OL Daniel Cruz makes it official

Longtime commit Daniel Cruz becomes the first member of the class to officially sign his letter of intent. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound interior lineman from North Richland Hills projects as a center at Texas. He’ll enroll in the spring and could factor into a battle for the starting job once Jake Majors, who has another year of eligibility remaining, moves on.

The 4-star Cruz had offers from blue-blood schools across the country, including Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan and USC.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas football added nearly two dozen top players on early signing day