The 2021 recruitment cycle was unprecedented due to pandemic travel restrictions. Players could not make official college visits. College coaches couldn’t visit prospects at their high school or at games.
Texas signed 18 players in early December. Since then, the Longhorns have replaced Tom Herman with Steve Sarkisian. Wide receiver Keithron Lee and cornerback Ishmael Ibraheem are the team’s only unsigned commitments ahead of National Signing Day on Wednesday.
The class ranks 17th in the nation and second in the Big 12. Sarkisian and his staff hope to make a few more commitments on or before Wednesday:
LJ Johnson, RB, Houston Cypress-Fairbanks
For your information: 5-10, 204; four stars; No. 4 runs back
Forecast: Texas A & M.
Johnson really seems torn between Texas and Texas A&M. It’s an old-school recruitment battle between longtime rivals. Johnson loves Austin and UT. He also believes there’s more stability and maybe even a quick path to college football playoffs at A&M, considering the Longhorns replaced their head coach a month ago. Texas A&M has also signed an enormous offensive line class.
Johnson became a household name in his sophomore year completing 1,139 yards and 20 touchdowns. He increased his stocks even further with an all-state junior season in which he completed 1,951 yards and 37 touchdowns. In a shortened senior season, he ran for 1,262 yards and 20 touchdowns with just 177 carry. He was named District 17-6A’s Offensive MVP for the second year running.
Camar Wheaton, RB, Garland Lakeview Centennial
For your information: 5-11, 190; five stars; No. 2 runs back
Forecast: Alabama
Wheaton is committed to Alabama, but unlike most of the other commitments in the class, he didn’t sign in the early days. This left the door open for a program like Texas, as he was familiar with the program thanks to the fast-return recruitment of the old staff, as well as with Sarkisian from his commitment to Alabama when the new Texas head coach was still the offensive coordinator in Tuscaloosa. But while Texas Wheaton kicked the tires after Sarkisian’s hire, the five-star return is likely to sign with Alabama.
Austin Uke, OT, Dallas Parish Episcopal
For your information: 6-4, 265; three stars; Offensive device No. 40
Forecast: USC
Uke remained patient with his recruitment, which pays off when offers pile up after the early phase. He’s one of the best unsigned offensive line prospects in the state and has drawn the attention of Texas, Oklahoma, and Stanford. The Longhorns are hoping he will stay in the state to play for Texas and new offensive coach Kyle Flood, but West Coast programs like USC and Stanford had a head start on his recruitment. Uke is a raw, athletic perspective that has a high advantage in duels or guards. The Longhorns signed two offensive tackle perspectives in the early days.
David Abiara, DE, Mansfield Legacy
For your information: 6-4, 248; four stars; No. 24 strong defensive finish
Forecast: Texas
Abiara is the safest bet to pick Texas by the day of signing. The one-time Notre Dame engagement received an offer from the Longhorns on the same day that Texas hired its new defense coordinator. It’s a repeat selection of all the districts that have landed on the recruiting scene after a 15-sack junior year. He recorded 75 tackles in 2019, including 21 defeats. Abiara resigned from Notre Dame on December 25th. He will decide on Wednesday at 10 a.m.
