Texas Football Head Coach Steve Sarkisian Building Longhorns’ Recruiting Powerhouse by Dominating In-State Talent and Securing Lone Star Pipeline
When Steve Sarkisian took over as head coach of the Texas Longhorns, he understood immediately what generations of coaches before him had learned the hard way: if you want to win big at Texas, you have to win big in Texas. Recruiting battles in the Lone Star State are the lifeblood of the program. It’s not just a strategic choice—it’s a necessity. The state produces more elite high school football talent than nearly any other region in the country, and if Texas wants to compete for national championships, it must dominate its own backyard.
Three years into his tenure, Sarkisian has made that principle a foundational part of his recruiting strategy. And the results are beginning to speak volumes. Texas is once again a recruiting powerhouse, stacking blue-chip talent class after class while fending off challenges from traditional SEC powers, Big Ten upstarts, and even in-state rivals like Texas A&M and TCU. At the heart of this resurgence is a renewed commitment to owning Texas recruiting.
Sarkisian didn’t just stumble into this approach. He made it a priority from day one, assembling a staff with deep ties to high school coaches across the state. From assistant coaches who previously worked at Texas high schools to former college stars with Texas roots, the Longhorns’ staff was built to connect. Relationships in Texas football go beyond talent evaluations—they’re built on trust, consistency, and presence. Sarkisian recognized that and made sure the Longhorns were once again visible and involved in every corner of the state.
The strategy is simple in theory but challenging in practice. Texas is a vast and competitive landscape, with blue-chip talent scattered across every region—from Houston to Dallas-Fort Worth to East Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. With national programs regularly invading the state for its top prospects, it’s not enough to just offer a scholarship. Sarkisian has leaned into building strong, personal relationships with players and their families, often starting as early as their freshman or sophomore years of high school. The goal isn’t just to land a commitment—it’s to win a long-term investment from the player and his inner circle.
One of the clearest signs of success came in the 2023 and 2024 recruiting classes, both of which featured heavy Texas flavor. Five-star quarterback Arch Manning may have been the headline commitment from Louisiana, but the core of the class came from within state lines. Players like Johntay Cook II, Malik Muhammad, Anthony Hill Jr., and Cedric Baxter gave Texas not just talent, but a Texas identity—something the program had sorely missed in recent years.
Recruiting in-state also allows for more continuity. Players from Texas often come with a shared football culture—toughness, discipline, and a high football IQ from playing in one of the nation’s most competitive high school systems. They understand the pride that comes with wearing the burnt orange. Many grew up watching Longhorn legends like Vince Young, Colt McCoy, or Ricky Williams and dreaming of making similar history in Austin. Sarkisian has tapped into that nostalgia while offering a forward-looking vision for Texas football in the SEC era.
The move to the SEC has only heightened the stakes—and the urgency—for Texas to lock down the state’s best. Competing against Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Florida on the field means going toe-to-toe with them on the recruiting trail. But rather than shy away from that pressure, Sarkisian has embraced it. He’s pitched the SEC move as a selling point to Texas recruits: stay home, play against the best, and represent your state on the biggest stage in college football. That message has resonated, especially among elite prospects who see Austin as a launchpad to the NFL.
Sarkisian’s recruiting strategy in Texas is also about balance. It’s not just about landing five-star headliners—it’s about building complete, positionally balanced classes. He and his staff have placed equal emphasis on the trenches, stocking the offensive and defensive lines with homegrown talent like Kelvin Banks Jr. and DJ Campbell. The state produces premier linemen, and Texas is making sure they stay close to home. At the same time, the Longhorns continue to add playmakers at skill positions, ensuring every unit reflects the speed, power, and precision Sarkisian demands.
Perhaps just as important as the stars they’ve landed are the battles they’ve won. Sarkisian has gone toe-to-toe with Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, and others for the top players in the state and come out on top in key situations. He flipped five-star linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. from Texas A&M. He out-recruited Georgia for wideout Johntay Cook. And he convinced CJ Baxter, the top running back in the state, that Austin—not Tuscaloosa—was where he could reach his full potential. Those victories don’t just strengthen Texas—they weaken their rivals and send a message that the Longhorns are a destination again.
High school coaches across the state have taken notice as well. Many report that the Texas staff is easier to work with, more consistent in their communication, and genuinely invested in the development of their players—not just their star ratings. That matters. When a coach believes you’ll take care of his player and give him the best chance to succeed both on and off the field, he’s more likely to steer future talent your way. Sarkisian and his staff have worked hard to rebuild those bridges after years of uneven relationships under previous regimes.
The results have already begun to translate on the field. Texas won the Big 12 in 2023 and reached the College Football Playoff, thanks in large part to the contributions of Texas natives. The defense, fueled by players like T’Vondre Sweat, Jaylan Ford, and Hill, became one of the most feared in the country. On offense, Texas kids like Jordan Whittington and Campbell set the tone with physical, disciplined play. That success only strengthens the in-state recruiting pitch: play for your state, win for your state.
Looking ahead, the Longhorns are poised to keep the momentum rolling. The 2025 and 2026 recruiting cycles are already seeing heavy Texas emphasis, with multiple early commitments from top in-state talent and offers extended to a deep pool of rising stars. Sarkisian knows that continuity is key—recruiting never stops, and maintaining momentum means constantly staying ahead of the curve.
NIL has added another layer to the recruiting game, especially in Texas, where collectives like the Clark Field Collective have provided the Longhorns with the infrastructure to compete financially with other major programs. While Sarkisian has remained focused on fit and development, the ability to offer real, organized NIL opportunities has certainly helped keep Texas in the conversation for elite in-state players. It’s a competitive advantage that only works, however, when the program itself is strong—and under Sarkisian, Texas is now back on solid ground.
Sarkisian’s vision for Texas football extends beyond recruiting rankings. He wants to build a culture rooted in toughness, accountability, and pride—qualities he believes are best found in players who come from Texas high school programs. By keeping the best in-state talent home, he’s not just building a team—he’s restoring an identity. It’s a return to what made Texas great in the early 2000s under Mack Brown, when local stars like Vince Young, Brian Orakpo, and Jamaal Charles formed the backbone of a national champion.
It’s a simple philosophy: dominate the state, and you can dominate the sport. Sarkisian is executing that vision with precision, and the Longhorns are reaping the benefits.
For Texas fans, the message is clear: as long as Steve Sarkisian is on the Forty Acres, the top high school talent in Texas will remain a top priority. And as the Longhorns march into the SEC era, that homegrown foundation might just be the key to returning to college football’s mountaintop.
