Latest news with #RivalsFive-StarChallenge
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
BREAKING: Four-star safety picks Georgia over Texas in huge recruiting blow
Just five days ago, it looked like the Longhorns were in a great spot to get four-star safety Chace Calicut to commit to Texas. But that didn't happen. On Friday, the Houston North Shore prospect committed to recruiting rival Georgia. Calicut, who took part in the exclusive Rivals Five-Star Challenge earlier in the week, told Rivals analyst Sam Spiegelman his relationship with Longhorns CB coach Mark Orphey, who also went to North Shore, when talking about his recruitment by the Longhorns at the event's media day. "Mark Orphey came from my hometown school, North Shore. He coached there. He went to school there. He knows exactly how it is to be from Houston North Shore. And he knows how to fit me in with those guys. That's another reason why Texas is up there. It's the same thing with coach Steve Sarkisian. He really gets the players. He's more of a players coach and that's the type of guy I would like to play for." -- Chace Calicut Calicut took an official visit to Georgia on June 6, followed by Michigan on June 13 and Texas on June 20. On Friday, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound defensive back told Spiegelman he actually made his decision on that first official visit to Athens. "I made my decision down there at Georgia during the official visit," Calicut told Rivals. "The coaches always told me that when you're home, it'll feel right ... When I stepped foot on Georgia's campus, after I got a feel for the program, I knew it was the right spot. How could it get better? I don't think it can ... playing for Kirby Smart, at Georgia, at defensive back ... that's the best you can get for a long cornerback. If you wanna get produced, if you wanna go to the next level, you wanna play at Georgia." -- Chace Calicut Texas does already have three DB's committed to the 2026 class in safeties Jake Collett and Yaheim Riley and cornerback Hayward Howard Jr. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas OT recruiting target Felix Ojo issues statement after struggling at five-star camp
One of the Longhorns biggest (literally) recruiting targets is Mansfield, TX five-star offensive tackle Felix Ojo. The 6-foot-7, 279 pound lineman recently took an official visit to the 40 Acres, after cancelling an official visit to Oklahoma. Like many elite prospects, including recent Texas five-star DE commit Richard Wesley, Ojo is in Indianapolis this week for the Rivals Five-Star Challenge. The camp pits 100 of the best prospects in the nation against each other. During Monday's media day, Ojo spoke to Rivals about his tough commitment decision, which he says is between Ohio State and Texas. But a day later at the camp inside the Colts practice facility, Ojo struggled. Clip after clip were blasted all over social media of the Lake Ridge High School prospect floundering against the top defensive talent in the country, including Wesley. The negative buzz got so deafening, Ojo released a statement on social media. A player can have a bad day at a camp like this for many reasons. Ojo could have just needed a mechanical adjustment. But events like the Rivals all-star camp can also expose a prospect that has dominated in his high school district, but not against five-stars. Remember, if you're recruiting a five-star tackle, you expect him to be an anchor on your offensive line for at least two to three years. We'll have to wait and see if his performance in Indy was a side note on a good career or something more lasting. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Coveted five-star offensive lineman says Ohio State and Texas are the \
Any coach in America will tell you that football games are won and lost in the trenches. That simple truth makes recruiting offensive and defensive linemen a priority, and Ohio State is in a battle for one of the top offensive tackles in the country. Felix Ojo is the No. 1 tackle in the country according to 247Sports. The Texas native has been making his rounds this summer to places like Michigan, Florida, Ole Miss, as well as the in-state Longhorns, but there are two programs Ojo says are neck and neck. Texas has long been favored in this race, but the Buckeyes have closed the gap and are pushing hard for a commitment from the coveted lineman. After Ojo finished his summer camp visits, Rivals recruiting analyst Sam Spiegelman gave a crystal ball prediction for Ojo to stay in the Lone Star State, saying, "There is a sense that Texas closed strong on this official visit and left a big enough impression on the elite OT ahead of his July commitment," Spiegelman said. "There is a strong sense that Ojo won't leave the state to play college football." Not so fast, my friend. Ojo is in Indianapolis this week for the Rivals Five-Star Challenge, where Spiegelman had a chance to follow up with the prized recruit, and it sounds like the decision isn't going to be that cut and dry. When asked about where his recruiting status stands, Ojo said, "I'd really say Texas and Ohio State (lead). Really just the atmosphere. The culture. Not only that. The opportunity to play early. I'd really say those two schools have really been pushing me throughout the recruiting process. Those are ultimately the two schools that are the biggest factor in my recruitment right now." He'd go on to talk about how close the race is between both programs and what will be the final factor, stating, "I'd say right now with the race, I'd say it's pretty even. I'd say there's no clear-cut leader right now. I'd say the decision will be made in the next couple of weeks. It really just depends." He finished by adding, "Really just seeing where the best fit for me and my family is. Really seeing what the future has in store for me." That's great news for Ryan Day and Ohio State. While Texas may still hold a slight lead being the home state team, the Buckeyes are really making an impression. It would be a massive win to get the young man to leave home, but it seems the Bucks are in as good a position as they could possibly be at this point, and it sounds like we'll have a decision sooner rather than later.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Four-star safety and Texas target updates his recruitment with decision coming Friday
One of the Texas Longhorns priority recruits on defense is safety Chace Calicut out of Houston North Shore. The 6-foot-3 DB is the No. 56 player in the nation according to No. 10 in the state of Texas and the No. 4 safety in the nation. He has narrowed his choices to Texas, Michigan and Georgia. Calicut was just on the UT campus for an official visit and then flew to Indianapolis to take part in the elite Rivals Five-Star Challenge. There, he spoke with analyst Sam Spiegelman about where he is in the process. Calicut highlighted his relationship with Longhorns CB coach Mark Orphey, who also went to North Shore, when talking about his recruitment by the Longhorns. "Mark Orphey came from my hometown school, North Shore. He coached there. He went to school there. He knows exactly how it is to be from Houston North Shore. And he knows how to fit me in with those guys. That's another reason why Texas is up there. It's the same thing with coach Steve Sarkisian. He really gets the players. He's more of a players coach and that's the type of guy I would like to play for." -- Chace Calicut The talented defensive back says he will make his commitment announcement on Friday, June 27. He tells Rivals his family will have the greatest impact on his decision. "I would say breaking it down with my family. Seeing where they really see me at. Where do they feel most comfortable at." -- Chace Calicut If Texas lands the blue chipper, he'd be the fourth DB committed to the Longhorns in the 2026 class, joining safeties Jake Collett and Yaheim Riley and cornerback Hayward Howard Jr. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
New Texas five-star DL commit Richard Wesley goes in-depth about his decision
It's been a wild month for five-star defensive lineman Richard Wesley. First, he committed to Oregon and famously jumped in a pool with Ducks coach Dan Lanning. But soon after, the Los Angeles native backed out of the commitment and there was a lot of speculation Texas was leading. Over the weekend, Wesley did indeed commit to Texas. Sunday, Wesley told Jason Suchomel of "My recruitment is 100 percent, 1,000 percent shut down. I'm going here in January." Wesley flew straight from Austin to Indianapolis where he's taking part in the elite Rivals Five-Star Challenge, a camp for 100 of the best players in the country at Lucas Oil Field. The 6-foot-4, 250 pound EDGE talked to Rivals National recruiting director Adam Gorney about his decision. Gorney asked Wesley what convinced him Texas was the right spot. "I knew Texas was a great school. Not only for football, but academically. They have great degrees. Great business school. Great every school. I felt like the decision was the best of both worlds. I get to play in the SEC but I also get to walk out with a great degree. God forbid, football's not forever. So if I do get hurt, in the long run I still walk out with something good. It was all the coaches combined. But what really convinced me was from the academic standpoint." -- Richard Wesley While academics are obviously important to the California prospect, the blue chipper tells Gorney his main goal is to win a national title at Texas. "My goal is to win the natty. You know, I want to win a state championship this high school season. I want to win one my college season. It's great knowing my team is going to be very elite when I get there and I'm going to continue the legacy." -- Richard Wesley Wesley becomes one of the highest ranked prospects that has ever committed to the Longhorns. He ranks just behind Vince Young, Arch Manning, Jonathan Gray and Sergio Kindle. Since Wesley has already committed to two schools during his recruitment, Gorney asked him if this was his final decision. "I'm staying here. I'm staying at Texas. Hook'em! I feel like that's the spot that I want to be at." -- Richard Wesley Wesley says he's glad the recruiting process is now over and he can get down to work for the upcoming high school season and beyond. "I'm glad that everything has settled down. I can finally work this upcoming offseason for the high school season. I'm trying to come up there and really do something. I'm glad everything is cooled down. I'm glad everything is calm now and I can really get to work now." -- Richard Wesley Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.
