Texas Is Trying to FLIP the Nation’s #1 Recruit From Ohio State? | Steve Sarkisian

Summary

On Texas Football - Recruiting Breakdown

Episode Title: Texas Is Trying to FLIP the Nation’s #1 Recruit From Ohio State? | Steve Sarkisian
Date: August 4, 2026
Host: Jeff Howe (B), with Hank South (C) and Jerry Hamilton (D)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the current state of Texas Longhorn football recruiting, focusing on two headline targets: the delicate commitment status of five-star linebacker Easton Royal and Texas’ determined pursuit to flip Ohio State’s top-ranked recruit, edge rusher DJ Jacobs. The crew also covers strategies for late-cycle offers, positions of need, and capped off with a quick look at Texas basketball recruiting’s big-game hunting in the 2027 class.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Easton Royal’s Commitment

• Royal’s Current Status:

  • Still committed to Texas, but keeping recruitment open.
  • Quote: "He is essentially, I don't want to say completely shut down communication, but almost...he really has not communicated with coaches." — Hank (00:51)
  • He‘s taken a step back since his last official visit (to Texas), with strong interest still from LSU and Florida.

• Recruitment Timeline:

  • Expected to take official visits to all three schools this fall; commitment likely to drag into December.
  • Will attend the Texas vs. Ohio State home game.
  • "One of the more surprising things about this recruitment would be if he didn’t end up on all three of those campuses in the fall." — Jerry (02:35)

• Advice for Fans:

  • Ignore social media noise; focus on where Easton visits and when he re-engages with coaches.
  • "If you sit on social media every day and follow this recruitment, it may drive you crazy." — Jerry (03:28)

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2. The Pursuit to Flip DJ Jacobs (Nation’s #1 Recruit)

• Background:

  • DJ Jacobs, top edge rusher, is currently committed to Ohio State, but Texas (and others) are pushing hard for a flip.
  • Increased efforts after another top edge rusher, Marcus Facato, committed to Ohio State.
  • "There’s an expectation that he does make it to Austin at some point this fall." — Hank (04:45)

• Texas’ Strategy:

  • Allen Clark and Will Muschamp heavily involved in recruitment.
  • Likely to invite both DJ and his four-star younger brother, Dawson, on visits.
  • Big focus: securing his visit for the Texas vs. Ohio State night game. It “works out because it’s going to be a night game…a kid that plays a Friday night game that's out of state can get to Austin in time for that game Saturday night." — Jerry (07:20)

• Competition:

  • Miami and Tennessee are also in the hunt, plus others lurking.
  • DJ remains “solidly committed” to Ohio State, but Texas, Miami, Tennessee “are making runs.”

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3. Other 2025 Class Needs & Late-Cycle Strategy

• Positions Texas Will Watch:
  • Linebacker: No true inside linebacker currently committed. Expect offers/attention after September’s early season film.
  • Safety: Only one safety (Junior Tupo) is committed; may pursue more.
  • Cornerback: Depth is strong, but could add another if a top player emerges (especially after John Meredith’s reclassification).
  • Offensive Line: Always monitoring for another tackle; names include Demarion Johnson (committed to A&M) and Jasper Ngonquay (committed to Vanderbilt).
    • "If Texas feels like a few games into the season…we have that need for that extra offensive tackle…a sixth and another offensive tackle would definitely be possible." — Jerry (10:32)

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4. Texas Basketball Recruiting — 2027 Class Update

• Official Visits (September):
  • Justin Wise (Sept 5): Four-star shooting guard, North Oconee, Georgia.
  • Beckham Black (Sept 12): No. 1 or 2 player nationally; brother of NBA-caliber Anthony Black. Texas in the thick of it alongside Duke, Arkansas, UNC, and USC.
    • "I couldn't be a bigger fan of Beckham Black. Texas gets the prime time OV, the OV they wanted, which tells you they're right there in the fight for Beckham Black." — Jerry (12:36)
  • Navarro Bowman (Sept 19): Five-star combo guard, California.
  • Watching Darius Wobbington (6'8" SF) for a third OV.
• Summary: Texas is swinging big and in strong position to land marquee talent for 2027.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Evolving Royal Recruitment:

  • "This is a fourth quarter game. I think multiple coaches from multiple staff expect it to be a fourth quarter game, which means November, December." — Jerry (02:35)
  • "I would block out all social media on this recruitment, honestly." — Jerry (03:28)

• On DJ Jacobs Pursuit:

  • "After Marcus Facato committed to Ohio State…it seemed like a renewed push to try to flip DJ Jacobs." — Hank (04:45)
  • "It would be an amazing, amazing opportunity for Texas if they can get DJ Jacobs on campus for that Ohio State game." — Jerry (07:20)

• On Strategy and Needs:

  • "Linebacker – they don’t have a linebacker really committed…that’s probably the position they need to focus on the most this fall." — Hank (09:36)
  • "If Texas feels like a few games into the season…we have that need for that extra offensive tackle…a sixth and another offensive tackle would definitely be possible." — Jerry (10:32)

• Basketball Recruiting Big Leagues:

  • "Texas basketball, three official visits set up first three weekends of the college football season when Texas brings in all their athletes for OVs. Texas has a shot at Beckham Black…they won’t get both, but I think they got a shot at each one of those guys." — Jerry (14:49)

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Timestamps for Major Topics

• 00:20-02:35: Easton Royal’s current commitment, decision timeline, and school visits
• 02:35-04:26: Recruitment strategy for Royal; fan advice
• 04:26-09:20: DJ Jacobs’ recruitment — status, efforts to flip, key competitors, and visit expectations
• 09:20-11:37: Remaining 2025 class recruiting needs and late-cycle options
• 12:27-14:49: Texas basketball’s headliner targets in the 2027 recruiting class

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Summary

This episode provides a nuanced, timely look at Texas’ highest-profile recruiting battles and the staff’s ongoing strategies to close on elite prospects. The focus remains on Easton Royal’s protracted “fourth quarter” recruitment—urging fans to brush off social media noise and keep eyes on real actions—and an aggressive, coordinated push to flip DJ Jacobs, the consensus top recruit, from Ohio State. Additional insights cover position group needs for the upcoming cycle and preview the high-stakes basketball recruiting season, with Texas making a strong early push on several blue-chip talents.

If you follow Texas recruiting, this is essential, boots-on-the-ground analysis made accessible and actionable for fans.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

welcome back to On Texas Football. Welcome to this week's edition of the Recruiting Breakdown, brought to you as always by Mark Saunders Allstate. I'm Jeff Howe, joined by Hank south and Jerry Hamilton talking about what's next for Texas with Landon Williams callous commitment in the books. Where do the Longhorns go from here? And Hank, anytime we talk about what's next, it always turns to can Texas hang on to Eastern Royal? So as we sit here today with Texas getting ready to start camp again, Landon Williams cows commitment in the books. Kind of maybe everybody takes a breath. But what's the latest with Eastern Royal?

[C]

Yeah, the latest is what it's been the last few weeks. Easton Royal is taking his time. He is essentially, I don't want to say completely shut down communication, but almost, you know, he, since his official visit slate ended with that last trip to Texas, he really has not communicated with coaches. He's trying to take a step back, gather his thoughts. Obviously he's, he's heavily considering lsu. He was heavily considering Florida. He is still committed to Texas and, and that's where it stands and where, where we expect it to stand for the foreseeable future. There's no signs that he's about to come announce or there's no expectation, I should say that he's getting ready to flip or decommit or anything. The expectation is he's going to take his recruitment into the fall, take some visits. And then obviously as we've reported a number of times and on Texas football go to December. So this is going to continue on. We can probably replay this in two weeks. That's where it's likely going to stand. There's been projections on other networks that, you know, flipping to lsu, there is optimism in Baton Rouge. I can't blame them. You know, he obviously hasn't shut anything down. He's still heavily considering the Tigers, but we do expect him to visit all three schools, that's including Florida this fall. He told on Texas Football on Monday he will be in Austin for Texas, Ohio State. So that's a big deal, especially if Texas can get a win and get some early season momentum there, maybe, you know, turn the tides back to it. Not that it's going away but you can't ignore the LSU buzz with Easton Royal and them trying to keep them home. So that's where we're at. Regardless of whether if he came out today and said, hey, I'm sticking with Texas, my recruitment's done, or I'm flipping to lsu, this recruitment is going to December either way. So that's where we kind of sit with Eastern Royal right now.

[D]

I was going to add Jeff, I was going to add on to that. This is a fourth quarter game. I think multiple coaches from multiple staff expect it to be a fourth quarter game, which means November, December. And as Hank pointed out, one of the more surprising things about this recruitment would be if he didn't end up on all three of those campuses in the fall for a game on a Saturday. That would be the moat. Maybe as surprising as anything with me in this recruitment if he didn't show up at Texas for Ohio State, an LSU game and a Florida game, if not multiple games at lsu, living so close.

[B]

Jerry, I do want to bring this up though, because you've been in this business for a long time. If you're a fan following this and again Hank mentioned everybody's got their opinion on what he's going to do. But if you're a fan following this area, what should you pay attention to and what should you just block out this just noise and static in this recruitment?

[D]

I think you should. I. I would block off, block out all social media on this recruitment, honestly, is what I would do. And I just kind of watch where he goes this, this fall, how many times he goes there, which games he goes to and kind of follow that along with that. And then the other thing, I would get more re engaged in the recruitment, knowing it's going to play out for a while. Get more re engaged in this recruitment. If he starts communicating himself with college coaches again and who are those college coaches and how often is that happening? I think everything else right now, I think he's. He's still got all that pressure on him in the state of Louisiana, but right now he's planning on. It feels like unless something drastic changes playing this out all the way until the late in the fourth quarter, which is late November, December. So I think if you sit on social media every day and follow this recruitment, it may drive you crazy.

[B]

Very, very wise words and very good advice there, Jerry. Hank, let's go to DJ Jacobs. I know you did some reporting on him over on texas football.com earlier in the week and you've been tracking this recruitment. Hank, Texas is Kind of the opposite of the Eastern Royal recruitment, where DJ Jacobs didn't commit to Texas, but Texas hanging around the rim on DJ Jacobs.

[C]

Yeah, if you're looking at uncommitted guys or uncommitted to Texas guys that Texas is. Is really prioritizing, he's up there. D.J. jacobs, who's number one player on some industry service, I think 247 has him as the number one player in the country. Number one, edge rusher. He's been committed to Ohio State since the beginning of the year, but that hasn't stopped schools. I know Jerry will talk about some other schools that hasn't stopped schools, particularly Texas, from still making an effort for him. And I think it really started to turn up more. Not that they weren't, you know, trying to push to get him on campus or anything this summer, but after Marcus Facato committed to Ohio State, it seemed like there was kind of a renewed push to try to flip DJ Jacobs. And I say that they're still recruiting Marcus Fakato as well. You know, that that's not something they're just going to stop on either. But DJ Jacobs, I was told by a source on Monday that there is an expectation that he does make it to Austin at some point this fall. Whether that's an official visit, we'll see. But they, at the very least, they expect an unofficial visit in, in some capacity. And, you know, we just mentioned Easton Royal, Texas, Ohio State. That would make a lot of sense to see Texas, Ohio State, the school he's committed to. We saw Justice Terry two years ago come for the Georgia game when, you know, he wasn't committed to Georgia but was considered a heavy lean to Georgia at that time. So that's a game maybe I'm circling to see if he makes it down for. Otherwise, there's, you know, there's other marquee games on the home schedule for Texas this season, but that's where they're at. Allen Clark spearheading this one for Texas. They're. They're trying to flip him. His. I know Jerry's talked about his high school staff has ties to. To Will Must champ at Blessed Trinity. So we'll see where that stands. He still, you know, hasn't come out and said anything. He didn't take any other visits this, this summer that I'm aware of, unless he. He got down to Miami or. So he might have gotten down to Miami but didn't make it to Texas, namely. So we'll see if he shows up. There's an expectation he will But Texas would love would love to flip DJ Jacobs in this class, especially in a cycle where you're likely losing Colin Simmons and you're going to need to kind of get get some reinforcements on that edge Rush.

[B]

No doubt.

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[B]

Jerry, what what can you add about the D.J. jacobs recruitment?

[D]

Well, as I'm being attacked by a bug in Austin here, but yeah, so Hank mentioned Miami. Miami definitely hanging around the rim in this recruitment for sure. As is another school, Tennessee. There's been some talk that Tennessee's really going hard after DJ Jacobs as well along with Texas, along with Miami. And the Hank's point, you look, the one thing we know is these guys are going to pop up on some schools, at some schools for games this year. These kids aren't just going to sit around home. Whether that's in New Orleans, whether that's in Atlanta. If they're committed to a school and if they're still talking to some schools, they're going to end up on campuses going to games. So I think it would be an amazing, amazing opportunity for Texas if they can get DJ Jacobs on campus campus for that Ohio State game. It works out because it's going to be a night game. I mean that's the one thing about Texas, Ohio State, we talk about that. Whether it's Eastern Royal coming in, DJ Jacobs, there will be others. It's a night game. So a kid that plays a Friday night game that's out of state can get to Austin in time for that game Saturday night. If that was a midday, it's a lot difficult, more difficult deal. But Hank also mentioned the tie to Will Muschamp and D.J. jacobs father, who obviously signed with Georgia back in the day and had some had some health issues that ended his playing career. But there's, there's Lyle and Clark's working that recruitment. Will Muschamps work in that recruitment. I can't think of two better guys to have working the D.J. jacobs recruitment. But I'll say this, he's right now solidly committed to Ohio State. But Texas, Miami and now we're here in Tennessee and I'm sure there's a couple others that are making runs at the. What I believe is the number one prospect in the country.

[C]

And just to add he also has a younger brother named DAWSON that's a 2028 defensive lineman, a four star recruit. So you would imagine he's going to take business this weekend or this, this fall and probably be joined by DJ as well. So that, that could also be another, you know, factor to watch in this recruitment.

[B]

Hank, those are two of the biggest recruitments left on the board for Texas. Obviously eastern royals committed.

[D]

D.J.

[B]

jacobs isn't. But Hank, if there's a position group where Texas is going to target somebody that's currently not on the worth, they might look to add somebody to this class. Where do you think they look for senior evals?

[C]

Yeah, I think after the non district film starts to, to come out after the you know, September, I think you're going to see some linebackers maybe get, get offered or guys they recruited in the summer that they maybe missed on, went elsewhere that they try to circle back on and flip. Linebacker. They don't have a linebacker really committed, true inside linebacker committed. So that's going to be. I think that's probably the position they need to focus on the most this fall. If I was looking at it, obviously only one safety committed in Junior Tupo. Probably a guy they might look back on. And then I'm curious to see what they do at cornerback as well after John Meredith reclassified. They still have a really strong cornerbacks class but do they want to add to numbers there if there's a guy that, that's too good to pass up on. So those are the kind of three spots I'm working on and you know, it. It could be anywhere but that's what I'm looking at.

[B]

Jerry, what do you think?

[D]

Texas attacks.

[B]

I know you talked about maybe offensive lines of position. I think Cowplet's always looking for offensive linemen.

[D]

Yeah, look I agree with Hank. Linebacker and safety on defense. Look, if there's a great edge rusher that you try to flip. We just talked about DJ Jacobs. We're not saying he's gonna flip. But on offense I look at offensive tackle because I think there's still a potential need there. So you know you look at Demarion Johnson, committed A. M. I still expect Texas to reach out to him. Jasper Ngonquay, the offensive tackle, the very athletic offensive tackle at Richardson High, committed to Vanderbilt. I still expect Texas to keep tabs on him. And just see if anything shakes loose, anything moves. If Texas feels like a few games into the season. Yeah, we have that need for that extra offensive tackle potentially in this class to go along with Brian Swanson and Ishmael Ismail Kamara. So I think offensive tackles won the watch. But originally when they kind of set numbers in this class, the number was six at offensive line. If they could get that right guy and they filled their tackle needs, they have five, really, really good class, but a six and another offensive tackle would definitely be possible.

[B]

All right, we got some basketball notes to get to. But before we do that, Jerry, let's go ahead and give a shout out to our long running sponsor on the recruiting breakdown. That's Mark Saunders.

[D]

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[B]

All right, Jerry, you're, you're at the Moody Center. We can see the basketball practice facility in the background. What's the latest for Sean Miller Co. In the 2027 class?

[D]

Oh man, there they are taking big swings in basketball. Basketball recruiting official visits start in September. September 5th, first Texas football home opener. They'll have Justin Wise, four star, six five shooting guard out of North Oconee in Georgia. Texas has been on him over a year. They watched almost every AAU game he played in the live periods he was on campus this summer for a first time unofficial. We'll be back for an OV September 5th weekend. Then the following weekend, Texas, Ohio State one confirmed OV is Beckham Black the number one or two player in America now that Marcus Spears is at Texas and gave up that number one player, an American, 27, Beckham Black. Sensational. Obviously the younger brother of Anthony Black, 6:3 point guard, future lottery pick. I, I couldn't be a bigger fan of, of Beckham Black. Texas gets the prime time ov, the OV they wanted, which tells you they're in a. They're right there in the fight for Beckham black. That'll be September 12th for the Ohio State game. The teams to watch along with Texas, who I think is doing pretty well in this recruitment with a long way to play out. And what's Isaiah Johnson going to do going pro versus staying kind of. What are people thinking around that after this year, which is an unknown right now. But the other teams around Beckham Black are Duke, Arkansas, North Carolina, usc. Eric Musselman's the head coach out there. His brother Anthony Black really like play playing for Muscleman at Arkansas. So USC will get an OV and possibly one other maybe Georgetown, maybe a sleeper team in there. I think Arizona maybe has fallen off. And then you look at the September 19th weekend Texas UTSA game. Navarro Bowman, five star combo guard out of California. He will also be making an official visit. Texas very high. Navarro Bowman. We're also watching Darius Wobbington in a six eight small Ford NUR as possible. OVs as well. So Texas basketball, three official visits set up first three weekends of the college football season when Texas brings in all their athletes for ovs. Texas has a shot at Beck and Black guys. I think Texas has a shot at Navarro Bowman too. They won't get both, but I think they got a shot at each one of those guys.

[B]

All right, good stuff. Jerry. Jerry, Hank. Thank you guys for the knowledge, the intel, the expertise. As always, big thank you to Matthew behind the Scenes, we for producing this edition of the Recruiting Breakdown. Thank you to Mark Saunders for sponsoring it. Hey, if you're not a member over@ontexas football.com you want the best Longhorn recruiting coverage in the Texas market, Get it over to ontexasfootball.com new subscribers take advantage of our limited time offer. $3 for your first 3 months of access over to ontexasfootball.Com you do not want to miss out with this limited time offer. So make sure again you get over there and take advantage. $3 for your first three months of access. Make sure that you like this video. Make sure you're subscribed to the on Texas Football YouTube channel and make sure you got your notification set. That way, anytime we go live or drop a new video, you're not missing any of our Longhorn coverage or breaking news for Hank. For Jerry. For Matthew. For the entire On Texas Football staff, I'm Jeff Howell. Thank you so much for watching and listening and until next time.