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Inside Texas Football
Recruiting Intel: Top Tier LBs Texas Is Targeting in 2025
Welcome to the Inside Texas football YouTube channel powered by InsideTexas.com. I'm Joe Cook I'm joined by Justin Wells for another great edition of recruiting intel. Make sure you like the video Subscribe to the channel helps us bring you a ton of great information on a daily basis We're going over recruiting again. We're going over a new position We're checking out the linebackers the Longhorns after a lot of highly rated targets in this class And new linebackers coach Johnny nanson is working hard to sign some of those guys We'll talk a little bit about the linebacker commit in Anthony deuce Williams out of shadow creek We'll also go over riley pedagon that daniel uwosu boating but tie tagawai Elijah barns And jonathan cutting ham some of the guys who are either making their way to campus in the coming weeks in or months Or texas has shown a lot of interest in so Justin let's see if you look at that 2023 class I think they signed four who are or three who are at least at linebacker right now Signed one in the 2024 class brought in a one-year guy in uh kendrick black shire So this looks like a class where they need a good amount of numbers and need to bring in some Quality and quantity to the linebacker room. Yeah, this position reminds me of defensive line Like, you know how they've handled the cycle the previous two cycles shows you that This might be in numbers grab And so the the numbers at least three you know that that that's probably what they're going to have to look for We know a couple guys that they look really good for but I think that number three that third spot is going to be cherry picked I think that's my maybe more of a national guy I think nanson kind of wants to make his own way and and kind of you know You know get his guys and so it's gonna be interesting joe It really is because we know that there's a few guys that they consider priorities But there's also a handful of guys out of state that would be phenomenal in this class highly rated guys And I think after they visit we're going to have a lot better idea of where texas stands with those guys So let's uh quickly go over the guy we know Uh, we talked about him on new year's day when he committed Um, we committed with with knowing jeff chote was leaving and not sure of who his position coach was going to be at texas As parley and shadow creek three star anthony williams Uh a lot of length uh at this position someone who kind of has a hybrid skill set But he's going to end up probably patrolling the middle Um, and is also part of a shadow creek team that has a lot of talent on it this cycle Yeah, you know anthony williams he jumped in early Um, I think he was always kind of a texas fan to begin with he loves sark He'd been on campus at half a dozen times over the last couple of years a lot of those shadow creek guys have And williams just decided he wanted to jump in he didn't want to waste any time Um, I like this guy because he does he has some real good length. He has a he has a frame Uh that that you can mold he's a ball of clay and and he's a great basketball player. He's a multi sport kid Uh, and he's and he's a really good guy. You know, he's he's a culture guy. He's a he's a strong mental evaluation The thing about anthony that I like the most Um, is that how open he is about about his love for texas, you know I found out the other day that he's going to take a visit to texas. A&M And he basically told me he said look man. I I committed so early I hadn't really seen any other schools and I I just want to enjoy the process a little bit He absolutely loves being a long horn He just kind of wants to take a few visits and enjoy the process with some of his teammates He's got a dozen teammates at shadow creek. It feels like that are that are d1 recruits And so he likes to go along with the ride and have fun with those guys But at the end of the day, you know, he'll be at A&M on march 29th. I believe in march 30th He'll be back in texas in april. He'll have his official in june Uh texas looks good here that, you know, if this is the floor for your linebacker class in 2025 That's a really good nice clean floor. Yeah, especially as you already saw a lot of the the players We're looking at uh talking about today top 200 prospects And I think we have to go next to the guy who we believe is probably at the top Of johnny nandons linebacker board and with good reason and that's riley petajon Uh from mckinney texas, you and I bumped the table there You and I got the chance to to see him Uh this past sunday at the under armor next camp. I had not seen him in person or in like an athletic Uh, you know situation, I guess to say Uh, but looking at riley petajon and then looking at a few the different Line backers over there petajon stands out like that is what a college almost college ready linebacker Looks like of course he's going to add weight when he gets to his school But you know, he was out, uh, I think a couple weeks ago breaking 11 seconds in the hundred meter Uh winning his heat not winning his his full Uh the full competition, but winning his heat with a sub 11 100 meter Uh just broad shoulders and in a frame to build on and a guy that Programs from from coast to coast are definitely interested in adding to their program Yeah, but you nailed it petajon does a little bit of everything Uh, i've said it before he kind of reminds me of this class is tyanthony smith. He's rangey He goes sideline to sideline. He's a little bit longer a little bit taller Maybe not as athletic is tyanthony, but man just just a built built high school linebacker. That's ready for college Um, you know, he's got he's got that mindset that linebacker disposition Where you you know, you shoot gaps. You don't get caught in the wash You you trail you you do all these wonderful things and he's good in coverage, which is essential I think in this day and age at college and in the nfl Um texas is you know that texas looks fantastic in this recruitment right now joe. They look great They've done a unbelievable job. They're gonna have to fight off a few teams though I know that ohio state is creeping they want to get in the mix. I know lsu's creeping michigan's in the mix texas a and m at oklahoma are also trying to get him back on campus And so betachon and usc I believe he's going to take a visit to usc in june And so you know petachon's got he's got a lot of suitors And that's what happens when you're the number 40 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle texas identified this guy early they prioritized him early jeff chote did a really good job with the foundation of this recruitment sark and nanson have picked up the slack since chote went to nevada and Um, you like you said it there's more than likely he's number one on the on the line backer board and look if you can find a quality elite line backer at You know two hours from the house. That's that's that's what you do you prioritize that guy He'll be back on campus at least two times until june and I think that's the biggest factor right there Mckinney mckinney's at a school. He's at a place too where I think texas would like to continue to to mine that They've got some really good younger younger talent and then of course the the class before him Xavier feel same he came in and their friends and so there's it's more of that dfw connection I think with a lot of these guys over the last couple cycles and petachon might be the next Yeah, and in one of the the other big things I feel like about petachon is A lot of notes we had over on inside texas over in the inside scoop. We posted on monday Um, it's going to be a battle to keep out of state programs from getting him But it seems like there's some things Made some factors that have him liking some of the closer to home Maybe not in state, but some of the closer to home Programs as we look a little bit further away from the lone star state when it comes to line backers We got to go to nathaniel uusu boating Number 59 overall on the on three industry ranking originally from the virginia state of virginia manassis Not sure if that's a dc suburb or not, but he's currently at img academies related to um the the notar dame For the former notar dame live mecker and uh forgetting his name right now Uh, but he's someone who is going to come see texas and the long horns have a lot more representation from img academy These days and they ever have and uusu boating is going to come check that out in the course of a couple weeks Yeah, boating is one of those national guys that you you want to be in the mix for this kid's got over 40 offers joe from stanford florida miami Georgia he's going to visit there next month, you know, he's highly coveted for a reason And he's what i put in the category of get him on campus in austin's and and see where where that recruitment is going to go Where it's going to lead if they're going to get him back for an official visit you know, he's one of those you know elite guys and Talk about a frame talk about, uh, you know, a really easy evil You turn on his take for two minutes and you realize this guy's a take Uh, and and and i think sark has an infinity for those, uh, img guys Because a lot of times those are self starters those are self-motivated kids Considering what they have to do with that academy to to get prepared for college You know jordan johnson robell and jerry gipson are also big big fans of texas and they're telling those guys that And so i think the horns are going to have their hands in the mix for some I'm g guys over the next few years sark loves those early enrollee types Boating is that type, you know, any time you can find a guy that that can play at georgia and can enroll at stanford That's a take Like i don't i don't think too hard on that one that's a take but again We got to wait till he gets on campus in austin i believe it's going to be late march early april Before we can tell kind of where this recruitment's going to go But i guarantee you texas would love to take him and they want to see him up close Now we continue on go to the west coast with matai tugawai i believe he's from San clamente california number 81 overall in on three industry ranking north of six three a little bit south of 200 pounds but definitely a ballplayer and in someone that uh johnny nanson i believe probably from his old west coast and You know, ucla arizona connections was familiar with and is now prioritizing As the long horns linebacker coach. This is a guy that you would think nanson. Okay. He's gonna He's gonna have a shot here There's so many factors that that leads you to believe that nanson's going to have a shot for one He's a west coast kid and i feel like there is going to be a west coast linebacker in this cycle like That's nanson's bread and butter and and if there's going to be a take i think togoa as a guy that can fit that mold Um, you know, he's six four about 185 so he has a lot of growing to do He has a lot of development to do but the upside is real Uh, they're gonna battle all those west coast schools utah is one that i think teams really got to look out for he's already got a An official visit scheduled to washington. There another program. You got to watch Um, the big thing with him is texas went by to see him I believe in january and then it took him about another month or so before they offered And so when he does come on campus and he does get to austin next month I think that's another one like boating osu where they're going to have to figure out Which you know where they stand in this recruitment, you know, they'll do the i test they'll meet the family But at the end of the day This is a kid that if i feel like nanson's going to be able to get one guy on the west coast I feel like he wants to cherry pick one off that side of the country and this right now is the is the kid we think he's identified um just get him on campus and and figure out, you know where they stand Uh, they're going to have their hands full utah usc washington all have laid strong foundations and recruitments there But again ever since nanson was was was hired. I felt like they're going to snag at least one kid from his side of the country johnny nanson's going to have some tough Competition to to get tag oi out of the west coast, but uh, he's got some good inroads already Before we keep on going got to talk a little bit about our friend Andre the lawyer. Andre the lawyer Let's see. Andre the lawyer never takes more than their clients No win no pay and no upfront costs their principal office is in dallas texas And Andre the lawyer has been representing injured longhorn throughout texas Every client gets a personalized text message numbers so they can contact the team and get direct access to their lawyer all day and all night Call Andre the lawyer at 214-444-8808 If you're in a car wreck, an 18-wheeler accident the slip and fall any on the job injury or anything else call Andre the lawyer at 214-444-8808 Speaking of the state of texas We return to the lone star state now when we talk about alijah barns Number 109 overall in the on three industry ranking Uh seems to be an in-state battle for the dallas skyline stand out Uh, we've got some I think we have some on three recruiting predictions in four barns to end up at texas Uh, and obviously along with petajon seems like the top line backer One b to petajons one a as far as line backers in the state go and targets for the position for texas Yeah barns if if um Petajon is your is your traditional guy barns is your throwback line backer That's a guy at you know, he's 225 230 running the the anchor leg on the four-round one Trailing gaden dirt cadon durham from duncanville like that that just impressed me That this big boy wanted to get on the track and compete like that even told me look I'm not i'm not going to run faster than cadon durham, but i'm going to try to catch him And that's that you want that mentality at line backer I think texas is lucky that two of the best line backers in the country are literally two hours from campus And that's why I put barns and petajon in the same category Elijah is the one that you know, he comes out of dollar skyline He he you know, he's more of a headhunter. This guy tracks and smacks He he throws his body around. He's got some some deceptive speed. He's good laterally The thing with barns is I think texas leads Pretty handedly here Uh, you know others are going to be in the mix texas hanging him really really likes him. Oklahoma really really likes him Uh, I know that lsu and alabama have been kicking the tires on him USC is another one that really likes him But I think this one's gonna this is texas versus the field in my opinion and and with barns, you know Charlie coach Williams and I got to meet his father a couple weeks ago and just one of the nicest guys And you can see why Elijah is such a great kid such a well man or young man Uh, another guy he reminds me of petajon in that your locker room needs these kind of kids This is a strong mental evaluation. This is a culture fit Not to mention he's a big old boy. They can run And at the linebacker spot, they're gonna have to load up in 2025 similar to d line And if it starts and start if you've got anthony Williams as your floor and you can add a petajon and a barns That that's a that's a fantastic first class for johnny nanson So they just have to stay the course barns will be on campus multiple times again You'll probably take that official visit in june. I can see him making a decision like petajon in july in august I don't I don't think either one of those guys are gonna stretch it out And I use those guys a lot in comparison because they talk to each other about playing together They talked to each other about being at the same school And even though they're not a package deal. I think texas has done a tremendous job at Selling both of those guys on the 40 acres Got one more to talk about one more texas offer to talk about and that's jonathan cutting ham from a very talented fort worth north kraale program Where one other texas line back or samaje burrell currently a red shirt freshman Uh is on the long horn roster cutting ham. I believe was offered in january. Maybe february Has seen texas a couple times think he has plans to return But where is he fit into the line back or recruiting picture for the long horns? You know cutting ham's one that's got a lot of upside I got to to meet him on sunday at under armor and just a really good kid had a really good smile good attitude um Cutting ham's a guy that you know, I think he's a take in his own right But I also know that numbers are going to be a are going to be critical at the spot And I don't know necessarily if he's a contingency But I know that you know pedagon and barns are one a and one b on on the priority list Cutting ham's a guy that's going to need some development. He's a guy that's going to need to be brought along Maybe a little bit longer. Maybe not his college ready, but It doesn't take away from his upside texas likes him a lot Uh, you know char charlie williams went out to go see him a couple weeks ago and and he absolutely loves him He that you know, like you said north kraale. He's got some some good talent on the way up Uh, but cutting ham's a kid that I think you can you can wait a little while keep him warm and wait because texas wants to see how these other guys are going to straighten out And they also want to know if if they're going to take a guy out of state because if they do I think that's going to cost cutting ham a spot. If they keep everybody in state I think that keeps them in the mix for cutting ham, but right now i'm looking at smu TCU baylor Those are kind of the schools that are that are pushing cutting ham the hardest Sounds like it's a pretty good crop for limebaker a position that uh seemingly was was lost to to edge I guess as far as emphasis goes, but maybe some guys like Like anthony hill and obviously you like riley pedagion can uh turn things around for the position in state and make linebacker a pretty uh talented uh Make texas Under a state that produces talented limebackers once again. Thank you for watching this video Make sure you like the video subscribe to the channel head to inside texas.com You can get one month of access for just one dollar perfect time for it We've been hitting recruiting hard, but it's about time to hit both recruiting and team intel hard as texas Returns to the spring practice field Justin, thank you so much. Thank you to our sponsor. Andre the lawyer. I'm joe cook We'll see you next time on the inside texas football youtube channel powered by inside texas.com