Texas rolling on and off the field after forgettable summer

It was a cruel start to the summer for Texas.

The Longhorns landed two commitments in June and four in July but they might not have been centerpieces of the recruiting class. Some didn’t satisfy the rabid fan base. Everything was going down the tubes if you read the message boards.

Ye of little faith.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and his entire staff have been on a massive haul through August when the Longhorns landed five-star receiver Jaime Ffrench, four-star receiver Kaliq Lockett, five-star linebacker/safety Jonah Williams and massive four-star offensive lineman Nicolai Brooks.

September has started well on the recruiting trail as well as four-star defensive lineman Myron Charles, an early target for Texas, flipped from Florida State.

On Sunday night, five-star defensive end Javion Hilson backed off his commitment to the Seminoles and has already booked his official visit to Texas for the Georgia game in mid-October. When Hilson was figuring out his recruitment, it came down to Florida State and Texas so the Longhorns should be in good shape there.

There is definitely good news – on and off the field – but there were some surprising struggles for the Longhorns, who went to the College Football Playoff last season and looked primed for a massive recruiting haul.

It could still happen.

Five-star receiver Dakorien Moore chose Oregon after it looked like Texas was a lock following his LSU decommitment. Five-star offensive lineman Michael Fasusi picked Oklahoma over the Longhorns. Four-star defensive back Kade Phillips flipped from Texas to LSU after a month commitment.

Other targets including four-star defensive backs Dijon Lee Jr. (Alabama) and Dorian Brew (Oregon) went elsewhere. Four-star defensive lineman Brandon Brown flipped from Texas to LSU.

Five-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn went to Ohio State and it seemed like USC was in second place there. Four-star receiver Kelshaun Johnson picked Texas A&M over the Longhorns and four-star offensive lineman Lamont Rogers chose Missouri. Interior defensive linemen who were once targets, including Kevin Wynn and Zion Williams, went elsewhere.

Whether it’s because of NIL or other considerations, Texas has missed on some targets. Yet, everything is still pretty awesome in Austin.

Texas has the fourth-best recruiting class behind only Ohio State, Alabama and LSU, and it’s not even flip season yet where Sarkisian has said most of the recruiting work is done. With only one of the top eight (and three of the top 10) players in the state of Texas committed to the Longhorns, there could be some high-end movement down the stretch.

Especially if Texas continues to perform so well on the field.

There was no greater recruiting advertisement than what the Longhorns did on Saturday – go to Michigan and dominate the national champs all over the field. They dominated the line of scrimmage, shut down a boisterous crowd and walked out with an easier-than-expected 31-12 victory.

The Longhorns should be undefeated heading into its rivalry game against Oklahoma and they look far better than the Sooners right now. A showdown against Georgia on Oct. 19 awaits. But in a 12-team playoff, Texas is a virtual lock to get in without question for another run at a championship.

If you read the headlines this summer, Texas was falling apart. Instead, the Longhorns might not have been this strong since the Mack Brown glory days.