Longhorns Recruiting Tracker: Texas Lands in Top 8 For East Coast OT Chase Bisontis

On Apr 3, 2022

With college football’s 2021 season now officially underway, rumors are beginning to fly in terms of visits, and commitments for the 2022 class and beyond.

Under new head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns recruiting momentum is hitting full-force, and as a result, recruits who were once thought to be unattainable, are now beginning to take a hard look at the makings of what Sarkisian is building in Austin.

Stick with Longhorns Country for all of the latest updates in recruiting below:

APRIL 3, 2022, 10:30 AM UPDATE:

One of the top offensive tackles in the 2023 class, Chase Bisontis, narrowed his list of schools down to eight schools on Saturday night, including the Longhorns amongst the finalists.

The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Don Bosco Prep (NJ) star also included Texas A&M, Ohio State, Rutgers, Miami, Georgia, LSU, and Michigan State in his list of finalists.

Bisontis also holds offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, USC, Tennessee, Wisconsin and many more.

March 31, 10:15 AM UPDATE:

On Thursday, 2023 Fort Worth (Texas) native linebacker S’Maje Burrell has shifted directions, cancelling his upcoming visit to Ohio State and now coming to Austin.

This is the second consecutive visit for Burrell who made the short trip to Austin just last weekend.

Credit to the coaching staff for bringing him back for a second straight weekend. As a junior for North Crowley High School (Fort Worth, TX), Burrell racked up 104 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.

March 30, 10:15 AM UPDATE:

There is a new Texan being targeted by Steve Sarkisian’s coaching staff.

On Tuesday evening, Houston native Josh White announced he had earned a scholarship offer to continue playing college football in Austin. Just a day prior, he announced intentions to enter the transfer portal after two years at LSU, which of course underwent a coaching change after the season.

Texas isn’t alone in courting the former Houston (Texas) Cy Creek standout, as White has also announced offers from USC, Baylor, TCU, Nebraska, Miami and Colorado since the transfer portal news went public.

White, who saw action in 10 games as a true freshman in 2020, should have three seasons of eligibility remaining due to the pandemic year NCAA athletes were granted. He was recruited by the Tom Herman staff at UT while he was in high school.

March 26, 8:00 PM UPDATE:

On Saturday, elite 2023 receiver Jaquaize Pettaway announced his top 10 schools, including the Texas Longhorns.

Along with the Longhorns, Pettaway included Oregon, Georgia, Ole Miss, TCU, Oklahoma, LSU, Houston, Cincinnati, and Ohio State.

March 18, 5:00 PM UPDATE:

Texas is still in the mix for 2023 linebacker recruit Liona Lefau.

On Friday, the Kahuku (Hawaii) High School standout cut his list of some two dozen scholarship offers down to a top eight. In addition to the Longhorns, BYU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, USC and Utah made the cut.

“I loved my time in Austin when I went up last summer,” Lefau told 247Sports’ Blair Angulo. “It was good vibes and I liked coach Steve Sarkisian, as well. I have a good relationship with coach Jeff Choate and Jake Langi, so I still like it there.

“I want to go up for another visit soon.”

Visits appear to be the next step in arguably the top prospect in Hawaii’s recruitment and a return trip to Austin would help the Longhorns potentially make the next cutdown among contenders.

As a junior in 2021, Lefau helped Kahuku High to an undefeated state championship run.

March 17, 11:30 AM UPDATE:

David Hicks is already a well-known recruit in the college football world and Texas is still involved with the in-state star.

The Allen (Texas) High School star recently connected with Fan Nation’s Brian Smith for more on his interest in Steve Sarkisian’s program.

“I feel like the coaches at Texas are really cool,” Hicks told Smith. “I have a really good relationship there. The people around Texas, too. It’s a great environment.”

Hicks added that his best relationship on the UT staff is with defensive line coach Bo Davis.

“Most definitely.”

The pass rusher could visit Oregon, Oklahoma and others in the coming weeks. Official visits are likely in the summer, with the remainder likely taking in the place during the season.

A commitment is likely to come at the Under Armour Next All-America Game in January.

March 15, 1:30 PM UPDATE:

Vandegrift High School (Austin, Texas) talent Reece Beauchamp has announced his commitment with the Texas Longhorns on Wednesday.

Beauchamp will be added to a 2022 receiving class including Brenen Thompson and transfer receiver Isaiah Neyor (Wyoming). Here’s what he had to say after the commitment:

“It’s been a long and tough process, but after lots of thought and prayer I’ve decided to commit to the University of Texas. I’m very thankful for all the other coaches who have recruited and believed in me.”

March 15, 12:30 PM UPDATE:

New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman quarterback Arch Manning has officially announced his upcoming visits with Georgia on the weekend of March 19 and Texas on March 24.

Here’s what Isidore Newman head coach Nelson Stewart had to say about the upcoming visits via 247Sports:

“He’s excited to watch practice, he’s excited to watch meetings. Really get a chance now that the pandemic has really passed to get in the weeds and watch how they coach and watch what they do and get a feel for the staff and organization of it. He’s most excited to watch practice. That’s what it’s about. That’s what he enjoys most about the game. He’s a meat and potatoes kid, it’s a work visit as much as anything and he wants to get into the quarterback room and see how it works.”

March 13, 4:30 PM UPDATE:

The Longhorns will take all the help they can get on defense as the team continues to add future talent for coach Steve Sarkisian.

And on Sunday, the Horns moved one step closer toward adding a piece to the linebacker corp, as 2023 linebacker S’Maje Burrell of North Crowley (Fort Worth, TX) announced on social media that Texas is one of 11 schools he’s considering.

Along with Texas, Burrell is considering USC, Oklahoma, Baylor, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Utah, Texas Tech, and Florida State.

Burrell announced on social media Tuesday that he’ll be making a visit to the Forty Acres on March 26.

March 9, 9:30 AM UPDATE:

One of the best in Texas still has the Longhorns in the mix.

Arlington (Texas) Sam Houston High School tight end Lafayette Kaiuway updated his list of contenders on Wednesday morning and several in-state programs made the cut, including the Horns.

The 6’5″ talent was last in Austin in late January, before the NCAA dead period kicked in for the entire month of February. He also spent time in town in December after picking up the UT offer in late October. Assistant coach Jeff Banks is on the job of keeping the talented pass-catcher within state lines.

Kaiuway will attend the Under Armour All-American camp in Dallas this weekend.

March 7, 11:45 AM UPDATE:

Sunday’s visit from TCU transfer prospect Ochaun Mathis looks to have gone about as well as possible, according to the former Horned Frog pass rusher.

Considering programs like USC, Ole Miss, Penn State and Nebraska along with UT, only one of those options offers him the chance to reunite with a former collegiate head coach in Gary Patterson. Now the official special assistant to the head coach under Steve Sarkisian, Patterson can help recruit prospects on campus and Mathis may be the biggest target yet.

The two posed together to wrap up a photo shoot on Sunday, capping a visit Mathis called “unforgettable” on his personal Twitter account shortly thereafter.

As a junior at TCU in 2021, Mathis racked up 45 tackles, including four tackles for loss and two sacks en route to All-Big 12 honors for the second year in a row. If he takes the pandemic year, Mathis could have up to two seasons of eligibility remaining.

March 5, 4:00 PM UPDATE:

Elite edge rusher Ochaun Mathis will take an unofficial visit to Texas on Sunday. Devon spent his whole collegiate career at TCU and will be attracted to team up with Gary Patterson in Austin.

March 4, 4:00 PM UPDATE:

Texas’ spring football visitor list continues to grow.

Mikal Harrison-Pilot, of Temple (Texas) High School, is slated to be back in Austin on March 24, per On3’s Texas site. The versatile prospect has as strong an offer list as any prospect in the class of 2023.

Harrison-Pilot, who last visited UT at the end of January before the dead period kicked in, is also scheduled to visit Houston and Oklahoma this weekend. He also saw Austin in person during the 2021 football season and prior.