Texas football recruiting heats up as the Longhorns offer 2028 EDGE Antonio Thomas Jr., a top-100 national prospect with major SEC interest.
The 2028 college football season may feel like it’s miles away, but Texas football recruiting never sleeps. Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns have already zeroed in on one of the most intriguing defensive prospects in the country: Antonio Thomas Jr., a three-star EDGE out of Carrollwood Day High School in Florida.
Texas officially extended an offer to Thomas this week, signaling just how serious the staff is about building its 2028 recruiting class early.
And make no mistake, this isn’t a courtesy offer. According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Thomas is the No. 9 EDGE in the 2028 class, the No. 22 overall player in the talent-rich state of Florida, and the No. 90 prospect nationally. For a player this early in his high school career, that kind of national recognition carries weight.
Of course, the Longhorns aren’t alone in their pursuit.
Thomas already holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Florida, Miami, Colorado, North Carolina, Indiana, and Louisville. That’s a who’s who of Power Four programs, particularly from the SEC and ACC, and more schools are expected to jump into the mix as his development continues.
For Texas, the interest in Thomas makes strategic sense. Elite edge rushers are a premium commodity in modern college football, especially in the SEC, where disrupting the quarterback can define a season.
Sarkisian and his defensive staff understand that stacking talent on the defensive front is critical if Texas wants to compete for conference titles and College Football Playoff spots year after year.
Right now, the Longhorns have yet to secure a commitment in the 2028 class, but they’ve been proactive. Texas is also in contact with several other blue-chip prospects, including four-star standouts Neimann Lawrence, Brysen Wright, Jaylen Addai, Braxton Rein, Jamarios Canton, and Jalanie George. The message is clear that Texas is building for the future, and it’s casting a wide net.
The next pivotal move? Getting Antonio Thomas Jr. to Austin for a visit.
Campus trips often shift recruiting battles, especially when prospects can see the facilities, meet players, and envision themselves in burnt orange. If Texas can get him on campus, this recruitment could quickly become one to watch in a big way.
For now, the race for one of the top 2028 EDGE prospects is officially on—and Texas is firmly in the fight.