Kalen DeBoer and Kirby Smart Encounter Worrying News as Texas Longhorns Depart, Leaving Alabama and Georgia in Their Wake

Since 2021, Steve Sarkisian has built a powerhouse in Austin. Two playoff runs. Back-to-back elite recruiting classes. The Longhorns are stacking talent and taking over. But behind the curtain, a star assistant coach is pulling the strings. Texas isn’t just back—they’re setting the standard with a new twist. Looks like the Sarkisian era is in full throttle, and the Longhorns are here to rule.

On February 6, Rivals.com dropped a bombshell: “Dominating the recruiting trail.” And they weren’t lying. Texas’ passing game coordinator and WRs coach Chris Jackson just earned Rivals National Recruiter of the Year for 2025. And that victory? It left Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama and Kirby Smart’s Georgia in the dust. Alabama’s Charles Huff landed at No. 5., and Georgia’s Tray Scott grabbed No. 2. Looks like on the recruiting trail, it’s the Longhorns setting the pace. And the rest? They’re just trying to keep up. But Chris Jackson? He took the crown.

The reason? He led the charge in landing a quartet of elite offensive playmakers. Now entering his third season on Sarkisian’s staff, Jackson is proving he’s not just a coach—he’s a recruiting machine. In just a short time, he’s made his mark in Austin. His impact goes beyond the recruiting trail. Texas’ receiving corps in 2023? Pure electricity. With Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, and Jordan Whittington lighting up defenses, the Longhorns had one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the country. So, the former NFL player and coach isn’t just building a roster—he’s building a legacy.

And his mindset? Elite or nothing. “When you look at the guys that you bring in to Texas, you have to be more critical and selfish – if you don’t play in the NFL in three or four years, then why am I recruiting you? It’s an X-factor – and they all have it,” said Jackson. That’s the standard at Texas. And that’s why the Longhorns are built differently.

Before Texas, Jackson made waves in the NFL and AFL. In 2022, he coached WRs for the Jacksonville Jaguars, helping Christian Kirk rack up 1,108 yards, while Zay Jones topped 80 receptions. Before that, he spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears, shaping Darnell Mooney and Allen Robinson II into 1,000-yard playmakers. From the pros to college, Jackson has a track record of developing elite talent. Now, he’s bringing that magic to Texas. And the results speak for themselves.

Well, Texas locked in the No. 1 recruiting class for 2025, adding their name to the list of the last 10 recruiting team champions. But how did they do it? By pulling off one of the biggest shockers of the cycle. The Longhorns went into Georgia’s backyard and snatched a five-star defensive tackle, Justus Terry. A massive win. A statement signing. Jason Suchomel of Orangebloods.com breaks down just how Texas pulled it off.

“The staff really stayed on him until the very end and when everybody at the end was focused on Georgia, there was always a quiet confidence among our sources in Austin that they thought they had a really good chance to get him. They just kept chipping away. Let’s be honest, in today’s day and age of NIL, that was probably a big part of the decision, but you still aren’t going to win those types of recruiting battles without developing good relationships, without earning the trust of Terry and the people close to him. I think the staff did a really good job with that and they were able to close the deal right at the wire, the last day of the Early Signing Period,” said Jason.