The Longhorns landed the 5-star WR on Friday and put the college football world on notice.
Grant Hughes
Texas scored a massive commitment from five-star wide receiver Jaime Ffrench on Friday. The Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin product is ranked as the No. 4 wideout and No. 19 overall prospect in the 2025 class and chose the Longhorns overLSU,Miami and Tennessee. National recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna and Horns247 insider Hank South joined CBS Sports HQ following the commitment and broke down how Steve Sarkisian and Co. got the commitment done and what it means for the Longhorns going forward.
Ffrench was the leading receiver for a Mandarin program that went 11-4 and played for a Florida 4M title during his junior season. He hauled in 62 passes for 1,247 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's the third five-star to commit to Texas in the 2025 cycle, evidence the Longhorns brand is soaring as it enters the 2024 season, according to Petagna.
"The brand has never been stronger," Petagna said. "They're chasing programs like Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State, but they're 1-2years away from being in that exact conversation. Steve Sarkisian and Texas have it rolling."
RELATED (VIP): Ffrench commits to Texas, Recruitment '110% done, Texas all the way.'
Here's Petagna and South on what Ffrench's commitment means for Texas:
TEXAS GETS A 'BIG GIFT' WITH Jaime Ffrench
Petagna: "It's a big gift for Steve Sarkisian at Texas. This is just what they do. We've talked about Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning and what that quarterback room will look like in Austin. They already have the No. 2 receiver in the country. Now, they add a guy like Jaime Ffrench. By the way, five-star receiver Ryan Wingo last year. This team is loaded. You have to have the piece at the quarterback position. You have to have protection. You have to have the playcaller in Steve Sarkisian. You have to have the playmaker. There is no shortage of the three P's in Austin. You should be pretty fired up if you're a Texas fan."
LONGHORNS HAD TO RALLY LATE FOR FFRENCH
South: "This is a recruitment Texas came from behind in. They didn't even offer Jaime Ffrench until January when all these other programs were already heavily involved. To make up the ground that they did was impressive. They got him on campus in April. They jumped into his top three. They got him back for an official visit at the end of June. That's what sealed the deal for Jaime Ffrench in Texas. His relationship with wide receivers coach Chris Jackson and Steve Sarkisian mattered. Their ability to recruit not only Jaime but his family as well was a big aspect."
TEXAS ESTABLISHING ITSELF AS NATIONAL RECRUITING POWER
Petagna: "There's no boundaries anymore. We saw this a couple of years ago when they landed the No. 1 running back in the country in CJ Baxter out of the state of Florida. The new recruiting norm is: 'Go to where the players are.' Texas and Steve Sarkisian aren't going to have any problems. This is a big development. Their ability to go out of the state of Texas and get guys like Jaime Ffrench or CJ Baxter is impressive. We're talking about the top 1% of the best players in the country. That's something to keep an eye on if you're a Texas fan."
STEVE SARKISIAN IS KEEPING THE CUPBOARD FULL AT WR
South: "Texas is keeping the cupboard full of elite wide receiver talent in Austin. They got some guys at wide receiver on the team this year who will probably get drafted next offseason, but they're making sure to keep it loaded for the future. This was a massive get for Texas. Pairing Jaime Ffrench with Kaliq Lockett gives the Longhorns one of the best wide receivers classes, if not the best, in the entire country."
THE TEXAS BRAND HAS NEVER BEEN STRONGER
Petagna: "The brand has never been stronger. Look at the 247Sports Team Talent Composite. Texas ranks No. 4. That's the highest they have ever been. They're chasing programs like Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State, but they're 1-2years away from being in that exact conversation. They're coming off a College Football Playoff appearance. Steve Sarkisian and Texas have it rolling. For anyone asking how they are going to fare in the SEC? They're ready to roll right now. They're a team that will be a national championship contender, not just this year, but for years to come."
THE LONGHORNS ARE THE NEW ALABAMA, GEORGIA
South: "We talked to Steve Sarkisian about his approach to recruiting the SEC, and he said that when he got to Texas, he wanted to make the program resemble Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and all the programs that have been at the top of the College Football Playoff era. He hasn't really changed his strategy. He's gone to the players. That's evident in this 2025 class. They've already landed seven out-of-state commitments. They're trying to expand their footprint. Texas has always been a brand name. Kids know Texas, but Steve Sarkisian and his staff are really trying to push that message home, and really establish themselves as a national brand and expand their recruiting footprint."
LONGHORNS AREN'T EXPECTED TO PURSUE 5-STAR WR JEROME MYLES
South: "There are a few schools that are involved with Jerome Myles. Texas hasn't really been involved with him. Their focus has been on Dakorien Moore, Jaime Ffrench and Kaliq Lockett. With Lockett and Ffrench on board, they might be done at the wide receiver position in the 2025 class. They might go into the portal if they need to. Jerome Myles is a superior talent. Whoever gets his commitment is going to be very happy."
Petagna: "He is an elite kid and a guy who's surging after coming off an ankle injury as a junior. He had 125 yards and three touchdowns in the season-opener against national powerhouse IMG Academy. He's going to be in College Station this weekend for a visit with Texas A&M. You got a lot of teams swinging. Utah, Ohio State and Texas A&M. Those are the three programs to keep an eye on right now. He's ranked as the No. 5 receiver but has a chance to jump into the top 15 overall."
