Kenny Baker secures his first commitment, helping the Longhorns recover from a rocky start on the recruiting road.
After pledging to the Oregon Ducks less than a month ago, Folsom (Calif.) defensive tackle Josiah Sharma switched to the Texas Longhorns on Thursday, revealing his commitment to position coach Kenny Baker.
Sharma initially chose the Ducks over the Longhorns and two other finalists, the Crimson Tide and the Huskies, and all four institutions hosted Sharma on official visits in the weeks leading up to his decision.
The Texas staff issued Sharma an offer in February and welcomed him for an unofficial tour in March before welcoming him back to campus for the official visit weekend on June 7.
Sharma initially committed to Washington on New Year’s Day, when the Huskies faced the Longhorns in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl. When Washington’s head coach, Kalen DeBoer, left Seattle for Tuscaloosa, Sharma decommitted less than four weeks later.
“I mean, honestly, it was a really good opportunity for me—it gave me a chance to re-establish what I felt like I needed in a college,” Sharma said prior to his announcement on Friday.
Sharma chose the Ducks over the Longhorns and two other finalists, the Crimson Tide and the Huskies, and all four institutions hosted Sharma on official visits in the weeks leading up to his selection.
The Texas staff issued Sharma an offer in February and welcomed him for an unofficial tour in March before welcoming him back to campus for the official visit weekend on June 7.
Sharma initially committed to Washington on New Year’s Day, when the Huskies faced the Longhorns in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl. When Washington’s head coach, Kalen DeBoer, left Seattle for Tuscaloosa, Sharma decommitted less than four weeks later.
“I mean, honestly, it was a really good opportunity for me—it gave me a chance to re-establish what I felt like I needed in a college,” Sharma said prior to his announcement on Friday.
Oregon’s pitch to develop Sharma close to home influenced the 6’4.5, 325-pounder’s decision last month, but new Texas defensive line coach Kenny Baker was able to persuade Sharma weeks later, landing his first pledge since taking over for Bo Davis after missing on four other defensive tackle targets in recent weeks. The Longhorns still need quantity and quality at the position in this cycle, so Baker has a lot of work ahead of him, with Bellville’s DJ Sanders still the position’s top target.
Sharma, a consensus four-star talent, is ranked No. 245 nationally and No. 30 defensive lineman by the 247Sports Composite. Sharma is now the 16th pledge in a class ranked 13th in the country.
