Ponchatoula’s Mathews, Newman’s Manning set for weekend visits to Texas

Two prospects highly coveted by LSU are visiting Texas this weekend for the Longhorns’ matchup with Oklahoma State.

Ponchatoula’s five-star safety Jacoby Mathews, the third ranked player in Louisiana in the 2022 class, and Newman five star quarterback Arch Manning, the top prospect in the nation’s 2023 class, will be in Austin.

Texas has gained some inroads with Mathews and the coaching uncertainty at LSU has fueled the ‘Horns’ chances. Texas A&M is also on solid footing in their pursuit of the Ponchatoula star. Alabama is making a push as well. I still contend it would take a major turn around for Mathews to not end up in Tigertown.

First-yea Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian has made recruiting Manning his top priority. Viewed as an outstanding QB guru, Sarkisian and his quarterbacks coach A.J. Milwee are joined by cornerback coach Terry Joseph, a native New Orleanian, in the big push for Manning.

Already with a pair of unofficial stops at Alabama plus one each at Ole Miss, LSU and Georgia, Manning will be making his second trip to the Lonestar state capital with his first back on June 12.

Texas currently has four Louisiana products on their ’21 roster – CB Darrion Dunn from Oakdale, La. and a grad transfer from McNeese, freshman WR Casey Cain from Warren Easton, freshman DE Barryn Sorrell from Holy Cross and defensive tackle Myron Warren from Many.

The ‘Horns have also have a pair of commitments from the Pelican State in the ’22 class – J’Mond Tapp, the eighth rated player in Louisiana and the state’s best pass rusher, and Ronald Lewis, the Metro area’s top rated cornerback prospect from Warren Easton.

Speculation will continue to swirl until it is clear who will be leading the LSU program moving forward. The early signing period starts December 15, and LSU AD Scott Woodward is fully aware of the significance of the date and the need to land top talent right then and there.