Texas Quiet On National Signing Day, Still In Running For Two Key Prospects

Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian was supposed to talk with the media Wednesday afternoon about the recent additions on National Signing Day. He was supposed to give an update on the program's status following the announcement of the Orange-White Game.

Of course, none of that happened as Mother Nature found a way to spoil the fun. With the state featuring power outages, rigid travel conditions, and countless school closings, the University of Texas followed suit.

Thanks to the dreadful driving conditions and sub-zero weather, multiple 2023 prospects across the state were forced to delay their signing ceremonies until schools reopen later this week.

Then again, maybe that's not the worst case for Sarkisian and Texas so long as the phone lines work.

Texas remains in the running for Phoenix (Ariz.) Pinnacle tight end Duce Robinson and Red Oak (Texas) safety Warren Roberson. As of now, the Longhorns will finish the 2023 recruiting class where they started Wednesday morning; No. 3 overall.

Roberson was one of several players throughout the Lone Star State affected by icy roads and frigid temperatures. Red Oak ISD, located just outside the city limits in Dallas, closed its doors Wednesday due to the severity of the winter storm and is expected to reopen on Friday at the earliest.

Roberson won't make or break the outcome of Texas' class next fall in Austin, but his services could be warranted to say the least. A two-way player for Hawks, the 6-foot, 180-pound four-star senior is listed as the No. 51 player in the state and No. 19 safety in the nation, per the On3 Sports composite rankings.

Roberson is projected to sign with TCU once he can send over his national letter of intent. However, after verbally committing to the Horned Frogs back in October, Texas made a late push to bring him on campus for a visit following Early Signing Period.

While Roberson could deliver an answer in the coming days once back in school, the same can't be said for Robinson. Considered a rising star both on the gridiron and the diamond, Robinson is listed as the No. 123 prospect for the 2023 MLB Draft in June by Baseball America, drawing comparisons to New York Yankees slugger and reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge due to his 6-6 frame.

Robinson confirmed with ESPN Wednesday that he would like to play both sports at the collegiate level should he not go pro. The No. 1 tight end prospect has narrowed down his options to Texas, Georgia and USC.

“To be honest, It’s just a flat-out we’re not sure where we want to go yet,” Robinson said in the interview. “It’s been a long process. It’s been a fun process. We just don’t have that conviction yet. When I make my decision, I want to be at peace with it, I want to be fully convicted. I want to be there for three years but maybe more.”

Should Texas miss out on both players, it'll finish with 24 prospects in its 2023 class. The Longhorns also added four transfers in Georgia receiver Adonai Mitchell, Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon, Wake Forest cornerback Gavin Holmes, and Stanford punter Ryan Sanborn earlier this offseason.

Currently, Texas has 18 of its 28 newcomers already in off-season workouts on campus, 14 of whom are early enrollees. This includes five-star quarterback and No. 1 overall prospect Arch Manning, who officially committed to the school last offseason.

Texas is one of three schools with at least four five-star signees, joining both Alabama Tide (nine) and Georgia (five). Even without the additions of Roberson and Robinson, the Longhorns will finish with a top-five recruiting class for the fourth time in the last six cycles.

Want to see the Horns in action? Get your Texas Longhorns game tickets from SI Tickets here!

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Longhorns? Click Here to Subscribe to the Longhorns Country Newsletter

Want even more Texas Longhorns? Check out the SI.com team page here

Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook.

Make sure to subscribe to the Longhorns Country Podcast today! Click here To Listen.