Texas lands nation’s top-ranked safety, with a 94-mph fastball, as major 2025 recruiting prize

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian stood before the Texas High School Coaches Association this summer and had a message for skeptics out there who doubted the Longhorns’ recruiting prowess.

“I’m generally not one to panic especially in the middle of June and July,” Sarkisian told the crowd. “Let’s talk in December and see where we land.”

On Friday, Texas landed 6-foot-7 four-star tackle Nick Brooks . Then on Saturday, the Horns pulled off another stunner — grabbing a commitment from five-star safety Jonah Williams from Galveston Ball. With more than 30 offers on his plate, the nation’s No. 1-ranked safety and two-sport star pulled the trigger for Texas.

“Texas just felt like home,” Williams told Inside Texas about his decision. “The life after football part, you really just can’t mess up an opportunity like that when you’re a kid from Texas and when you’ve already started your legacy in Texas. It’s just a dream come true.”

Asked if there was one deciding factor, Williams said, “Just the pros and the cons of every school from my top five schools, I just felt like there were more pros for me than cons in Austin, Texas, and that’s why I chose Texas.”

Related: Texas HC Steve Sarkisian thrilled to land another ‘Big Human’ in recruiting class of 2025

Williams told Inside Texas he will report to UFCU Disch-Falk Field to play a utility role for new baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle. The left-handed pitcher has a 94-mph fastball. “Coach Schloss did play a pretty big role,” Williams said. “Him coming from A&M just made it more of a dream.”

As for how Williams will fit in on the football field, Inside Texas recruiting analyst Ian Boyd believes Williams will shrink the wide side of the field down.

“Williams could easily drop down to linebacker level and be effective there but you also want him on the back end with the potential to hang back,” Boyd believes. “He has the range to shrink deeper passing windows or run the alley in run support.”

Williams is considered the nation’s 10th overall prospect, No. 1 safety and No. 3 overall pick in Texas, according to On3’s composite industry rankings.

With Brooks and Williams now on the board, the Longhorns’ 2025 recruiting class jumps into the top 10 and lands eighth overall, based on On3’s composite rankings. Texas has 18 total commitments, and they’re not done yet.

As Sarkisian said, it’s a long way until December.