A new, not so surprising challenger has emerged in the Texas Longhorns pursuit of a top 2027 quarterback target
Texas has a few top 2027 targets at the quarterback position for the 2027 class. But, one target seems to be ahead of the others right now. Westwood (Tex.) signal caller Kavian Bryant has quickly ascended to the top of Steve Sarkisian’s wish list at quarterback.But, now there’s another program who is trying to muddy […]
Texas has a few top 2027 targets at the quarterback position for the 2027 class. But, one target seems to be ahead of the others right now. Westwood (Tex.) signal caller Kavian Bryant has quickly ascended to the top of Steve Sarkisian’s wish list at quarterback.
But, now there’s another program who is trying to muddy the waters. And it might surprise you (or it might not).
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are now linked with Bryant who is getting prepared to start his junior season. As a sophomore, Bryant threw for 2,442 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just three interceptions – completing an absurd 82 percent of his passes. He also ran for 709 yards and 11 scores on 12.2 yards per carry. Westwood finished 11-1 and made it all the way to the Texas 3A D-I second round.
Texas has had a ton of success with homegrown quarterbacks throughout the years.
But, now, here comes Texas Tech and its “open checkbook” NIL collective and mega booster, Cody Campbell. Joe McGuire and his general manager, James Blanchard, have now landed two five-star commits this summer and would love nothing more than to spoil Steve Sarkisian’s 2027 quarterback party.
Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman spoke with Bryant a few weeks ago about the interest in the Red Raiders program.
“Tech has recruited me very well,” Bryant said. “I’m on the phone once a week with Coach Leftwitch. I feel like I’m a priority because it’s just been constant communication with them. By looking at their offense, it fits my style of play really well.”
Still, Texas seems to be in a great spot thanks to QB coach AJ Milwee and Steve Sarkisian being aggressive.
“The first day they could make initial contact, they called me at midnight. I thought that was pretty cool,” Bryant recounted. “They were interested in my style of play and how they could help develop me more.
“To be the signal-caller at Texas comes with a lot, but the way the coaching staff gave me constructive criticism during the camp — that showed me that they take a lot of pride in the quarterback position,” the top-40 prospect in the Rivals300 continued. “It was a camp, but I felt like they wanted me to get a feel of how they do things there. Texas recently made it to the Playoff and had a chance to win it all — and that’s a goal for me … to play for a school that could win it all.”
There’s another 2027 quarterback on the board for Texas, though. You might have heard of him.
St. Michael Catholic (Ala.) four-star Gunner Rivers, the son of eight-time Pro Bowl selection and former 4th overall pick Philip Rivers, is vying to be next in line in Austin as well.
Rivers is fresh off a 12-2 season where he led SMC to the Alabama 4A semifinals. As a sophomore, he threw for 3,947 yards and 36 touchdowns. This was no fluke either as he tossed for 3,077 yards and 29 touchdowns as a freshman.
The legacy recruit recently visited Texas in June. To no one’s surprise, the trip was first class and the Rivers family enjoyed themselves.
“It’s all at the highest level,” Rivers told Hank South from Horns247. “There’s a lot of similarities. It’s just high-level ball.”
Philip Rivers recently spoke with Ben Thomas of AL.com about preparing his son for his junior season.
“He’s had a good offseason,” Rivers said of his son. “He’s gotten bigger and stronger. He’s up to about 210 and a shade under 6-4. He’s really worked at it. He’s had a great offseason with our team, and we’ve had some fun. It’s all sped up now, but he still has two years left.
“He has taken it all in stride,” the elder Rivers said. “I’ve been thankful for how he’s handled it all. He is so steady and even keeled so it’s been good. He could walk in tomorrow and tell me something different, but I would think we get through this season and maybe early next year or next spring he will decide something.
“We’ve been on campus at some places, but really we are just now starting to build some relationships, and I think that’s important. It’s about the people you are going to be around for the next four years and how they can develop you along with the school and where you will be living. We are taking our time. He is taking his time and really being present here. That is what is most important to him.”
