Sports

5-Star Texas Football Recruit Blindsided As Coach Bolts For Promotion 24 Hours After Signing Day

#Texas Longhorns
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Texas football coach Blake Gideon on the field.

© Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK


The Texas football program took an offseason hit with the departure of safeties coach Blake Gideon. The assistant is accepting a promotion to become the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech.

Gideon played a key role on the Longhorns‘ staff as both a teacher and recruiter. He was key in landing two-way prospect Jonah Williams this past cycle.

Williams is a five-star talent, considered a Top 10 recruit on 247 Sports regardless of position. ESPN says he’s the most highly rated college football player to sign with the program since Arch Manning.

Gideon was integral in landing Williams’ commitment. He was also expected to be coaching him throughout his NCAA career in the Texas defensive backfield. That’s now changed with Gideon accepting the job with the Yellow Jackets.

That decision came just 24 hours after the February National Signing Day, and two months after Jonah Williams inked his signature with the program in the early period. The recruit seemed blindsided by the news.

The safety posted his response on social media Thursday afternoon. There wasn’t much for Williams to say. He simply reposted the update with the caption, “Man.”

Williams didn’t appear to have prior knowledge of the movement. He seemed both shocked and upset with the departure, though he can’t fault Gideon for accepting a promotion.

Blake Gideon has Texas ties, likely making that decision more difficult. As a safety, himself, he played four seasons with the Longhorns between 2008 and 2011. In that time, he recorded 159 tackles and 10 interceptions. He’s now dropping the program for a chance to move up the ladder in the ACC.

Unfortunately, Williams won’t be able to dwell on the move long. After signing in December, he’s already enrolled at the university. He’ll soon suit up for the Texas baseball team in the spring.

The school previously laid out a plan for his two-way stardom. The pitcher/outfielder will practice with both squads this semester.

“The made a schedule for him to where he’s going to practice baseball in the afternoon and do some football stuff in the mornings. They sent out a weekly schedule for him as far as weight training also… They had a schedule laid out for him. It was interesting that they did that.”

-Jonah Williams’ father, Judge Billy Williams

Williams will have his plate full this spring balancing both football and baseball. He’ll also have to get familiar with a new coach when Texas fills the opening left by Gideon. It will be interesting to see which direction the Longhorns go in finding his replacement.