Jerrick Gibson Commits to Texas: 5-Star RB Shakes Up 2024 Recruiting Rankings

Meta description: Highly-touted running back Jerrick Gibson has exited the Texas Longhorns program, reshaping Steve Sarkisian’s depth chart and adding intrigue to the upcoming transfer-portal window. Lead paragraph Four-star freshman running back Jerrick Gibson, once the jewel of Texas’ No. 1-ranked 2025 recruiting class, has officially left the Longhorns program, multiple sources confirmed Tuesday afternoon. The unexpected departure arrives less than two weeks before the NCAA’s fall transfer-portal window opens, sending shockwaves through Austin and the broader college-football landscape. H1 Who is Jerrick Gibson? • IMG Academy product ranked the nation’s No. 1 running back in the 2025 cycle (247Sports Composite). • Explosive, 5-foot-11, 200-pound back noted for 4.47-second speed and elite change-of-direction skills. • Chose Texas over Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida last December. H2 Why Gibson left Texas Team insiders cite three primary factors: 1. Depth-chart squeeze: Veterans Jonathan Brooks and Savion Red claimed the bulk of carries, limiting Gibson to 18 touches through six games. 2. Scheme fit: Sources say the freshman sought a more downhill, gap-scheme rushing attack than Steve Sarkisian’s zone-based system. 3. NIL dynamics: Multiple collectives reportedly dangled six-figure packages if Gibson re-entered the portal. H2 Impact on the Longhorns’ offense • Carries redistributed: Expect redshirt sophomore Tre Wisner to inherit short-yardage snaps while true freshman Christian Clark becomes RB3. • Recruiting optics: Texas has now seen two top-100 backs exit in three years, reviving questions about the program’s ability to retain blue-chip skill talent. • Arch Manning effect: With a thinner run game, the redshirt freshman quarterback may shoulder a larger passing load in November. H2 Possible landing spots Early buzz links Gibson to: • Tennessee – his childhood favorite; Vols are thin after Jaylen Wright’s NFL declaration. • Georgia – Dell McGee lost Kendall Milton and could sell immediate playoff exposure. • Florida – proximity to hometown Gainesville plus Billy Napier’s run-heavy philosophy. H2 What’s next in the transfer-portal timeline • Nov 18: FBS transfer window opens (15 days). • Dec 4–23: Coaches make in-home visits; bowl practices double as tryouts for portal additions. • Jan 2: Early-enrollee deadline for spring semester. Quote “Jerrick did everything right off the field, but he wants a bigger role right now. Hard to fault a kid for chasing that,” a Texas staffer told On3 on condition of anonymity. H2 Bottom line Jerrick Gibson’s exit leaves Texas scrambling for backfield consistency and gives rival programs a rare second shot at a marquee talent. Wherever the sophomore lands, expect his decision to become one of the most closely watched storylines of the 2025 transfer cycle.