You might already know why Javian Osborne snubbed Steve Sarkisian and Texas. But do you know the real reason he went cold with the Longhorns? This dude’s the real deal. A 4-star RB out of Forney, TX, this 5’9, 195-pounder has been an elusive target for defenders. 1,085 rushing yards last season, averaging 7.0 YPC, and 21 rushing TDs on 156 carries. Just a nightmare for any D-line. And of course, it was Texas who had him high on the boards for their 2026 class. The Longhorns were all in… Until they weren’t. 

So here’s the story. Javian Osborne had a strong connection with former Texas RB coach Tashard Choice. That relationship went way back—the coach was recruiting him since he was a freshman. And the real turning point? The HS standout blames Steve Sarkisian and his staff for fumbling his recruitment after Choice left for the NFL. 

In an interview with Josh Newberg on On3 Recruits on April 6, he said the Longhorns fumbled this one big time. “After (coach Choice left), just kind of went downhill,” he admitted. “New RB coach came in. Guess he just thought that other running backs was better than me. I really wasn’t hearing phone calls from them and stuff. So I was just like okay, just made me easier to kind of check it down and write them off the list.” For a player who was once considered a top priority, the silence was all he needed to hear to move on. 

Javian Osborne confessed how he felt like Texas was just trying to keep him close. Like a “just in case” option if other recruits didn’t work out. That rubbed him the wrong way, just like it would with anyone who’s among the top 150 players in the nation. Despite that, he mentioned how he tried to give the Longhorns’ new RB coach, Chad Scott, and the program a shot. He gave them more than 24 hrs, actually

“I gave it about a week, probably about four or five days, maybe a week,” he recounted. “For those like the first three day, he didn’t call me, didn’t text me or nothing. I didn’t hear from nobody at all… I was just like I’m not going to waste no time and I just cancelled my OV.” Yeah, Javian Osborne had an official visit lined up in Austin in June. That came after his previous visit on January 25. But after a few days of radio silence, he shut it down. Done. Door closed. Now with Texas out of the way, Javian is locked in on two blue-blood CFB powerhouses. 

Javian Osborne locks his focus on Michigan and Notre Dame 

Javian Osborne had offers coming left and right. But it’s Sherrone Moore’s Wolverines and Marcus Freeman’s Fighting Irish that made the final cut. And if we’re keeping it real, he’s leaning towards the 2025 National Championship finalist. “I gave Notre Dame a slight edge because of just what they presented from the football aspect school everything,” he said. “I gave them a slight edge because I just felt a different type of feeling there.” Still, he made it clear that Michigan’s right there too, saying they’re still “like a 1A/1B type of deal.”

But predictions? Per On3 recruiting prediction, Notre Dame leads the race with 70%, while Michigan’s hanging on at 1.5%. Texas is still listed, but they’re not even in the conversation anymore. And for Longhorns Nation, this one’s got to hurt.

Tashard Choice leaving was already a blow. But to see it ripple into recruiting losses like Javian Osborne? That’s tough. He could’ve been a lethal combo with QB commit Dia Bell. But now, he’s likely headed north. Javian Osborne made it clear—he’s not waiting around. And if you’re not calling, you’re off the list.