4-star LB Kosi Okpala locks in four summer official visits

Katy (Texas) Mayde Creek four-star linebacker Kosi Okpala is one of the most coveted prospects not only in the Lone Star State, but across the country.

More than 30 programs have extended him offers, but he is beginning to narrow the focus of his recruitment. On Wednesday, he told On3 that he has locked in four official visits: Penn State (May 30), Miami (June 6), Baylor (June 13) and Texas (June 20).

Each of the four programs has already hosted him for unofficial visits — either this spring or for a game last fall. And in the case of the Longhorns, it’s both. He is extremely familiar with the Forty Acres, and Texas currently stands as the favorite to land him in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

“I like Coach (Johnny) Nansen, I like Coach Sark,” Okpala told On3’s Griffin McVeigh last month. “It’s a great place to go to with academics and the football team. I feel like the great players there, they’re going to make everybody better. I’m going to come in there and compete and ultimately make myself better and make everybody better too.”

As for where the Longhorns stand in his recruitment, Okpala has them as a major contender but is considering his other options, too.

“They’re definitely up there — one of my top schools,” he told InsideTexas. “I’m just trying to take it slow and really give the out-of-state schools a fair look.”

Penn State, Miami looking to poach one of Texas’ best prospects

The biggest out-of-state threat is none other than the Nittany Lions, who have a rich history of developing linebackers. He visited Happy Valley during the fall and also returned for a spring unofficial visit.

“People they produce, they match my skillset,” Okpala said. “They bring out Micah Parsons, Abdul Carter, a lot of good linebackers. I feel like that matches my skillset and that matches what I do. So, that’s why they’re up there.”

The Hurricanes weren’t considered much of a threat in his recruitment, though an offer last week has vaulted them into getting an official visit.

Okpala, who stands at 6’3 and 215 pounds, is the No. 276 overall prospect and No. 19 LB in the 2026 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

On3, however, is higher on him than the other services. In the most recent On300 rankings, he was tabbed as the country’s No. 195 recruit and No. 11 linebacker.

As a junior, he recorded 55 tackles, 17 TFLs, five sacks, two forced fumbles and 21 quarterback hurries.