Like many other blue-chip prospects this cycle, Katy (Texas) <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/mayde-creek-houston-tx-2135/">Mayde Creek</a> four-star linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/kosi-okpala-238853/">Kosi Okpala</a> is ready to announce his commitment this summer.



On Wednesday morning, the 6-foot-1.5, 215-pounder <a href="https://x.com/samspiegs/status/1937867020671819877">told Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman</a> that he will reveal his college decision in eight days on July 3. Five finalists will have hats on the table: <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/baylor-bears/">Baylor</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/houston-cougars/">Houston</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/north-carolina-tar-heels/">North Carolina</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/penn-state-nittany-lions/">Penn State</a> and <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/texas-longhorns/">Texas</a>.



Okpala is the No. 281 overall prospect and No. 19 LB in the 2026 cycle, according to the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/industry-player/football/2026/">On3 Industry Ranking</a>, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 35 player in Texas.



On3 ranks him higher than other recruiting services. He checks in as the No. 194 recruit and No. 11 LB in the 2026 On300. 



Across his sophomore and junior seasons, Okpala has racked up 121 total tackles and seven sacks, per <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/tx/houston/mayde-creek-rams/athletes/kosi-okpala/football/stats/?careerid=okd4t0hikksff">MaxPreps</a>. He had 17 tackles for loss as a junior last season and will be the leader of the Mayde Creek defense once again this fall.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-texas-trending-for-okpala-in-the-on3-rpm">Texas trending for Okpala in the On3 RPM</h2>



The <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/kosi-okpala-238853/recruiting/199981/rpm/">On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine</a> heavily favors the Longhorns for Okpala. Texas insider Eric Nahlin and Oklahoma insider Josh McCuistion have each logged picks in favor of Texas keeping the linebacker in the Lone Star State.



“I like Coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/coach/johnny-nansen-132848/">(Johnny) Nansen</a>, I like Coach Sark,” <a href="https://www.on3.com/news/four-star-lb-kosi-okpala-talks-interest-in-trio-of-schools/">Okpala told On3’s Griffin McVeigh</a> in April. “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.”



Penn State is the program that’s emerged as the biggest contender outside of the home state. Okpala took an official visit to Happy Valley this month and the Nittany Lions are still swinging down the stretch. He’s seen the production at his position and the Big Ten program is charging for a big upset on the trail next month.



“People they produce, they match my skillset,” Okpala previously said of PSU. “They bring out <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/micah-parsons-87202/">Micah Parsons</a>, <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/abdul-carter-146124/">Abdul Carter</a>, 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.”



Miami is a program that received an OV this month, too. The Hurricanes made a late offer and got Okpala to Coral Gables, but the ACC program did not crack his top five. North Carolina is trying to garner some buzz on the trail this summer, while Baylor and Houston are also vying for momentum and would love to beat the Longhorns for one of the top in-state prospects left on the board.

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