Elite EDGE Jamarion Carlton sets summer commitment date

July is going to bring myriad commitments from some of the top prospects in the 2026 cycle. Temple (Texas) four-star EDGE Jamarion Carlton will be one of them.

The 6-foot-4.5, 230-pounder announced on Saturday that he will reveal his college decision on July 10. Back in February, he named a top six of Baylor, LSU, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M and USC.

Carlton is the No. 43 overall prospect and No. 8 EDGE in the 2026 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 4 player in Texas.

It’ll likely be an in-state push to the finish line for Carlton’s pledge. He took his first official visit to Texas Tech last month, and OVs to Texas (June 6), Texas A&M (June 12) and Baylor (June 20) have previously been locked in.

“Outside of the relationships, playing early will be a factor in my commitment,” Carlton said earlier this year. “That feeling on campus is important for me too. Feeling comfortable and making sure everything fits me is what I am looking for on the visits and when I make my decision.”

The Longhorns are currently trending to land Carlton, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. As a junior for Temple, Carlton wrangled 57 total tackles and five sacks, per MaxPreps.

Carlton talks six of his contenders

When previously speaking with On3’s Chad Simmons, Carlton dove into what has his six named finalists at the top of his list:

Baylor: “It is right down the road, so that is nice with Baylor. The coaches make me feel like a priority too. They don’t just say it, but they make me feel it. Baylor was the first school I ever visited too, so I know the coaches well and we have that kind of bond.”

LSU: “They have a reputation with defensive linemen. LSU is a winning school, they push each other and I like coach Kevin Peoples a lot. He is a good guy and I am looking forward to getting out there to spend time with him and coach Brian Kelly.”

SMU: “Coach Calvin Thibodeaux has something special going on with the defensive line. SMU is winning, the coaches stay in touch a lot and coach Thibodeaux is a great guy.”

Texas: “Texas is building something special. They have winning coaches and a winning culture. I have a good relationship coach with coach LaAllen Clark too. He recruited me at Ohio State, so I know him well.”

Texas A&M: “It is like a family there and I have a great bond with most of the staff. When I go there, everyone knows me and it is a special place. How they welcome me and the hospitality always stands out.”

USC: “The coaches in general stand out at USC. It is different with them and coach Shaun Nua stood out a lot when he came to see me. He said things differently that stayed with me. I like how he recruits me and I like coach D’Anton Lynn, the defensive coordinator too. Both of those guys came to see me.”

This story will be updated.