Elite DL James Johnson flips his commitment from Georgia to Texas

When Miami Northwestern five-star defensive lineman James Johnson committed to Georgia, he did so over Florida, Miami and Texas. When he announced for the Bulldogs, the Longhorns were No. 2 on his list. That has flipped on Tuesday.

“Hook Em. I have committed to Texas,” Johnson told Rivals. “Ever since my first visit to the University of Texas, I had a feeling deep down that it was where I truly belonged — even though I couldn’t fully explain it at the time.

“It wasn’t until I committed to Georgia that I realized something was missing. As much as I respect the program and the staff, it just didn’t feel like home. That realization helped me understand that Texas is where my heart is, and where I see myself thriving both on and off the field.”

Rivals ranks the 6-foot-2, 285-pound Johnson as the nation’s No. 10 overall prospect in the 2026. The Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted formula featuring the three major recruiting services, ranks him No. 42 overall.

Kenny Baker was his lead recruiter and he was a factor in this decision.

“I love the kind of coach he is. He knows how to coach, he knows how to teach and he really makes it easy to learn. Coach Baker has coached up some great players and I know he can help me.”

Baker and Texas never gave up on this recruitment. Johnson was high on Georgia since he visited Athens in January and he committed to Kirby Smart earlier this month. The new Texas commit sees a lot he likes in the Longhorns.

“Texas is doing big things. Coach Sark is building a top program. They know how to recruit, they win a lot of games and they develop players at Texas.”