Get to know 2026 signee and four-star EDGE Jamarion Carlton

Whether you’re a diehard recruiting aficionado in need of a refresher or a casual recruiting fan needing only the particulars, this will be the series for you.

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The first national signing day for college football is Wednesday, December 3. This series will give you the chance to familiarize yourself with the next class charged with keeping Texas near the top of the college football world.

To win at a consistently high level requires talented class after talented class. The top-10 2026 class does that following a No. 1 class in 2025.

On the first national signing day, Inside Texas will offer profiles of each member of the 2026 signing class. Up next, Jamarion Carlton.

The Player:

Jamarion Carlton, EDGE, Temple (Texas)

The Rating:

93.83 (four-star)

The Ranking:

• No. 99 nationally
• No. 10 defensive lineman in the nation
• No. 13 overall player in Texas

The Highlights:

The Recruitment:

Carlton seemed to be a Texas lean early on and a favorite for the Longhorns to land. It seemed he was going to follow in the footsteps of former Temple Wildcats and former Longhorns Davion Curtis, Ta’Quon Graham, and Jared Wiley.

Then things really ramped up when Texas hired LaAllan Clark from Ohio State, a coach Carlton had been close with for more than a year. For a long stretch, all signs pointed toward Texas — until official visits changed the pace. Carlton took trips to Texas Tech, SMU, and Baylor, and at that point, his recruitment shifted. It became more of an NIL-driven process, and with people pulling him in different directions, he genuinely wasn’t sure where he wanted to go.

Ultimately, he committed to Baylor, drawn by a strong NIL package and the opportunity to start early and be “the man.” He seemed genuinely comfortable with that commitment.

But his connection with Coach Clark never faded. The two stayed in steady communication throughout the year. Then uncertainty around Baylor’s coaching situation — including whether Dave Aranda would return — caused Carlton to rethink things. He quietly reopened his recruitment, and in reality, he was already leaning heavily toward Texas.

Carlton visited the Longhorns three games in a row — Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.

After the Texas A&M game, the atmosphere sealed his decision. He flipped to Texas and committed shortly after, saying he saw everything he needed to see.

Texas not only provided what he wanted from a football and development standpoint, but also the 40-year decision — education, life after football, business opportunities, and the growth of Austin. He felt like Texas offered the complete package.

The Quote:

“Texas has always been home. Having Coach Clark there just magnified it even more because I trust that guy more than anything. I feel like he can develop me. He’s not going to lie to me, and I’m one of his first actual recruits he’s bringing in, which means he’s going to make sure to pour into me and make sure he gets the most out of me because he put his name on me.”

The Projection:

Carlton is set to begin his career at EDGE, but he brings the versatility to kick inside and play three-tech in pass-rush situations. His frame has the potential to climb toward 285 pounds, and if he can maintain his quickness and twitch at that size, he could become a dangerous interior pass rusher in the future.

For now, he’ll start on the edge — but how his body develops will determine his long-term home along the defensive front.

The Final Word:

With Carlton, Texas is getting a quiet kid off the field and an absolute beast on it. He doesn’t say much, but his play speaks loudly every snap. He’s hungry, driven, and eager to prove he belongs at the highest level.

Carlton is a hardworking, no-nonsense player who wants to be great, grow, develop, and chase championships. He’s coming to Texas to leave a mark — his own legacy — on the Forty Acres.