How talented is the state of Texas in 2026 and 2027 compared to years past?
Texas has without a doubt expanded its recruiting reach nationally. From California to North Carolina, the Longhorns are looking all over the country for the best players.
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That said, the state of Texas is always going to be one of the best in the nation as far as producing top-end talent. Whether its well-supported schools in the Dallas, Houston, and Austin metro areas or football crazy small towns that want to make it to state on a yearly basis, the talent the Lone Star State produces is typically second to none.
With data now available on the 2027 classes and the 2026 class well into its cycle, we can see just how many prospects considered to be in the top tier have come from the state of Texas (and how many the Longhorns are bringing in) during the Sarkisian era.
2027
42 top 300 prospects in the 2027 Rivals Industry Ranking. 17 top 100 prospects.
Top overall offensive prospect: Kennedy Brown, No. 1 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking
Top overall defensive prospect: John Meredith, No. 5 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking
Texas’ top-ranked state of Texas commit/signee: N/A
Top 10 prospects in state of Texas rankings who became Longhorns: N/A
Top 100 national commits/signees: N/A
2026
35 top 300 prospects in the 2026 Rivals Industry Ranking. 15 top 100 prospects.
Top overall offensive prospect: Felix Ojo, No. 12 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Texas Tech commit.
Top overall defensive prospect: Jamarion Carlton, No. 62 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Baylor commit.
Texas’ top-ranked state of Texas commit/signee: John Turntine, No. 55 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Top 10 prospects in state of Texas rankings who became Longhorns: Two (Turntine, Jermaine Bishop Jr.)
Top 100 national commits/signees: Six (Dia Bell, Tyler Atkinson, Richard Wesley, James Johnson, Turntine, Bishop Jr.)
2025
38 top 300 prospects in the 2025 Rivals Industry Ranking. 19 top 100 prospects.
Top overall offensive prospect: Keelon Russell, No. 2 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Alabama freshman.
Top overall defensive prospect: Devin Sanchez, No. 6 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Ohio State freshman.
Texas’ top-ranked state of Texas commit/signee: Jonah Williams, No. 7 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Top 10 prospects in state of Texas rankings who became Longhorns: Four (Williams, Lance Jackson, Kaliq Lockett, Kade Phillips)
Top 100 national commits/signees: Eleven (Williams, Justus Terry, Jackson, Lockett, Phillips, Jaime Ffrench, Elijah Barnes, Graceson Littleton, Michael Terry III, Nick Townsend, Smith Orogbo)
Top 10
- 1New
JP Poll Top 20
Big shakeup after Week 2
- 2
Heisman Odds shakeup
Big movement among favorites
- 3Hot
Eli Drinkwitz comes clean
Knew rule was broken
- 4
Deion Sanders
Fires back at media
- 5Trending
Big 12 punishes ref crew
Costly mistake in Kansas-Mizzou
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2024
49 top 300 prospects in the 2024 Rivals Industry Ranking. 15 top 100 prospects
Top overall offensive prospect: DJ Lagway, No. 3 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Florida sophomore.
Top overall defensive prospect: Justin Williams, No. 6 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Georgia sophomore.
Texas’ top-ranked state of Texas commit/signee: Colin Simmons, No. 15 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking
Top 10 prospects in state of Texas rankings who became Longhorns: Three (Simmons, Kobe Black, Xavier Filsaime)
Top 100 national commits/signees: Five (Simmons, Brandon Baker, Black, Ryan Wingo, Filsaime)
2023
55 top 300 prospects in the 2023 Rivals Industry Ranking. 19 top 100 prospects.
Top overall offensive prospect: Jackson Arnold, No. 8 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Auburn junior after two years at Oklahoma.
Top overall defensive prospect: DJ Hicks, No. 7 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Texas A&M junior.
Texas’ top-ranked state of Texas commit/signee: Anthony Hill, No. 16 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking.
Top 10 prospects from Texas who became Longhorns: Three (Hill, Johntay Cook, Malik Muhammad)
Top 100 national commits/signees: Nine (Arch Manning, Hill, CJ Baxter, Cook, Muhammad, Derek Williams, Ryan Niblett, Jelani McDonald, Colton Vasek)
2022
47 top 300 prospects in the 2022 Rivals Industry Ranking. 17 top 100 prospects.
Top overall offensive prospect: Evan Stewart, No. 8 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Senior at Oregon after two years at Texas A&M.
Top overall defensive prospect: Harold Perkins, No. 9 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking. Redshirt junior at LSU.
Texas’ top-ranked state of Texas commit/signee: DJ Campbell, No. 11 overall prospect
Top 10 prospects from Texas who became Longhorns: Three (Campbell, Kelvin Banks, Terrance Brooks)
Top 100 national commits/signees: Four (Campbell, Banks, Brooks, Neto Umeozulu)
