Texas gets major win over Alabama on the recruiting trail

Lining up as a receiver and defensive back, the rising senior at Dangerfield High School makes a substantial impact on both sides of the ball. Last fall, he reeled in 55 catches for 1,161 yards and 13 scores, while also picking off nine passes and returning five for touchdowns, per 247Sports. 

As a wideout, Hampton is quick off the line, has an elite catch radius and sheds tacklers with apparent ease. Based on the film, he has made defenders pay from the outside and the slot. That will give the Longhorn offensive staff flexibility for how to utilize the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder once he arrives in Austin, Texas. 

As a corner, Hampton can play soft coverage or bump-and-run, and he displays a lightning-fast reaction time and a propensity for getting off blocks. 

Per Rivals, Hampton said Sarkisian told him he will “primarily be playing DB, but I’ll also get some plays on offense.”

The Longhorns' 2024 class now ranks 18th nationally, and seventh in the SEC (their new home starting in the fall of 2024). That slots in just behind Tennessee and South Carolina, and just ahead of Arkansas and Alabama.

Hampton's commitment only adds to the momentum that Texas has generated. Heading into year three of the Sarkisian era, expectations are high once again for the Longhorns.

Coming off an 8-5 season in 2022, and with the No. 3 2023 class — including five-star quarterback Arch Manning — already on campus, Texas heads into the fall as the Big 12 favorite. 

The Longhorns were voted No. 1 in the conference’s preseason media poll Thursday, as the program heads into its final season in the Big 12 before departing for the SEC along with Oklahoma. 

However, with an early-season test at Alabama, a recent history of failing to live up to expectations and with its impending jump to the SEC, Texas is certainly under heavy pressure to deliver in 2023.