The Texas Longhorns have hit quite their stride under head coach Steve Sarkisian, especially on the recruiting trail. It isn't an accident that the on-field success has begun to reflect the new talent on the roster. The Longhorns have a chance to put together another tremendous group in the 2026 recruiting class.
That class got a huge boost on Wednesday when they received a commitment from elite 2026 Willis (Texas) High School athlete Jermaine Bishop Jr. The 5-11, 170-pound athlete chose the Longhorns over Texas A&M, Florida, and USC. Texas being able to keep Bishop at home in the state was a tremendous job.
BREAKING: Elite 2026 ATH Jermaine Bishop Jr. has Committed to Texas, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 14, 2025
The 6’0 170 ATH from Willis, TX chose the Longhorns over Texas A&M, Florida, & USC
“I’ve been doing it since 3, why would I stop now”https://t.co/Xmi29RM7vb pic.twitter.com/1SEVaC4il3
As you might noticed, Bishop was listed as an athlete in the commitment post. Bishop is extremely well-liked from a recruiting rankings perspective. He is rated as a five-star player on the 247Sports ranking, currently sitting as the No. 25 overall player, No. 1 athlete, and No. 3 player in the state of Texas for the 2026 recruiting class.
What position will Bishop play on the next level? That remains a question, especially when you see the impact he can have on each side of the football. As a junior, Bishop hauled in 83 receptions for 1,565 yards and 18 touchdowns. That is an average of 18.9 yards per reception, showcasing the big play ability that he brings to the table.
On defense, Bishop was also dynamic. The talented cover man managed to collect 26 total tackles, three interceptions, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles while also making plays as the team's kick returner. He is the cousin of former Kansas State star quarterback Michael Bishop, so he comes from a very athletic family.
There are a lot of parallels to former Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, and the impact he could have on the game. It will be interesting to see if Bishop will be allowed to make plays on both sides. He certainly has the talent to do so if he can handle it.
Outside of the finalists that Bishop mentioned, he was being pursued by a long offer list. Some of the other top schools that offered him include Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Penn State among many, many others.
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