'Texas is not playing around' – Longhorns legend is fired up about latest five-star recruiting run in 2026 class

Texas has landed not one, not two, but three five-star commits in the last week.

It all started when Grayson (Ga.) linebacker Tyler Atkinson shocked just about everyone not in the Texas football offices by choosing the Longhorns over Georgia. Later on the same day, Northwestern (Fla.) defensive lineman James Johnson flipped his commitment from those Georgia Bulldogs to Texas.

And on Sunday, Texas landed Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.) athlete Derrek Cooper over Florida State, Georgia, Miami, and Ohio State. The Longhorns 2026 class is now sitting at 4th overall in the country and 2nd in the SEC.

The class is headlined by five-star QB and Elite 11 Finals MVP Dia Bell.

The class not only has the No. 1 prospect at the quarterback position, but Atkinson is the top-ranked linebacker, Johnson is the top-ranked defensive lineman, Cooper is the 2nd-ranked running back, and four-star Richard Wesley is the No. 3 EDGE.

It's a national effort, too, by Sarkisian. Texas is a hotbed for high school football talent, but the Longhorns staff is landing blue chips left and right from across the country. The class is just 48 percent in-state but has a 71 percent blue chip rate.

Nine commits are in the Top 200 prospects in the class and with 21 total commits, the staff can now narrow its scope and be a little more picky. Especially when it comes to flip targets.

Inside Texas' Justin Wells insists the staff will continue to pursue four-star linebacker Brayden Rouse who chose Tennessee over Texas earlier this month. SMU wide receiver commit Aljour Miles and Houston wide receiver commit Jayden Warren are both still on the board.

Rivals' Steve Wiltfong also believes Texas is beginning to trend for IMG Academy (Fla.) EDGE Jake Kreul. He spoke with him about his interest in the Horns earlier this summer.

“Texas has a great culture and I love the high level of expectations of to be the best,” Kreul has said. “That just inspires accountability and competitiveness.

“I spent a good amount of time talking with Coach Sark. I really like him a lot. Definitely a Coach I see pulling the best out of me.”