Steve Sarkisian and Texas Longhorns hope to upset SEC rivals in chase for nation's top DL prospect as announcement nears
James “JJ” Johnson, the top-ranked defensive lineman in the 2026 class, will announce his college commitment on June 28. The four-star recruit, ranked as high as No. 15 overall, will choose among Florida, Georgia, Miami, and Texas. With his decision looming, three of these programs will miss out on the standout prospect. Texas head coach […]
James “JJ” Johnson, the top-ranked defensive lineman in the 2026 class, will announce his college commitment on June 28. The four-star recruit, ranked as high as No. 15 overall, will choose among Florida, Georgia, Miami, and Texas.
With his decision looming, three of these programs will miss out on the standout prospect. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian hopes his program will grab a headlining talent for what's been an impressive start to the 2026 recruiting class.
Initially set to visit Syracuse, Johnson instead made a last-minute trip to Texas, giving the Longhorns the final opportunity to impress him—a potential edge in recruiting.
Both Georgia and Texas, prominent SEC contenders, met in last season’s SEC Championship and earned College Football Playoff berths, showcasing their competitive stature.
“Georgia was the clear favorite at one time for James Johnson, and with Florida, Miami and Texas pushing for the elite defensive lineman in south Florida, we still hear good things around the Bulldogs,” On3's Chad Simmons previously wrote. “Johnson is set to announce his decision on June 30 and we expect schools to battle up until the time he announces.”
The 6-foot-2.5, 285-pound Johnson, who gained nearly 25 pounds between his sophomore and junior years, is projected to reach 300 pounds or more, per 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins.
His junior season stats include 60 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, five sacks, and five QB hurries in nine games. Johnson’s strength also shines in track and field, with a 57-8.6 shot put throw as a junior.
With one more high school season to refine his skills, Johnson’s choice will mark the start of a promising collegiate career. If he selects Texas, he’ll join committed defensive linemen Vodney Cleveland, Dylan Berymon, and Corey Wells.
Here's a scouting report, courtesy of Ivins.
Explosive defensive tackle with all the fixings to make a living up front. More of a one-gap player than he is a two-gap player at this stage, but has the mass to dock in the middle. Added almost 25 pounds to a frame that stretches just over 6-foot-2 between sophomore and junior seasons and should eventually carry 300 pounds or more. Owns some of the best throwing metrics in the Sunshine State for his class and that lower-body twitch constantly shows up on tape as he shoots out of his stance and is quick to put opponents on their heels. Raw upper-body strength allows him to club his way around obstacles while a near 82-inch wingspan makes it difficult for blockers to establish initial hand positioning. Can get caught playing with a higher pad level and will fade for stretches during games, but hard to overlook push-back power and motor when it has been primed. Likely to face an initial adjustment period as he will see a significant jump in competition when he arrives at the college of his choice, but projects as a potential difference-maker at the point of attack for a College Football Playoff contender that can be stationed at different spots across the line.
