A major visit decision ended up being prophetic for a key Texas Longhorns recruiting target flush with SEC offers
The Texas Longhorns quickly went from a real contender for 2026 defensive lineman JaReylan McCoy to failing to successfully court him. Only days away from his official visit to Texas, McCoy let the Longhorns know he had a change of heart. While McCoy was considering Texas alongside Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida, the Longhorns […]
The Texas Longhorns quickly went from a real contender for 2026 defensive lineman JaReylan McCoy to failing to successfully court him. Only days away from his official visit to Texas, McCoy let the Longhorns know he had a change of heart.
While McCoy was considering Texas alongside Florida, LSU, Ole Miss, and Florida, the Longhorns lost out to Florida as the Gators stay red hot. His visit cancellation only days before his trip to Austin was a good sign of his intention, so it wasn't surprising when Texas wasn't the final choice after a crazy recruitment.
Pretty much every team in the final chase for McCoy was at some point deemed a viable threat, if not favorite.
The Mississippi native has repeatedly been to Ole Miss, with a dozen reported trips to his in-state option. However, this decision points toward the inevitable. Corey Bender of On3 logged a correct prediction that he'd wind up with the Gators earlier in the week.
"Just submitted a pick for Florida to land McCoy. Like I said after his time in Gainesville, the Texas OV was the only reason I never submitted one before. Was wary of him getting to Austin and then NIL taking over. We’ve seen that before. Now that it’s off, there is no reason to wait any longer. Love where Florida stands."
Here's a scouting report on McCoy from Charles Power of On3.
Physically gifted defensive lineman with a huge frame and plus athleticism as a high school underclassman. has measured in over 6-foot-6.5 and close to 250 pounds prior to his sophomore season. Owns plus length for the position with 34.25-inch arms. Registers as a top athlete, running a 4.89 second 40-yard dash at Student Sports' All-22 camp. Lines up as a big defensive end for his high school. Physical gifts are readily apparent on Friday nights. Flashes good speed and functional movement skills. Closes to make some impressive plays. Has upside as a run defender, using his big frame to body offensive linemen. Still early in his development. Likely not done growing and could see his frame maxing out at north of 300 pounds. Size and athleticism make him one of the early top defensive linemen in the 2026 cycle.
