Recruiting insiders predict the Texas Longhorns are trending with several of its top 2026 recruiting targets
Two of the top minds in the recruiting industry predicts good news to come Tuesday and potentially in the future for Texas.
According to Rivals' Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons, the Texas Longhorns are trending heavily for five-star Grayson (Ga.) linebacker Tyler Atkinson. He is set to announce Tuesday afternoon on the Pat McAfee Show.
The Georgia Bulldogs is the other program in Atkinson's perceived top two. As of this writing, all of the recruiting analyst predictions are for the Longhorns to receive a commitment from the No. 1 linebacker in the country.
"One of the first prospects in the 2026 class to emerge nationally, Georgia had been considered the front-runner, if not the leader, for a lot of a process that dates back to eighth grade," Wiltfong said. "But over the last month or so we’ve really seen Texas emerge and the Longhorns are the favorite to land Atkinson’s commitment."
Texas is also trending for a few other blue chip targets.
Chaminade-Madonna (Fla.) four-star running back Derrek Cooper announced last week he would be committing July 20. His final four consists of Texas, Georgia, Ohio State and Miami.
But one program is starting to separate itself from the rest of the pack, per Wiltfong.
"A source around Coral Gables believes things are really picking up for the Longhorns," Wiltfong said. "Texas is on the gas with Cooper and there is definitely optimism he too could join the fold soon."
IMG Academy (Fla.) EDGE prospect Jake Kreul is another top target for Steve Sarkisian and his staff. The 6-foot-3, 230 pound recruit is starting to narrow his focus. Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas are the Top 3. And Wiltfong thinks things are heating up for the Horns.
"A source says Texas is on the move with the four-star recruit," Wiltfong said. "Ole Miss is also one to keep an eye on but it seems like the Longhorns are giving Kreul a lot to think about."
A massive flip target is reportedly still on the board for Texas.
At the end of June, Georgia landed James "JJ" Johnson. The Northwestern (Fla.) four-star defensive lineman is apparently still interested and listening to Sark and the Longhorns.
"While the Bulldogs led for a lot of the process, it was an abrupt announcement he was joining the fold," Wiltfong said. "There were sources around Austin that liked where Texas stood prior to Johnson jumping in with UGA and the Longhorns are one of the programs still recruiting Johnson heavily.
"There has always been optimism around Texas that they’re in strong position," Wiltfong said. "He visited in the spring and returned for an OV in the summer."
