Will a blue chip Texas legacy spurn the bloodlines for the Oregon Ducks?
One of the top athlete prospects in the 2026 class announces Tuesday. Will he follow his parents to Texas or head to the northwest?
On Tuesday, four-star athlete Jalen Lott is set to announce his commitment. The finalists are Oregon, Southern Cal and the Texas Longhorns. The latter of which is closest for the Panther Creek (Tex.) prospect. In more ways than one, too.
Lott's parents both attended Texas and competed in athletics. His father, James Lott, played cornerback for the Longhorns from 1983-1985. His mother later attended Texas from 1989-1992, playing basketball.
The 6-foot, 170 pound Lott is ranked as the No. 49 overall prospect, the No. 5 athlete and the 8th-ranked prospect in the state of Texas, per 247Sports Composite Ranking. Heading into Tuesday's announcement at 2pm CT on Dave Campbell's Texas Football, all the momentum is around the Oregon Ducks.
Jalen Lott, like his father, is a dual-sport athlete. Will he do it at Texas as well, though?
Jalen's father held the national high school high jump record (7'4 3/4") when he left the prep ranks for Austin, Tex. The apple didn't fall too far from the tree. Jalen was a Texas 4A silver medalist as a junior in the high jump (6'10) and long jump (23' 7.25") last spring.
Furthermore, he also competed in the USATF National Junior Olympics last summer and won the long jump, posting a 24'3". Lott also grabbed a bronze medal in the high jump, leaping 6'4.75". To follow an outstanding junior campaign up, Lott topped his bronze medal performance with a recent 7'0 high jump in practice.
On the football field, he is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the state of Texas. In 2024, Lott hauled in 85 receptions for 1,111 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was one of the main reasons Panther Creek made a run to the Texas 4A D-I second round.
247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks thinks Jalen Lott could play on either side of the ball.
Highly productive receiver who could potentially play either side of the ball in the long run. Excels as a linear athlete thanks to sudden acceleration and a long stride that fosters top-end speed verified on the track. Elite high and long jumper with statewide and Junior Olympics hardware. Transferred prior to junior season and Fall 2024 saw explosion in production. Knows how to protect his body from unnecessary shots while giving his QB a reasonable target. Displays high-pointing acumen, ball-tracking skill, hands-catching consistency, and plucking dexterity. Ideally would see more open-field elusiveness; often relies on slippery tendon strength to extend plays. More experienced on offense, so full-time move to the secondary would require a learning curve physically and technically. Nevertheless, strong football/athletic pedigree; comes from a family of athletes. Projects to the high-major level as a potential impact player who could develop into a coveted NFL Draft prospect. – Gabe Brooks, 247Sports
Despite the family lineage with the Longhorns, as of this writing, Jalen Lott appears to be bound for Eugene and Autzen Stadium. The Oregon Ducks have done an outstanding job in the final weeks of this recruitment. Lott's final official visit was to see the Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning.
And to top it all off, the potential future position coach for Lott would be Texas native, Ra'Shaad Samples. There was a ton of buzz around Lott and Oregon earlier this spring. Then at several times it looked like Texas, LSU and Southern Cal were in the lead.
Alas, the Big Ten Champs appear poised to add one of the more explosive playmakers in the 2026 class Tuesday.
