The Texas Longhorns 2026 football recruiting class jumped to No. 4 overall in the Rivals Industry Recruiting Rankings with the addition of five-star running back Derrek Cooper.
Only USC (No. 1), Georgia (No. 2), and Notre Dame (No. 3) lead Texas.
Texas A&M currently sits one spot behind the Longhorns, at No. 5.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS
Austin American-Statesman: Texas Football: SEC preseason champs rarely meet expectations. Can UT?
Austin American-Statesman: Texas Football: Michael Taaffe uses voice to lead on and off the field
247Sports: Texas State’s G.J. Kinne says Longhorns are in good hands with new kicker Mason Shipley
247Sports: Offseason intel: Options emerging for Arch Manning in Texas passing game
247Sports: Texas leads the pack in The Athletic’s hypothetical appraisal of college football programs
247Sports: Texas football 2025 position preview series: Tight End
247Sports: Chip Shots: Three bold predictions for Texas football in the 2025 season
Inside Texas: Texas baseball draft fallout and current team impact
Inside Texas: How much would Texas football be worth as a pro sports team?
Inside Texas: Texas Football 2025: Which freshmen will play, redshirt, or crack the two-deep?
ICYMI IN BURNT ORANGE NATION
Texas picked to win SEC, places 13 on All-SEC preseason teams
How Texas QB Arch Manning dealt with not playing as a freshman
Steve Sarkisian on Texas LB Trey Moore: ‘I think he’s poised for a great season’
Five-star RB Derrek Cooper commits to Texas over Miami, others
Men’s Longhorn Basketball recognized for NABC Team Academic Excellence Award
Report: Texas LHP signee Xavier Mitchell inks with the Los Angeles Angels for nearly $900k
Texas baseball portal tracker: LHP Bryce Navarre commits to South Carolina
RECRUITING ROUNDUP
Dallas Morning News: Top in-state talent leaving Texas? Longhorns, Aggies and others want that to change
247Sports: The Stampede: Sarkisian talks Texas football recruiting, new realities Longhorns face in rev-share era
Inside Texas: Could Derrek Cooper be Texas’ most impactful running back signing since Bijan Robinson?
SEC SHOWDOWN
Austin American-Statesman: How do Steve Sarkisian, other SEC coaches feel about CFP expansion?
Dallas Morning News: 5 things we learned from SEC Media Days: Uncertainty abound with CFP, NIL and more
Good Bull Hunting: Six Aggies named to pre-season All-SEC team
Rock M Nation: Five-star guard Jason Crowe Jr. commits to Mizzou
And The Valley Shook: Cooper Moore transferring to LSU
Red Cup Rebellion: EA Sports College Football 26: Here’s Ole Miss’ offensive depth chart and ratings
Rocky Top Talk: Top five-graded returning Tennessee Vols by Pro Football Focus: Offense
Anchor Of Gold: Vanderbilt Football 2025 Position Preview: Wide Receiver
Roll ‘Bama Roll: ‘Bama QB Keelon Russell honored at ESPYs after winning Gatorade National Player of the Year honors
A Sea Of Blue: Austin Pope leaves Kentucky for NBA role with the Lakers
WHAT WE’RE READING
SB Nation: LeBron James’ Drake beef hits new chapter with Tyler, the Creator music video appearance
SB Nation: Jerry Jones buries Micah Parsons, Dak Prescott, other Cowboys defenders on Day 1 of camp
SB Nation: President Trump threatens Commanders’ future unless they make racism great again
NEWS ACROSS LONGHORN NATION AND BEYOND
- Let’s take a look at Texas football’s 2026 class so far.
The Texas Longhorns are building one of the best classes in 2026 & it’ll only get better
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 20, 2025
They currently have:
• No. 1 QB Dia Bell
• No. 1 LB Tyler Atkinson
• No. 1 DL JJ Johnson
• No. 2 RB Derrek Cooper
• No. 3 EDGE Richard Wesley
+ morehttps://t.co/TrNNpa44S8 pic.twitter.com/zkeooaRVsV
More from burntorangenation.com:
- Five-star RB Derrek Cooper commits to Texas over Miami, others
- Five-star RB Derrek Cooper sets to decide on Saturday
- Texas picked to win SEC, places 13 on All-SEC preseason teams
- How Texas QB Arch Manning dealt with not playing as a freshman
- Report: Texas LHP signee Xavier Mitchell inks with the Los Angeles Angels for nearly $900k
- Men’s Longhorn Basketball recognized for NABC Team Academic Excellence Award
- Texas flips elite DT James Johnson from Georgia
