The University of Texas made a pair of major splashes in recent days, landing five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson over powerhouse programs like Georgia, Clemson, and Oregon, and securing five-star running back Derrek Cooper ahead of Ohio State, Miami, Georgia, and Florida State.
Atkinson, a Loganville, GA native, is ranked as the 20th-best player in the country, the No. 2 linebacker, and the third-best prospect from Georgia, according to 247Sports. As a junior at Grayson High School, he recorded 166 tackles, 13 sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble, leading the Rams to a 14–1 record and a 6A State Championship in 2024—their fourth in program history.
Cooper, a Hollywood, FL native, is ranked as the 29th-best prospect nationally, the No. 2 athlete, and the second-best from Florida. Last season, he rushed 124 times for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior for Chaminade-Madonna Prep, helping the Lions secure their fourth consecutive 1A State Championship and their 7th in the last nine seasons.
These are major pickups for the Longhorns, joining fellow five-star recruits QB Dia Bell and CB Jermaine Bishop in a stacked 2026 class. According to 247Sports, Texas’s class currently ranks fifth nationally and third in the SEC, with these additions marking the 20th and 21st commitments of the cycle.
Since taking over the Texas program in 2021, Longhorns Head Coach Steve Sarkisian has done a spectacular job on the recruiting trail. Texas has finished inside the top 10 in the national recruiting rankings every year under Sarkisian, with the lone exception being his first season in 2021, when they ranked 15th. The Longhorns rebounded quickly, landing the No. 5 class in 2022, No. 3 in 2023, No. 6 in 2024, a nation-leading No. 1 in 2025, and currently sit at No. 5 for the 2026 cycle.