TOP PLAYER: Texas Trending For Projected $809k Star Over SEC Rival.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns are believed to be leading the charge for one of the top players in the 2026 class.
Texas is riding a wave of momentum on the recruiting trail after making a second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance. The Longhorns followed that postseason run by signing the nation’s top class.
With attention now turned to the 2026 cycle, there isn’t a more high-profile recruiting battle for Sarkisian and Co. than the race for elite offensive tackle Alex Ojo.
Ojo (6-foot-7, 274 pounds) plays for Lake Ridge High School in Mansfield, Texas. He is rated as the nation’s No. 3 offensive tackle, the No. 1 player in the state, and the No. 4 overall recruit in his class (On3). It’s clear that the Longhorns have made Ojo a priority. And that’s not surprising given his talent, the proximity to home, and the focus put on building a stout offensive front.
Texas offered Ojo early in the process in June of last year while he attended a summer camp. He was back on campus for junior day in January and plans to take an official visit next month.
According to On3’s Chad Simmons and Steve Wiltfong, the Longhorns are projected to secure a major recruiting win with Ojo over SEC rival Oklahoma. The Sooners sit second with a 2.2% chance to land Ojo compared to Texas at 90.1%.
Other contenders include Ole Miss, Ohio State and Michigan. Ojo visited the Rebels on April 18 and plans to take a trip to Ohio State on May 30. He will also officially visit Michigan (June 6), Texas (June 13) and Oklahoma (June 20).
Ojo has yet to schedule a commitment date, and his highly anticipated decision is expected to stretch into his senior year at Lake Ridge High.
Only time will tell if Sarkisian’s Longhorns can hold off the Sooners and the field
