James Johnson, a highly ranked defensive lineman (four-star, top‑8 DL in the Class of 2026), flipped his commitment from Georgia to Texas on July 16, 2025, according to Reuters and multiple media reports .
On the same day, Tyler Atkinson, the No. 1 linebacker in the same recruiting class, also committed to Texas over teams like Georgia, Oregon, and Clemson .
Both recruits significantly bolstered Texas’s 2026 class, placing them among the top six nationally, with three positions already filled by current No. 1-ranked players in the Rivals industry rankings .
There’s no mention of a generic “No. 1-ranked football recruit” choosing Texas over Tennessee, BYU, and Alabama. The actual high-profile flips were Johnson (DL) and Atkinson (LB)—not a player from Tennessee, BYU, or Alabama.
Other outlets consistently refer to these two recruits—not a broader “Big One.” The claim in that headline is overly dramatic and misleading.
Texas did land major recruits—a top DL and top LB—but the sensational headline you saw misrepresents the specifics. There’s no evidence of a No. 1 overall recruit making a shock pick over Tennessee, BYU, and Alabama. The real breakthrough was the dual flip of James Johnson and Tyler Atkinson.
