update: the No. 1‑ranked American football recruit, running back Derrek Cooper, has officially committed to the Texas Longhorns, choosing them over top finalists like Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State—and notably Florida and Tennessee. He’s the class of 2026’s No. 1 RB and No. 7 overall player in ESPN’s rankings. Turner’s announcement came today, July 21, 2025 .
🚨 Why this matters:
Bigtime talent: Cooper is a five-star athlete (also top-ranked at RB) expected to make an immediate impact.
Texas recruiting surge: His commitment marks the fourth ESPN top‑15 commit (joining QB Dia Bell, DE Richard Wesley, LB Tyler Atkinson) .
Strategic win: Choosing Texas over Florida and Tennessee is a big recruiting coup in the SEC and beyond, boosting Texas’s 2026 class profile.
🧩 What’s next:
Cooper joins Texas’s elite class featuring multiple five-star recruits—boosting expectations for early playing time.
A strong signal: the Longhorns are trending upward in national recruiting
