Texas Football Recruiting: 5 prospects that could be the next 5-star commit for the Longhorns

Texas might be reaching in the pursuit of the No. 1 ranked defensive tackle in the nation in Louisiana native Ishmael Sopsher. He’s also the third best prospect in the nation altogether. Sopsher is more in the thick of SEC territory than for any Big 12 school. His power and quickness off the line are unmatched by any other at his position in this class.

Adding a defensive tackle of this caliber will always boost a defensive line immediately. Sopsher might have an effect of that of someone like former five-star lineman recruit Rashan Gary for the Michigan Wolverines. However, Texas would have to be careful in the sense that a prospect like Sopsher doesn’t have a somewhat disappointing career like other top defensive tackles like Khalil McKenzie did with the Tennessee Volunteers or Trenton Thompson with the Georgia Bulldogs.

It’s a lot of weight to carry to be expected to be a program changing type player from the time you arrive on campus. However, Texas has recruited well enough defensively of late to potentially take that type of pressure off the shoulders of Sopsher. Some other programs pursuing him might not be able to say the same thing.

As expected, the Alabama Crimson Tide and LSU Tigers are the favorites to land Sopsher. Since he’s in the thick of LSU’s usual recruiting territory, that is the likely destination for him to officially choose. Schools like Texas and Texas A&M could still wind up on his final list of commitment choices.