Horns' recruiting back on track with LB Raymond Hudson flipping from Clemson to Texas

After taking a hit to the recruiting class when five-star wideout Easton Royal flipped to the Florida Gators, the Texas Longhorns are back on track, and it came with a flip of their own.

Three-star linebacker Raymond "Bounce" Hudson committed to the Clemson Tigers just a few months ago, and then decommitted at the beginning of October. Now, the explosive three-star prospect is coming to Texas, choosing the Horns over a slew of other powerhouse programs.

"I just committed to Texas. The visit sealed it," Hudson said after visiting the 40 Acres for the Longhorns' win over Ole Miss in Week 8.

Hudson is a top-50 linebacker in the class of 2027, adding defensive power to the Horns' recruiting cycle that had lost with Royal's departure.

So, not only did the win over the Ole Miss Rebels get Texas's season back on track, but it clearly righted a recruiting effort that had gone slightly askew over the last few weeks (during the Horns' two-game losing streak).

"It is Texas -- everything is bigger, and the state is set to do big things. I like that," Hudson told Rivals' Chad Simmons. "They have had some great players, and I am a fan of guys who came from there."

Of course, Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has turned a good defense into a great one. In fact, it's one that elite recruits, just like Hudson, feel a desire to play for.

Texas's class of 2027 back on the rise after Ole Miss win

Following Royal's decommitment and flip to Florida, the Longhorns' class of 2027 dropped from a top-five group to one clinging to a spot in the top 10.

With Hudson's commitment, it settled as the No. 9 class in the nation, headlined by five-star prospects Ismael Camara (interior offensive lineman) and Hudson Williams-Callis (running back), as well as top four-star recruits like defensive lineman Kasi Currie and tight end Brock Williams.

Hudson became the Horns' ninth three-star commit, alongside fellow defensive recruits like defensive linemen Tyler Alexander and Jason Johnson.

Yes, it obviously hurt the recruiting class's ranking to lose Royal, especially to another team in the Longhorns' own conference. However, Sarkisian is staying the course, and if Texas can keep winning (especially by defeating ranked opponents), then more commitments are likely to follow Hudson's.

Currently, the class has 22 commitments, including the two five-star prospects and nearly a dozen four-star prospects, with 55% of those recruits coming from the Lone Star State.

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