As Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian continues to build his latest class of recruiting commits, the Longhorns are once again trending in the right direction for one of the top prospects in the nation.
The No. 1 defensive lineman in the class of 2026 recently visited Texas and reportedly had a wonderful time with Sarkisian and his staff. James Johnson, the top DL prospect and the No. 7 athlete out of the state of Florida, spoke highly of the Horns after his visit.
"Since visiting Texas, I’d say Texas is pretty high on my list of schools and is definitely up there around the top," Johnson said. "My visit to Texas was really good."
While Texas isn't currently a favorite for the Florida native, the Longhorns are undeniably surging towards the top after Johnson's visit to Austin. Currently, both On3 and 247Sports have Johnson leaning towards his home state team, the Florida Gators, but his visit might have shaken things up.
Texas is emerging for On3 No. 1 DL James Johnson, @SWiltfong_ reports🤘
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) April 16, 2025
“My visit to Texas was really good.”
Read: https://t.co/65DupNRTgW pic.twitter.com/6CngbgkA2z
According to On3's current predictions, the Gators have a 32.2 percent chance of landing Johnson in their class of 2026 commits, followed by the Miami Hurricanes with a 17 percent chance and the Georgia Bulldogs with a 9.8 percent chance.
At 6-foot-2.5 and 285 pounds, Johnson is a massive presence to deal with on the line, and 247Sports' Andrew Ivins had positive things to say about the young prospect.
"[His] raw upper-body strength allows him to club his way around obstacles while a near 82-inch wingspan makes it difficult for blockers to establish initial hand positioning," Ivins said.
Currently, Texas has the No. 13 class of 2026 recruits after bringing in the No. 1 class of 2025 prospects this year. Yet, Sarkisian continues to bring in some of the top recruits in the nation and is frequently mentioned by prospects who have yet to announce their commitment.