5-Star 2026 Texas S target Zelus Hicks sets commitment date

Per 247Sports' Anna Adams, the elite five-star Texas football target and Carrollton (GA) safety Zelus Hicks will announce on Sep. 12. Hicks didn't include an official list of top schools he's planning to decide between on Thursday.

Texas football among the "likely" schools elite S Zelus Hicks will decide between in a couple of days

But there were a handful of big-time college programs that Adams included in this report from 247Sports that Hicks is "likely" to pick from when he announces later this week. Texas was included among the five schools that Hicks is probably going to decide between for his commitment on Thursday, which also included the Tennessee Volunteers, Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, and Clemson Tigers.

The No. 3 safety recruit in the nation in the 2026 class in the 247Sports Composite has taken multiple unofficial visits to Texas since the spring evaluation period last offseason. Hicks took his first visit to Texas unofficially with his 7v7 team during spring practice back in mid-April.

Hicks also grabbed the coaching staff's attention with his performance during the Texas Elite Camp in early June. He received a scholarship offer from Texas about a month prior to his camp visit to Texas.

Scheme fit and relationships with the coaches are some of the biggest factors Hicks has said will impact his ultimate decision for his recruitment (per On3).

"I am still talking with colleges about how I fit into the scheme, if the staff will be there when I get there and things like that. Committing and then decommitting is not something I want to do, so with me thinking about committing early, there are still some big questions for me to get the answers to."

Texas targeting more prospects from the Southeast on the recruiting trail

Hicks fits a pattern of targeting top defensive recruits on the trail from Georgia in the next few cycles for the Longhorns' coaching staff recently. Texas has two commitments from high school recruits in the state of Georgia in the 2025 class, including four-star Loganville (GA) Grayson offensive tackle Nick Brooks and four-star Calhoun (GA) tight end Emaree Winston.

Texas has also offered more recruits from Georgia in the 2026 class than they've offered from any other state outside of Texas for that cycle (20). The Longhorns joining the SEC in 2024 has helped head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff recruit more out-of-state from the Southeast to compete for top talents at key positions on both sides of the ball.

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