Predicting Texas's next commit after S Zelus Hicks
Texas football recruiting scored a major victory on the trail in the 2026 class on Sep. 12, landing a commitment from the elite five-star Carrollton (GA) safety Zelus Hicks. The No. 3 safety recruit in the nation in the 2026 class in the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry Ranking was the first defensive prospect to commit to Texas in that cycle.
Can Texas football continue the momentum with key blue-chip recruits in the next couple of cycles this fall?
Hicks committed to the Longhorns over other top schools from the SEC, including the Tennessee Volunteers, Auburn Tigers, Georgia Bulldogs, and Clemson Tigers on Thursday afternoon.
He joins Fort Lauderdale (FL) American Heritage quarterback Dia Bell among the two five-star commitments in the Longhorns 2026 class. Texas also has a commitment from four-star Pearland (TX) Shadow Creek wide receiver Chris Stewart for the class of 2026.
Texas's momentum on the recruiting trail since late in the summer has been palpable. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns staff have landed four five-star commitments in the 2025 and 2026 classes since early August on the trail.
Here's a prediction of the next recruit to commit to the Longhorns after Hicks jumped in the boat on Sep. 12.
Joseph Mbatchou, DL (Florida commit)
Three-star Florida Gators defensive line commit and Loganville (GA) Grayson product Joseph Mbatchou is a high-priority flip target for Kenny Baker and the Longhorns on the trail this fall. Mbatchou will make his first unofficial visit to Texas this weekend for the matchup against the UTSA Roadrunners at DKR in primetime on Saturday.
Texas offered Mbatchou last month and has made a serious push on the recruiting trail to chip away at his commitment to the Gators early this fall. Mbatchou is viewed as one of the top defensive line flip targets on the big board for the Longhorns in the 2025 class this fall.
The Longhorns already have commitments from two defensive linemen in the 2025 class, including four-stars Josiah Sharma and Myron Charles. Baker and the Longhorns are wanting to add the uber-athletic 6-foot-5 and 285-pound defensive tackle from Georgia, Mbatchou, to that group for the DL haul in the Longhorns 2025 signing class.