Texas still has a shot with new USC 4-Star LB commit

A key out-of-state linebacker target for Texas football in the 2025 class, San Clemente (CA) four-star Matai Tagoa'i, committed to the USC Trojans on April 1. Tagoa'i committed to USC over the Utah Utes, Washington Huskies, and Texas earlier this week.

Texas football reportedly still could get an official visit from 4-Star USC LB commit Matai Tagoa'i

But it sounds like the Longhorns still have a shot in this recruitment, despite Tagoa'i's pretty abrupt commitment to USC a few days ago. He told Horns247 that the official visit he has scheduled to Texas from June 21 to 23 is something he "will be honoring".

Tagoa'i has official visits scheduled late this spring and during the summer to see Washington (May 31), Utah (June 15), and Texas (June 21).

The high-four-star linebacker recruit from California was prospect that really caught new Texas co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Johnny Nansen's attention during his time on staff with the Arizona Wildcats. Nansen and Arizona were one of the first in the Power Five to offer Tagoa'i in December 2022.

While the Longhorns had already offered Tagoa'i last spring, the hire of Nansen sparked more interested from both parties in this recruitment early this offseason. Texas was one of the aforementioned three schools set to get an official visit from Tagoa'i this offseason, which appears to still be the case after his commitment to USC on April 1.

The 6-foot-4 linebacker recruit has tremendous physical tools to bring a ton of athletic upside and versatility to Texas's defensive front. His speed and ranginess are rare qualities with at his level with how tall he already is as a rising senior in high school.

Tagoa'i is one of Texas's top out-of-state linebacker priorities in the 2025 class. He is also among the top blue-chip linebacker targets on the board for Nansen, Pete Kwiatkowski, and the Longhorns for this cycle entering summer official visits.

Other top linebacker targets to watch that have official visits scheduled to see Texas this summer are South Oak Cliff four-star Elijah "Bo" Barnes and McKinney high-four-star Riley Pettijohn.

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