Texas' coaching staff has been on a heater lately when it comes to attracting big-time talent to Austin, and it looks like Will Muschamp and Co. have already zeroed in on their next big target in the 2028 class.
Gabriel Player, a 6'4", 190-pound hybrid LB/DE prospect, has been making waves in Florida high school football since the moment that he stepped on the field as a freshman. His above-average length and athleticism were put on full display in 2025 as a full-time starter during his sophomore year.
He just announced on "X" that the Longhorns have officially offered him a scholarship:
Blessed to receive an offer from the university of Texas @TexasFootball! @247Sports @ChadSimmons_ @JonSantucci @adamgorney@CoachNansenUT @Jimmy_UTFB #bEGreat#EGscholarshipfactory @EauGallieHC @mannylherisse @XavierXEL11 pic.twitter.com/Sc1lgfipoF
— Gabriel Player (@Gabrielplayerr) February 18, 2026
Despite it being so early in his recruitment process, the offers have been consistently trickling in for Player.
His ability to juke around varsity offensive linemen for easy sacks in crucial situations, and his consistent knack for attacking the football is what stands out on film. He's also been able to high-point balls to bring down crazy interceptions like a defensive back, and can knife into opposing backfields like a defensive end.
It's easy to see why it's been so hard for teams to determine what he'll be at the next level because he has the mentality and overall skillset to play three different positions at a high level. He has the speed and movement ability to play safety, the playmaking and tackling ability to play linebacker, and the pass-rushing skills to play on the edge.
it's going to be incredibly interesting to see where his recruitment ends up as far as his star status, though the early projections are saying that he should land as a high 4-star/low 5-star in the 2028 class. It seems logical that quite a bit of his projection will be based on his overall body composition as well. If he ends up around 220 lbs. as a senior, he might be seen as more of a SAM linebacker.