The Longhorns got some excellent news recently as 5-star DE Marcus Fakatou officially included Texas on his final list of schools that he's heavily considering. The massive pass rusher was just in Austin for his visit, and he reportedly "had a blast".
The 6'6.5", 275-pound defensive end already looked like he was a part of the team when he was walking around, as he towered over most of the players he met with. The fact that he's almost 5" taller than Colin Simmons is wild.
Fakatou has been one of the top defensive linemen in all of California since his sophomore year at Sierra Canyon HS, consistently throwing around opposing blockers like ragdolls. Naturally, his go-to move has been a long-arm/club, given his teradactyl-like wingspan and strength.
#Texas makes jump in 5-star DE Marcus Fakatou's recruitment: 'I felt like I was a player'
— OnTexasFootball (@ontexasfootball) April 20, 2026
The Longhorns are now firmly in the top 3 for the 6-foot-7, 275-pounder https://t.co/fLtuBBPl6f #HookEm pic.twitter.com/9oIL4AWe8m
Very few defensive linemen in the 2027 class, or any class rather, have the type of overall length that Fakatou has, and you almost feel bad for the offensive linemen that are trying to block him. 75% of the time, blockers can't even get their hands on him because his 34"+ arms.
Will Muschamp is most likely gushing over Fakatou right now, as he's a perfect fit for Texas' defense at multiple different spots. He could be utilized as the traditional strongside defensive end, line up at 4i, or possibly even kick inside to 3-technique to create a constant mismatch for slower offensive guards.
It's also worth noting that he was the high school teammate of one of Texas' top recruits in the 2026 class, 4-star DE Richard Wesley. Let's hope that some persuasion from Wesley and a top-notch recruiting effort by the Longhorns' defensive staff can keep Fakatou from landing at Oregon or USC.
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