Not everybody can come play for your college football team. When you lead a juggernaut program like Steve Sarkisian does with the Texas Longhorns, you can usually get whoever you want in the recruiting process, and then some. Of course, prospective recruits like Jamar Thompson need to make the best choices for themselves. He did not end up picking Texas coming out of Boca Raton.
Heading into the heart of official visit season, these were the three supposed finalists for Thompson.
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Texas Longhorns
Per Hayes Fawcett of On3/Rivals, Thompson is picking Georgia Tech over both Ohio State and Texas.
BREAKING: Four-Star DL Jamar Thompson has Committed to Georgia Tech, he tells me for @Rivals
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 7, 2026
The 6’3 300 DL chose the Yellow Jackets over Texas and Ohio State
He’s ranked as the No. 1 DL in Florida in the 2027 Rivals300
“1000% committed watch me!!!!”https://t.co/RtpI2aORi8 pic.twitter.com/nVXwErLKo0
According to the 247Sports Composite, Thompson is the No. 18 player from Florida, the No. 18 defensive lineman in the country, and the No. 166 overall prospect in the 2027 class. He has 40 official offers, but was slated to only make three visits this summer. He just visited Atlanta this weekend. Thompson was supposed to go to Columbus next weekend, and to Austin right after that.
Georgia Tech has a great head coach in Brent Key, but Ohio State and Texas are better programs.
Jamar Thompson commits to Georgia Tech over Ohio State and Texas
Sarkisian and his staff may be more focused in on these recruits than others right now, but that does not change the fact that Thompson committing to Georgia Tech this soon could potentially throw a wrench in things. Texas has been especially methodical about the recruiting process. Thompson may be way out-of-state, but if Ohio State wants him, one would think a program like Texas would as well..
While there is some debate over if Texas or Ohio State really were finalists for Thompson, it did seem like once he got onto campus in Atlanta that he was all about the Ramblin' Wreck. What this could signify to Texas is that players from yesteryear might have gone on every visit before making their big decisions. Now, that no longer looks to be the case. Maybe being first is better than being last in this?
At this time, Sarkisian and his staff need to keep the main thing the main thing. Focus on those who want to be on the 40 Acres, and then go from there. There are only so many roster spots to be had. Thompson could have been a part of this team, but found the better fit for himself over in Atlanta as a part of Key's Yellow Jackets. Maybe he bought into a guy selling him on the idea of his alma mater?
Read more: Latest Texas commit gives incredible reason for picking Horns over other powerhouses
Overall, this is not the end of the world, but it is something to keep in the back of one's mind in the wonderful world of recruiting from the Texas perspective. Texas may still be able to beat out most teams for its top targets. Now that NIL has changed the game a bit, teams that used to not recruit well like Georgia Tech are bubbling to the surface. Maybe the Ramblin' Wreck are not going away just yet?
For now, Texas fans should be happy that Thompson did not pick the Buckeyes over them instead.
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