Steve Sarkisian and his staff have their eyes on the future while still succeeding in the present, as the Texas Longhorns start to bring in top-tier talent from the class of 2026 and 2027 prospects. Yes, you read that correctly, two years before these young athletes graduate from high school, they are already committing to the Horns.
Most recently, four-star linebacker prospect Taven Epps, who is a top 100 prospect in the 2027 class, committed to Sarkisian and Texas, making him the first commit in the 2027 class for the Longhorns.
BREAKING: Tustin (Calif.) four-star linebacker Taven Epps, a top 100 prospect nationally in the 2027 class, has announced his commitment to the Texas Longhorns https://t.co/TEZp63leEi pic.twitter.com/tI1CgdDAxD
— Blair Angulo (@BlairAngulo) April 6, 2025
Epps committed to the Longhorns over other premier programs such as the USC Trojans, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Penn State Nittany Lions, and more (including the Horns' rival, Oklahoma Sooners).
Over his freshman and sophomore seasons, both of which Epps played on varsity, the linebacker played on both sides of the ball, gaining nearly 100 yards on offense during his sophomore season.
Taven Epps high school stats
2023-24 (freshman season)
- 38 tackles (32 solo)
- 4 sacks
- 2 interceptions
- 1 pass deflection
2024-25 (sophomore season)
- 38 tackles (19 solo)
- 7 sacks
- 6 pass deflections
- 1 interception
- 10 receptions
- 92 receiving yards
With Epps' talent on both sides of the ball, he is a prime prospect for Sarkisian to bring in so early. While Epps will most likely play on the defensive end for Texas, his sure hands and quick feet make him an even more exciting prospect for the Longhorns' defensive unit.
Texas Longhorn football recruiting class rankings
Right now, the Longhorns have the No. 1 class of 2025 recruits, surpassing that of the Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, Oregon Ducks, and defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.
However, in the class that will come in just one year later, Sarkisian and the Horns currently reside at No. 13 in the nation for the class of 2026 commits, according to On3.
Gradually, Sarkisian has continued to bring in more talent from the class of 2026, which should boost Texas's recruiting ranking. Unfortunately, the Horns currently trail many of their conference opponents like the LSU Tigers, Texas A&M Aggies, Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, and Tennessee Volunteers.