How Texas landed four-star CB Malik Muhammad over Alabama, Texas A&M

Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff four-star cornerback Malik Muhammad committed to Texas in June but Alabama and Texas A&M made a late push to flip his commitment.

While Texas wasn’t high on Muhammad’s board last spring before he took a visit, the Longhorns made a last impression on him. That lasting impression proved to be the difference as they were able to hold on and outlast the Aggies and Crimson Tide in the end.

“Texas just really knew were I wanted to go and where I wanted to be,” Muhammad, the No. 46 overall player and No. 5 cornerback in the 2023 On3 Consensus, said at hotel check-in for the Under Armour All-America Game said. “Coach Gilbert and the rest of the coaching staff came together and showed great love not only to me, but to my whole family also. Just being around that environment and the atmosphere at a game, it just showed me that the school had everything I needed.”

Muhammad said Alabama defensive back coach Travaris Robinson was calling him every day and telling him how much that they wanted and needed him on their defense. He also said that Coach Nick Saban was continuously on him trying to get a commitment from Muhammad.

Robinson flew out a week before the first day of the Early Signing Period and talked with Muhammad’s dad but Texas is ultimately were he decided to remain.

Playoff football also may have helped the Longhorns keep Muhammad’s commitment.

He had originally planned on to take an unofficial visit to Alabama for the Mississippi State game and an official visit in December but Muhammad said that he had to cancel those visits due to where he his team was in the postseason.

“I know how serious my coaches and my team were about going back-to-back, so we got caught up in the playoffs,” Muhammad said. “So, I had to cancel those trips.”