Texas lands a commitment from four-star EDGE Zina Umeozulu

A few weeks into his senior season, everything started to click for four-star Allen (Texas) EDGE Zina Umeozulu.

Umeozulu, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 15-ranked EDGE in the nation, committed to the Texas Longhorns on Wednesday. The long, intriguing hybrid defender picked the Horns over the likes of Oklahoma and Texas A&M, which were also finalists for the top-250 national recruit from the Dallas Metroplex.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian played a leading role in Umeozulu’s recruitment.

“I feel like everything that is required from me at Texas I can do and I believe in what Sark has built and his future there,” Umeozulu told On3.

“Texas is also the best of both worlds when it comes to academics and football,” he continued. “I feel like I they can make me better as a man on and off the field, and I feel like I have the best relationship with them.”

The 6-foot-4, 221-pound EDGE returned to Austin last weekend as Texas opened the 2023 season with a runaway win over Rice.

Zina’s older brother, Neto Umeozulu, saw action in the trenches for the Longhorns on the offensive side of the ball. Zina, who has lined up with his hand in the dirt and is also seeing action as a stand-up linebacker as a senior for the Allen Eagles, is getting courted by Sarkisian along with DC Pete Kwiatkowski.

As a junior last fall, Umeozulu tallied 43 tackles along with three sacks, three fumble recoveries and 11 hurries. Over the past two seasons as a starter, he has nine sacks and 19 hurries.

Umeozulu checks in as the No. 249 overall player in the country, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also checks in as the No. 44 recruit from Texas in this cycle.

Zina Umeozulu Scouting Summary

On3 Director of Ranking Charles Power provided this scouting summary on the top-250 EDGE.

Long EDGE prospect who emerged as a high school underclassman. Measured at around 6-foot-4, 220 pounds as a junior. Has good length for the position. Plays against top competition in Texas’ highest classification. Primarily lines up as a defensive end. Plays with solid effort level. More active as a run defender than pass rusher at this point. Registers as a solid athlete in the combine setting. Has some rigidity in his movements. Can improve his pass rush technique and production on Friday nights. Younger for the class, not turning 18 years-old until the July before his freshman season.