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FCS All-American LB Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey commits to Texas

Gerry Hamiltonby:Gerry Hamilton•05/27/22•

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The Texas Longhorns filled a key need at linebacker picking up a commitment from second-team FCS All-American  Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey. The James Madison transfer made a visit to Austin earlier in the week before selecting Texas over UCF Friday.

The 5-foot-10, 215-pound instinctive playmaker considered visits to Ole Miss and Auburn before deciding to shut down his recruitment.

Tucker-Dorsey, who hails from Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Va., was a member of the class of 2017. The quick footed linebacker recorded 116 tackles with 9.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks during JMU’s 12-2 season that ended in the FCS semifinals versus North Dakota State. In his career for the Dukes, he tallied 205 tackles in 50 career games.

Tucker-Dorsey wants to play on the biggest stage

Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey wants his final year in college football to be on the biggest stage possible.

“I was the starting will linebacker, the leader of the defense,” Tucker-Dorsey told Inside Texas last Friday. “I was a vocal leader on and off the field. I made a lot of plays there. I made a name for myself and was very well-liked and loved.”

Tucker-Dorsey helped the Dukes to three Colonial Athletic Association titles during his time in Harrisonburg, Va., but with JMU moving from FCS into the FBS’ Sun Belt, the program won’t be eligible to compete for a conference title. 

“JMU is going through an FBS transition right now, so we can’t win a championship at all,” Tucker-Dorsey said. “I figured if I was going to go FBS I might as well go all the way to the top and try to put myself on the biggest stage so I can showcase my skills and get to that next level. That was my whole decision, try to put myself in a better position.”

As a result, he entered his name into the transfer portal as a graduate transfer after spring practice concluded.

Texas linebackers coach Jeff Choate was responsible for the recruitment of Tucker-Dorsey.

Texas scores big in the portal

The Longhorns scores big in the portal in year two under Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns have seven players in the program or headed to the program next week. All seven are expected to compete for starting spots, or be key parts of the rotation, headlined by 2021 cycle No. 1-ranked prospect Quinn Ewers and a pair of skill players that played for Alabama in the National Championship game.

No. 4 Quinn Ewers, QB, Southlake (Texas) Carroll – transferred from Ohio State

No. 9 Isaiah Neyor, WR, Arlington (Texas) Lamar – transferred from Wyoming

No. 11 Jahleel Billingsley, TE, Chicago (Ill.) Phillips Academy – transferred from Alabama

Agiye Hall, WR, Valrico (Fla.) Bloomingdale – transferred from Alabama

Ryan Watts, CB, Little Elm (Texas) High – transferred from Ohio State

Tarique Milton, WR, Bradenton (Fla.) Manatee – transferred from Iowa State

Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, LB, Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor – transferred from James Madison