Texas makes move in Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings after landing Top-100 pledge

Texas and South Carolina wrangled for the top position in the recruitment of Huntersville (N.C.) William Amos Hough four-star cornerback Samari Matthews, but it was the Longhorns that won out on Friday evening.

The nation’s No. 70 overall prospect and No. 9 CB, Matthews is headed to Austin at the next level and immediately becomes one of the biggest victories on the trail this cycle for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Texas staff.

With Matthews in the boat, Texas jumped Penn State and Florida in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. The SEC program now ranks No. 14 nationally and also now checks in at No. 6 in the conference.

“I am happy it is done. I am going into a championship program,” Matthews told Rivals’ Chad Simmons about his decision. “Texas is a championship team and they are building up from what they already are. Texas will continue to win games, produce star athletes and I want to be a part of it.”

Texas is now up to 18 commits and remains in play for some big-time decisions that are set to come later this week.

Looking at Texas’ 2026 class to date

The Longhorns swung early and landed a commitment from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage five-star quarterback Dia Bell last summer. He remains the class jewel and now checks in as Rivals’ No. 4 overall prospect and No. 2 QB.

Adding a player of Bell’s caliber into the fold early, the Longhorns have been able to use the gunslinger as a recruiting beacon. He’s helped Texas land some of its other top targets this cycle. Last month, UT added a commitment from Los Angeles Sierra Canyon five-star EDGE Richard Wesley.

Shortly after backing off a quick commitment to Oregon, Wesley, the No. 25 overall prospect in the cycle, began to trend toward The Forty Acres. He now headlines the Texas class alongside Bell.

Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley four-star interior offensive lineman John Turntine is the nation’s No. 2 IOL and he committed to Texas on the Fourth of July. Turntine, Willis four-star athlete Jermaine Bishop Jr. and Pearland Shadow Creek four-star wide receiver Chris Stewart are among the top in-state commits in the class.

Birmingham (Ala.) Parker four-star defensive lineman Vodney Cleveland, Monroe (La.) Ouachita Parish four-star DL Dylan Berymon and Petal (Miss.) four-star DL Corey Wells create a formidable trio on the D-line.

Other top commits in the class include: Katy (Texas) Mayde Creek four-star linebacker Kosi Okpala, Melissa (Texas) four-star offensive tackle Max Wright, New Orleans Edna Karr four-star cornerback Hayward Howard Jr., Spring (Texas) Klein three-star IOL Nicolas Robertson and Waxahachie (Texas) three-star WR Kohen Brown.