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Texas Recruiting Notes 2026: They Can't Keep Getting Away With This


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Recruiting news and notes from Pylon Dallas
 

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With the Super Bowl being the only football game left to play from the 2024 season, we're just now getting into the thick of the offseason. 

Although there's never a true offseason when it comes to recruiting, there are 7on7 tournaments, showcases, spring ball practices, and college camps all over the spring and summer calendar that provide useful information if you're able to attend whether it be interviews, measurements, or getting a better feel for a prospects playstyle, projection, and overall skill level with an in person evaluation. 

7on7 tournaments are usually able to check most of those boxes and today I attended a Pylon 7on7 tournament at Duncanville High School in the southern sector of Dallas where I was able to evaluate and catch up with several intriguing prospects including a young group of Texas targets in the 2027 class. 

Let's get into it!

Mansfield Top247 WR Zion Robinson

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
Zion Robinson is one of the quietest kids I've covered and he never says much when he's being interviewed. That said, it's hard to get a read on where the top 100 prospect is leaning towards but the schools that seem to be in the mix right now include TCU, Stanford, Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. Robinson has barely taken any visits yet due to his football, basketball, and track schedule and he's approached his recruitment incredibly patiently, so getting out on visits this spring will be extremely important for the DFW area speedster. Robinson's father ran track at TCU before running in the Olympics and later returning to Fort Worth to be TCU's director of track and field, so the Frogs are in this one with family ties and proximity.

Academics are extremely important to this recruitment which is why Stanford is in the mix, and the Cardinal will have a good shot going forward. Robinson hasn't been on the Texas campus since this past summer and is working on setting up visits in the spring with a trip to Austin as one of those visits Robinson is hoping to take. A bit of a wild card at this current juncture as I could see Robinson heading to several different programs to play at the next level, we'll have a better idea of where Texas stands and where the recruitment is headed the further we get into the spring.

Duncanville three-star TE Zach Turner

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
Zach Turner has been one of the most productive tight ends the state has seen in some time as the Duncanville native is heading into his senior year with nearly 1,800 receiving yards and 32 receiving touchdowns to his name with three seasons of varsity experience already under his belt. As far as his recruitment goes, Turner is yet to release a top schools list and didn't name any favorites, but he did mention Miami, Georgia, SMU, Oklahoma, USC, Ole Miss, and Texas as the schools he's hoping to visit this spring. Turner didn't take any visits in January and he's yet to schedule any spring visits to the schools mentioned above, so things seem relatively open right now. I get the vibe Texas isn't towards the front of the group and I think that might correlate with him being a bit of a tweener as a receiving threat tight end that's 6-foot-2, and 215 pounds.

However, Jeff Banks paid Turner a visit when making the rounds last month so the communication is still ongoing. Turner's loved getting to see his former Duncanville teammate Colin Simmons put together a stellar true freshman season that earned him the Shaun Alexander freshman of the year award and he's fan of Texas' offensive system, but again, the vibe I got from speaking with Turner is that Texas is behind a few other schools. With Texas heavily in the mix for the nation's No. 1 tight end Mark Bowman and in a good spot with other guys like Heze Kent and JC Anderson, Turner isn't someone I'm expecting to end up in Texas' 2026 class as things currently stand in the early spring.

Flower Mound Marcus Top247 2027 QB Colton Nussmeier

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
I caught up with Colton Nussmeier who's the younger brother of LSU star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the son of longtime coach Doug Nussmeier, and the current No. 1 ranked quarterback in the Lone Star State's 2027 class. The Longhorns have yet to offer Nussmeier, but Texas quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee stopped by Marcus high school to see the gunslinger just a couple weeks ago. Nussmeier is currently working on setting up spring and summer visits and a visit to Texas could be a possibility, but not a certainty. The Longhorns have offered two quarterbacks in 2027 in Ohio State commit Brady Edmunds and Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian Academy's Peyton Houston, and I would not be shocked to see one or two more offers go out before the Longhorns end up with their 2027 QB commit.

I think Nussmeier is good enough and is a realistic name to be another signal caller Texas could potentially offer in 2027, but we'll cross that bridge if we get there. If they were to offer, the Longhorns could be an interesting contender with Texas' offense and the Longhorns being an in-state program a few hours away. Nussmeier's father is currently the Philadelphia Eagles QBs coach, but he coached under Steve Sarkisian as the offensive coordinator and QBs coach in Washington for two seasons and that relationship could potentially serve as a boost to Texas' chances if they were to offer. Nussmeier is a lefty and if he were to end up at Texas I'm pretty sure he'd be the first lefty signal caller Sarkisian has coached since Tua Tagovailoa, and that could also potentially serve as a boost to Texas' chances if the Longhorns ever offer.

Richmond Randle Top247 2027 RB Landen Williams-Callis

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
The nation's No. 1 ranked RB in the 2027 class, Landen Williams-Callis is a special prospect that's currently on pace to finish on the top ten all-time list in rushing yards in TXHSFB history, and if he continues at the rate he's currently on, he'll also have the least amount of carries of any rusher on the top ten all-time list. When I spoke with Williams-Callis he was unaware of the buzz around Tashard Choice and the Dallas Cowboys that started this morning, so unfortunately I was the one who passed on the news that he'd interviewed for the Cowboys running back job. If Choice was to leave for the NFL, Williams-Callis mentioned he'd view Texas differently with Choice no longer in Austin. However, it appears it's still early enough in the process for Williams-Callis where if Choice was to leave, whoever the new hire is would still have a shot in getting Texas towards the top of Williams-Callis' list like the Longhorns have been under Choice.

The main reason for Texas' early standing in Williams-Callis' recruitment has been because of the work Choice has done and the relationship the two have built, and on the same note I've yet to see Choice put this much effort into recruiting a sophomore running back than he has with Williams-Callis in my time covering Texas. Williams-Callis is yet to set any dates, but he mentioned Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas, Texas A&M, and LSU (if the Tigers offer) as schools he's looking to see on visits this spring. What ends up happening with Choice could have a major impact on this recruitment, as I did feel like Texas was the program set up best to eventually land Williams-Callis as things currently stand. If Choice ends up leaving for the NFL, whoever the new hire is will have some big shoes to fill.


DeSoto Top247 2027 WR Boobie Feaster

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
The nation's No. 6 overall prospect and No. 2 receiver prospect in the 2027 class, Boobie Feaster had around a dozen offers entering high school and his recruitment has yet to slow down with Feaster just one offer away from hitting 50 total before the end of his sophomore year. Feaster is set to have two announcements coming up with one including a top schools list and the Longhorns will be included. Besides Texas, Feaster also mentioned Oregon, LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, and Ohio State as the schools he's working on setting up spring visits for but at this current time dates are yet to be set for any programs.

Expect the other five schools that he mentioned to make the top schools list cut as well. Feaster's most recent visit to Texas was for the Oct. 19 Georgia game and Chris Jackson has done a good job at building the relationship especially with Feaster being just a sophomore. Feaster loves Jackson's resume and the fact that not only has he coached players into the NFL, but that he's coached in the NFL and played in it as well. With Feaster being born and raised in Louisiana, I've long looked at LSU as the school that I think will eventually win out and I still feel that way for the most part, but this recruitment is far from over and it does not feel as if there's any one school actually leading the race as things currently stand.

Crowley 2027 WR Tay Ellis

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
Chris Jackson and the Longhorns have only offered three wide receiver prospects from Texas' 2027 cycle thus far, and like Feaster, Tay Ellis is one of the three. The Crowley product picked up his offer from the Longhorns when Jackson stopped by the school this past spring, and in the time since Ellis has been able to build relationships with both Jackson and Steve Sarkisian. Ellis hasn't been able to take many visits thus far and he's yet to get to the Forty Acres on a visit, but he mentioned Texas along with Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas A&M as the schools he's working on setting up dates for to see this spring.

When he's able to get to Austin and visit Texas for the first time, he's hoping to get a better read on Texas' culture and the family atmosphere he's already heard so much about. Ellis last saw the Texas staff last when Jackson swung through Crowley in January while making his round of school visits in DFW, and the 2027 receiver prospect mentioned his favorite part of his conversation with Jackson was when the Texas receivers coach broke down the individual developments of his past and future draft picks Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Bond, and Matthew Golden.


Euless Trinity 2027 CB John Meredith III

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
I'm a huge fan of John Meredith III after getting to see Meredith in person for the first time earlier today. Now that I think about it, the state of Texas is on an unreal run in producing prospects that have the same name as their father and grandfather with guys like Meredith, John Turntine III, and Michael Terry III all coming to mind immediately. Meredith is a legit 6-foot-2.5 and I would not be shocked if he measured in at 6-foot-3. While the size is what catches your eye immediately, it's Meredith's ability to move at that size that has had him already pick up a dozen plus offers with his list steadily growing. Originally a quarterback/wide receiver, Meredith is just now starting to tap into his potential as he's only played defensive back for one season.

As far as the recruitment goes, Meredith tripped to College Station for A&M's Junior Day in January and he's working on visiting Texas, TCU, and Baylor before the spring is over. Meredith was offered by Texas when he visited Austin for the Mississippi State game in December, and the spring visit to Austin will be his first time back on the Forty Acres since then. The Longhorns are an early standout alongside Baylor, Texas A&M, and TCU, but there's a long way to go in this recruitment as in my eyes Meredith is well on his way to eventually being a Top247 prospect. Texas seems to already be in a good spot for the DFW area native but the Longhorns might be able to boost their chances if they're able to close on 2026 IOL target Toa Katoa who also attends Euless Trinity.

North Crowley 2028 WR Damarion “Champ” Mays

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
I've heard about this kid since he was in eighth grade and have been a big fan since. But after seeing Damarion Mays in person for the first time today, he's easily the best 2028 WR prospect I've seen thus far and it isn't remotely close. Mays transferred into North Crowley just weeks ago, but as a freshman on varsity at Life Oak Cliff (which plays 3A-DI competition), Mays accounted for 68 receptions for 1,640 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on an average of 24.12 yards per catch en route to a season in which he finished 17th in the nation and 3rd in the state of Texas in receiving yards.

Again, this kid is a freshman and has only been in high school for about four and a half months. He's also already 6-foot-3, and 184 pounds. Mays has already picked up 17 offers and will likely finish with three dozen by the time all is said and done. Texas has yet to offer, but I doubt that'll last much longer with how much Texas recruits North Crowley and with how good Mays is. In talking with Mays, the Longhorns are a school he's yet to hear from but if Texas was to offer, they'd immediately be towards the top of his list. Although Mays is originally from Arkansas, he's spent most of his life in Texas and the Longhorns have long been a school that's caught his eye.


Life Oak Cliff 2029 ATH Sukora Cooper Jr.

(Photo: Jordan Scruggs, 247Sports)
If you've followed my work for any amount of time you'll know how little I care about prospects when they're still in middle school due to obvious reasons. However, Sukora Cooper Jr. is an exception. I entered today not knowing he even existed but that quickly changed once he was pointed out to me as an eighth grader playing in the 18u division at the tournament. Less than a minute later, Cooper went deep and caught a full length of the field touchdown pass on his team's first play of the drive.

North Texas has already offered and I would not be shocked to see more schools throw their hats in the ring before Cooper starts high school in August. Cooper is also already 6-foot-1 and likely has some growth ahead of him and if he's able to continue developing, he'll have a shot to end up as one of the top WR prospects in the state of Texas' 2029 class. Cooper is the first 2029 prospect I've noted down that doesn't have some familial tie to a former college or NFL player, and he's certainly a name to watch going forward for the Lone Star State's 2029 class.

 

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3 hours ago, Rimbo said:

i think you misunderstood what I was asking

I'm asking if hs coaches being upset at Texas recruiting OOS  was a thing

Yes, anyone who’s been around here long enough remembers that this was in fact a thing when Strong was here. We’d read articles about anonymous HS coaches bitching all the time.

It was all a bunch of bullshit, and the type of thing that only festers when the program is down. If Strong were a better coach, he would’ve been able to tell them to stfu.

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36 minutes ago, Lonestar88 said:

Yes, anyone who’s been around here long enough remembers that this was in fact a thing when Strong was here. We’d read articles about anonymous HS coaches bitching all the time.

It was all a bunch of bullshit, and the type of thing that only festers when the program is down. If Strong were a better coach, he would’ve been able to tell them to stfu.

Yep. Nobody's gonna tell our current staff, with their reputation, "No can do; I'm sending my best kids to A&M."

Heh. I'm laughing just thinking about it.

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1 hour ago, Lonestar88 said:

Yes, anyone who’s been around here long enough remembers that this was in fact a thing when Strong was here. We’d read articles about anonymous HS coaches bitching all the time.

It was all a bunch of bullshit, and the type of thing that only festers when the program is down. If Strong were a better coach, he would’ve been able to tell them to stfu.

Strong also had to follow Mack who was known as the Helobious of stroking Texas highschool football coaches. They weren’t ready for a less baby soft touch.

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57 minutes ago, SuckitKevin said:

High school coaches were much more important before NIL. They had more influence on kids, now it’s “family” members.

Their decline in relevance predates NIL. The rise of the street agent in the mid 00’s drove HS coaching relevance decline. NIL just iced it. 

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2 minutes ago, ClubWhatever said:

I think this is the guy Gerry said they are expecting to run a 10.4 100m.


Perhaps, but I just looked it up and he apparently doesn't run the 100m or the 200m, which I find surprising if he's actually a 10.4 100m guy. 

Tristen does have a 21'5" long jump, but Roy jumped 25'+ in high school.

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