Terry’s commitment provided Texas with a significant achievement in their first year of SEC play.
Texas made a major move during the early signing period by securing a pledge from five-star defensive lineman Justus Terry, who chose the Longhorns over Georgia, his home-state team. This commitment strengthens Texas’ impressive 2025 class, currently ranked No. 1 in the 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings.
247Sports predicts that Texas will maintain its No. 1 ranking, marking the first time in the company’s history (since 2010) that the Longhorns secure the top recruiting class. This marks the 17th straight season that an SEC team has finished with the nation’s top class. Texas signed two top-10 players and seven top-50 recruits.
Terry, ranked No. 9 nationally, made his commitment after a tumultuous recruitment process that included a brief switch from Georgia to USC before he reopened his recruitment. Despite being only about three hours from Athens, Georgia, Terry visited the Bulldogs in the summer and Georgia had five 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions to land him. However, Texas continued to recruit hard, hosting Terry for an official visit during the weekend of October 19. Though Texas lost to Georgia 30-15 that weekend, the Longhorns’ efforts were enough to secure his commitment, even after a late visit to Auburn.
Terry’s commitment is particularly significant as it comes just one day before the SEC Championship Game between Texas (No. 2) and Georgia (No. 5). In their first SEC season, Texas finished 7-1 in conference play.
Texas also secured signatures from 16 Top247 recruits, tying Oregon for the most in the 2025 cycle. Along with Terry, the Longhorns landed four five-star players during the early signing period. Additionally, Texas had a notable week with the flips of top-40 cornerback Kade Phillips from LSU on Tuesday, and five-star athlete Michael Terry III committing on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.
Horns247 recruiting analyst Hank South praised Texas’ efforts, saying, “Steve Sarkisian and his staff stayed focused throughout the 2025 cycle. Their persistence and a strong 2024 season helped the Longhorns overcome a summer slowdown and finish with the No. 1 class. Sark wasn’t worried about the summer months, confident that Texas would close strong as they typically do.”
South continued, “While NIL is a factor, it’s now legal for all schools, and Texas has used its combination of strong relationships and resources to lead the way in college football.”
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