Texas Longhorns Make Surprising Move to Secure Elite 2027 Recruit—What It Means for College Football’s Future

Sunday afternoon saw the Texas Longhorns stirring the recruiting pot, extending offers to a handful of promising talents slated for the 2027 class—among them, the sharp-eyed defensive back Eli Johnson. This Houston native hasn’t just caught eyes locally; he’s sparking interest across powerhouse programs nationwide. With offers already in hand from schools like Houston, Florida State, and Baylor, Texas is now staking its claim in this fast-moving race. Ranked 14th among safeties and 24th in Texas by 247Sports, Johnson’s future remains wide open, his commitment date still on the horizon. His excitement? Plain as day—he took to social media to celebrate his 20th offer, with Texas Football proudly in the mix. In a recruiting class with only one commitment so far, securing Johnson could pair him with linebacker Taven Epps to forge a formidable defense. The next move? Drawing Johnson onto the Texas campus to give him a firsthand glimpse of what his Longhorn legacy might look like, as Coach Sarkisian and his staff roll out the welcome mat. Texas has a knack for grooming defensive backs, and Johnson’s the latest prospect they’re eager to develop. LEARN MOREThe Longhorns 2027 class only has one commitment so far in Taven Epps. The four-star recruit is ranked as the fifth-best linebacker in his class. If Johnson chose Texas, a defense that includes Epps and Johnson would make life hard for offensive coordinators. Although the Longhorns still have plenty of time to add talent, they have made their interest in Johnson clear. Their next step will be to get Johnson to campus for a visit. That will give Steve Sarkisian and his coaching staff a chance to provide Johnson with a preview of what his future could hold as a Longhorn.At the moment, Johnson has received offers from Houston, Florida State, Colorado State, California, and Baylor. He is ranked as the 14th-best safety and the 24th player from the Lone star state in his class by 247Sports. That could change over the next few months, as Johnson has not set a commitment date.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @LonghornsWire.On Sunday afternoon, the Texas Longhorns were busy on the recruiting trail. They made offers to multiple prospects in the 2027 class, including talented defensive back Eli Johnson. The Texas native has drawn interest from some of the top programs in the nation, and now the Longhorns have entered the mix. 

While many schools are still in the mix, Johnson did not hide his excitement about receiving an offer from Texas on social media. In a post on his X account, the Steele High School product said, ” Beyond blessed to receive my 20th offer from Texas Football.” 

Over the last few years, the Longhorns have excelled at developing defensive backs and have chosen Johnson as their next target.