Texas Longhorns Secure Surprise 4-Star 2026 Cornerback Commitment—What This Could Mean for Their Future Defense
Alright, let me ask you this — how often do you see a program sitting pretty inside the top three of preseason polls, yet already have one eye on the future like an NBA team planning its next big trade? That’s exactly where Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns find themselves heading into the 2025 season. While everyone’s buzzing about their current playoff potential, Sark’s staff isn’t hitting pause; they’re already securing the foundation for 2026 with a juicy new addition — a 6-foot-3, 180-pound 4-star cornerback out of New Orleans named Hayward Howard Jr. Choosing the Longhorns over heavy hitters like Miami, Florida State, and even his home state’s LSU — well, let’s just say Texas is making serious waves on the recruiting trail. But here’s the kicker: with Arch Manning ready to step into the spotlight and a freshman class ranked No. 1 nationally on deck, the question isn’t just about next year’s gridiron glory. It’s whether this Longhorns team can sustain greatness after losing a dozen players to the NFL. I mean — replacing stars like Kelvin Banks Jr. and multiple defensive stalwarts? Not for the faint of heart. Yet, Sarkisian’s stacking talent like a chess master eyeing that checkmate. So, can Texas ride this recruiting wave to reignite its national title aspirations? The Longhorns are certainly back to making us all lean in a little closer.
Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns football program are poised for a big 2025 season as they are ranked in the top three of most preseason polls. However, the coaching staff is thinking about the future as well as they continue to build their 2026 recruiting class. The latest addition is a 4-star cornerback from Louisiana, Hayward Howard Jr.
Howard, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound CB from New Orleans, chose Texas over Miami, Florida State, and LSU, his home-state squad, per On3’s Hayes Fawcett.
National Signing Day for the Class of 2026 is still about a year away, but Howard gives Texas another major commitment to a group headlined by quarterback Dia Bell, the No. 5-ranked signal-caller in the country.
With the future of Texas football looking strong thanks to Hayward Howard Jr. and others, Longhorns Nation turns its attention to the upcoming campaign and, maybe more importantly, on a national scale, the start of the Arch Manning era.
Manning is the most hyped quarterback prospect to take the field in the SEC since his famed uncles made their starting debuts at Tennessee and Ole Miss over two decades ago. And he will do so without a ton of players who helped Steve Sarkisian, Quinn Ewers, and the rest of the 2024 Texas Longhorns football team reach the College Football Playoffs semifinals before falling to the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes.
In addition to Manning taking over for Ewers under center, Texas will have to find a way to replace 12 players taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. This list includes the team’s left tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr., two wide receivers in Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond, and a ton of defensive talent such as Jahdae Barron, Alfred Collins, Andrew Mukuba, and Barryn Sorrell.
The good news is, in addition to Manning, Sarkisian has the No. 1 freshman recruiting class in the country coming in this season, according to 247Sports.
Five-star recruits like safety Jonah Williams, defensive tackle Justus Terry, and WR Kaliq Lockett will help fill the void left by the likes of Barron, Golden, and Collins.
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