2026 Recruiting Board/Thread

[shotime73]

From a poster on another board. I agree with the thoughts here.

"I think we're going to find out soon that CFB players will have higher compensation than many pros. CFB fans are far more invested in their teams than pro fans. There's only a 4-year window to play CFB. A 4th year All-American TE would have far more value for the stakeholders at Michigan than being 2nd string TE for the Bengals.

Our calculations have been based on a comparison to salaries in the NFL. I think that's about as relevant as salaries in MLB. It's a completely different economic calculus. A college player could absolutely have more value than an NFL player.

And most college players aren't playing in the NFL anyway. There will be million dollar players in CFB who never play a snap in the NFL."

I agree with that statement

 

[Sirhornsalot]

That's a good sign for the good guys, right?

Yes, Kate's appearance yesterday was for him.

 

[BWilk55]

For those who claimed contracts will eventually clean up NIL, well, things got interesting...or murkier.

Wisconsin Files Suit Against Miami

"The contracts between Wisconsin and their athletes give the school the nonexclusive rights to use a player's NIL in promotions. Part of the deal, according to the lawsuit, prohibits an athlete from making any commitments to enroll or play sports at other schools. The lawsuit says Wisconsin had a reasonable expectation that Lucas would "continue to participate as a member of its football program" until the deal ended.

However, according to several contracts between Big Ten schools and their players that ESPN has previously reviewed, these deals explicitly state that athletes are not being paid to play football for the university. Since the school is technically paying only to use the player's NIL rights, it's not clear if a judge will consider it fair to enforce a part of the contract that dictates where the player attends school."

This was the key excerpt I thought. What can and what can't these contracts do. And how does that change next year under the house settlement?

 

[Baron]

One more hour for the Vodney Cleveland commitment.

 

[texbound]

One more hour for the Vodney Cleveland commitment.

Are we thinking this will be for the good guys? If so, then that would already be a nice DL haul as is to backup last year's crop. Anything would be a cherry on top

 

[HORNS GUY]

Are we thinking this will be for the good guys? If so, then that would already be a nice DL haul as is to backup last year's crop. Anything would be a cherry on top

Yes

 

[HORNS GUY]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Interestting take on the Jalen Lott saga. The issue here isn't just that we won't match USC's offer, it's that Lott wants to play WR and Texas thinks he's a CB. Read the post below from another board:

"He’s not the top WR on the board…not even close. There’s a reason Texas was recruiting him as a CB for the longest time, and only changed tactics because the recruitment would’ve ended otherwise.

Missing on Lott may turn out to be a really good thing for Texas, if the money saved on Lott can help to win the D.Benjamin recruitment instead. S.Matthews and D.Benjamin are both better CB prospects than Lott, and Bishop and Finley are the better WR prospects than Lott.

Lott is an elite athlete who projects as a CB in college, but chooses to pretend he’s a WR. Why do you think Texas isn’t bothering to match USC’s money offer? Think it through. I’m not upset at all that Lott takes USC (or Oregon) money and plays WR."

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Longhorns receive commitment from massive 4-star DL Vodney Cleveland

The Longhorns added more beef to Kenny Baker's defensive line on Saturday, going east and reaching into the state of

hornsports.com

Longhorns receive commitment from massive 4-star DL Vodney Cleveland​

by HornSports Staff

June 21, 2025

in Texas Longhorns Football, Texas Longhorns Recruiting

Reading Time: 2 mins read



The Longhorns added more beef to Kenny Baker’s defensive line on Saturday, going east and reaching into the state of Alabama to secure a commitment from 4-star lineman Vodney Cleveland. Cleveland, a 6-4, 308 lb. native of Prattville, Alabama, was offered by the Longhorns last spring and took his official visit to Austin last weekend.

Cleveland, who attends Parker High School in Birmingham, is ranked as the 8th best player in the state of Alabama, the 18th best defensive lineman in the country and the 141st best overall player in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

247Sports National Recruiting Coordinator Cooper Petagna’s assessment of Cleveland:

Quick twitch explosive interior defensive lineman that shows the ability to consistently win with first step quickness and power at the point of attack. Possesses a collegiate ready frame, verified north of 300-pounds that should help him transition to the collegiate game with relative ease. Plays predominantly in an odd front at Parker High School, displaying the ability to play multiple positions on the defensive line, including nose tackle. Plays with outstanding force on the interior, exhibiting the ability to take on and defeat double teams in the run game while also demonstrating a unique ability to generate pass rush as evidenced by his 5.5 sacks as a junior. High floor prospect that projects as an impact starter at the Power Four level possessing the frame and physical ability to provide immediate value on Saturdays.

Cooper Petagna

He received offers from more than 40 programs including Georgia, Auburn, Ohio State, USC, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Michigan, Florida and Alabama among others.

Cleveland joins out-of-staters Dylan Berymon (6-2, 315 lbs. – Monroe, Louisiana) and Corey Wells (6-5, 300 lbs. – Petal, Mississippi) as defensive line commits in the 2026 recruiting class.

 

[Sunkist]

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Smart kid

 

[Baron]

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Who committed yesterday? Is it still a silent because 247 has no one listed.

 

[Baron]

The Vodney commitment has vaulted Texas up to twelve on the team recruiting rankings.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

Who committed yesterday? Is it still a silent because 247 has no one listed.

Speigleman edited that out of the tweet at some point today so it sounds like we have another one in the bag. He mistakenly thought it had been announced already.

 

[texbound]

Speigleman edited that out of the tweet at some point today so it sounds like we have another one in the bag. He mistakenly thought it had been announced already.

Ok, because I thought I was going crazy.

 

[HORNS GUY]

 

[texbound]

That would be one hell of a DL class. All talented, all still needing development and all hungry. Most of them can sit a year, but if one surprises then great.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[HORNS GUY]