Texas just received a significant boost to its 2025 recruiting class as four-star safety Zelus Hicks, originally in the 2026 class, has announced he will reclassify and enroll at Texas in 2025. Committed to the Longhorns since September, Hicks chose Texas over other powerhouse programs, including Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Miami, and Ohio State.
Hicks, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound safety from Carrollton, Georgia, was ranked as the No. 3 safety and No. 29 overall player in the 2026 class by 247Sports. ESPN also listed him as the No. 18 player and the No. 1 safety in his class. His reclassification adds elite talent to Texas’s secondary, giving the Longhorns two of the top safeties in the country for 2025 alongside Jonah Williams, another top recruit from Galveston Ball.
Hicks’ physical presence and athleticism are expected to make an immediate impact for Texas, strengthening a defense that is already gaining national recognition. This reclassification is a major recruiting win for Texas, positioning the Longhorns well in the coming years as they continue building toward sustained success in the SEC
