Tennessee has been the long-time favorite in his recruitment but Texas is pushing hard.
Texas Trending for 2026 Four-Star LB Brayden Rouse originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Texas Longhorns could make a splash on the recruiting trail on Tuesday evening.
Four-star linebacker Brayden Rouse is set to announce his commitment on July 8 around 6 p.m. CT. Tennessee has been viewed as the long-time favorite in his recruitment, but On3's Steve Wiltfong believes Texas made a strong push this spring that could be enough to bring him to Austin.
"The buzz has grown around the Burnt Orange through the spring to this point in the summer and there are sources that believe Rouse ends up in Austin over Knoxville," Wiltfong said.
Alabama and Michigan are the other schools in the mix to land Rouse. The Kell High School product (Marietta, GA) is ranked the No. 4 linebacker in the nation and the No. 8 overall prospect in Georgia for the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports.
Rouse's most recent visits were an official to Tennessee on June 20 and an official to Texas on June 13. He reportedly enjoyed his visit to Austin and specifically took note of the culture head coach Steve Sarkisian has developed.
"I felt that I strengthened my relationships with the staff and it was key to get my family on campus to see everyone. They have a great culture and they have a tremendous amount of talent, which is the reason they have continued to be a national champion contender," Rouse said.
Texas currently holds the No. 12 overall recruiting class for the 2026 cycle per 247Sports. Adding Rouse would likely bump the Longhorns up to the No. 8 class.
Related: Three Longhorns Will Represent Texas at SEC Media Days
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
