Nation No. 3 RB Predicted to Commit to SEC Powerhouse

Nation No. 3 RB Predicted to Commit to SEC Powerhouse originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Many of the top recruits in the 2026 class are starting to decide which programs they will be starting their collegiate careers with, and one big-name prospect scheduled to commit soon is running back Derrek Cooper.

He has a long list of impressive programs to choose from, as he announced the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Florida State Seminoles, the Texas Longhorns, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Miami Hurricanes are the five finalists.

It's turning into an intense battle where only one team can emerge victorious, and on Saturday, On3's Stephen Wagner logged an expert prediction that Cooper would land within the SEC and commit to the Longhorns.

Cooper would, of course, be an exciting addition for head coach Steve Sarkisian, as On3 Industry Rankings place him as a four-star recruit, the No. 3 running back, the No. 3 player in Florida and the No. 34 player in the nation.

Last season for Chaminade-Madonna High School, he put up some solid numbers, rushing the ball 124 times for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns in 15 games, while also performing on defense with 46 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and four pass deflections.

Cooper potentially landing with Texas wouldn't come as too big of a surprise, because while talking to On3's Hayes Fawcett, he had some strong words for the team, saying, "I feel like I’m a high priority from where I’m standing and where they’re standing.”

However, what's interesting about Cooper's recruiting process is that of all the five finalists left standing to land his commitment, the Longhorns are the only team that didn't bring him in for an official visit.

Now, it will remain to be seen if Wagner's prediction becomes a reality, as the running back is set to announce his decision on Sunday.

If it is, then Cooper would be the first running back to join Texas' already impressive 2026 recruiting class, which features a total of 18 players, ranking No. 7 in the SEC and No. 15 in the nation.

Related: Alabama Receives Clear Message From Elite 5-Star EDGE Ahead of Decision Date

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.