Tyler Atkinson celebrated a commitment to the Longhorns.
Nation’s No. 1 LB Hails Texas’ Recruiting Surge After Landing Derrek Cooper originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Texas Longhorns are heating up on the recruiting trail, and five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson is all in on the momentum.
Atkinson, the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class who committed to Texas last week, took to social media to celebrate the Longhorns’ latest big win: a commitment from four-star prospect Derrek Cooper, the country's second-best running back according to On3.
“Building something special! @TexasFootball 📈💯 #HookEm 🤘,” Atkinson posted, making it clear he’s fired up about the future of Texas football.
Atkinson committed to Texas on Tuesday, choosing the Longhorns over a who’s who of college football powerhouses, including the Georgia Bulldogs, Clemson Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide and Ohio State Buckeyes.
Building something special! @TexasFootball 📈💯#HookEm🤘 https://t.co/vY03VQGp91
— Tyler Atkinson (@Tyler16Atkinson) July 21, 2025
His decision marked a huge win for head coach Steve Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, who made Atkinson a top priority. Known for his athleticism and football IQ, the Georgia native is viewed as a cornerstone for Texas’ 2026 defensive class.
Now, the addition of Cooper gives Atkinson and the Longhorns another key piece. Cooper, a highly regarded running back out of Florida, announced his commitment on Sunday. Last year, Cooper rushed for 905 yards and 13 touchdowns on 124 carries during his junior season at Chaminade-Madonna (FL).
He adds to a growing list of top talent joining the Horns, including recent commits like quarterback Dia Bell and EDGE Richard Wesley, both top-tier prospects at their respective positions.
Texas’ recruiting class sits at No. 4 in Rivals' team rankings, and reactions like Atkinson’s show that the current commits are locked in and excited about who’s joining them in Austin.
With Atkinson already setting the tone for the class and helping build momentum, Texas fans have every reason to be optimistic. The Longhorns aren’t just stacking talent, they’re building serious chemistry, and Atkinson’s post is a rallying cry for what’s ahead.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
