Austin, TX — In one of the most seismic recruiting moments in recent college football memory, the No. 1 overall player in the nation — five-star phenom defensive end *Malachi “MJ” Reed* — has officially committed to the Texas Longhorns, choosing Austin over a final group that included Tennessee, LSU, and Georgia.
Reed, a 6’6”, 265-pound generational pass rusher out of Buford, Georgia, made the announcement Friday evening on ESPN in front of a packed gym and millions watching online. Dressed in a custom burnt orange suit and flashing a Longhorn hand sign, Reed simply said, “I’m home. Hook ‘em.”
This commitment is a defining moment for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns, who have now cemented their status as a national recruiting powerhouse heading into their SEC era.
**“Texas feels like family,”** Reed said during his announcement. “It’s not just about football — it’s about life after football, the way they develop their players, and how they made me feel from day one. I want to bring a championship to Austin.”
Reed’s commitment has long been the subject of intense speculation, with top-tier programs like Georgia and LSU once considered favorites due to their proximity and defensive pedigree. But a late surge by Texas — powered by elite player development, high-end NIL structure, and the allure of SEC competition — proved too strong to resist.
Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski was reportedly instrumental in the process, traveling multiple times to Georgia to build trust with Reed’s family and laying out a vision for Reed as the next great Longhorns edge rusher.
A freak athlete with a 4.55 40-yard dash, a 38-inch vertical, and jaw-dropping tape against elite competition, Reed is widely seen as a future top-5 NFL Draft pick. Scouts rave about his explosiveness, versatility, and relentless motor.
Reed becomes the crown jewel of Texas’ 2026 class, which now ranks No. 1 nationally following his pledge. The commitment also sends a strong message to the SEC that the Longhorns aren’t just joining the conference — they’re aiming to dominate it.
“This is a program-changing player,” said one national analyst. “Texas didn’t just land the top player — they beat the SEC’s elite to do it. That’s a statement.”
Within minutes of the announcement, “#MJtoTexas” and “HookEm” began trending on X, while Longhorn fans flooded message boards with celebration posts and championship hopes.
With Malachi Reed now leading the charge, the future in Austin looks brighter — and a whole lot scarier for the rest of the college football world.
