Texas Longhorns bolster their defense with talented cornerback
For the second straight Friday, the Texas Longhorns have added to their 2026 class. Texas landed a commitment from cornerback Hayward Howard. The four-star prospect is ranked as the tenth-best player in the state of Louisiana and the 33rd-best cornerback in his class.
While Howard drew interest from some of the top programs in the country, the Longhorns made a strong impression when he visited in April. During that trip, Howard was able to connect with the coaching staff. That helped push the Longhorns to the top of his list.
“The coaches (stood out), coach (Mark) Orphey, coach (Steve Sarkisian),” told Orangebloods Senior Editor Jason Suchomel. “I didn’t think Sark was really chill, but he’s real chill and upfront. I like coach Orphey. He’s cool. I bonded with him,” Howard said. “They made me feel at home.”
Texas also faced competition from LSU, Florida State, and Miami during the recruiting process. He will join a 2026 Longhorns class that is shaping up to be one of the top in the country. It includes five-star QB Dia Bell, four-star receiver Chris Stewart, four-star offensive linemen Max Wright and Nicolas Robertson, and long-snapper Trott O’Neal. Adding a defensive player like Howard fills a need for Texas.
With plenty of prospects still in the mix, the Longhorns 2026 class ranks No. 19 overall in the country and No. 9 in the SEC, according to On3. That should continue to rise as the Longhorns add more talent. The Longhorns now have one less position to worry about with Howard in the mix.
While Texas fans will have to wait a bit for Howard to make his collegiate debut, it should be worth the wait. He has the tools to have a successful career and should be a key piece of Steve Sarkisian’s defense.
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Source link : https://longhornswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/longhorns/2025/05/09/texas-lands-commitment-from-four-star-cb-hayward-howard/83539875007/
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Publish date : 2025-05-09 20:09:00
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