Texas Longhorns Could Be Major Contender For Top RB After De-Commitment From Rivals

After one of the top running backs in the country decommitted from the Oklahoma Sooners, the Texas Longhorns become contenders to land him

Top Running Back Recruit Micah Rhodes at a Texas Longhorns football camp | Micah Rhodes (@themicahrhodes) on X

The Texas Longhorns are in the middle of spring camp, looking to identify their roster and learn more about their identity ahead of the 2026 season, in their quest to be one of the top teams in the country and win a National Championship.

They may have already gotten one win already, though, after Micah Rhodes de-comitted from their rivals up North in the Oklahoma Sooners. The Longhorns are expected to be major players for the top prospect now that his recruitment has reopened.

With other major schools expected to play a role in his recruitment. I caught up with Rhodes and he gave the Texas Longhorns On SI some details about where the Longhorns stand for him now that he is looking for a school again.

Not the Only Major Player

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks on prior to a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Rhodes was one of the most sought-after running backs in the country prior to his commitment to the Sooners, ranking as the number one running back prospect in the 2028 cycle and number two from the state of Texas according to 247Sports.

After Sooners running back coach DeMarco Murray left to take a role with the Kansas City Chiefs, Rhodes decommitted, citing on X that, with Murray gone, he felt it was the best decision for him to reopen his commitment, as Murray had played a massive role. Now with the Sooners gone, the Longhorns are going to be major players in landing the top in-state talent.

"They are a major player already. Just not the only major player, but they are one of them for sure," Rhodes told me about where the Longhorns stand in his recruitment process now following his decision with the Sooners.

Getting Rhodes back on campus now will be a priority for head coach Steve Sarkisian, as he continues to put the Longhorns in a spot to have one of the top recruiting classes every year of his tenure. That won't be a problem, though, for Rhodes, who looks forward to getting back to the Forty Acres.

"Yes, I have a couple visits back I have planned," Rhodes told the Texas Longhorns On SI about getting back on campus, especially after his last time there. "The visit this last time I went was by far my best visit to UT."

There is still plenty of time before the 2028 cycle has to make its decision about what program they will commit to, and the Longhorns are still in search of their first commitment in the cycle. Landing Rhodes though, would be an ideal way for Sarkisian and his staff to kick off their class for that cycle.

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