Longhorns Country

Texas Hosting Elite 4-Star Edge Rusher For SEC Opener

The Texas Longhorns are continuing to bring talented recruiting targets to DKR to soak in all the action.
Zach Dimmitt|
Sep 7, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian on the sideline in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Sep 7, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian on the sideline in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

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Texas Longhorns

AUSTIN -- The Texas Longhorns are hosting some top-tier talent at DKR on Saturday for their SEC opener against Mississippi State.

Per an announcement on his X (Twitter) account Saturday, 2026 Duncanville four-star edge rusher Kevin "KJ" Ford Jr. said he'll be in Austin to watch the Longhorns take on the Bulldogs.

"I’ll be at Texas today," Ford Jr. tweeted.

A two-time state champion at prestigious Duncanville High School, Ford Jr. is a teammate of former Texas five-star recruiting target and Oregon receiver commit Dakorien Moore. Per 247Sports' player rankings, Ford Jr. is the No. 9 overall player in Texas and the No. 8 edge rusher in the 2026 class.

He's received offers from programs like LSU, Florida, Oklahoma, Miami, Penn State, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, USC, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, UCF and many more.

Ford Jr., who stands at 6-3, 225 pounds, attended Texas Longhorns camp this past June and appears to be building a solid relationship with the coaching staff given that he's now taking another trip to Austin.

According to 247's scouting report of Ford Jr., he has the potential to be a "high-major, front-line edge defender."

"Segmented mover who's still developing fluidity and body control, as well as consistency in snap anticipation," wrote 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks. "Early returns reveal a high-major front-line edge defender who can stay on the field in all situations."

The Longhorns currently have three commits in the 2026 class. Four-star American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, FL) quarterback Dia Bell got things rolling when he committed on June 17 before three-star Shadow Creek (Pearland, TX) receiver Chris Stewart announced his commitment shortly after on June 25.

Four-star Carrollton (Georgia) safety Zelus Hicks is the most recent commit for Texas in the 2026 class, as he announced his decision on Sept. 12 a few days after the Longhorns beat then-No. 10 Michigan, 31-12.

No. 1 Texas and Mississippi State will kick off from Austin on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. CT.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

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