No. 1 running back Derrek Cooper commits to Texas’ 2026 class

A few days after landing n ° 1 outside the second Tyler Atkinson, Texas obtained its last added five stars on Sunday when the coveted Rusher Derrek Cooper, the ESPN n ° 1 in the 2026 class, announced its commitment to the Longhorns.

Cooper, a 6-foot recruit 2 inches and 205 pounds from the Chaminade-Madonna PREPARATORY SCHOOL in Hollywood, Florida, is the seventh row prospect in ESPN 300 2026. After an unofficial trip to Texas in April, Cooper did not officially visit the program before choosing the longhorns rather than the Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State on Sunday evening.

Cooper’s father told ESPN that the presence of the rear race coach of Longhorns, Chad Scott, who replaced Tashard’s former assistant choice in February, and the versatile role of the Texas coach, Steve Sarkisian, presented Cooper in the offense of the program was at the top of the factors in the decision of his son.

“They talked about his skills and compared its construction to [former UT running back] Bijan Robinson, “said Corey Cooper in Espn.” They do not have a ball carrier like Derrek at the moment. They feel like they can do a lot with him. “”

Derrek Cooper is the fourth five -star engagement in the Longhorns 2026 class and continues a summer recruitment tear for the Longhorns, which have added 10 ESPN 300 commits since June 1.

Cooper’s commitment comes a few days after Texas decided Georgia for Atkinson’s commitment – n ° 14 in ESPN 300 of 2026 and prospect No. 1 in the state of Georgia – then overturned the defensive line of four -star Bulldogs, James Johnson (n ° 123 in total) later in the day.

Cooper is the second higher classified of six recruits among the first 100 engaged in the incoming class of Sarkisian, joining Atkinson, his compatriots of diaporn five stars Dia Bell (n ° 4) and Richard Wesley (n ° 11), and four stars John Turntine III (n ° 43) and Samari Matthews (n ° 99).

A tailed two -way star at Chaminade -Madonna Prep, Cooper only follows his compatriot Texas Gled Bell – Quarterrière n ° 1 of ESPN in 2026 – as a second -row recruit in Florida this cycle.

Cooper was credited with 124 races for 905 yards and 13 affected as a junior last fall while leading the preparation of Chaminade-Madonna to a 1A state championship. In 2024, he added 46 plated in total and four defense bags, where he was secondary and security.

Cooper will join a running back group potentially congested next year with up to five current Texas rushers eligible to return in 2026. However, with an elite ability to reduce the rear field, Cooper’s versatility could create early opportunities in a Longhorns offense which has systematically found intelligent means to use skill positions under the Sarkisien.

“He wants to run, he wants to be able to catch the ball out of the back field, he wants to line up with the broad receiver,” said Cooper’s father. “He wants to show that he has all the skills necessary to play at the next level, and they will let him do this in Texas.”

On Cooper’s commitment, the defensive winger Jake Kreul (n ° 22 in total) is the last uncommon player among the 23 ESPN five -star perspectives in 2026. Savion Hitter and Davian Groce, respectively the prospects for ball carrier n ° 2 and n ° 4 of ESPN are respectively the colors not engaged in 2026 ESPN 300.