No. 1 ATH Jermaine Bishop commits to Texas as latest win in Steve Sarkisian's measured recruiting approach
Texas added a major commitment to its 2026 recruiting class as Jermaine Bishop, 247Sports' No. 1-ranked athlete in the cycle, committed to the Longhorns. The Willis, Texas, native received strong interest from Houston, Texas A&M and USC, but ultimately decided to join Steve Sarkisian's program in Austin.
Bishop is one of the fastest risers in the class and was named to the initial group of five-star prospects in the Top247 rankings on Wednesday. The rising senior is rated the No. 25 player in the country and No. 3 player in Texas. Despite his slight 5-foot-11 and 155-pound size, the physical gifts jump off the page.
"He's one of the best pure football players in the country," 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks said. "If you're looking for an impact level on a 1-10 scale, Bishop's commitment would be a 10. For programs competing on a national level, he represents a class-leading receiver or class-leading defensive back in our eyes."
Bishop is likely the best two-way high school prospect since Travis Hunter. Brooks had more to say about his fit on the Horns247 message board, telling fans Bishop reminds him of Jordan Addison as a receiver and Travis Hunter as a cornerback/athlete.
Bishop is one of the most fascinating players in the country as a potential two-way player at the college level. In two years, he has made a name for himself as one of the best wide receivers in Texas history with nearly 3,000 yards and 35 touchdowns. However, he might have even more upside on defense long term as a major cornerback prospect.
"Being able to watch Travis Hunter do that at the college level was great for me," Bishop told 247Sports. "Now that people know that it's possible to do it, they know it can be done at that level. It was an eye-opening experience for the rest of the world."
Needless to say, getting those chances at Colorado is different than Texas. The Longhorns have one of the most stacked receiver rooms in the country and are loading up on NFL defensive back talent. However, Bishop -- the cousin of former Kansas State legend Michael Bishop -- has the skills to contend for that level of production.
With the commitment of Bishop, Texas has only seven commitments in the Class of 2026. Two of them, however, are five-star prospects with Bishop and quarterback Dia Bell. Another commitment is Trott O'Neal, a long-snapper. Because of their approach, Texas only has the No. 30 recruiting class in the country and No. 8 in the SEC.
However, if the 2025 class is any indication, there's little reason to doom about the situation. Sarkisian and his staff have taken a measured approach to recruiting in the NIL era. In July last year, Texas sat with the No. 10 class in the SEC. They went on to sign the first No. 1 class in program history. Four of the nine top-100 players in the class signed in December.
Bishop and Bell are the foundation of the 2026 recruiting class. Even if recruits don't swarm in immediately, Texas has a knack for swooping in at the end.
Horns247 has one of the most experienced journalists in the Texas market in Chip Brown. The site has broken countless stories over the last two decades. Newcomer Eric Henry has already made his presence felt in the market, and Hank South and Jordan Scruggs have Longhorns recruiting on lockdown. Sign up for a VIP membership now and join the conversation on The Flagship!
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