Steve Sarkisian and Texas football have pulled off a major flip from an SEC rival.
Four-star defensive lineman James Johnson of Miami Northwestern High School in Miami announced his decision to flip his commitment from Kirby Smart and Georgia to the Longhorns on Tuesday, July 15. Johnson committed to the Bulldogs on June 28 over finalists Texas and Florida, among others.
The Longhorns reportedly finished runner-up to the Bulldogs in his initial recruitment and were able to flip the four-star recruit. The upcoming high school senior is listed at 6-foot-2, 285 pounds. He is a four-star recruit according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings.
Here’s what you need to know about Johnson’s decision to flip his commitment from the Bulldogs to the Longhorns:
James Johnson 247 Composite rating
- Star rating: Four stars
- National ranking: No. 69 overall
- Positional ranking: No. 8 defensive lineman
- State ranking: No. 10 player from Florida
Johnson is a four-star prospect out of Northwestern High School in Miami, according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings. He is the No. 69 overall prospect in the 2026 class, the No. 8 defensive line and the No. 10 player from Florida.
Texas 2026 recruiting class rankings
With the addition of Johnson, Texas’ 2026 recruiting class now holds 20 commitments. Johnson is the seventh-best recruit in the Longhorns’ class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Texas’ 2026 recruiting class sits No. 6 in the country, according to 247Sports, and is the fourth-best in the SEC.
Johnson’s flip wasn’t the only recruiting victory the Longhorns scored over the Bulldogs, however. Earlier on July 15, Steve Sarkisian and Co. were able to secure the commitment of linebacker Tyler Atkinson, the top-ranked linebacker and player in the state of Georgia for the 2026 recruiting class, as well as its No. 9 overall player. He, like Johnson, chose Texas over the finalist Bulldogs.
