The Longhorns are starting to generate some recruiting momentum heading into summer official visits.
For the second time in the last week, the Texas Longhorns have added a prospective defensive back to the 2026 recruiting class with Wednesday’s commitment of Willis athlete Jermaine Bishop Jr., who projects as a cornerback on the Forty Acres.
BREAKING: Elite 2026 ATH Jermaine Bishop Jr. has Committed to Texas, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’0 170 ATH from Willis, TX chose the Longhorns over Texas A&M, Florida, & USC
“I’ve been doing it since 3, why would I stop now ”https://t.co/Xmi29RM7vb pic.twitter.com/1SEVaC4il3
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) May 14, 2025
The 5’11, 155-pounder chose Texas over Florida, Texas A&M, and USC in addition to having an official visit scheduled to Houston. Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, and Texas Tech were among the other schools to offer the Willis product.
A visit to Austin for a January Junior Day helped the Longhorns surge into pole position for Bishop, who is regarded as one of the best two-way players in the country and was recently elevated into a five-star prospect by 247Sports.
As a junior, Bishop had 83 receptions for 1,565 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense and recorded three interceptions and two forced fumbles on defense. Bishop broke onto the scene as a sophomore with 17 touchdown receptions and five interceptions.
Ranked as a consensus four-star prospect, Bishop is the No. 139 player nationally and the No. 8 athlete, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. 247Sports regards him as the nation’s No. 1 athlete and the No. 25 player overall.
The skepticism about Bishop as a prospect, as evidenced by his composite ranking and the lack of a nationally elite offer list, is a result of his extremely lean build, potentially limited frame, and lack of verified elite speed. Bishop’s play in pads tells a different story, however — he’s a fluid, natural athlete with strong change-of-direction ability and enough at the top end to run away from 6A defenders in addition to the necessary physicality to project as an SEC cornerback. Bishop is also a dangerous punt returner.
Bishop is the seventh commitment in the 2026 recruiting class for the Longhorns and the second defender, joining New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr cornerback Hayward Howard Jr., who pledged on Friday.