Five-star defensive tackle Justus Terry, the country’s top uncommitted 2025 prospect, committed to Texas on Friday, choosing the Longhorns over Georgia and Auburn on the final day of the three-day early commitment period.

Terry, No. 7 in the 2025 ESPN 300, entered Friday as the final unsigned five-star recruit in the class of 2025.

With his commitment, the 6-foot-1, 270-pound defenseman from Manchester, Georgia, becomes the highest-rated of 18 ESPN 300 signees in coach Steve Sarkisian’s new recruiting class, which began Friday, ranked No. 3 nationally in Coach Steve Sarkisian’s latest recruiting class ESPN landed rankings for the cycle. Terry joins Texas as the program’s second five-star signee in the 2025 class alongside star athlete Jonah Williams (No. 8 in the 2025 ESPN 300), marking the third straight cycle in which the Longhorns have signed two five-stars. candidates won.

Aided by Terry’s commitment, Texas jumped to No. 2 in the rankings, while Oregon took the top spot and Georgia fell to No. 3 in ESPN’s class rankings for the 2025 cycle on Friday.

A long-time, physical run stopper, Terry began his senior season this fall at Manchester, Georgia, totaling 116 tackles and 17 sacks in two varsity seasons. Terry, who committed to both Georgia and USC last year, reopened his recruitment in June when he withdrew his pledge from the Trojans and left Lincoln Riley’s 2025 class within the same 24 hours as Elijah Griffin (No. 6) , Georgia’s five-star defensive tackle signee in the ESPN 300), the nation’s leading defensive tackle.

Terry maintained an open recruitment throughout the fall, visiting Georgia, Texas and Auburn in October before concluding with an official visit to the Tigers on November 23rd. While the Bulldogs remained the favorites to keep Terry in his home state, Texas made an early move. Sources told ESPN that the signing period was confident in pursuing Terry before the Longhorns finally secured his commitment on Friday as the top-ranked member of the program’s 2025 class secured.

Between Terry and Williams — who is expected to play safety at Texas — the Longhorns are expected to add two five-star prospects to the top of a 2025 defensive class headlined by nine ESPN 300 defenders.

Terry leads a group of rookies on the defensive line that includes top-300 defensive ends Lance Jackson (No. 70 in the ESPN 300) and Smith Orogbo (No. 108), as well as defensive tackle Myron Charles (No. 180). ), who transferred from Florida State in September. Four-star cornerbacks Kade Phillips (No. 95) and Gracen Littleton (No. 101) join Williams in a defensive back class that also includes four-star safety Zelus Hicks (No. 72). is who was ESPN’s No. 1 safety in the 2026 cycle before being reclassified to the 2025 class last month.

Texas opened the early signing period on Wednesday by signing four-star athlete Michael Terry (No. 30 in the ESPN 300), who is one of the three top-30 prospects along with four-star pass catchers Jaime French and Kaliq Lockett Skill position is the Longhorns class of 2025.

The Longhorns finished the 2024 regular season 11-1 and landed at No. 2 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings. Texas will face No. 5 Georgia for the SEC Championship on Saturday night (4 p.m. ET, ABC) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.