Texas lands second linebacker flip as 2027 class grows

Texas football added its second linebacker commitment in a single week on Thursday when Jason Crenshaw Jr. switched his pledge from Georgia Tech. This move follows the recent switch by RJ Hudson from Clemson, giving the Longhorns two new players in a position that had gone a year without recruits.

Both recruits fit the schematic needs of defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Crenshaw, a 6-foot-2, 222-pound three-star athlete from the Montgomery, Alabama suburbs, joins a 2027 class of 23 pledges. The group currently ranks No. 8 in 247 Sports composite ratings, but the linebacker spots were empty until this week.

The urgency behind these signings stems from the current roster structure. Starters Rasheem Biles and Justin Cryer are seniors who will return for a fifth season under new NCAA eligibility rules. Behind that pair, the team has limited depth, a gap exposed during last week's victory over Ole Miss.

In that game, Biles and Cryer played all 85 defensive snaps. The Longhorns had signed three linebackers in the 2026 cycle, leaving the 2027 class devoid of the position until Hudson and Crenshaw arrived. Their additions directly address the thin bench at the back of the defense.

Crenshaw brings strong production from his senior year at Prattville High School in Alabama. The 9-0 Lions' linebacker recorded 56 tackles, including 19 for a loss and eight sacks. His statistics and size profile align with the physical profile Texas seeks to replace aging veterans.