Derrek Cooper, a five-star running back from Hollywood’s Chaminade‑Madonna Prep, has officially committed to the Texas Longhorns, marking a major win in the program’s national recruiting drive. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Cooper is ranked No. 29 in ESPN’s 2026 ESPN 300, the No. 1 RB nationally for ESPN and No. 2 RB in the country via the 247Sports composite rankings. He stands as the No. 2 recruit in Florida, second only to Texas teammate Dia Bell.
Cooper chose Texas over powerhouse programs including Florida State, Miami, Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama—a sweep that highlights Texas’s growing recruiting presence in the Sunshine State. His dynamic junior-year season featured 905 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on just 124 carries (a 7.3 yards per carry average), and he also registered 46 tackles and four sacks on defense, helping lead his team to a state title.
As Cooper becomes the fourth five-star in Texas’s 2026 class, following earlier pledges from quarterback Dia Bell (American Heritage), linebacker Tyler Atkinson, and defensive lineman Richard Wesley, Texas has vaulted to a consensus top-5 nationally ranked class.
Cooper joins a string of Florida prospects heading to Austin: Bell, a five-star QB ranked No. 2 at his position by 247Sports, committed in June 2024; defensive lineman James Johnson out of Miami Northwestern flipped from Georgia; and Richard Wesley—also hailing from the Sunshine State—has reinforced Texas’s defensive depth.
The surge of Floridian talent signifies Texas’s intentional pivot toward Southeastern recruiting footprints. Since joining the SEC, the Longhorns have secured ten 2026 commits from SEC-region talent, including six top-100 prospects from Florida and Georgia alone.
What Cooper Brings
- Versatile athletic profile: Listed at 6-2 and 205 pounds, Cooper’s junior campaign showcased rare athleticism—he played both sides of the ball and stands out in sprint events.
- Playmaking potential: A dynamic runner who averages over seven yards per carry, he also offers receiving skills and physicality capable of challenging SEC defenses early.
Florida Pipeline Impact
- Built‑in chemistry: Cooper arrives alongside fellow Floridians like QB Dia Bell and DL James Johnson, creating positional and personal continuity in their transition to Austin.
- Strategic depth: Cooper shoots a hole in the RB room, needing explosive talent, while defensive additions like Johnson and Wesley complement Texas’s SEC roster-building efforts.
- Recruiting credibility: Securing four top-100 Florida players shows Texas is now a go-to destination—even over Florida’s flagship programs.
As the Longhorns gear up for life in the SEC, Derrek Cooper’s commitment caps a significant Florida recruiting haul. His signing, along with other Sunshine State standouts, sends a clear signal: Texas is now highly competitive in high-tier Southeast recruiting. The pipeline is operational—and overflowing.
