Texas Longhorns add new 5-star weapon to 2025 defense

It's not every day that a school finds a prospect who has the potential to become a true generational athleteBut that's exactly what Steve Sarkisian and the Texas football program managed to do when 2025 standout Jonah Williams committed to the Longhorns on Saturday night, according to a tweet from On3's Hayes Fawcett.

The No. 7 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, Jonah Williams is ranked by some outlets as a safety and others as a linebacker, meaning the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Williams has the makings of a prospect who will be able to play all over the field. 247Sports analyst Hunter Standish described Williams as “a modern defensive chess piece who can move all over the defense while maintaining his effectiveness against a wide range of offensive schemes and play styles.” Based on his size, skill set and athleticism, it seems fitting that someone like Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Kyle Hamilton, who Williams himself has said he tries to model his game after, would be an appropriate comparison for the 17-year-old.

But it's not enough that Jonah Williams is potentially a transcendent defensive player. Sure, during his junior season, Williams was named the Texas District 9-5A DI Defensive Player of the Year, but he also had 22 offensive touches for over 600 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. And hey, did I mention he's also one of the top baseball recruits in the country?

Steve Sarkisian prepares top recruiting class for Texas Longhorns in 2025

Jonah Williams is arguably the crown jewel of the Texas Longhorns' 2025 recruiting class, but he's not the only incoming player worth celebrating. The Longhorns currently have the No. 7-ranked 2025 recruiting class, and prior to Williams' commitment, it was wide receiver Kaliq Lockett who was Steve Sarkisian's top recruit. Lockett, the No. 2 receiver and No. 12 overall pick in the class, committed to the Longhorns earlier this month, joining a class that already included seven top-200 players.

For Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns, those big recruiting wins are more necessary than ever. Ranked above the Longhorns in the 2025 recruiting class rankings are the Ohio State Buckeyes, who are on a prolonged recruiting streak, and then five SEC programs.

The Longhorns haven't even been able to consistently stay in the Big 12 over the past decade, so moving to the SEC will be a challenge. But so far, everything Steve Sarkisian has done since arriving in Austin has put the Longhorns in a better position to consistently stay at the top of the sport.