News Summary
The Texas Longhorns baseball and football programs have made significant offseason improvements by acquiring key transfers and elite recruits. Baseball head coach Jim Schlossnagle has added outfielder Ashton Larson from LSU, enhancing the team’s roster after recent player departures. Meanwhile, in football, five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson has committed to Texas, elevating the Longhorns’ recruiting efforts. Both programs are focused on building competitive teams to reclaim success in their respective seasons.
Austin, Texas – The Texas Longhorns baseball and football programs have made significant strides during the offseason, landing key transfers and elite recruits to bolster their rosters. This proactive approach reflects the commitment to maintaining high competitiveness in both sports as they look toward future success.
The Texas Longhorns baseball team, under the guidance of head coach Jim Schlossnagle, has effectively utilized the transfer portal to enhance its player roster. The latest addition is outfielder Ashton Larson, who comes from LSU, where he played for two seasons. Although Larson had limited action in 2025, participating in just 34 games, his freshman year showcased his potential with a batting average of .298 and a .401 on-base percentage.
During his sophomore year, Larson faced challenges, ending the season with a batting average of .256, three doubles, two home runs, and 12 RBIs. His addition is timely as the Longhorns needed to improve their outfield depth, following the losses of players Max Belyeu and Kaleb Freeman to the MLB Draft and Tommy Farmer IV and Will Gasparino entering the transfer portal.
Larson is part of an impressive transfer class that includes catcher Carson Tinney from Notre Dame and shortstop Temo Becerra from Stanford. In the previous season, the Longhorns secured the regular season SEC title but missed out on a college world series appearance, making the strengthening of their lineup vital for upcoming competitions.
In the football realm, the Longhorns celebrated a significant commitment from five-star linebacker Tyler Atkinson, who announced his decision during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Atkinson is regarded as the No. 1 outside linebacker and ranks 14th overall in the 2026 ESPN 300. His commitment adds an additional layer of strength to Texas’s recruiting efforts and its growing reputation as a destination for top-tier talent.
Choosing Texas over prominent SEC programs including Clemson, Georgia, and Oregon, Atkinson stands out as a three-year starter at Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. Over his high school career, he has recorded 483 tackles, 93 hurries, and 31.5 sacks since 2022. In his most recent season, he racked up 174 tackles and 13 sacks, helping his team to a 14-1 record and achieving a state championship.
Atkinson’s decision highlights the competitive landscape between Texas and Georgia for elite recruits, noting that Georgia was seen as a leading contender throughout much of his recruitment process. He joins a strong recruiting class for the Longhorns, which already includes five-star quarterback Dia Bell and defensive end Richard Wesley.
Currently, two five-star recruits from the 2026 class remain uncommitted, and the Longhorns are actively pursuing running back Derrek Cooper, who is expected to announce his choice soon. These developments underscore the Longhorns’ drive to position themselves as a formidable force in both the college baseball and football arenas as they aim for titles.
This offseason activity emphasizes the strategic focus of both the baseball and football programs at Texas, aiming not only to recover from past challenges but also to set the stage for future triumphs as they prepare for the upcoming seasons.
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Additional Resources
- ESPN: Tyler Atkinson Commits to Texas Longhorns
- Wikipedia: Texas Longhorns
- On3: Texas Longhorns Recruiting Intel
- Google Search: Texas Longhorns football recruiting
- Burnt Orange Nation: James Johnson Commits to Texas Longhorns
- Google Scholar: Texas Longhorns baseball program
- Longhorns Wire: James Johnson Flip
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College Football
- 247Sports: Tyler Atkinson Commits to Texas
- Google News: Texas Longhorns baseball recruiting
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