Texas Heats Up For 5-Star Running Back

Texas football recruiting is moving like a runaway truck this summer, and five-star running back Landen Williams-Callis could be the next big name to jump on board.

Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns have caught fire since June 1, stacking 12 commitments and blasting their way into top-five class territory.

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The latest splash came from five-star prospect Ismael Camara, giving Texas three five-stars in the class.

Now, the buzz around Austin is getting louder because Williams-Callis, one of the most explosive running backs in the country, is trending toward the Longhorns.

The Richmond, Texas, standout has become one of the hottest names to watch in July.

Multiple recruiting predictions have swung in favor of Texas after his visit to Austin, including picks from Inside Texas analysts Justin Wells, Eric Nahlin and Charlie Williams.

That doesn’t guarantee anything, of course, but when the smoke gets this thick in recruiting, there’s usually fire nearby.

Williams-Callis may not look like a traditional bruising back at 5-8 and 190 pounds, but that’s missing the point. He’s not built to run through traffic forever. He’s built to make defenders panic, miss and chase.

His speed is real. As a sophomore, Williams-Callis clocked a 10.65 in the 100 meters and a 22.25 in the 200.

The bloodlines don’t hurt, either. Williams-Callis is related to former Oregon State stars Jacquizz Rodgers and James Rodgers, both of whom played in the NFL. His uncle, Michael Lewis, also played at the professional level. 

The production is impressive.

In 2025, Williams-Callis rushed for 3,502 yards and 59 touchdowns across 16 games at Richmond Randle, averaging 218.9 yards per game.

He also added 266 receiving yards, a receiving touchdown, a passing touchdown and a kick return score. Before that monster season, he had already piled up nearly 4,000 rushing yards and 66 touchdowns over his freshman and sophomore years.

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Texas still has competition. Houston and SMU are pushing, and both programs would love to steal an in-state five-star away from the Longhorns. But right now, Texas looks like the team with the edge.

If Sarkisian lands Williams-Callis, the Longhorns would add another five-star offensive weapon alongside Easton Royal — and this summer recruiting heater would get even louder.

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