Texas lost its lone 2027 linebacker commit as Cade Haug reopened his recruitment, creating a sudden hole in an otherwise surging Longhorns class.
The Texas Longhorns’ 2027 recruiting heater hit a little turbulence Tuesday when three-star linebacker Cade Haug backed off his pledge and reopened his recruitment.
The timing is what makes this one interesting.
Haug, a Kingwood High School product, had been committed to Texas since February and was the only linebacker in Steve Sarkisian’s 2027 recruiting class.
According to ESPN’s Eli Lederman, Haug is now back on the market, leaving the Longhorns with a clean slate at the position.
That’s not a disaster. But it’s definitely a development worth watching.
Just days before the decommitment, Haug was in Austin for an official visit, taking photos and throwing up the Hook ’Em alongside defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and linebackers coach Johnny Nansen.
That’s recruiting in 2026. One weekend it’s all smiles, photo shoots and future plans, and a few days later the board changes.
Texas now has to reset at linebacker, but let’s be honest - this isn’t exactly a program spiraling.
The Longhorns have been cooking on the 2027 trail. Texas recently landed five-star cornerback John Meredith III and four-star offensive tackle Brian Swanson, then kept stacking pieces Tuesday with four-star defensive tackle Tyler Alexander and three-star wide receiver Kyron Brown.
That’s a strong response to any bad news.
The class already features serious firepower, including five-star wide receiver Easton Royal and a long list of four-star prospects.
Edge rushers Cameron Hall, Derwin Fields and Jabarrius Garror give Texas juice up front. Cornerback Karnell James, tight end Brock Williams, defensive lineman Kasi Currie and running back Noah Roberts add even more depth to a group that’s shaping up as one of the more intriguing 2027 hauls in the country.
Still, linebacker matters. And right now, Texas doesn’t have one committed.
That puts extra attention on the next wave of targets. Four-star linebackers Roman Igwebuike and Mikahi Allen are among the uncommitted names Texas has offered, and it would be no surprise if Muschamp and Nansen turn up the pressure quickly.
Losing Haug doesn’t wreck the class, but it does create a positional vacancy the staff won’t want sitting open for long.
As for Haug, he shouldn’t have any shortage of options. His offer list includes Houston, Kansas State, Arizona State, Kentucky, Utah, Arizona, Nebraska, Minnesota, UCF, Purdue, Memphis, UNLV, Pitt and several others.
That means this recruitment isn’t cooling down. It’s just starting over.
For Texas, the message is simple: the 2027 class is still rolling, but linebacker just became a much louder priority.
