Inside the two top sibling duos on the Forty Acres
Marcus Spears Jr. shocked the college basketball recruiting world by announcing he is reclassifying from 2027, where he is the No. 1-ranked prospect in the country, to 2026 and committing to the Texas Longhorns.
The Forty Acres has seen a commitment like this before.
Spears comes to Austin as the son of former NFL vet and current media personality Marcus Spears. He's also the brother of Texas volleyball star Cari Spears.
Cari was a third-team All-American in 2025 as a freshman. She was a consistent offensive threat, finishing second on the team with 358 kills at a 3.25 kills per set pace.
Spears was also one of four Longhorns to end the year with more than 50 blocks, demonstrating an awareness at the net that makes her a complete player for renowned Texas coach Jerritt Elliott.
The Longhorns reached the Regional Final a year ago before falling in four sets to Wisconsin at Gregory Gymnasium in Austin.
With her little brother on campus a year earlier than expected, Cari could find the motivation and encouragement to lead the Longhorns to another deep postseason run. Texas begins the 2026 season at the AVCA First Serve event on Aug. 22 in Milwaukee.
"Texas basketball is becoming a big thing again, and I am excited to be part of it," Spears Jr. told ESPN after committing. "The Texas fans can expect a worker with a lot of energy. I will be trying to bring Texas a national championship."
The Horns' basketball squad will feature another half of a sibling pair at Texas.
High school All-American recruit Austin Goosby is the younger brother of junior offensive lineman Trevor Goosby, who is Steve Sarkisian's starting left tackle on an offense led by Arch Manning.
Austin - the top-20 ranked player in the 2026 class - will suit up for Sean Miller's team as the coach's first blue-chip recruit since taking over the Longhorns program last offseason ... that was, until Spears made his jump.
"There aren’t many players, or certainly guards, in the country who can match the sheer tools of Austin Goosby," said recruiting scout Adam Finkelstein. "He’s a bouncy vertical athlete, a lay-up maker with his dominant right hand, has soft, natural hands, and touch. His best attribute though, may be his feel for the game. He cuts well, passes well, and instinctively knows how to play in ways that allow him to make quick and efficient decisions with the basketball."
Trevor will be one of the top offensive tackle prospects in this year's NFL Draft cycle by season's end. That reputation will only grow if Manning leads Texas to a CFP appearance.
Per draft experts, Goosby is known for his great length, sublime movement, and his ability to pass protect as well as anyone.
And it appears everyone is in alignment with that thought. ESPN experts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller, in their top-five rankings of tackles for 2026, both have Goosby at No. 1 in the group.
With championship aspirations across campus, the Texas Longhorns' athletic culture is encouraging several families to pursue greatness in the burnt orange.
