The coveted running back prospect joins a long list of NFL-bound rushers who played collegiately in Austin.
The top-ranked running back in the state chose the state's flagship university in the much-anticipated decision of where he'd play college football.
Richmond Randle star Landen Williams-Callis committed to the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, maintaining the team's highly-rated 2027 recruiting class and adding to the legacy of premier ball-carriers who have spent time in Austin.
Williams-Callis is the No. 3 running back in the nation, the Gatorade Player of the Year in Texas as a junior, and was the top uncommitted prospect on ESPN's SC Next list.
The bruising 5-8,185-pounder chose the Longhorns over Texas A&M, Houston, SMU, and Missouri.
"Just the relationship with me and the coaches at Texas, and then they develop their guys good," Williams-Callis said about why he picked the Horns. "They have a lot of people get drafted into the NFL from Texas.
That list is extensive, indeed. Even in just the rushing department.
Earl Campbell, Ricky Williams, Bijan Robinson, Cedric Benson, Jamaal Charles, D'Onta Foreman, and Jonathan Gray are the biggest names. Recent leading backs have also made Austin a pipeline for NFL talent, with Jonathon Brooks, Jaydon Blue and Roschon Johnson all reaching the league.
Randle rode Williams-Callis' heroics to the school's first UIL Class 5A Division II state championship in Landen's sophomore year. He brought home the title game's Offensive MVP honors after he took a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown and ended the game with over 100 yards rushing.
In addition to another run at state as a senior - a schedule that begins with a title-game rematch against South Oak Cliff in Week 1 - LWC wants a shot at the state's career rushing record, which was previously held by his uncle.
As a junior, Williams-Callis was back at AT&T Stadium for the state championship after rushing for over 3,500 yards and 59 touchdowns on the season. This time, he broke the championship record with a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but ultimately South Oak Cliff got the victory.
His 4,035 all-purpose yards last season set a Houston area single-season record in 2025.
Going into his senior season, Williams-Callis has totaled 7,551 career rush yards and 133 touchdowns to become one of the most sought-after recruits in Texas high school football history at the position.
And like so many who who have come before him, he'll try to continue that legacy in the burnt orange in 2027.
The Longhorns now have 14 pledges in the 2027 class and 10 in the SC Next 300 list. Texas has a consensus top-8 recruiting class for the next cycle, depending on the outlet.
