Texas Longhorns secure the commitment of the No. 1 Safety of the 2026 Class, Zelus Hicks 

On Thursday, The Texas Longhorns made a major stride in their 2026 recruiting efforts by securing the commitment of the nation’s top-ranked safety prospect, Zelus Hicks. Hicks is currently ranked No. 33 overall in the 2026 On3 Industry Rankings.

Texas moved quickly after extending an offer to Hicks during the spring evaluation period. The four-star safety visited the campus and quickly established a strong connection with the coaching staff.

“Things moved quickly with Texas,” Hicks told On3. “They came out in the spring and offered, they came heavy after me, and after that visit, I felt great about Texas. I liked the school, I meshed with coach Blake Gideon, they just kept applying pressure like no other school and I made my decision."

“They tell me I am No. 1 on their board and they are No. 1 on my board, so it is a perfect match. Me and my dad have been talking about it and I made my decision earlier this week."

Although he was considering offers from several other powerhouse programs including Georgia, Clemson, Auburn and Ohio State, Hicks found the mix he was looking for with Texas.

“Texas is a top program. I want to be an impactful player that is competing for championships at a top program like Texas. They are elite with elite players. I can come in, make an impact and help the program keep winning."

Zelus Hicks is now the third recruit from the 2026 class to pledge to Texas, solidifying their future talent pipeline.

Texas Longhorns add elite defensive back Zelus Hicks to 2026 class

Zelus Hicks, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back from Carrollton High School in Georgia is ranked No. 19 in the ESPN Junior 300. Hicks is the top safety prospect in the 2026 cycle and the third ESPN 300 recruit to pledge to Texas, joining top-ranked quarterback Dia Bell and four-star receiver Chris Stewart.

A key factor in his decision was the bond he formed with defensive backs coach Blake Gideon.

"I like coach Gideon a lot,” Hicks said. “It was great working with him when I was out there in June. He has a great coaching style and we just quickly meshed together."

Zelus Hicks believes his three years under Gideon’s guidance will elevate his game to NFL standards.

“When I worked out with him at camp, he gave me great tips, he was always trying to help me and it was great working with him. I saw our connection and getting that coaching from him for three years, I can be a crazy athlete in the NFL.”

Texas has been on a recruiting hot streak with recent additions to its 2025 class including five-star defender Jonah Williams and top receivers Jaime Ffrench and Kaliq Lockett. Hicks’ commitment follows Texas’ climb to its highest AP ranking since 2009, reinforcing Steve Sarkisian’s efforts to build a championship-caliber program.