The Texas Longhorns’ 2026 recruiting class got a significant upgrade on Thursday when Zelus Hicks, a consensus five-star safety from Carrollton, Georgia, committed to the team. He chose the Longhorns over offers from Auburn, Clemson, and Ohio State.
BREAKING: Elite 2026 Safety Zelus Hicks has Committed to Texas, he tells me for @on3recruits
The 6’3 185 S from Carrollton, GA chose the Longhorns over Georgia, USC, & Ohio State
Ranked as a Top 25 Recruit in ‘26 🤘🏼
“Just the beginning.”https://t.co/aWFLAuTaIC pic.twitter.com/XQXyWUxWrz
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) September 12, 2024
Standing 6’2″ and weighing 190 pounds, Zelus Hicks committed to Texas after visiting the Forty Acres twice this year—once in the spring and again in the summer. A nationally sought-after recruit, Hicks received over 30 offers from major programs such as Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, and Washington.
“Things moved quickly with Texas,” Hicks shared with On3. “They came out in the spring and offered. They went all-in on recruiting me, and after my visit, I felt great about Texas. I liked the school, I connected with coach Blake Gideon, and they just kept the pressure on like no other school. That’s when I made my decision.”
“They told me I’m their No. 1 choice, and Texas became mine, so it felt like a perfect match. My dad and I talked it over, and I made my decision earlier this week.”
Before transferring to Carrollton, Hicks had a standout sophomore season at Parkview in the Atlanta area, where he recorded 67 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
According to 247Sports, Hicks is a “modern boundary safety” known for his ability to react quickly and play with physicality, whether stopping the run or defending short passes. At 6’2″ and 186 pounds with an impressive wingspan, he showcased strong athletic testing in early 2024. His football IQ and decision-making are evident, particularly when he attacks from deep positions and tackles effectively in the open field. Although he’s working on becoming more consistent in man-to-man coverage, Hicks shows immense potential, with the ability to evolve into a multi-year starter and possibly an NFL Draft pick.
Ranked No. 25 nationally by the 247Sports Composite rankings, Hicks is the No. 3 safety and the No. 5 player in Georgia. Texas already boasts two commitments for its 2026 class—five-star quarterback Dia Bell and four-star wide receiver Chris Stewart. However, there is speculation that Hicks could reclassify to the 2025 class, which would be a significant win for Texas after losing safety Kade Phillips. Currently, consensus five-star Jonah Williams is the only other safety committed to Texas for the current recruiting cycle.
Hicks’ commitment, along with Williams and the late flip of Xavier Filsaime from Florida, has bolstered the reputation of Texas safeties coach Blake Gideon, proving his ability to land elite talent at the position.
