Texas football recruiting: Five-star LB Jonah Williams commits, giving Longhorns much needed in-state win

Texas secured a massive in-state commitment on Saturday when five-star linebacker Jonah Williams committed to the Longhorns over LSU and Texas A&M, among others. Williams ranks as the No. 7 overall player and the top-ranked prospect at his position in the 2025 recruiting cycle according to 247Sports. 

Williams did not apprise coach Steve Sarkisian of his commitment until he went publich with his announcement Saturday evening. He did tell 247Sports in an embargoed interview ealrier Saturday that he chose the Longhorns for a variety of factors, and that LSU finished second.

“It was just the coaching staff and the atmosphere and the life after football part,” Williams said. “It was just too good of an opportunity to give up. Just in case football ends early, you have to think about after.

Williams’ pledge helps the Longhorns in their quest to sign a top five recruiting haul in 2025. The class currently ranks No. 7 and added four-star offensive tackle Nick Brooks from Georgia a day earlier. 

The Galveston, Texas native projects as a hybrid safety at the next level due to his elite athleticism. Williams is compared to former Clemson standout Isaiah Simmons in his 247Sports scouting report, who played a similar role as a hybrid safety, linebacker and slot cornerback at the college level.

Williams is also a star high school baseball player, and 247Sports National Analyst Hudson Standish notes he has the potential to go pro in either sport. Here is the full evaluation of Williams’ game from Standish.

One of the freakiest athletes in the 2025 recruiting cycle, and has a legitimate chance to develop into an early-round selection in either the MLB or NFL Draft. Two-way star at wide receiver and defensive back for historic TXHSFB program Galveston Ball, leading the Tors to their best two-year stretch since the 1990s. Verified around 6-foot-3.5, 205 pounds with encouraging length and an athletic frame that should offer the potential to add more weight at the next level. Currently projected to play linebacker long-term, but owns an elite combine testing profile which could allow him to stick in the defensive backfield at safety or nickel. Excellent reactionary athlete who can flip his hips to cover space against the pass or plant his foot in the ground to trigger in the run game before striking opponents

WIlliams marks the second in-state five-star commitment for Steve Sarkisian and company this cycle, joining five-star wide receiver Kaliq Lockett, who committed to Texas earlier this month over Alabama, Florida State, LSU and Texas A&M. It’s also a much-needed win for the Longhorns, who found themselves on the wrong end of recruiting battles for five-star talents like receiver Dakorien Moore (committed to Oregon) and offensive tackle Michael Fasusi (committed to Oklahoma) over the summer. 

Texas jumps to No. 7 in the Class of 2025 team rankings, a list headlined by commitments from Williams, Lockett, four-star edge Lance Jackson, four-star LB Elijah Barnes, four-star ATH Nick Townsend and more. Twelve of Texas’ 17 commitments from the 2025 class are from the state of Texas.