The Texas Longhorns have made a strategic and high-profile move on the recruiting trail by extending a scholarship offer to Cooper Witten, the son of longtime Dallas Cowboys icon Jason Witten. With a rich history of producing NFL talent and competing in the toughest conference in college football, the Longhorns continue to build for the future by targeting the nation’s elite young prospects.
Coming off a 10-3 season and a 6-2 record in their first year in the SEC, the Longhorns have proven they belong among the nation’s elite. However, they know success in the SEC demands constant reloading, and that starts with high-level recruiting. Their latest offer to Cooper Witten signals their intention to land not just great athletes, but athletes with deep Texas ties and strong football pedigree.
According to Jamie Gatlin of Longhorns Wire, Cooper Witten is currently ranked as the top linebacker in the class of 2027 by On3 Rankings. He’s also considered the No. 19 overall player in the country and the No. 5 player in the state of Texas. For a program like Texas, securing such a player would be a huge win—not just for their future defense, but for their brand and connection to Texas football legacy.
Cooper Witten plays with the physicality and instinct you’d expect from someone with NFL bloodlines. His father, Jason Witten, is widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, spending 16 of his 17 professional seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Jason built a Hall of Fame-caliber career in the Lone Star State, and Cooper is beginning to follow in those footsteps with a standout high school career.
Landing a player like Witten wouldn’t just be a recruiting win—it would be a statement. And with so many programs already vying for his commitment, the Longhorns will need every edge they can get. According to Gatlin, Witten has already received offers from powerhouse programs including Oregon, SMU, Arizona State, Baylor, Notre Dame, and Michigan.
That list is expected to grow, but Texas is firmly in the mix. Witten has also scheduled visits with other top-tier programs such as Oklahoma, LSU, Arkansas, and Texas A&M. The battle for his commitment will be fierce, but the Longhorns can offer something unique: a chance to make his own mark in the same state where his father became a football legend.
For Texas, securing Cooper Witten would represent not just the addition of a top-tier defensive talent, but also the continuation of a Texas football legacy. As the 2027 recruiting class starts to take shape, all eyes will be on Witten and where he ultimately decides to write the next chapter of his family’s storied football journey.
