Breaking News: Five-Star DB Will Brooks Shocks Tennessee With Decommitment, Flips Commitment to taxes longhorns Over Georgia and Arkansas…..
Breaking News: Five-Star DB Will Brooks Shocks Tennessee With Decommitment, Flips Commitment to Texas Longhorns Over Georgia and Arkansas
In a stunning turn of events, five-star defensive back Will Brooks has made a shocking move in his recruitment, decommitting from the University of Tennessee and flipping his commitment to the University of Texas Longhorns, bypassing both Georgia and Arkansas in the process. The highly anticipated decision has sent shockwaves through the college football recruiting world, as Brooks is considered one of the top defensive prospects in the nation for the 2025 recruiting class.
Brooks, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound cornerback from Nashville, Tennessee, had long been committed to Tennessee, announcing his initial decision to join the Volunteers in the summer of 2023. His commitment was seen as a major coup for Tennessee’s coaching staff, adding to their impressive haul of in-state talent. However, as the 2024 recruiting cycle progressed, Brooks continued to take official visits and evaluate other programs, leading to speculation about the stability of his commitment.
Despite rumors swirling about a possible flip, few could have predicted that Brooks would ultimately choose Texas over other powerhouse programs such as Georgia and Arkansas. Texas, under head coach Steve Sarkisian, has made significant strides on the recruiting trail in recent years, and the addition of Brooks is seen as a huge victory for the Longhorns as they continue to build a roster that can compete at the highest level of college football.
Brooks’ decision to commit to Texas over Georgia and Arkansas is a move that caught many by surprise. Both Georgia and Arkansas had made strong pushes for the standout defensive back, with Georgia boasting one of the nation’s top defenses under head coach Kirby Smart and Arkansas making significant strides in the SEC.
However, sources close to the recruitment revealed that Brooks was heavily swayed by Texas’ ability to offer him an opportunity to play immediately in a high-profile program with championship aspirations. Sarkisian and defensive backs coach Terry Joseph are believed to have made a strong impression on Brooks during his official visits, showcasing how Brooks would fit into their defensive scheme. The Longhorns’ rising trajectory in both recruiting and performance was another key factor in his decision.
The Texas program, which has a storied history of producing NFL-caliber defensive backs, had long been a contender in Brooks’ recruitment, and the chance to play in a top-tier conference like the Big 12, and eventually in the SEC, was too much to pass up. With Texas transitioning to the SEC in 2024, Brooks sees the move as a chance to compete against some of the best competition in college football while contributing to the Longhorns’ rise to national prominence.
Tennessee’s coaching staff, led by head coach Josh Heupel, is understandably shaken by the loss of Brooks, as his commitment was a cornerstone of their 2025 recruiting class. Brooks had been a key target for the Volunteers, and the prospect of having him lock down one side of the field for years to come was seen as a huge boost to Tennessee’s defense.
Sources within the Tennessee program indicated that Brooks had been in regular communication with the coaching staff, and his decommitment came as a surprise, especially given the close relationship he had with several members of the coaching staff. While Brooks had taken other visits throughout his recruitment, including trips to Georgia and Arkansas, Tennessee appeared to have been in a strong position to hold onto him until the last-minute decision to flip to Texas.
Tennessee had aggressively pursued Brooks as part of their plan to bolster their defense, which has been one of the team’s weaknesses in recent seasons. Brooks was expected to play a major role in revitalizing the Volunteers’ secondary, but now Tennessee will need to regroup and shift its focus to other highly-rated defensive prospects in an attempt to salvage their 2025 class.
While Texas emerged victorious in the battle for Brooks, both Georgia and Arkansas were left disappointed by his decision. Georgia had been one of the frontrunners throughout the process, with many analysts believing that Brooks would eventually land in Athens due to the Bulldogs’ dominance on defense and their ability to consistently send players to the NFL. However, Brooks’ final decision to commit to Texas shows that, for all of Georgia’s appeal, the opportunity to play in Austin ultimately proved to be more enticing.
Similarly, Arkansas, which had made a late push for Brooks, had hoped to add the five-star cornerback to a defense that has shown steady improvement under head coach Sam Pittman. While the Razorbacks have made impressive strides in recent years, Brooks’ decision to choose Texas over Arkansas represents a missed opportunity for the program.
Despite the disappointment, both Georgia and Arkansas remain in the hunt for other top defensive backs, as both schools look to strengthen their respective recruiting classes ahead of the 2025 season.
Brooks’ commitment to Texas is just the latest in a series of recruiting wins for the Longhorns, who have become one of the most feared programs in the nation on the recruiting trail. Texas has been able to secure commitments from several top-tier prospects in the 2025 class, and the addition of Brooks only enhances their standing as a program on the rise.
As Texas prepares for its move to the SEC, securing elite talent like Brooks is a critical part of their strategy to compete with the best programs in the country. With the Longhorns’ defense showing significant improvement in recent seasons, Brooks’ commitment adds to an already talented defensive backfield and positions the program to make a major impact in college football’s most competitive conference.
Will Brooks’ decision to flip his commitment from Tennessee to Texas represents a major shift in the landscape of college football recruiting. His decommitment sent shockwaves through the recruiting world, and his decision to join the Longhorns further solidifies Texas’ status as one of the premier programs in the nation.