4-star LB Ayodele Adeoye says he’s ‘100-percent committed to Texas’

A disappointing season on the field hasn’t helped the Texas Longhorns hold onto one of the nation’s best recruiting classes, but there was some positive news on Monday when Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy inside linebacker Ayodele Adeoye told Rivals that he’s “100-percent committed to Texas.”

There have been significant concerns about the solidity of Adeoye’s pledge in recent weeks — the 6’0, 231-pounder took an unofficial visit to Florida in October and an official visit to Oklahoma at the end of October.

And while the Gators may be falling off in Ayodele’s recruitment due to the termination of Jim McElwain, which could cost the school a planned official visit from Ayodele, the Sooners still loom as a threat.

In particular, the recent commitment of St. Louis (Mo.) Lutheran North defensive end Ronnie Perkins looms large — both players visited Norman together and are close friends. Prior to the commitment by Perkins, Ayodele was helping recruit the big defensive end for the ‘Horns, but now the tables are turned.

In the days after Ayodele’s visit, a flood of flip predictions came into his 247Sports Crystal Ball and his proclamation to Rivals may not entirely change that perception, as recruits often engage in such rhetoric publicly. Behind the scenes, the reality is sometimes much different.

So the Texas staff has some work to do with Ayodele ahead of a planned official visit in November and winning at least two of the last three games to become bowl eligible would represent a positive step forward. And impressing Ayodele on his trip to Austin will also be paramount.

In recent years, the Longhorns have struggled mightily to land signatures from inside linebackers like Ayodele, who is the consensus No. 4 player at his position nationally. As a result, losing his commitment would represent a significant blow to the class.

Especially if it’s a bitter rival like the Sooners who end up benefiting.