Four-star WR Demariyon Houston commits to Texas over Oklahoma State, others

A late push has landed the Texas Longhorns their latest pledge.

After announcing his top seven exactly one month ago on June 7, Oklahoma City (Okla.) Millwood wide receiver Demariyon Houston brought his recruitment to a close on Saturday, announcing his commitment to Texas over Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, Minnesota, and Oregon.

Despite seven teams being named as finalists, Houston’s recruitment was largely a Big 12 battle down the stretch, with Texas and Oklahoma State vying for pole position. At the front end of the week, the momentum appeared to favor the Pokes, and understandably so, as Houston’s mother has expressed her interest in the four-star receiver staying closer to home. However, as the week went on and Texas continued to push, the Crystal Balls began swinging in the Longhorns favor, with three picks rolling in on Friday.

Those projections have now proven true, which is a considerable testament to Drew Mehringer’s efforts in Houston’s recruitment, as the Oklahoma native has been to the Forty Acres just once in late March.

Houston battled injuries as a junior, but still managed to record 20 catches for 534 yards and seven touchdowns — an average of 26.7 yards per catch and a touchdown for every 2.9 catches. In other words, he’s a big-play threat who can play inside at slot receiver or outside at flanker. The Millwood product also has impressive speed, as he ran a 10.71 100-meter dash in 2017.

A consensus four-star prospect, Houston is ranked as the No. 178 player nationally, the No. 29 wide receiver, and the No. 2 prospect in Oklahoma, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. He joins fellow four-star receivers Jordan Whittington and Jake Smith as the Longhorns wide receiver takes this cycle.

If Houston signs with the ‘Horns, it will mark the third consecutive cycle that Texas has inked a top prospect from the Sooner State. However, Texas hasn’t landed an Oklahoma prospect ranked as highly as Houston since signing cornerback Josh Turner in 2011 — he was ranked as the state’s top recruit.

With Houston becoming the ‘Horns second commit of the day, Herman’s 2019 class is now up to 13 members, and is ranked No. 10 nationally and No. 2 in the Big 12.

• Tyler Johnson — 5-star OT
• Jordan Whittington — 4-star WR
• De’Gabriel Floyd — 4-star OLB
• Jake Smith — 4-star WR
• Kenyatta Watson II — 4-star CB
• Demariyon Houston — 4-star WR
• Roschon Johnson — 4-star QB
• Chris Adimora — 4-star S
• Brayden Liebrock — 4-star TE
• Peter Mpagi — 3-star WDE
• Marques Caldwell — 3-star CB
• T’Vondre Sweat — 3-star SDE
• Jared Wiley — 3-star TE