Out-of-state ILB Shammond Cooper includes Texas in final 4

Only four schools are still standing for coveted Saint Louis (Mo.) Trinity Catholic inside linebacker Shammond Cooper.

On Monday, the four-star Missouri product announced his final four schools and set a commitment date for Jan. 3, when he’ll choose between Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Missouri.

The Longhorns previously made Cooper’s top 10 in March as well.

Although Cooper is currently considered an Illinois lean, as the Fighting Illini own each of his eight Crystal Ball projections following numerous visits, Texas could ultimately have an edge in his recruitment if things fall in the Horns favor in the coming months.

Cooper is teammates with four-star wide receiver Marcus Washington, who is set to announce on Oct. 26, as well as four-star 2020 running back Mookie Cooper; each of the two are thought to be heavy Longhorn leans. If Washington joins Texas’ 2019 class in the coming weeks, and Mookie Cooper brings his recruitment to an early conclusion, the two will likely be in Cooper’s ear pitching the Longhorns until early January.

On the other hand, depth at the position could prove problematic if Texas does, in fact, hope to secure a pledge from Cooper, as the Longhorns already hold a pair of four-star inside linebacker commitments from De’Gabriel Floyd and David Gbenda. That said, with the Longhorns losing Gary Johnson and Anthony Wheeler to graduation following the 2018 season, Texas can certainly afford as much linebacker depth as possible, and Cooper could help provide exactly that.

Cooper is currently ranked as the nation’s No. 294 player, No. 17 inside linebacker, and as the No. 5 player in Missouri, per the 247Sports Composite.

This story will be updated.