4-star S Xavion Alford includes Texas in top 10

Upwards of 40 programs have presented an offer to Pearland Shadow Creek safety Xavion Alford, but as of Tuesday evening, only 10 programs remain in contention for his services.

The Texas Longhorns are among that bunch, alongside Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Florida, LSU, TCU, Oregon, Texas A&M, and Michigan.

A four-star talent, Alford has only had a Texas offer in hand since Feb. 5, but he’s since made himself quite familiar with the Forty Acres, as he’s toured Texas three times this offseason, including trips for Junior Day and the spring game.

“I would say Texas definitely rolled out the red carpet for me on my visit,” Alford told BON’s Joe Hamilton following his Junior Day visit. “I really enjoy being in Austin, and it’s just a fun place to be in. It’s all love throughout the campus.”

“Coach Naivar and I have a very close relationship, along with Michael Huff,” Alford added. “Also, I have a lot of ties up there with Jordan Whittington, [Anthony] Cook, Jay Green, BJ Foster, and D’Shawn Jamison. I was with those guys just chilling.”

At that early juncture in Alford’s recruitment, Texas quickly emerged as a team to beat, but momentum has since swung towards an SEC power, as LSU is now currently considered the overwhelming favorite, owning each of Alford’s eight Crystal Ball projections.

That said, Texas has stressed to Alford that he’s a priority prospect for them this cycle, and for good reason.

“Alford’s physicality and ability to read the field as the last line of defense are just a few reasons why the Longhorns will be after his services,” BON’s Joe Hamilton wrote. “He believes that he can be a ballhawk, a leader, and bring overall elite competitiveness to a program at the next level.

As a junior, such a skill set paved the way for Alford to total 61 tackles, 20 pass breakups, and six interceptions.

Texas, of course, has a bit of work to do to keep Alford close to home and away from the SEC, but as he told BON after adding his offer, “I could see myself possibly playing up there. Tom Herman is building something special.”

A 6’0.5, 188-pound prospect, Alford is ranked as the nation’s No. 182 player, No. 15 safety, and as the No. 26 player in Texas, per the 247Sports Composite.