ESPN Recruiting Nation Football

A seemingly easy decision quickly became a difficult one for Otaro Alaka this spring, but in the end he went with the school he has always loved.

The Houston Cypress Falls outside linebacker committed to Texas on Monday night, choosing the Longhorns over Texas A&M. He became commit No. 13 in Texas’ 2014 recruiting class and the Longhorns' fifth pledge in the past 10 days.

"It feels good to be a Longhorn," Alaka said. "I just want to thank God first of all and just thank my coaches, parents and teammates for everything. I just felt like I was ready to pick Texas. They have a great atmosphere, great people and great academics. I just really liked their coaches."

A 6-foot-3, 205-pound prospect, he also had offers from LSU, Oklahoma, Florida State, Michigan and Baylor, among others. All along, though, it had been a two-school race.

When his recruiting process began, Alaka said he’d commit to Texas if he got an offer from the program. He did, but nearly 20 other programs also offered.

He held off making a decision when UT offered Feb. 25 after his junior day visit. Alaka took two visits to Texas A&M -- including this weekend for the Aggies’ Friday Night Lights scrimmage -- and made a return trip for the Texas spring game.

(Read full post)

HornsNation's William Wilkerson caught up with ESPN Watch List linebacker Cameron Hampton (Dallas/Carter) to talk about his commitment to Texas.

ESPN Watch List outside linebacker Cameron Hampton (Dallas/Carter) told HornsNation on Sunday morning that he has committed to Texas at the Longhorns' junior day.

The Longhorns have not only addressed a major position of need for 2014, but they have also kept him away from one of their chief rivals in Oklahoma.

The Red River rivals were Hampton’s top two schools coming into this week, but it looks like he has had a change of heart and is now Texas’ eighth commitment in 2014.

Hampton (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) also had offers from Clemson, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and West Virginia.

He is in Austin for the second time visiting Texas’ campus today and told HornsNation earlier in the week that he was particularly excited about meeting one person in particular.

“I’m really just excited about being down there and seeing [defensive coordinator] coach [Manny] Diaz,” said Hampton, who got to Austin on Saturday in anticipation for todays event. “He said he is going to spend some 1-on-1 time with me and my family. Coach [Mack] Brown said the same thing.”

Texas and Oklahoma have made Hampton a priority over the past few months.

Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell has frequented Carter High since the Sooners started recruiting Hampton and has already built a strong relationship with him.

Diaz was at Carter’s basketball game last week, making sure Hampton understands how important he is to Texas’ future.

“I can’t really say [who I have a better relationship with], but I have a pretty good relationship with Coach Diaz,” Hampton said. “He actually came to see one of my basketball games last week. I talked to him the day before we played at my school. He was saying that he was looking forward to seeing me, hanging out with me and spending some more time with my family.”

Hampton is Texas’ first linebacker commit of 2014.