𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂:𝙎𝙀𝘾 𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 5-𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙃𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙊𝙝𝙞𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙁𝙡𝙞𝙥 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙤 𝙏𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙨 𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙡𝙖𝙗𝙖𝙢𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙨. 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮…

 

Hold on to your hats, college football fans—the recruiting world just got rocked to its core.

 

In a shocking, game-changing twist no one saw coming, Will Howard, the No. 1-ranked 5-star quarterback in the SEC pipeline, has decommitted from Ohio State and announced his flip to the Texas Longhorns, choosing them over SEC heavyweights Alabama and South Carolina.

 

Yes, you read that right. The Buckeyes’ loss is Texas’ massive win. And it’s sending shockwaves through recruiting circles coast to coast.

 

 

THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SHOOK THE NATION

 

The announcement came via Howard’s X (formerly Twitter) account in a cryptic post just after 9:00 AM CT:

 

> “Change of heart. New vision. Bigger goals. I’m flipping my commitment… I’m headed to Texas. Hook ‘em  #LonghornLegacy #NewChapter”

 

 

 

Within seconds, the post exploded online. Fans, scouts, insiders—even rival coaches—were left scrambling for answers.

 

Just 48 hours ago, Howard was solid to Ohio State, repeatedly reaffirming his commitment during interviews and spring visits. Now, he’s traded in the scarlet and gray for burnt orange, and Steve Sarkisian just landed his biggest recruiting coup yet.

 

 

 

WHY THE FLIP? INSIDER DETAILS EMERGE

 

Sources close to Howard’s camp say the flip came after an unofficial visit to Austin this past weekend, where he had a closed-door meeting with Sarkisian and spent private time with former Longhorns stars, including Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning.

 

“Will left that visit different,” one insider told us. “It wasn’t just football—it was the vibe, the family atmosphere, and Sark’s NFL-caliber QB development pitch.”

 

Also playing a key role? NIL offers. One source claims Howard was presented a multi-seven-figure NIL roadmap in Austin, reportedly outbidding both Alabama and South Carolina, who were actively pushing for a late flip.

 

 

OHIO STATE FANS FURIOUS, LONGHORNS CELEBRATE

 

As the news broke, Buckeye Nation melted down. Message boards went nuclear, with fans accusing Texas of “buying” Howard and demanding answers from head coach Ryan Day.

 

> “We just lost the next C.J. Stroud,” one OSU fan wrote. “This is a disaster.”

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Longhorns fans are in full celebration mode. “Sark just pulled off a recruiting heist,” one fan said. “We’re winning a natty, and it starts with Will Howard.”

 

SEC IMPACT: ALABAMA AND GAMECOCKS LEFT IN THE DUST

 

Both Alabama and South Carolina had been in hot pursuit of Howard in the last few months. Nick Saban’s replacement at Alabama, Coach D.J. Hall, had made Howard his top target after missing on two other 5-star QBs. The Gamecocks were pitching Howard as their Day 1 starter under Shane Beamer.

 

But both programs are now scrambling.

 

South Carolina’s staff was blindsided by the decision. A source inside their program said, “We thought we had him. This came out of nowhere. Texas pulled a fast one.”

 

WHAT TEXAS IS GETTING: THE COMPLETE PACKAGE

 

Standing 6’4”, 215 pounds, Will Howard has been described as a generational quarterback prospect, often compared to Justin Herbert and Josh Allen for his rocket arm, size, mobility, and poise under pressure.

 

His junior season at Liberty Prep (GA) was the stuff of legend:

 

3,722 passing yards

 

41 touchdowns

 

Only 3 interceptions

 

Nine rushing TDs

 

 

He dazzled at the Elite 11 Finals and dominated the Under Armour All-America game, where scouts said he looked “NFL-ready” at just 17.

 

SARKISIAN’S MASTERPLAN TAKES FLIGHT

 

Coach Steve Sarkisian has now pulled in back-to-back 5-star quarterbacks—first flipping Arch Manning from Ole Miss in 2023, and now snatching Will Howard from the clutches of multiple powerhouses.

 

This flip confirms it: Texas isn’t back. Texas is HERE.

 

Recruiting analysts now rank Texas’ 2025 class as the No. 1 overall class, leapfrogging both Georgia and Michigan. With Howard at the helm, Texas is poised to become the quarterback factory of the next decade.

 

 

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR OHIO STATE

 

Ohio State now has to rebuild their quarterback pipeline from scratch, with two backup plans—4-star QB Mason Ridley and 3-star Carter Plummer—already committed elsewhere.

 

Howard was supposed to be the centerpiece of the Buckeyes’ 2025 offense. Now, Day and his staff are left with an unthinkable void and major questions heading into Big Ten play.

 

There’s already murmurs that Howard’s flip could trigger a chain reaction, with multiple offensive skill players reconsidering their commitments to the Buckeyes.

 

 

RECRUITING SHOCKWAVE: WHO’S NEXT TO FLIP?

 

Recruiting insiders say Howard’s decision may open the floodgates. Top wide receivers and offensive linemen—some who were leaning toward South Carolina or Bama—are now showing interest in Texas.

 

One 5-star WR told us, “Wherever Will goes, I want to go. He’s that guy.”

 

Expect a flurry of flips in the coming weeks as Texas becomes the hottest destination in college football.

 

 

FINAL THOUGHT: A PROGRAM-CHANGING MOVE

 

Make no mistake—this isn’t just a recruiting flip.

 

This is a program-defining moment.

 

Will Howard didn’t just commit to Texas. He redefined the Longhorns’ trajectory, reshaped the SEC QB landscape, and sent a clear message:

 

Texas is building a dynasty. And Will Howard is the face of it.

 

So to Longhorn Nation, it’s official:

 

> Welcome to the family, Will.

 

Stay tuned for exclusive interviews, NIL deal breakdowns, and which top recruits could follow Howard to Texas… only here at Sports Insider Media.