5-Star CB John Meredith Reclassifies to 2026 Class, Texas Commit Was No. 3 Overall Prospect in 2027

Texas is bringing one of the top prospects in college football to Austin one year earlier than expected.

Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian announced Thursday at SEC media days that five-star cornerback recruit John Meredith will reclassify to the class of 2026.

Meredith was previously ranked as the No. 1 cornerback and No. 3 prospect in the nation for the class of 2027, per 247Sports.

The news comes after Meredith attempted to transfer Texas high schools only to be denied varsity eligibility at his new school following the transfer, per the Star-Telegram's Charles Baggarly.

Meredith announced his commitment to Texas on June 19 while still appealing that decision. His appeal was denied July 9, two weeks before Sarkisian's announcement, per Baggarly.

Sarkisian said Thursday the Longhorns don't yet have a "timetable" as to when Meredith, who turned 18 earlier this summer, will be making his college debut.

"He provides great length, great speed, tremendous man-to-man ability," Sarkisian said Thursday (h/t OrangeBloods' Anwar Richardson). "Very confident, very aggressive, all the attributes you want in a defensive back.

"It's not a secret that he's a top two or three player in the country in the 2027 class. So for us to get him now— we'll see how far we can take him."

Sarkisian continued: "We're going to coach him, we're going to develop him. When he's ready, I think he'll be good enough to play. How long that takes to get him ready, that's going to be the race, that's the challenge.

"Week 1? Week 4? Week 8? I don't know. I do know he's got the right competitive spirit. I do know he's got the skillset and the ability to be a good player for us. How long it takes, we'll find out."

The new five-for-five rule, which grants DI athletes five years to play five seasons, means Meredith won't be redshirting his freshman season.

Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and cornerbacks coach Mark Orphey will be tasked with helping Meredith make a relatively quick jump to college football at a position already staffed by rising sophomore Kade Phillips and Rutgers transfer Bo Mascoe.