Texas five-star CB commit John Meredith III reclassifies to 2026, will enroll this fall - CBS Sports

What the report says

CBS Sports reported that five-star cornerback John Meredith III, a Texas commitment, is reclassifying from the 2027 recruiting cycle to 2026 and will enroll in Austin this fall. The report, citing 247Sports’ Mike Roach, said Texas coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed Meredith’s arrival Thursday during SEC media days.

Meredith had been ranked by 247Sports as the No. 4 overall player and top cornerback in the 2027 class. He committed to the Longhorns on June 19 after drawing interest from many major college programs. CBS Sports noted that his move up a class followed a high school transfer issue: Meredith played three seasons at Euless Trinity in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, then enrolled at North Crowley in January before his senior year.

According to the report, the UIL State Executive Committee ruled July 8 that Meredith’s transfer was for athletic reasons, making him ineligible for varsity competition at North Crowley. Rather than return to Trinity, he chose to enter college early and join Texas as part of the 2026 class.

For Texas, the early arrival adds a highly regarded defensive back to Sarkisian’s roster ahead of the 2026 season. CBS Sports described the cornerback room as having established starters in Kobe Black and transfer Bo Mascoe, but less proven depth behind them as Will Muschamp begins his first season as defensive coordinator. The article said Meredith may initially be a reserve, while also noting he could compete for playing time as a true freshman.