Four-star offensive tackle Brian Swanson has tallied 33 offers from Division I football programs, 11 of which have come from SEC schools.

Among the SEC schools who have extended him offers are the Texas Longhorns, along with their two biggest intraconference rivals: the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies. 

As Swanson gets closer to making a decision, On3’s Sam Spiegelman has disclosed that these three schools have emerged as frontrunners.

Who is Swanson?

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Swanson is a member of the class of 2027 at South Oak Cliff High School. 247Sports has ranked him as the No. 17 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 25 prospect in Texas.

With a height of 6-foot-5 and a weight of 295 pounds, Swanson’s frame and skill level make him a key candidate for schools across the nation. 

However, as indicated earlier, it doesn’t seem as though Swanson feels the need to traverse the country to find his landing spot. 

Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M are all located relatively close to Swanson’s hometown, which could be part of the reason they have risen to the top of his list. They could also be top contenders due to their recent histories of success. 

The Sooners and Aggies both made their way into the 2025 College Football Playoff, and although they each lost in the first round, their appearances signified the impressiveness of each team’s season. 

While the Longhorns didn’t make the cut this year, they made back-to-back semifinal appearances in 2023 and 2024. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and company look to climb back to where they were before and beyond, which will likely rely heavily on his ability to assemble elite recruiting classes.  

Swanson could be a key aspect of their 2027 group. A recent 5A Division II state champion, Swanson knows what it’s like to help a team find postseason success. 

The only question that remains is which team will have the opportunity to utilize his talent at the collegiate level. The three schools already addressed, along with 30 other ones, are competing for his attention. 

He still has plenty of time to make his final selection, but the fact that the Longhorns are prominent contenders is a promising sign. Earning Swanson’s commitment over two rivals could mark a huge victory on the recruiting trail for Texas, especially as it looks to assert dominance within the region from a recruitment standpoint. 

AUSTIN, Texas — In 2026, Texans will decide who will be the next state comptroller, known as the chief financial officer for the Lone Star State.

This election cycle, some experts are saying the stakes are higher, with the comptroller tasked with overseeing the state’s new school voucher program that starts next fall.

The state legislature passed the $1 billion program this year, allowing families to apply to receive thousands of dollars to move to a private school.

“It’s a position that’s becoming increasingly important,” said Mark P. Jones, political science professor at Rice University. “The education savings account program, which is $1 billion and is politically very important to Gov. Abbott, will be managed by the comptroller.”

The job is currently held by Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who was appointed by Abbott this year to fill the position left open by Glenn Hegar. Hancock is vying to keep the role.

“We’re offering the largest educational freedom accounts in the state of Texas that we’ve ever seen in the nation,” Hancock told CBS Austin earlier this month.

ALSO| State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt launches bid for Texas Comptroller

Hancock is overseeing the launch of the school voucher program, setting its rules, hiring outside companies, and answering to the public.

He is in the race with other Republicans, like former State Senator Don Huffines.

“I’ve always fought to empower parents and students with education freedom and real competition, because competition lowers costs and raises the quality of everything it touches,” Huffines said in a statement Friday. “It works in every industry, and it is guaranteed to fix failing government schools. When I am Comptroller, Texas will have the most grand education freedom program in the world.”

Austin-area Democratic State Senator Sarah Eckhardt also launched her campaign for the office earlier this month.

“I think that voters have lost trust that we have a government that’s accountable to them. That we have a government that will show up when we need them and get out of our way when we don’t need it,” she said after filing to run.

The role has already been in the headlines this month.

Hancock requested an opinion from Attorney General Ken Paxton about whether or not schools linked to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) should be disqualified from the program, citing Gov. Abbott’s recent order declaring CAIR a “foreign terrorist organization.”

What some experts are calling a “sleeper race” may end up being one of the most impactful.

The Texas Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd.