Texas jumps Alabama, now has a top five recruiting class in the nation for the 2022 cycle

Four-star DL Justice Finkley’s commitment boosts Texas’ 2022 class to No. 3 in the nation.

Texas’ elite recruiting success under Steve Sarkisian continued on Thursday when four-star defensive lineman Justice Finkley announced his commitment to the University of Texas over Alabama and Colorado.

His commitment marks the fourth four-star commit in the last two weeks across the defensive line for the Longhorns. It boosts Texas’ 2022 recruiting class ranking three spots from No. 6 all the way up to No. 3 in the nation.

The Trussville, Alabama native decided to turn down Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide to play for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. During his commitment on CBS, Finkley stated that he has kept in contact with Sarkisian multiple times a week.

The Longhorns are getting a player who has played all positions across the defensive line, and his great play and productivity as a junior earned him a first-team selection on the MaxPreps Alabama all-state team.

Thanks to Finkley’s commitment, Texas’ recruiting class not only moved to No. 3, but they leapfrogged Alabama. It also puts the first full recruiting cycle for Sarkisian ahead of schools such as Ohio State and Georgia.

Big things are happing in Austin, and seeing how the remaining few targets on the board play out for Texas will be fascinating. Sarkisian wasn’t joking when he said the program will take a “All Gas, No Brakes” approach to everything that they do.

Four-star DL Justice Finkley commits to Texas over Alabama, Colorado

After commitments on back-to-back days from Jaray Bledsoe and J’Mond Tapp last week, another defensive lineman has decided to jump into the class.

It’s been a good week for Texas on and off the field. Saturday saw a convincing win over Louisiana at home. A ton of momentum is going to be carried into a tough environment at Arkansas.

Recruiting has been a strong suit as well, especially on the defensive line. Coach Bo Davis has been doing miracle work with some of the country’s top prospects.

After back-to-back commitments from Jaray Bledsoe and J’Mond Tapp last Monday, another defensive lineman has decided to jump into the class.

Four-star Justice Finkley committed to Texas over Alabama and Colorado on Thursday afternoon. Being from Trussville, AL, Steve Sarkisian was able to go into his old stomping ground and get a win over Nick Saban.

Finkley and his family took an official visit to Austin on July 25. He got to meet with Sarkisian himself and Pete Kwiatkowski, his main recruiter per 247Sports. Where the four-star will play in the defensive coordinator’s defense is yet to be known.

With a move to the SEC pending, stocking up in the trenches was going to be critical for Texas. After Tom Herman’s recruiting classes were built based on skill position players, Sarkisian’s staff has heavily focused on the defensive line.

A huge victory over the Crimson Tide in their own backyard.

On the 247Sports composite, Finkley ranks as the No. 112 overall player and the No. 19 defensive lineman in the country. Within the state of Alabama, he is the No. 6 prospect.

Although Kwiatkowski can be credited with this recruiting victory, Bo Davis has done a remarkable job across the defensive line. Most of his work has been outside of the state of Texas as well.

  • Four-star DL Justice Finkley (AL)
  • Four-star DL Jaray Bledsoe (TX)
  • Four-star edge J’Mond Tapp (LA)
  • Four-star DL Kristopher Ross (TX)
  • Four-star edge Derrick Brown (TX)
  • Four-star DL Aaron Bryant (MS)
  • Four-star DL Zac Swanson (UT)

The best part is, Finkley could be the best of the bunch.

He could end up playing the same role Ovie Oghoufo did over the weekend against Louisiana. Potentially at jack as well.

Finkley’s 6-4, 255-pound frame will not be big enough to play inside from the beginning. If Davis wants him to get there, some serious lifting and weight gain will have to occur.

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