In a year where the Texas Longhorns needed to add size in the trenches, they added one of the best in the state on Wednesday with the signature of John Turntine III for the class of 2026.
The No. 9 tackle in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Turntine was one of the must-get players in the state of Texas — especially in a year where Texas was likely to be heavy in the trenches. The star from North Crowley reported 36 offers, including Texas A&M, Michigan, and Stanford, all schools that received official visits from Turntine over the summer. However, Texas offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Kyle Flood got the last word with Turntine, coming in during the final weekend before the quiet period and setting up his commitment on July 4 before picking the Longhorns.
Turntine is a valuable addition for Texas not just because of his talent, but because of his versatility. He has been projected as both an interior offensive lineman and a tackle, a level of flexibility both Flood and head coach Steve Sarkisian value. Perhaps most importantly, after watching some of the breakdowns on the field in 2025, Turntine is nimble on his feet, as evidenced by his prowess with the shot put and discus. However, coming to campus at 270 pounds means Turntine needs to add weight to his frame to be effective in the SEC trenches.
A consensus four-star prospect ranked as the No. 79 player overall, Turntine is a cornerstone piece of the class, joining Dia Bell and Derrek Cooper as the three top-100 offensive players in the class. That number could move to four, depending on which side of the ball two-way star Jermaine Bishop ends up playing. Heading into Early Signing Day, Turntine was one of just three offensive linemen committed to the class and the lone tackle, with four-star Nicolas Robertson from Klein (Spring) and the late addition of Georgetown lineman Kaden Scherer.
With the current state of the offensive line, the postseason decision of Trevor Goosby looms large for the future of not only Turntine, but the group overall. If Goosby decides to head to the NFL early, Texas will have work to do this offseason — they must either land an elite player from the portal or hope one of the other more experienced tackles can take a step forward to give players like Turntine the time they need to develop.