Texas Longhorns just landed Landen Williams-Callis, the nation’s No. 3 running back for the class of 2027. He’s a four-star recruit from Richmond, Texas, and ESPN has him at No. 46 overall.
Standing 5-foot-8 and weighing in at 185 pounds, Williams-Callis picked Texas over Missouri and Texas A&M. He’ll be joining a Longhorns team that’s seen a lot of turnover in the running backs room lately.
Williams-Callis: A Stellar High School Career
He’s been a standout at Thomas E. Randle High School. Last year, he took home Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year honors and, honestly, his stats are wild.
In his junior season alone, he rushed for 3,502 yards and scored 59 touchdowns. That effort led his team to a state runner-up finish.
Heading into his senior year, Williams-Callis has racked up 7,551 yards and 125 touchdowns over three varsity seasons. He’s now just 3,828 yards away from the Texas high school career rushing record—could he break it? Maybe. Wouldn’t bet against him.
An Accomplished Football Family
Football’s kind of the family business for Williams-Callis. He’s cousins with Jacquizz and James Rodgers, both of whom starred at Oregon State and grabbed All-America honors in 2009.
His uncle, Michael Lewis, was an All-American at Colorado and played nine years in the NFL, even making first-team All-Pro in 2004. That’s a lot of football pedigree—no wonder the kid’s got game.
Texas’ Recruiting Class: A Summer to Remember
Since June started, Texas has picked up 14 new commitments. Ten of those are from the SC Next 300, which is no small feat.
That run has bumped Texas up to No. 3 in ESPN’s latest recruiting rankings. Williams-Callis is a key part of this group, joining five-star wide receiver Easton Royal (No. 8 overall) who committed last November.
Strengthening the Running Backs Room
Let’s be real, Williams-Callis is arriving at a pretty important time. Texas lost four of its top five rushers from last season, so the depth chart needed some love.
They’ve brought in transfers Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers, both highly rated in the portal. Plus, there’s five-star freshman Derrek Cooper, ESPN’s No. 1 running back for 2026.
Now with Williams-Callis and No. 4 running back Noah Roberts (No. 51 overall), Texas is set to sign two of ESPN’s top five rushers for the first time ever. That’s a big deal for this program.
The Decision Process
Missouri and Texas A&M made late pushes, and Houston and SMU were also in the mix. Williams-Callis ultimately chose Texas, which says a lot about the program’s pull right now.
He was the top uncommitted prospect in the 2027 SC Next before making up his mind. Nabbing his pledge? That’s a pretty big win for the Longhorns.
Looking Ahead
Williams-Callis is set to join the Longhorns, and honestly, Texas fans have a lot to get excited about. His speed stands out, and that high-volume rushing ability? It’s hard not to notice.
He’s got a football pedigree that really sets him apart. Heading into his senior season, there’s going to be a lot of attention on his every move.
Folks are already talking about whether he can chase down the Texas high school career rushing record. It’s a tall order, but who knows?
For more on Landen Williams-Callis’ commitment and the Texas Longhorns’ recruiting class, check out the full article on ESPN’s website here.
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