OTF Premium Pair of 2028 Lovejoy (TX) Tackles Detail Their Recruitments | Tuesday 10:40 a.m.

CJ Vogel · 2026-09-01T15:40:40Z

Updates on a Pair of 2028 Lovejoy (TX) Offensive Tackles

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Made the trip to Lucas, Texas to check out a pair of 2028 offensive tackles who each hold Texas offers on Friday to catch them in action for the first game of their junior seasons.

A couple of updates.

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2028 OL Mac Horton

The 6-foot-6-inch, 290-pound prospect spent the entire evening at right tackle, and entered a clean sheet in pass protection during the opener. Horton, a former lacrosse player, hung up his stick and mask after his freshman season to focus on football after seeing college interest come flooding in.

Currently, Horton holds 13 offers, including one from the Longhorns which was extended on April 28th.

"Definitely just earning that starting spot," Horton said in regard to what was top of mind for him entering 2026. "The seniors graduated last year were really good and I was injured freshman year. So it was a big setback, but I worked my butt off the last three years to get to this and I really tried to work on pad level and striking."

Horton added he focused on leadership in the offseason as well, something that definitely showed up in the 56–17 victory over Frisco Reedy.

Horton's dad played football at Presbyterian College in South Carolina, his mother was a volleyball star and his grandfather played at Georgia. So athleticism runs in the family. With the connection to Georgia, Horton said he grew up watching the Bulldogs, but ever since recruiting heated up, every school is viewed on an equal playing surface.

Ole Miss, SMU, Georgia, Texas, Arizona State, and LSU have all been schools hitting the telephone hard after Horton.

Fall Game Schedule:

Sept. 5: Texas A&M
Sept. 19: Ole Miss (vs. LSU)
Nov. 14: Georgia (vs. Missouri)
TBD: SMU
TBD: Texas

Horton said he heard from Kyle Flood and Steve Sarkisian each a couple of weeks ago, adding that they have been in touch since receiving his offer in the spring.

"I went there for spring ball, and then Coach Flood came and he gave me the offer (at Lovejoy) real quick. It was one of the coolest experiences ever."

Horton said he didn't know the offer was coming, but he was completely shocked when Flood extended the offer to him.

"Great school, great coaching and produce some of the best players in the country. They seem to truly care to play for their players and they just have an amazing program."

Texas will host Horton at some point this season.

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2028 OL Jayden Thompson

The left tackle at Lovejoy High has been a hot commodity on the recruiting trail as well.

Going into his junior season, 6-foot-5-inch, 300-pound left tackle Jayden Thompson sits with 18 offers in his back pocket and plenty more to come after firmly being on college radars for about a year now.

Thompson received his Texas offer back in March after visiting Austin for a spring practice and now has his sights set on putting together a monster junior season.

"I really want to show that I can exceed to where I was my sophomore year, and that I am a better player than what they have seen last year," Thompson said. "I want to show that I have improved physically and that my knowledge of assignments, and the little things of the game ensure that I am taking the right steps."

Thompson did not allow a pressure in the win over Reedy which saw the Leopards rack up over 600 yards of total offense in the process. He added that no sacks or missed assignments is the goal on a week to week basis for him.

"One thing for me was pad level and footwork with pad level," Thompson said. "Making sure that I am lower and not giving up my chest to anyone. So when I am low, I am engaging properly and driving off the ball."

I mentioned it above, but Thompson has already drawn interest from plenty of schools around the state and beyond. SMU, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, and a few others are set to host Thompson for games this season.

The Texas trip will come September 12th against Ohio State, a game Thompson said he is pumped to catch in person.

In regard to his relationship with Kyle Flood and the Longhorn staff, Thompson said he feels like a genuine connection is brewing.

"He seems really interested in me, and seems like a really good coach who cares for you more as a person than a football player which is something that I look for in coaches," Thompson said. "The attitude (at Texas), and the demeanor they keep there has helped them build up their program to what it is today."

Things are very early for Thompson, as you would expect for most 2028's. But he said development is key for him. Leaving as a better football player and person in general than what you arrived as is key for him.

Other offers so far for Thompson include Arizona, Houston, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, TCU, Wisconsin and plenty of others.

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Will have updates on both players following their trips to Austin this fall. Texas has both firmly on their radars.