Projected Michigan Commit Makes Bold National Championship Claim About Texas
Projected Michigan Commit Makes Bold National Championship Claim About Texas originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Class of 2026 four-star offensive tackle Malakai Lee, one of the top players in the country, remains uncommitted as he considers some of the top college football programs in the country.
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Lee (6-foot-7, 310 pounds) plays for Kamehameha Secondary High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. He ranks as the No. 9 offensive tackle, the No. 1 player in the state of Hawaii and the No. 85 recruit overall in his class, per On3.
Lee is projected to land at Michigan, according to 247Sports' Steve Lorenz.
Head coach Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines extended a scholarship offer to Lee in the summer of last year before making his top-four schools, also including Georgia, Texas and Alabama.
Georgia (April 10) and Alabama (May 30) officially hosted Lee before Texas got its opportunity over the weekend.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian speaks with quarterback Arch Manning (16)© Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
And head coach Steve Sarkisian's Longhorns must have made a significant impression, as Lee spoke highly of the trajectory of the SEC powerhouse.
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Although Texas hasn't won a national championship since 2005 and hasn't played for one since 2009, Lee believes the Longhorns will reach the promised land soon.
"They will be National Champions very soon," Lee said via Steve Wiltfong after his visit.
Lee's bold claim follows two standout seasons by Texas, including back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances. The Longhorns fell one game shy of a national championship shot in a loss to Ohio State in the semifinals last season.
There is also some notable momentum on the recruiting trail, as Texas signed the nation's No. 1 class in the 2025 cycle and are pushing for another top class in 2026.
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Lee, coming off his visit to the Longhorns, is slated to officially visit Michigan on June 20 and plans to announce his decision on Aug. 15.
Related: Major SEC Program Pushing For Highly-Touted Texas WR Commit
Related: ESPN Projects the No. 1 College Football Program for Next Two Seasons
Related: Nation's Top LB To Officially Visit SEC Powerhouse After Trips To Clemson, Oregon
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
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