DAINGERFIELD, TX – Four star athlete Aeryn Hampton revealed his college commitment in front of several friends and family during a livestream aired exclusively on Rivals.com Friday night.
Alabama And Texas were the Rivals250 do-it-all point guard finalists from East Texas. It was Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns who beat Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide for Hampton, resulting in a looping moment.
Hampton originally committed to Texas in February 2022, moving from Baylor. Then, he reopened his recruitment in November. After that, it became a two-team race for the top-notch rookie. He noted that Texas hasn’t stopped recruiting him.
“The day I opted out, coach (Blake) Gideon told me they were always going to stay on me and sign me,” Hampton told Rivals.com. “He wanted me to make sure that when I made my decision, I was 100 percent. They kept recruiting me harshly.”
A three-way playmaker who has won nearly 30 offers, Hampton can play either side of the ball in addition to special teams. He was drafted to play either wide receiver or defensive back at the top level thanks to his abilities in both places.
Hampton accounted for over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 times as a junior, including two kick returns. On defense, he intercepted nine passes and returned five of six, showing his ability to play.
“Coach Sark said I’ll be playing DB mostly, but I’ll get a few games on offense as well,” Hampton said. “They have a plan for me. Coach Sark has put a lot of guys in the league from different schools. He’s done it over and over again.”
The four-star familiarized himself with everything Texas had to offer throughout the recruiting process. He was greeted by quarterback Maalik Murphy during his official visit and picked up the brains of starting defensive back Jahdae Barron to learn even more.
Ultimately, his level of comfort in Austin and with the staff, combined with everything the program and the university have to sell, sold Hampton on its college destination. Which gave Texas another top-notch prospect on its 2024 run.
“I feel very comfortable (in Texas). It’s the biggest brand in the country,” Hampton said. “All eyes will be on Texas. They have great academics too. A degree from there means a lot.”
Confident in his commitment, Hampton focused on bringing his best to the 40 Acres early in his college career. The nation’s No. 150 overall rookie has a simple message for the Longhorns.
“They’re going to have a dog. Believe it,” Hampton said.
