As the Texas Longhorns prepare for their biggest game of the season, they have a reason to celebrate. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff have secured a commitment from tight end Charlie Jilek. The Michigan native has been committed to the Golden Gophers, but will now be heading to Austin when he makes his college debut next year.
In Jilek, Texas, is getting a tight end who is ranked as the 22nd best player from Michigan. He is also ranked as the 98th-best athlete in his class by 247Sports. For a program that has excelled at developing tight ends, the Portage Central product has the potential to be a future star.
BREAKING: Class of 2026 TE Charlie Jilek has Flipped his Commitment from Minnesota to Texas, he tells me for @rivals⁰⁰The 6’5 225 TE from Portage, MI had been Committed to the Golden Gophers since October 1st⁰⁰“Hook ‘Em🤘”⁰⁰https://t.co/hGB3JqrgH7pic.twitter.com/wCiBLWyK2w
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 14, 2025
During the recruiting process, Jilek drew attention from programs nationwide. That list includes Arkansas State, Ball State, and Central Michigan. Those schools, along with many others, were drawn to the newest Longhorns‘ ability to pay linebacker and tight end. At Texas, he is expected to see the majority of his snaps on offense.
With Jilek officially in the mix, Texas has one less position to worry about. He will be joining a 2026 class that includes five-star prospects such as Dia Bell, Tyler Atkinson, and Jermaine Bishop. They will get some help from four-star recruits such as Richard Wesley, Derek Cooper, Vodney Cleveland, and James Johnson.
#Texas flips Portage, Minnesota TE Charlie Jilek from the Golden Gophers.
Jilek was committed to UCF as a TE, then Minnesota as a LB. Physicality is the name of the game for the 6–5 prospect.
OTF: https://t.co/3IPq7i1P31pic.twitter.com/2ATrzyDgb3
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) November 14, 2025
Currently, the Longhorns’ 2026 class is ranked eighth in the nation by 247Sports. With more talent still left on the board, that could change in the coming weeks. They showed with Jilek that if a player can help bring wins to Austin, they do whatever they can to improve the program’s future.
While fans will have to be patient as they wait for Jilek’s debut, he should be an important weapon in the Longhorns’ passing game when he arrives on campus.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Longhorns flip Minnesota three-star tight end commit
