Longhorns miss out on four-star edge rusher Dre Quinn, commits to Clemson
Four-star edge rusher Dre Quinn announced his commitment to the Clemson Tigers on Thursday, choosing the Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse over the Texas Longhorns after a tightly contested recruiting battle.
Quinn, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound standout from Buford High School in Georgia, is ranked as the No. 13 edge rusher in the class of 2026 and the No. 15 overall recruit in his state, according to Rivals. He had previously narrowed his list to Clemson and Texas, with both programs making strong pushes in the final days leading up to his decision.
“Thank you God! I’m All in,” Quinn told On3’s Hayes Fawcett after making his commitment public. The decision comes less than a week after Quinn officially visited Texas. This trip briefly made the Longhorns the favorites to land his pledge, according to recruiting projections. However, Quinn ultimately chose Clemson, citing the program’s family atmosphere and the relationships he built with the coaching staff.
BREAKING: Four-Star EDGE Dre Quinn has Committed to Clemson, he tells me for @on3recruits
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) June 19, 2025
The 6’4 230 EDGE from Buford, GA chose the Tigers over Texas
“Thank you God! I’m All in.”https://t.co/3s5rw7PqPM pic.twitter.com/FDKqDvATxf
“There is something different about Clemson,” Quinn told On3. “The way it is so tight-knit up there made a big impact on me. I like what coach Dabo has built on family and faith. The brotherhood is real at Clemson. It is different than every other program”.
Quinn transferred to Buford High School earlier this month after playing his junior season at Greater Atlanta Christian School, where he recorded 42 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 9.5 tackles for loss. Over two varsity seasons, he tallied 53 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks while contributing as a receiver.
Clemson’s recruiting class now ranks sixth nationally with 19 verbal pledges, the highest among ACC programs, while Texas sits at No. 21 with 13 commits. Quinn becomes the second edge rusher and sixth defensive player to join Clemson’s 2026 class.
Clemson and Texas are expected to contend for national titles in the upcoming seasons, with ESPN ranking them No. 2 and No. 3 in its 2025 post-spring Way-Too-Early Top 25. Quinn will play his senior year of high school before joining the Tigers, hoping to help the program compete for another national championship.