The No. 1 high school player in Texas is sticking in the Lone Star State.

Duncanville's Colin Simmons — one of the highest-rated edge pass rush prospects in the country — announced Thursday his commitment to Texas, giving the Longhorns their first five-star recruit in their 2024 class.

Simmons had an impressive junior season with 22.5 sacks, 33 tackles for loss and 45 quarterback hurries as Duncanville went 15-0 and won its first state championship since 1998. In the state final vs. Galena Park North Shore, Simmons was chosen the defensive MVP after collecting two sacks in the 28-21 victory. He's listed as both an edge and linebacker prospect.

"It came to the last little moment," Simmons said Thursday during the On3 livestream. "I just want to take care of my family, and I feel like Texas put me in the best position to take care of them."

With Barryn Sorrell in his third year and eligible for the 2024 NFL draft, the Longhorns snagging a premier talent in Simmons is important for their future. Simmons is not the first defensive lineman to commit to the Longhorns, but he is the first five-star in their class.

Before he was added, Texas had the 22nd-ranked class with 15 commitments, according to 247Sports' composite ratings. With the addition of Simmons, that rank jumped up to No. 17. Simmons is the Longhorns' highest-rated recruit, just ahead of four-star running back Jerrick Gibson from IMG Academy and four-star cornerback Jordon Johnson-Rubell, also out of IMG.

Simmons is the highest-rated edge rusher to pledge to Texas since Plano West's Jackson Jeffcoat in 2010. He’s also just the third five-star edge to commit to Texas in the modern recruiting era, which dates back about two decades when various recruiting sources began ranking collegiate prospects. Jeffcoat and Kilgore High School’s Eddie Jones in 2006 also were consensus five-star prospects.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Five-star DE Colin Simmons announces commitment to Texas football