#97

Alex January

DL · Texas · R-Fr. · #97

Returning to Texas for 2026
R-Fr. · Duncanville, Texas → Duncanville
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Alex January

DL · Texas · So · #97

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#494 national
CFB
College
Texas
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Texas13-3HC: Steve Sarkisian · Balanced, fast tempo
2025Texas10-3HC: Steve Sarkisian · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Texas1992.51.51----
2024Texas310.00.0------
Career22102.51.51----

How he plays

Play style

Controls the point of attack and doesn't move.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Texas

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive line · Texas

Returning around him

  • 28% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • 6 Texas players drafted to NFL
  • Transfer portal: -6 net (22 in / 28 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Texas · Last season: 10-3 (AP #14) · Talent rank #4 · 2026 recruiting class #7

DNA match

Player DNA

Nose Anchor

The heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Tavion Gadson’s 2025 season.

Kentucky · 2025

#2
81%
#3

Ian Jeffries

Purdue · 2025

81%
#4

Brendan Bett

Florida · 2025

79%
#5

Christen Miller

Georgia · 2024

NFL Rd 2 · Pk 10
78%

Matches Tavion on

Class year
Hurry rate
TFL rate

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Tavion Gadson's sophomore season at Kentucky (2025).

Kentucky · 2025

#2

Ian Jeffries

Purdue · 2025

82%
#3
82%
#4

Maason Smith

LSU · 2023

NFL Rd 2 · Pk 16
81%
#5

Derrick Harmon

Michigan State · 2022

All-Big TenNFL Rd 1 · Pk 21
78%

Matches Tavion on

Class year
Hurry rate
TFL rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #4535

Final rank
#4535
Avg #5213.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #4535 this season.

Background

A third-year defensive lineman from Duncanville, Texas ... has appeared in 21 games and started in eight. SOPHOMORE (2025) Started against Ohio State (8/30) where he logged three total tackles (one solo) ... recorded one tackle against Florida (10/4) ... saw action in Red River Rivalry game again...

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