Texas Football Recruiting: Texas A&M flipping OT Javonne Shepherd?

This 2019 Texas football recruiting class is going to have to put in some work to retain the commitment of offensive tackle Javonne Shepherd.

Something that was looming over the head of the 2019 Texas football recruiting class before the arrival of National Signing Day was the lone commit who did not sign his National Letter of Intent during the Early Signing Period, four-star North Shore offensive tackle Javonne Shepherd. This Texas football recruiting class had a big need along the offensive line, and nabbing Shepherd’s commitment was pivotal. But, could he be on his way out of this commitment to the 2019 Texas football recruiting class?

On Jan. 12, Shepherd took a visit to Texas A&M with head coach Jimbo Fisher trying to pry him away from the 2019 Texas football recruiting. Pretty much every recent visit for Shepherd was either with the Texas Longhorns or the Aggies. Fisher and Texas head coach Tom Herman are battling back and forth for the last unsigned, but committed, prospect in this 2019 Texas football recruiting class.

However, Shepherd is set for two official visits in the next two weekends. First, he’ll visit the Georgia Bulldogs (who the Horns knocked off in the Sugar Bowl in Jan. 1) on Jan. 18. Then, he’s set for another visit to an SEC school, with the national title-runner up Alabama Crimson Tide on Jan. 25.

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Shepherd was originally committed to the 2019 Texas football recruiting class back in July of 2018. Since then, the rumors constantly lingered that the Aggies could be in to flip the North Shore High School offensive lineman and Houston, TX, native. The battle between Texas and Texas A&M on the recruiting trail began reaching news heights in the past two cycles.

Since he originally committed to the 2019 Texas football recruiting class last year, the only real threat it seemed to nab him away was Texas A&M. He’s had numerous visits to College Station, TX, within the past year so it wouldn’t be too surprising if he flips before National Signing Day.

However, the Horns can’t really afford to lose a lineman in this class. Texas does have elite four-star Conroe, TX, offensive tackle Tyler Johnson and late addition Dulles High School offensive tackle Isaiah Hookfin signed. But, Texas will need more than those two offensive linemen signed by the time National Signing Day rolls around.

The last 247Sports Crystal Ball Predictions for Shepherd gave him a 57 percent chance to commit to Texas and 43 percent to land with Texas A&M. Although, most of those Crystal Ball Predictions haven’t been updated since the July 29 commitment of Shepherd to the Horns.

If the 2019 Texas football recruiting class does lose Shepherd to the Aggies, it would also lose out on a top 350 ranked 2019 high school prospect in the nation and the 30th best offensive tackle. This 6-foot-6 and 330 pound lineman is a force to be reckoned with and the Horns need to do everything possible to get him signed before National Signing Day next month.