Texas Football: 3 times Baylor flipped a key Longhorns commit

Xavier Newman, OT

About the only former Texas commit on this list that was actually able to make an impact on the field for Baylor is the last name here. DeSoto High School product and Texas native Xavier Newman played at center and offensive guard in the trenches for the Bears for the better part of the past four years. And he should be back in Waco for one more season.

Since the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility for anyone who played in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2020 college football season, Newman will get another season with the Bears. He should once again be their starter either at the center position or at one of the guard spots this fall.

However, there was a point when Newman looked like he could eventually become an integral part of the offensive line on the Forty Acres. He was committed to the Longhorns 2017 class from April-October 2016. There was some writing on the wall that former Texas head coach Charlie Strong could have his days numbered in Austin.

That was likely one of the reasons why Newman flipped his commitment eventually to Baylor ahead of National Signing Day 2017. But coming out of DeSoto, Newman ranked as the nation’s No. 340 2017 high school prospect, No. 20 offensive guard, and No. 50 prospect out of Texas (247Sports Composite). And the Top247 ranked him as the nation’s No. 229 high school prospect, No. 14 offensive guard, and No. 31 prospect out of Texas.