Texas Football: 3 Texas A&M commits UT can flip post-Jimbo Fisher firing

Tyanthony Smith, LB

It’s been thought for a while that the Longhorns only had a handful of in-state linebacker recruits they would take in the 2024 class but that the staff was fine without taking anyone at the position if it came to that. A couple of the linebackers the Texas staff has communicated with this fall and four-star Texas A&M commit Tyanthony Smith and five-star Georgia Bulldogs commit Justin Williams.

Texas had an official visit scheduled with Smith in the summer. But he canceled that official visit to Texas during the summer before committing to Texas A&M over the Longhorns and USC in late June.

While co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jeff Choate and the Longhorns have remained in contact with Smith since he committed to Texas A&M during the summer, the blue-chip linebacker has remained solid with the Aggies in the last few months.

The biggest question in this recruitment for the Longhorns remains how solid Smith is with Texas A&M as a school instead of the football program and, specifically, the coaching staff. He likes College Station and has close ties to Texas A&M as a university.

But that won’t stop Texas’ staff from continuing their pursuit of Smith on the recruiting trail before signing day. The direction of the Texas program and the potential of more coaching staff turnover in College Station are potential reasons for Smith to consider the Longhorns further before signing day.

Texas has also worked to get the No. 1 linebacker recruit in the nation in the 2024 class in the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry Ranking, Williams, to campus for a visit this fall. That is also something to watch for Texas in linebacker recruiting in the 2024 class in the next month or so.