On a huge recruiting night in Athens for Georgia's Dawg Night, Jackonsville (FL) Bolles five-star offensive tackle John Theus committed to the Bulldogs, one of five commits on the evening. The 6-6, 290-pounder had recently narrowed his list to Texas, Florida, and Georgia, but his familiarity with the program after numerous visits, the presence of his older brother on campus, and the recruiting momentum generated by Mark Richt and his staff on the evening was enough to compel Theus to pull the trigger.
For Longhorn fans, the decision comes as something of a disappointment only days after Theus indicated that he would take an unofficial visit to Austin late in July, possible the same weekend as fellow five-star tackle Andrus Peat. In reality, though, one visit to Texas was never going to be enough to land Theus, despite his relationship with new Longhorn offensive line coach Stacy Searels, who recruited the elder Theus to Georgia.
The decision from the big Floridian means that Tempe (AZ) Corona Del Sol stud Peat is the remaining out of state target for Texas along the offensive line. Peat will visit from July 25-26 and it's entirely possible that a good visit for Peat could vault the Longhorns to at or near the top of his list. With Texas commit and fellow Arizona native Connor Brewer consistently in his ear about the appeal of Austin and the lure of early playing time, the Longhorns look to be in a strong position to have a serious chance at landing a commitment from Peat.
It's also possible that Texas could look more seriously at in-state prospects, with Port Arthur Memorial's Tre'von Armstead, a Baylor commit, the most likely candidate. Wylie's Kyle Fuller could also receive a look.