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Instability on the offensive coaching staff cost the Texas Longhorns on Monday evening, when Navasota wide receiver Tren'Davian Dickson flipped his commitment back to the Baylor Bears, according to ESPN's Gerry Hamilton.
The move was hardly a shock, as Dickson had been declining contact requests from media for several weeks and took an official visit to Oklahoma in late October.
The 6'0, 171-pounder set a national record for single-season touchdown receptions with 39 during a junior season that resulted in an undefeated record and state title for Navasota. Dickson gave an early commitment to head coach Art Briles last July, but saw interest in his services take off early in 2015 before he reopened his recruitment in February.
In the weeks prior to his decommitment, he picked up offers from TCU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Michigan State, Oklahoma State and North Carolina, with Texas joining two days afer Dickson left the Baylor class. He visited in early April and despite a source telling Burnt Orange Nation that Dickson was high on head coach Charlie Strong's discipline and developmental ability, he was considered a strong Texas A&M lead, with the Aggies holding 92% of the predicitions in his Crystal Ball.
"The offense is headed in the right direction with Coach Norvell with the wide receivers and a great offensive coordinator," Dickson told Horns247 during the summer. "They've been telling me I can come in and be the offensive player they've been looking for since Colt McCoy and Vince Young left."
His perception of that reality clearly changed after head coach Charlie Strong replaced former play caller Shawn Watson with Norvell, raising questions about whether either will return in 2015.
A consensus four-star prospect, Dickson is the No. 123 player overall, the No. 22 wide receiver and the No. 19 player in the state of Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
The Longhorns now hold nine commitments in a 2016 class that ranks No. 56 nationally and No. 7 in the Big 12 and could quickly become more serious about recruiting Georgia wide receiver commit Davion Curtis, a Temple product who is being evaluated by the staff. If an offer there induces a flip, it could help Texas with Beaumont Central running back Devwah Whaley, the state's No. 1 player at the position who is considered a Bulldogs lean.