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The remaining target at tight end for the Texas Longhorns is now officially back on the market, as New Orleans (La.) Brother Martin's Irvin Smith decommitted from the Texas A&M Aggies on Thursday evening:
— Irvin Smith JR. (@swervinirvin_) January 22, 2016
The decision came after weeks of consideration for Smith, who started seriously looking at other schools in December. A headline from GigEm247 said it all -- "Uncertainty at A&M causing Smith to waiver." Even without pulling any of the specific information from behind the paywall, it wasn't hard to make out what the article was about and what it meant for Texas.
The departures of former five-star quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray and the "mutual" end of Jake Spavital's time as offensive coordinator in College Station only further accelerated Smith's break with the Aggies.
A December official visit Smith took with high school teammate and Texas pledge Peyton Aucoin, the blocking half of the Brother Martin tight end duo, seemed to help the Longhorns significantly and Smith's decommitment came less than 24 hours after Texas tight ends coach Jeff Traylor had his in-home visit with the 6'4, 230-pounder:
Much love... pic.twitter.com/ZdTEHJBc8L
— Irvin Smith JR. (@swervinirvin_) January 21, 2016
Now Alabama will receive an official visit weekend, but consider that the Crimson Tide already have two tight end pledges in the 2016 class, will return breakout star OJ Howard, and also have a talented young player in Hale Hentges in the fold.
In other words, a comparison of the two depth charts would seemingly give Texas the edge.
While Smith also took an official visit to Memphis last weekend, it's hard to take the Tigers too seriously in this one.
Why is that? Just check out Smith's 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions right now:
Yup.
Smith is a consensus three-star prospect ranked as the No. 523 player overall, the No. 23 tight end, and the No. 25 player in the state of Louisiana, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Throughout his recruitment, he's collected nearly 30 offers.
As a senior, he caught 31 passes for 558 yards and four touchdowns.