Texas S Adrian Colbert announces intention to become graduate transfer

A third Texas Longhorns defensive back and second in three days will depart from the program this offseason, as senior safety Adrian Colbert announced on Wednesday that he intends to graduate in May and further pursue his football career and a Master's degree at another institution:

Hook Em' Horns & God Bless #AdrianColbert26 pic.twitter.com/IskeFCtvRw

— A.D Colbert (@AdrianColbert26) February 17, 2016

Just before National Signing Day, sophomore cornerback Jermaine Roberts transferred to Sam Houston State and on Monday, senior cornerback Bryson Echols also announced that he will become a graduate transfer. Like Echols, Colbert will have one season of eligibility remaining.

The 6'0, 210-pounder appeared in 26 games over his first two seasons, including four starts in 2014 before losing his position to freshman Jason Hall. In Colbert's first career start against UNT that year, he was able to record his only career interception. And despite losing his starting job, Colbert remained engaged enough to tie for the team lead in special teams tackles with six and downed two punts inside the five-yard line against West Virginia that year. As a freshman in 2013, Colbert was a second-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree and finished tied for third on the team in special teams tackles with six.

After getting passed by Hall in 2014, though, Colbert fell almost entirely out of the rotation and wasn't credited with any statistics last season, according to cfbstats.com. And he wasn't making a dent on the depth chart, either, as more young players like freshmen DeShon Elliott and PJ Locke pulled ahead of him in the rotation.

But he was hardly a malignant influence on the team -- it was Colbert who teamed with freshman cornerback Holton Hill for the celebratory Gatorade bath administered to head coach Charlie Strong at the end of the shocking upset over Oklahoma. It was Colbert who was the first to hug his coach in the immediate aftermath.

And so even though Colbert was ultimately a disappointment after arriving at Texas as a raw but heralded consensus four-star prospect and 247Sports' No. 5 safety nationally out of Minerals Wells in 2012, the Longhorns won't be a better program for his absence. There will just be more reps to go around to the younger players who represent the future.