Texas grad transfer WR target Tabari Hines to announce on Monday

A big decision on Monday will impact the immediate future of the Texas Longhorns slot receiver position, as Wake Forest Demon Deacons graduate transfer wide receiver Tabari Hines will announce his choice on Monday at 4 p.m. Central:

The 5’10, 175-pounder made the decision to transfer in late February after a successful junior season that saw him tie for the team lead with 53 receptions and rack up 683 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Two of those touchdowns came in the Belk Bowl against Texas A&M on matching seven-yard receptions.

In recent weeks, Hines has taken visits to see the Oregon Ducks and USC Trojans following his official visit to Austin a month ago.

The situation for Oregon at wide receiver is an interesting one — the coaches are pursuing Hines because there aren’t a lot of proven options, but the team’s leading receiver from last season, Dillon Mitchell, is now the starter in the slot. His back up is a former four-star prospect who caught five passes last season and fits the mold of the ideal slot receiver. So there is potential for playing time, with Mitchell likely to move outside if the Ducks can land Hines, but there is a talented option there playing out of position.

The Horns may have more of a pure need for a slot receiver, as the starter there right now is Jerrod Heard, who has mostly played outside in his two years at the position. His back up, Jordan Pouncey, hasn’t yet played for Texas and doesn’t fit the prototypical slot receiver mold, either. Joshua Moore will get a chance after he arrives during the summer and has talent that translates well to the position, but Hines would be a better bet as an instant contributor.

As for USC, the Trojans lost star Deontay Burnett to the NFL and don’t have much returning talent at the position. Though consensus five-star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will arrive this summer and is one of the top players in the country, Hines would also be the favorite to start in the slot against Texas this fall if he chooses USC.

Similar to the situation with offensive tackle Calvin Anderson, all the schools under consideration by Hines have a need for a slot receiver, though not every program has quite the same level of need.

Each school also made a positive impression on Hines, so it’s difficult to determine a favorite right now and that will add to the drama on Monday afternoon.