Texas LB target Jaqwondis Burns commits to Minnesota

While on an official visit in Minneapolis, Texas Longhorns linebacker target Jaqwondis Burns announced his commitment to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

A longtime Ole Miss commit from Texas who played his senior year of high school at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Burns reopened his recruitment at the beginning of the month after the Rebels fired head coach Matt Luke.

After hosting Burns for an official visit in early November, the Longhorns appeared to be in strong shape to earn his pledge if he decommitted. But it appears that the termination of defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, who was recruiting Burns as the linebackers coach, provided an opening for Minnesota.

In fact, the Golden Gophers didn’t offer Burns until he’d already decommitted from Ole Miss, so this was a recruitment by head coach PJ Fleck and his staff that only lasted, officially, for 11 days.

A consensus three-star prospect, Burns is ranked as the No. 596 player nationally and the No. 41 outside linebacker, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Texas holds a commitment from Highland Park linebacker Prince Dorbah, who projected as a B-backer in Orlando’s defense, so the Horns are still looking for numbers at a position that features a thin depth chart.