3-star TE Gunnar Helm signs with Texas

Gunnar Helm made it official and is joining the Texas Longhorns after signing his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday.

Helm, a three-star talent who stands at 6’5 and 225 pounds, is out of Cherry Creek High School in Colorado. He committed to Texas’ 2021 cycle back in July.

Per the Austin American-Statesman, Helm plans to enroll early as a means of catching the coaching staff’s attention this spring. From the Morning News: “Texas likes the future of its tight ends room. Jared Wiley should be entrenched as the starter. Malcolm Epps can help as a receiver out of the tight end spot. The staff likes the upside of Brayden Liebrock. Helm faces stern competition for playing time as a freshman and would need to impress early in training camp to get reps over the returning players.”

Prior to his commitment, Helm had received about 30 offers from the nation’s top programs, including fromWisconsin, whose campus he visited in June. Helm also held offers from Alabama, LSU, and Georgia.

He was a part of a state championship team during his junior season in 2019, and made another appearance the conclude his high school career this season. He’s also a big guy, and Helm is athletic for his size. Not to mention he’s stoked as hell to join the Longhorns.

Helm is a pro-spread tight end prospect. He’s already getting work at his Colorado high school as a flexed out receiver and some as an in-line blocker. He’s effective as a receiver, cutting into open spaces, catching the ball, and using his size to present a big target and box out defenders. As a blocker he’s not yet doing Texas-type work base blocking big ends but mostly bullying outside linebackers and safeties in space. Like everyone else Texas has recruited at that position, he’ll need a lot of time to bulk up and get used to heavy duty blocking work in the box. The receiving stuff will come much more easily, assuming he’s not limited by weight gains which at 6-foot-6 is unlikely. – Ian Boyd

Helm is ranked the nation’s No. 33 tight end and the No. 5 player in Colorado, per 247Sports’ Composite.