Key Texas DL target DeMarvin Leal commits to Texas A&M following OV

As recently as last week, the Texas Longhorns appeared to be the team to beat for elite Converse Judson defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal.

An official visit to Texas A&M over the weekend changed that, and on Wednesday, the coveted lineman announced his pledge to Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies, marking a significant recruiting loss for Tom Herman and the ‘Horns.

Throughout the recent months, Leal’s recruitment was considered an in-state battle between Texas and Texas A&M. Following numerous trips up I-35 to Austin — most recently on March 31 — the San Antonio-area product was thought to be a Longhorns lean, with each of his last five Crystal Ball projections before the trip to Texas A&M favoring Texas. By the end of his official visit to College Station, however, each of those Texas picks were flipped to Texas A&M, and collectively, 14 projections were logged favoring the Aggies following the news that the visit was overwhelming positive.

There was belief that a commitment could have come as soon as Sunday night.

Of course, Leal delayed until Wednesday, but nevertheless, the commitment came and it’s one that will service as a significant blow to Texas’ 2019 recruiting efforts. The Longhorns were originally expected to receive an official visit this spring before what Leal was planning to be a summer decision.

With Leal now headed for College Station, the Longhorns have seen seven of the top 15 players in the state head elsewhere, and the four-star lineman is arguably the biggest miss of the bunch.

A 6’4, 280-pound prospect, Leal is ranked as the nation’s No. 104 player, No. 7 defensive tackle and the No. 15 player in Texas, per the 247Sports Composite.

Only two other defensive tackles — Ismael Sopsher and Faatui Tuitele — hold a Texas offer thus far, and each are projected to commit elsewhere.