After entering NCAA transfer portal, former USC WR Bru McCoy signs financial aid agreement with Texas

Better late than never — isn’t that the saying?

After entering the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday, USC Trojans wide receiver Bru McCoy, ranked as the No. 1 athlete in the 2019 recruiting class, signed his financial aid agreement in preparation to transfer to the Texas Longhorns, according to a report from Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. Horns247 provided confirmation minutes later.

McCoy plans on beginning classes in Austin next week after receiving his admittance into school, which was confirmed by Texas on Friday afternoon.

When decision day finally arrived for McCoy on Jan. 5, the dynamic Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei star snatched the cardinal and gold USC hat from the table at the All-American Bowl, solidifying his choice to stay close to home and suit up for the Trojans, a decision he had made days earlier by signing his National Letter of Intent.

The burnt orange Texas hat, along with others, remained on the table.

Just days later, McCoy enrolled at USC, but as soon as the five-star prospect arrived, former Texas Tech head coach and recently-hired Trojans offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was on his way out an on to the NFL as the newly-named head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

Two weeks came and went and all was mostly quiet on the McCoy front — that was, at least, until the rumor mill began roaring from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast. On Wednesday, speculation began to circulate hinting at McCoy’s plans to depart from the USC program. Throughout the subsequent 24 hours, those message board murmurs blossomed into national reports, and ultimately, reality, as McCoy officially entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday afternoon.

Seemingly as soon as McCoy’s exit plan became apparent, all signs began pointing towards Texas, arguably the only program that enjoyed more than a mere puncher’s chance throughout his recruitment. McCoy followed those signs and they led him to the Forty Acres, as the elite talent signed a financial agreement with Texas on Friday.

With McCoy now officially taking his talents to Texas, head coach Tom Herman’s 2019 class features a new headliner, as McCoy was dubbed as the No. 9 overall prospect in his class.

247Sports provided an in-depth evaluation of McCoy’s NFL-caliber skill set:

Unique two-way player with a high projection at receiver or outside linebacker. Big, strong and physical as a wideout with good hands and high-level body control. Runs well enough to get behind a defense, makes the tough catch look routine and can do something with the ball in his hands after the catch as well. Is also a tremendous blocker and plays with incredible effort. Outstanding pass rusher who combines an explosive first step to get the edge with the power to bull rush a tackle or change direction and flashes a quick move to the inside. Plays the run very well and is comfortable in space or dropping back in to coverage. Where he plays in college will be interesting as he prefers receiver but might have more upside as a 3-4 outside ‘backer. Potential early impact player at BCS level and high round NFL draft pick.

As a senior, McCoy’s said skill set was on full display as the 6’2, 205-pounder hauled in 78 receptions for 1,428 yards and 18 touchdowns, in addition to 13 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks as a pass-rushing specialist.

The Longhorns pitched McCoy on the plan to implement him similarly in Austin.

McCoy’s potential to provide an immediate impact is apparent, but the question that now looms largest is whether or not the Longhorns will be able to utilize him immediately. USC reportedly released McCoy from his NLI, but given that McCoy did sign and enroll at USC, he’ll require a waiver from the NCAA in hopes of becoming eligible for the 2019 season.

Otherwise, per the NCAA transfer rules, McCoy will have to sit out one season before becoming eligible in 2020.

With McCoy now in the mix, the 2019 recruiting haul leapfrogs Oklahoma and Texas A&M to take over the No. 3 spot nationally, per the 247Sports Composite, setting Texas up for its second consecutive top-three finish.