Texas A&M fans have had their share of recruiting woes, but there’s nothing worse than when a commitment flips to your direct rival. That’s compounded when that flip happens at the last second— like on signing day, as happened with LB TyAnthony Smith.
The Jasper, Texas product was committed to Texas A&M for quite some time in the 2024 class, but word started to spread as signing day was getting closer that Smith was planning a flip. It became so public, in fact, that when the flip actually happened, it came as absolutely zero surprise to A&M fans, softening the blow at least that much.
Smith has logged quite a few snaps for Texas in his time down in Austin, but it looks like there’s a little bit of trouble on the horizon— or maybe already here. According to a report from Texas fan site Orangebloods, Smith, whose practice attendance has been “spotty” lately, has departed the team following recent events.
Former Texas A&M commit who flipped to Longhorns has departed Texas program
Here’s the report from Anwar Richardson on what has transpired with Smith:
Sources have told me that, as of Friday afternoon, Texas junior linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith is no longer with the team. Given the fluidity of Smith’s practice participation over the past couple of weeks, everyone should leave open the possibility of another change in direction.… pic.twitter.com/nuhskzuEGv
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) August 21, 2026
Smith committed to Texas A&M back in the 2024 cycle under Jimbo Fisher after apparently silently committing to Southern Cal. He was the last in a long line of commitments that Fisher had gotten, but he didn’t stick around for the Mike Elko era despite the Aggie head man’s efforts once getting the job.
There was a lot of movement in that 2024 class thanks to the aforementioned coaching change, but Elko still got the biggest star to stick in Terry Bussey. Smith’s departure felt like it hurt the Aggies at the time, but now, with his future in question, the blow doesn’t sting quite as much.
The worst thing about losing a recruit to a rival is that it not only is attrition from your class, but it bolsters theirs. That dynamic can be really tough— just see another former Aggie LB commit turned Longhorn in Anthony Hill. Smith was behind Hill for the last couple of years, but Longhorn fans had high hopes for how he might eventually turn out.
In this crazy world of the transfer portal, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that, if Smith really does depart finally from Austin, he could end up in College Station. That’s up to Mike Elko and the coaching staff, of course, but it’s something that Texas A&M fans should keep on their radar, given that he’s a former commitment.
Of course, it’s not all that likely— even guys who seemed like prime candidates to transfer back to A&M after previously being committed there, like Drelon Miller, have ended up going other places. Still, Aggie fans should watch this storyline closely going forward.
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