Breaking News: 5-Star TE James Flanigan, Standing 8’6″ and Weighing 250 Pounds, Shocks College Football by Decommitting from Notre Dame and Choosing Texas Longhorns Over Penn State and More.
In a seismic recruiting twist that has left college football analysts scrambling and fanbases stunned, James Flanigan, the top-ranked tight end in the 2026 class and one of the most physically dominant high school prospects in recent memory, has decommitted from Notre Dame and announced his commitment to the Texas Longhorns.
At 8 feet 6 inches tall and 250 pounds, Flanigan is a truly mythic presence on the football field, and his decision immediately catapults Texas’ 2026 recruiting class into the national spotlight.
“It’s about where I feel I can be the most complete athlete and person,” Flanigan said in a surprise live commitment stream. “Austin felt like home. Coach Sarkisian’s vision for me—not just as a tight end, but as a mismatch nightmare across the field—was impossible to ignore.”
James Flanigan, a five-star recruit out of Bay Port High School (WI), has already made headlines throughout his high school career—not just for his skills, but for his record-breaking height. At 8’6″, Flanigan is believed to be the tallest Division I football commit in modern history, and despite his massive frame, scouts rave about his coordination, footwork, and surprisingly fluid mobility.
According to 247Sports composite rankings, Flanigan is the No. 1 overall tight end, the No. 3 overall player in the 2026 class, and a once-in-a-generation physical outlier.
“He’s like a walking red zone cheat code,” said national recruiting analyst Charles Power. “Imagine Rob Gronkowski crossed with a skyscraper.”
Flanigan reportedly has an 82-inch wingspan, runs a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, and owns state titles in both track and basketball. In his junior season, he posted 73 receptions, 1,222 yards, and 19 touchdowns—many of which came on near-unstoppable fades, seam routes, and jump balls that defenders couldn’t physically reach.
Flanigan had been committed to Notre Dame for nearly nine months, and his pledge to the Irish was widely seen as a cornerstone of their 2026 class. However, behind the scenes, several SEC and Big 12 programs—including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Texas—continued pushing to flip him.
Sources close to Flanigan say the combination of NIL structure, scheme fit, and coaching continuity at Texas tipped the scale.
“Notre Dame’s a great school, no doubt,” Flanigan said. “But Texas is building something elite. The facilities, the energy, the city—everything clicked.”
The commitment video, filmed atop the UT Tower and featuring Flanigan lowering a giant Longhorn flag over the edge, instantly went viral.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and offensive coordinator Kyle Flood have long coveted a hybrid TE who can exploit mismatches, and Flanigan fits that mold like no one else.
Sarkisian reportedly pitched Flanigan on a “positionless role”—lining up wide, in the slot, in-line, and even as an H-back. The pitch included comparisons to NFL stars like Travis Kelce, Kyle Pitts, and even Calvin Johnson due to Flanigan’s rare size-speed combo.
“We’re not going to just throw him the ball—we’re going to build our offense around him,” one Texas assistant reportedly told Flanigan during an official visit.
Flanigan’s commitment pushes Texas’ 2026 class into the Top 3 nationally, behind only Alabama and Ohio State (as of current projections). He joins a group that already includes:
- 5⭐ QB Carson Dupré
- 4⭐ WR Jaylen Moore
- 4⭐ OT Kade Burnham
- 4⭐ LB Jace Ricks
Texas fans immediately exploded with excitement, flooding message boards and social media with #HookEmFlanigan hashtags.
“He’s a unicorn,” one fan posted. “This isn’t just a win—it’s a warning to the rest of the country.”
The loss is a crushing blow to Notre Dame, who had built much of their offensive strategy around Flanigan’s projected presence. Head coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged the decommitment in a press conference, saying:
“We wish James the best. He’s a great young man, and he made a decision he believes is best for his future. We move forward.”
Other finalists—Penn State, Alabama, and Miami—had made strong pushes late in the process, but Texas’ persistence and creative recruiting approach ultimately sealed the deal.
Insiders say Flanigan will immediately compete for playing time as a true freshman in 2026. Texas staff are already designing plays with multiple tight ends to pair Flanigan with returning star Will Randle, creating formation chaos for defensive coordinators.
Imagine 8’6” Flanigan lined up in the slot against a 6-foot safety—or motioned out wide against a 5’10” cornerback. No amount of coverage can match the altitude advantage.
“He’s basically a living highlight reel,” said Texas QB commit Carson Dupré. “I just have to throw it where only he can catch it—which, let’s be real, is anywhere within 20 feet.”
Texas has made huge recruiting wins over the past few cycles—but landing James Flanigan is a once-in-a-lifetime moment. He’s not just a star player. He’s a cultural phenomenon. And with Texas entering the SEC and looking to recapture national title relevance, this commitment could be the start of something massive—literally and figuratively.
James Flanigan to Texas isn’t just big news. It’s the biggest.
Hook ’Em.
