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
In a jaw-dropping turn of events that has stunned college football fans, coaches, and analysts alike, James Flanigan—the 5-star tight end phenom listed at an almost mythical 8 feet 6 inches tall and 250 pounds—has officially decommitted from Notre Dame and announced his commitment to the Texas Longhorns. The news, confirmed by Flanigan himself via a live stream from his family’s compound in Northern Wisconsin, has sent shockwaves through recruiting circles and has instantly elevated Texas’s 2026 recruiting class to the top spot nationally.
Flanigan’s decision comes just weeks after he reaffirmed his commitment to Notre Dame during an official visit, where he had been expected to anchor their offense as a generational talent. A legacy recruit—his father, Jim Flanigan Sr., played defensive tackle at Notre Dame before enjoying a successful NFL career—James was considered a virtual lock for South Bend. But in a shocking 180-degree turn, the towering tight end chose the burnt orange and white of Texas over offers from blue-blood programs including Penn State, Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, and USC.
“After a lot of thought, prayer, and discussion with my family, I’ve decided to take my talents to Austin,” Flanigan said during his announcement. “I have the utmost respect for Coach Freeman and the Notre Dame staff, but I believe Texas gives me the best opportunity to grow—on and off the field—and to win a national championship.”
The reaction was immediate and intense. Texas fans erupted in celebration across social media, with #FlaniganToTexas trending on X (formerly Twitter) within minutes. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, known for his explosive offensive systems and creative use of hybrid players, issued a one-word reaction that went viral within minutes: “Weaponized.”
Analysts are already calling Flanigan the most unique prospect in the history of modern football. Measuring 8-foot-6, with an 11-foot wingspan and hands reportedly larger than a standard dinner plate, he presents a matchup nightmare that simply has no precedent. His official weight—250 pounds—raises eyebrows given his height, suggesting an ultra-lean, fast, and agile build with freakish mobility. At a summer camp in Dallas earlier this year, Flanigan reportedly ran a hand-timed 4.39 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 47-inch vertical leap—numbers that are astronomical for any player, let alone someone nearly three feet taller than the average tight end.
His high school coach, Kevin Marris of Ironwood Academy in Eagle River, described Flanigan as “not from this planet.” “He’s the most dominant player I’ve ever coached, and I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” Marris said. “We had to change our entire offensive playbook just to maximize what he could do. And still, opposing teams just couldn’t stop him.”
In his junior season alone, Flanigan recorded 89 receptions for 1,742 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also added 12 blocked kicks, five sacks, and three defensive touchdowns, showcasing his versatility as a two-way player. More impressively, those stats came despite being double- and even triple-teamed on nearly every snap. Defensive coordinators resorted to lining up entire units just to shadow him, but Flanigan often rose above all of them—literally and figuratively.
Texas’s coaching staff had been quietly pursuing Flanigan even after his commitment to Notre Dame. According to sources close to the program, the Longhorns offered something other schools couldn’t: a custom-built role that merges tight end, wide receiver, and H-back duties into one unprecedented position package now being dubbed “Titan-X.” Offensive coordinator Kyle Flood reportedly designed over 60 plays centered around Flanigan’s unique skill set before he had even decommitted.
“This is a player you don’t just plug into a system—you build the system around him,” Flood said in a press release. “James Flanigan can change the geometry of the football field. His catch radius is bigger than most two-car garages.”
Beyond the field, Flanigan’s choice also has major implications for the college football landscape at large. Texas, already riding high from a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024, has now made an even stronger case for becoming a perennial powerhouse in the post-SEC realignment era. With Sarkisian landing top-tier quarterbacks and now the most physically dominant tight end in modern football history, the Longhorns appear poised to terrorize opposing defenses for years to come.
This commitment may also mark a shifting tide in recruiting culture. In years past, legacy and tradition often trumped system fit. But Flanigan’s decision suggests that elite recruits are now prioritizing innovation, offensive flexibility, and personal branding opportunities. “Coach Sark showed me how I could be a football unicorn in Austin,” Flanigan said. “They’re not asking me to fit in—they’re asking me to stand out.”
And stand out he will. Flanigan’s recruitment has also attracted national media attention not just for his football prowess but for his sheer stature. At 8’6”, he’s taller than most professional basketball players and would easily become the tallest college football player ever, smashing the previous record of 7’0”. Despite skepticism over his reported height, Flanigan has been medically cleared multiple times and is listed by both 247Sports and Rivals at his verified measurements.
His physical presence is matched by his personality, described by those close to him as humble, focused, and surprisingly reserved. “He’s a gentle giant off the field,” said his high school English teacher, Lisa Cartwright. “You’d expect a kid with that kind of media attention to be cocky or distracted. But James is grounded. He’s always respectful, always reading or working on his technique.”
There’s also the matter of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) potential. Flanigan’s rare combination of dominance, charisma, and size has made him a magnet for marketing opportunities. He already has endorsement deals in the pipeline with national sports brands, custom cleat companies, and even a major energy drink partnership—reportedly worth seven figures—contingent on his college destination. Texas’s elite NIL infrastructure, including The Burnt Orange Collective, played no small role in his decision, according to sources close to the family.
Flanigan’s decommitment from Notre Dame, while respectful and professionally handled, still stings for the Irish, who had made him the centerpiece of their 2026 offensive strategy. Head coach Marcus Freeman issued a brief statement thanking Flanigan and wishing him well, but the disappointment in South Bend is palpable.
“We knew it was a risk,” said one Notre Dame staffer who spoke anonymously. “But we never imagined losing him this late in the cycle. You don’t replace James Flanigan. You just try to survive without him.”
At Penn State, where Flanigan took an official visit just last month, reactions were similarly subdued. The Nittany Lions had emerged as a potential dark horse in recent weeks, largely thanks to their use of elite tight ends in offensive schemes. But in the end, Flanigan was drawn to the scale and spectacle of what Texas could offer—not just as a football player, but as a brand, a leader, and a future NFL talent.
NFL scouts are already taking notice. Despite being two years away from draft eligibility, Flanigan is seen as a lock for a top-five selection should he remain healthy. “We’ve never seen anything like this,” said one AFC scout. “If he continues to develop, we’re not just talking about a Pro Bowler. We’re talking about someone who could redefine how the tight end position is played—maybe even how defenses are designed.”
In the meantime, Texas fans are counting down the days until Flanigan steps onto the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Jerseys bearing his name sold out within hours of the announcement. A billboard welcoming him to Austin went up before the sun had even set. And already, speculation is swirling around how Sarkisian will unveil his new weapon in the 2026 spring game.
As for Flanigan, he seems unfazed by the hype. In the final moments of his announcement, he leaned into the camera and said with a confident grin, “I’m just getting started. Hook ’em.” And with that, a new chapter in college football history was written—one measured not just in yards or touchdowns, but in feet and inches never before seen on the gridiron.
