Texas’ signing of tight end Reese Leitao has been in jeopardy since the young man was arrested 3 weeks after National Signing Day. Leitao was charged with felony possession with intent to distribute roughly 20 Xanax tablets at Jenks High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
But according to Chip Brown of Horns Digest, Leitao has had his felony drug charge reduced to a misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance charge with a four-year deferred sentence. This news came during a plea agreement Tuesday morning in Tulsa.
So basically, if Leitao handles his probationary duties and stays out of legal trouble, his record will be wiped clean in 4 years. The report adds that this is likely to save his scholarship at Texas. Leitao’s father is the head coach of DePaul basketball, and he reportedly met with Texas coach Tom Herman in Chicago last weekend.
According to 247 Sports, Leitao was a top-20 tight end recruit nationally, picking the Longhorns over offers from Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma State and several others.
Tom Herman likes to use the tight end in his system, and UT has a need at the position. The Longhorns return two senior tight ends, but neither have a lot of experience catching the ball. Robert Willis is a walk-on with very limited experience and Andrew Beck primarily blocked for D’Onta Foreman last season, while totaling 4 catches.
Meantime, sophomores Chris Fehr and Garrett Gray have even less experience. Fehr has never played in a game, while Gray has played in 10 during his career, but has yet to make a catch at the college level. The Longhorns did get a boost at the position in recent months with the addition of Syracuse graduate transfer Kendall Moore, but even he had just one catch last season.
However according to Brown’s report, the decision for Reese Leitao to ultimately be allowed to enroll at UT will have more decision makers than just Tom Herman.
**If you want a chance to win FREE Big 12 gear from your favorite team, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter! **
