Shaun Nixon Flips Commitment from Texas A&M to TCU

All-purpose running back Varshaun Nixon, a 4-star prospect and one of the top 200 players in the country, committed to TCU on Tuesday afternoon, just two days after decommitting from Texas A&M.

Max Olson of ESPN.com tweeted the news:

Nixon, who typically goes by "Shaun," originally committed to the Aggies on Nov. 27, according to his 247Sports timeline. But he took his official visit to TCU on Jan. 31, and apparently loving what he saw, released himself from Texas A&M just two days later.

Now signed on to join the Horned Frogs, Nixon goes from being "just another recruit" in College Station to the highest-ranked recruit in Fort Worth. He's the only 4-star player in this TCU class, per the 247Sports composite, and the only pure running back it will bring in this cycle.

This is remarkably good news for Gary Patterson and TCU, who are coming off a disappointing 4-8 season. Expected to contend for a Big 12 title, the Horned Frogs failed to meet expectations and lost a number of close games, struggling to establish a consistent rushing attack the entire year.

Nixon is only 5'9'' but he's quick and shifty enough to compete for early playing time, perhaps as soon as next season. TCU's leading rusher B.J. Catalon returns as a junior in 2014, but the team as a whole finished No. 111 nationally in yards per game last season, so there won't be much loyalty in the backfield.

What's more, Nixon is a home-run threat every time he touches the football, and TCU had only two rushes of 30-plus yards last season. He is just what the doctor ordered.

As for Texas A&M, the loss surely hurts, as Nixon is the No. 5 all-purpose back in the nation and would have fit nicely with Kevin Sumlin's spread-offense concept. The Aggies have the nation's No. 1 receiver (Speedy Noil) and No. 1 quarterback (Kyle Allen) committed this cycle, but Nixon was their only running back of the class.

Nixon's defection moved the Aggies down one spot from No. 3 to No. 4 in the 247Sports team rankings, behind conference rival LSU. 

TCU moved up from No. 46 to No. 40.