Tim Irvin to Texas: Longhorns Land 4-Star ATH Prospect

Michael Irvin carved the path to a Hall of Fame career at the University of Miami. His nephew, 4-star athlete Tim Irvin, has decided a path of his own, heading out of state to Texas.

Irvin committed to the University of Texas on Saturday, as noted by 247 Sports' Justin Hokanson. The 5'9" speedster chose Texas over Florida, Miami and West Virginia.

Heading into his announcement, most had predicted Irvin would choose Florida or Miami. His interest in the Gators had been trending upward, though Miami had an obvious pull. 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictions gave Irvin a 65 percent chance of being a Hurricane.

As for Irvin himself, he did a nice job of keeping his decision a secret. In a recent interview with SB Nation's Wescott Eberts, Irvin was complimentary of all four schools and said he hadn't made up his mind.

"Not yet, I'm still talking to my family, friends, and my coaches about what I'll decide," Irvin said.

Now that Texas has landed Irvin, its next task will be finding his long-term position. He's listed as a running back, wide receiver and safety on his 247Sports profile and could potentially play any of the three at the collegiate level

Running back may be the most difficult given his size limitations. At 5'9" and 186 pounds, it's unlikely his frame can withstand the punishment of high-level college football. As a sophomore and junior, Irvin rushed for over 1,000 yards but moved away from the running back position for the most part as a senior, receiving only 11 carries.

Wide receiver comes with the family lineage, but it's likely Irvin tops out as a slot receiver. He's quick and has above-average hands, a combination that has turned many smaller players into pros. It'll just be interesting to see how he develops as a route-runner if that's the path Texas chooses to take. Irvin's versatility is an asset on the surface, but it also makes him raw regardless of his long-term position.

If head coach Charlie Strong and Texas are looking to make Irvin's transition the smoothest it possibly can be, Irvin might wind up at safety. His lack of size won't be as big of an issue on defense, and he's a polished run-stopper and has the quickness to become elite against the pass as well.

Finding the right spot for Irvin will probably take work. He's unlikely to find the field as a freshman and may need to become an upperclassman before becoming a star. But the potential here is immense.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.