Tim Irvin commits to Longhorns

— -- SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Tim Irvin, the nephew of former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin, announced Saturday at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl that he will play at Texas.

He will be joined on the Longhorns by his friend, ESPN 300 tight end Devonaire Clarington, the No. 75 recruit in the country who picked Texas over Miami, Florida and LSU.

Tim Irvin, a defensive back, had a 35-yard punt return to set up the game's first points on a field goal by Georgia commit Rodrigo Blankenship, and LSU commit Derrius Guice had two long touchdown receptions to help the West beat the East 39-36 Saturday.

Michael Irvin, who played collegiately at Miami, was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

His nephew, who will enroll early Jan. 12, decided on Texas over Auburn and Miami. He plans to play nickel and return kicks for the Longhorns.

"I figured it out this morning after talking to my parents when we were coming into the stadium," Irvin said. "Texas is going to be the right spot for me."

With Irvin and Clarington on board, Charlie Strong now has 26 pledges for his first full class at Texas. The Longhorns landed ESPN 300 linebacker Anthony Wheeler at the Under Armour All-American Game on Friday and ESPN 300 defensive back Davante Davis on Thursday.

Clarington, Irvin and Davis are part of the "Florida Five" fivesome the Longhorns are trying to lock up along with linebacker commit Cecil Cherry and prep school receiver Gilbert Johnson.

"We're going to take over Texas," Clarington said. "What (Strong) did at Louisville is exactly what he's going to do at Texas. That's all I've got to say."

Clarington was the highest-rated of nine recruits who made commitments during Saturday's game. USC also had a big day, securing a pair of ESPN 300 pledges from safety Marvell Tell and athlete Ykili Ross. Tell, the nation's No. 100-ranked recruit, picked the Trojans over Texas A&M and Oregon.

"I was pretty much 90 percent sure for the last month," Tell said, "and just over this week I made it official and 100 percent. I feel comfortable there and with the people that'll be surrounding me. Their kinesiology (program) is one of the top in the nation and that was a huge factor."

Ross was thinking ahead on his future, too, by boldly prefacing his choice with the declaration he'll be attending USC "for the next three years."

With the addition of Tell, Ross and running back Ronald Jones II on Friday, the Trojans now have 21 verbal commitments, including 11 from ESPN 300 recruits.

Miami missed on Clarington and Irvin but did pick up a commitment from Lawrence Cager, the four-star receiver from Baltimore who also considered Alabama, Virginia Tech and Georgia.

Stanley Norman pulled off the most theatrical announcement of the day. The cornerback from Gardena, California, took off his shirt to reveal a black Arizona State jersey with his No. 4 and nickname "Scrappy" on the back. He chose the Sun Devils over UCLA, Alabama, Oklahoma and Washington State.

The first pledge of the day was defensive tackle Kyle Phillips, who chose Tennessee. Phillips, the No. 164 recruit in the ESPN 300, turned down LSU and Ole Miss to join a loaded defensive line class featuring ESPN 300 pledges Shy Tuttle, Kahlil McKenzie and Andrew Butcher.

"We might be the best in the country next year, so watch out," Phillips said.

McKenzie, who chose the Vols in July, also played in the Army Bowl and said he can't wait to compete with Phillips and the rest of this line class.

"We're going to be one of a kind, and we all have the same mindset. We want to win," McKenzie said. "I told him, 'Welcome to the family, brother. Let's get to work.'"

Oklahoma landed a major addition to its own defensive line class in tackle Neville Gallimore. The No. 162-ranked recruit from Ontario, Canada, chose OU over Ohio State and Florida State and is another major coup for Sooners assistant Jerry Montgomery, who also landed ESPN 300 end Ricky DeBerry from Virginia two weeks ago.

Another coveted defensive lineman, D'Andre Walker, finished off the day's announcement schedule with his pledge to Georgia. The No. 241-ranked recruit from Fairburn, Georgia, held up a plush bulldog doll after picking UGA over Auburn and Tennessee.