BREAKING: 5-Star Punter Flips to Texas Longhorns in Jaw-Dropping Commitment Twist “The Longhorns just stole a game-changer — and fans are losing it!

Following the spring departure of punter Michael Kern, the Texas Longhorns have filled a key special teams gap with a new addition to their 2025 roster. On Monday, five-star punter Gehrig Heil announced his commitment to Texas, flipping from Louisiana Tech—a program he had pledged to just weeks earlier on May 9.

Heil’s switch gives Texas valuable depth behind incoming Utah transfer Jack Bouwmeester, as the Longhorns look to solidify their punting unit before summer practices kick off this week.

During his recruitment, Heil garnered interest from several programs, receiving offers from Arizona Christian and Northern Arizona, plus a preferred walk-on offer from Georgia Tech. He also drew attention with visits to Arizona State and Michigan, attended camps at Iowa and Missouri, and made trips to Texas A&M and UNLV before initially landing on Louisiana Tech. However, after Kern entered the transfer portal and ultimately joined Cal, Texas reopened its search and brought Heil on board.

Though primarily recruited as a punter, Heil showcased his versatility in high school, handling kickoff and field goal duties as well. According to Kohl’s Kicking, a top-ranking camp system used by college coaches nationwide, Heil is ranked as the No. 16 punter and No. 45 kicker in the 2025 class.

His strong performance at the 2024 Western Winter Showcase turned heads: he placed first in punt charting, third in kickoffs, and hit 13-of-15 field goal attempts. Heil also won both the punt and field goal competitions, finishing runner-up in the kickoff challenge.

At Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Arizona, Heil held the varsity punter role for three years. A decorated athlete, he earned 1st Team All-Conference and 1st Team All-State honors as a senior, serving as team captain. He also received 1st Team All-Region recognition in both his junior and senior seasons.

Now headed to Austin on a tight timeline, Heil is expected to report immediately, with summer training starting this week and fall camp set to open July 31. As a freshman, he will likely begin behind Bouwmeester but could be called upon quickly given the team’s shifting roster.

In addition to Heil, the Longhorns brought in Mason Shipley from Texas State this offseason, following Bert Auburn’s decision to transfer to Miami for his final year of eligibility. The kicking unit also includes Will Stone, who stepped in during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against Ohio State, converting both extra point attempts and averaging over 64 yards per kickoff with one touchback.

With two new specialists in camp, Texas fans will be watching closely to see how these fresh faces adapt—and who ultimately emerges as the next star of the Longhorns’ special teams unit.