Longhorns state their Case

There soon will be another McCoy clad in burnt orange.

Graham High School quarterback Case McCoy, the younger brother of University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, has elected to follow in his sibling's footsteps.

Turning down Division-I offers from Florida, Florida State, Texas A&M, Arizona, Auburn and Colorado State, among many others, Case verbally committed to play for the Longhorns over the weekend.

The decision ended weeks of Internet rumors about his eventual destination, as well as a fierce recruiting battle which ranged from coast to coast.

According Brad McCoy, Case's father and high school coach, high-profile programs from across the country were actively recruiting his son. But in the end, Case narrowed his choices to Texas and Florida before finally coming to a decision Saturday.

The choice wasn't difficult, Case McCoy said.

I've been going to games in Austin since I was in the seventh grade, said Case, who will be a senior year at Graham this fall. And when you're born and bred in the state of Texas, why would you ever turn down a chance to play at the University of Texas?

When you grow up here and you think of college football in this state, you think of the University of Texas. I couldn't get past the thought that if I went somewhere else, I'd regret it.

One of 10 verbal commitments received by Texas over the weekend, Case was a first-team All-District 2-3A selection last season after hitting 168 of 280 passes for 2,226 yards and 17 scores. He also rushed 78 times for 363 yards and four more touchdowns.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior helped Graham to a 10-2 mark in 2007, but saw that record slip to 3-7 last year following the loss of 27 lettermen to graduation.

A three-year starter for the Steers, Case has thrown for more than 6,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. Colt finished his career at Jim Ned as the fifth all-time leading passer in Texas high school history, with 9,344 yards and 116 scores.

A third brother, Chance, is a wide receiver at Abilene Christian.

Physically and mentally, they're really a lot alike, Brad said. If Case can put in the hard work that Colt did and develop himself like Colt has, then I think he can be a special player too.

(Texas) had been speaking to Case as part of the family for a long time -- ever since he had a great year as a freshman. But over the last three or four months, it's really stepped up. We had multiple offers from different schools over the last few months, with some pretty good pressure to act on them.

There is a potential downside to Case's final decision.

Comparisons between the two siblings are almost inevitable in Austin. Whether that will spawn undue pressure for Case, whose brother was a Heisman finalist last year, remains to be seen.

I know (comparisons) will be a part of it and I could have played that card in a positive or negative way, Case said. I decided to play it in a positive way, because I'm already going to have a head start when I get there.

I already know the coaches there. I know the players, and the name 'McCoy' is already a fan favorite for the Longhorn Nation. So from the start, I'm going to play this as a positive.

Aside from tradition, simple geography also was a huge factor in Case choosing Texas -- knowing that a move to Florida would make it difficult for his parents to travel to his games.

Whether or not they will see him playing at Texas any time soon, however, isn't something the teen is taking for granted.

I'm preparing myself every day in the weight room, he said. I don't know when the day will come when I get my chance. But whenever it comes, I'm going to be able to prove to (Texas fans) that I'm a winner and I'm going to compete with everything I have every time I step on the field.