Elite safety Xavier Filsaime discusses decision to sign with Texas after flipping from Florida

McKinney (Texas) four-star safety Xavier Filsaime had been committed to Florida since April 13. Key to that decision was Filsaime’s relationship he had with the coaching staff in Gainesville. On November 27, Florida parted ways with secondary coach Corey Raymond — a decision which Filsaime reacted to on social media.

Filsaime flipped to the in-state Texas Longhorns just weeks later ahead of National Signing Day.

“It definitely wasn’t easy. I’d been committed to the school since April,” Filsaime said about his decision to flip from Florida to Texas. “My decision, it was made about like a week or so before I signed. I just wanted to make sure my future was stable. I’ve got a lot of love for Florida, the program and everything. But after all the things with coach Raymond and whatever, I just didn’t know how stable the program would be.

“It’s been a lot these past few weeks, actually. Fans, coaches blowing me up. It was a lot of stress, but now that I signed I’m glad the stress is off me. Because I’ve never really been an attention-seeking type of guy, I don’t really like all that.”

Texas offered in early October

Despite being one of the premier safeties in the 2024 recruiting class, Texas had not offered Filsaime until right after the Red River Rivalry in early October.

“They showed me that they really cared after the Cotton Bowl,” Filsaime said about Texas. “They offered me of course, they showed me that they cared and that they were serious. Because what I learned is they don’t just throw the offers out just to anybody. They take their time with that.”

Texas, LSU and Oregon were all schools involved in Filsaime’s recruitment, but in the end, the Longhorns were the obvious choice.

“Ultimately, Texas was the best idea for me,” Filsaime said. “It was going to be the best option for me for the future.”

Filsaime then signed with the Longhorns in the early signing period in mid-December. Now, he will play in the 2024 Under Armour All-America Game days after Texas takes on Washington in the College Football Playoff.

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