A top-tier football recruit from one of the most renowned schools in Central Texas is currently facing scrutiny for his alleged role in a perilous incident that put the life of a fellow teammate at risk. In light of this, several former stars from the Texas Longhorns have stepped forward to voice their concerns about the young athlete from Austin.
Gus Cordova, who is recognized as a four-star defensive lineman hailing from Lake Travis High School, has found himself embroiled in controversy. This comes after a detailed report by KXAN unveiled that a student known to have a severe peanut allergy discovered peanuts in his locker after one of the initial games of the 2023 season. Although the report did not explicitly mention Cordova by name, the incident has led to widespread condemnation of the students at Lake Travis, including Cordova, by both fans and former players.
Shawna Mannon, the concerned mother of the allergy-affected student, shared with KXAN, “A few members of his varsity football team inquired about his allergic reaction to peanuts and questioned whether it could be fatal.” She continued, “He confirmed that it indeed could be life-threatening.”
The allergic student subsequently found a peanut butter granola bar in his locker, as reported by KXAN. It is believed that the students implicated in this act were sidelined for several games as a consequence. However, the Lake Travis ISD police department opted not to initiate criminal proceedings, a decision that Mannon publicly criticized during a board meeting in November 2023.
Amidst this controversy, Cordova, who has received scholarship offers from prestigious universities such as Texas, LSU, Texas A&M, Oregon, and Oklahoma, was scheduled for an official visit to the University of Texas on April 20. This planned visit, as revealed in a post by On3 recruits on the social media platform X, has drawn sharp criticism not just from fans of the Longhorns but also from notable alumni of the football team.
The news was followed by reporter Anwar Richardson posting that Texas was no longer recruiting Cordova.
We’ll continue to follow the story.
