For several weeks Texas wide receiver Reggie Hemphill-Mapps has been the subject of transfer rumors.

Now it appears as though there’s some fire to the smoke that’s been building.

What's next for the Longhorns? Make sure you're in the loop by signing up for our FREE Texas newsletter!

A report from the Football Brainiacs on Friday indicated that the redshirt freshman from Manvel is seeking a transfer from the Texas program. Additionally, a team source told Horns247 that Hemphill-Mapps intends to transfer out of the program.

A school official told Horns247 that there was nothing official to confirm on a Hemphill-Mapps transfer as of Friday morning.

Sources with knowledge of the situation told Horns247 close to the end of the regular season that Hemphill-Mapps had expressed behind the scenes that exploring a transfer might be an option. Nothing came of those rumors at that time and Hemphill-Mapps played in the team’s 33-16 win over Missouri in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl last month.

Should Hemphill-Mapps leave, the need for a slot receiver to emerge in 2018 would become a much greater need than it already appears to be. The position is a pivotal one in the pro-spread offense of Tom Herman and helped define the college careers of versatile, playmaking wideouts like Philly Brown and Jalin Marshall at Ohio State and Demarcus Ayers and Linell Bonner at Houston.

Armanti Foreman, who led all Texas receivers with four touchdowns this past season, is out of eligibility and is moving on, which would leave Jerrod Heard and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, two receivers who can play inside or outside, as the likely best slot receiver options entering spring practice. Devin Duvernay, who was projected to be the team’s best slot option entering the season but played a minimal role as an outside receiver, has also been the subject of transfer rumors.

Hemphill-Mapps saw action in all 13 games (two starts) during the 2017 season, finishing his first year on the field 37 receptions (tied for second-most on the team) for 402 yards. The 2016 signee emerged as a threat as a punt returner, returning 17 punts for 180 yards (10.6 yards per return) and a 90-yard touchdown in the season opener against Maryland. PFF College gave him a season grade of 72.9, on a scale of 0-100, third among Texas receivers.

Keep up on all of the latest Texas news as the Longhorns approach National Signing Day by taking advantage of the 5-for-1 offer!