Garret Gilbert requested his transfer from Texas last month and it didn't take him long to find a new home. After all, he only went about 200 miles up the road.

Gilbert will transfer to SMU to play in June Jones' run-and-shoot offense. Gilbert, a junior, will have to sit out the 2012 season because of NCAA transfer eligibility rules and will be eligible in 2013. Gilbert does have a redshirt season to give and, since he missed this season with season-ending shoulder surgery, he will be eligible to apply for a medical hardship waiver to allow him to play for the Mustangs for two seasons.

Gilbert's move to SMU completes a strange career that started with a breakout performance against Alabama in the 2009 national championship game. After starter Colt McCoy was injured, Gilbert came in, made plays and kept the game interesting. Even though the Longhorns lost, Gilbert's play gave fans confidence that McCoy's graduation wouldn't be as difficult to stomach.

But that confidence was short-lived as Gilbert, a former five-star recruit, struggled mightily in his first year as starter and Texas stumbled to a 5-7 campaign, its first losing season since 1997. Last spring, Gilbert fought to retain his starting job, and kept it for a game and a half, before Case McCoy and David Ash supplanted him.

At least Gilbert can chalk his demotion up to the injury and he can reinvent himself in an offense that will allow him to get noticed by professional scouts.

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Graham Watson is on Facebook and Twitter: Follow her @Yahoo_Graham.