Steve Sarkisian breaks down difference of transfer visits vs. recruiting visits

Texas did major work on both the high school and transfer portal recruiting trails this offseason. The Longhorns, of course, have the top recruit in the nation and a top-five transfer coming aboard the roster this year.

But Steve Sarkisian takes a “very different” approach to both groups of prospects.

Sarkisian — like many coaches across the country — is searching for a balance of the portal and the high school level. With high school recruiting, it’s all about looking toward the future. Just look at Arch Manning, a former Five Star Plus+ quarterback recruit who checked in as the No. 1 player in the nation from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

But the portal requires a different mentality. Sarkisian has “see a need, fill a need” way of thinking — with a twist.

“Generally, we don’t go into the portal — we don’t look at it from a developmental perspective,” Sarkisian said. “We don’t look at it as much from a luxury perspective. We look at it because we feel like there’s a potential need there. I like building our program from the foundation, from the ground up. And I think that not only is that physical development, [but] I think that’s cultural development. I think that’s getting guys buying into who we are, what we do and why we do. But sometimes, things come up for a variety of reasons at a specific position where maybe you have some attrition because of transfers, maybe you have guys leave early for the draft, maybe you have position changes that take place, maybe you just don’t have the right depth, maybe we didn’t recruit the right way.

“Now, all of a sudden, it feels like there could be a potential void. It may not be a void right now, but if you’re an injury away, it could become a void. So you’re trying to create some depth and some opportunity there to be the best team that you can have.”

That way of thinking is why Texas landed AD Mitchell, the former Georgia wide receiver who became the No. 5-ranked transfer to hit the portal this offseason, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. His addition isn’t because the Longhorns need help at the position with leading receivers Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington back in the fold from last year, though. It goes back to depth, as Sarkisian said.

There will be opportunities for transfers to make an impact this season, just as there was last year at this time. Remember, Sarkisian also used the portal to bring in Quinn Ewers, whom he already declared the starter this season.

“We’re very specific when we go into the portal,” Sarkisian said. “We don’t visit just a bunch of transfers because guys go in the portal. It’s very specific to what we feel like we need if the opportunity presents itself.”