Texas defensive back Austin Jordan intends to enter NCAA transfer portal

According to On3’s Hayes Fawcett, Texas defensive back Austin Jordan intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal. After spending the past two seasons on the 40 Acres, Jordan will finish out his college career elsewhere.

Jordan played in 25 games during his Texas career, with most of his contributions coming on special teams. This past season against Iowa State, Jordan scooped up a blocked PAT and returned it to the house to give the Longhorns two points.

He will leave the program with 11 career tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss, and an interception in the past year’s season opener against Rice. Unfortunately, Jordan did miss the final two games of the season for Texas, not playing in the Big 12 Championship vs. Oklahoma State or the College Football Playoff semifinal vs. Washington.

Jordan played high school football at Denton (TX) Ryan, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 220 overall recruit in the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Jordan is not the only defensive back Texas has seen enter the transfer portal recently. Terrance Brooks will look to play elsewhere as well, announcing his decision on Tuesday. Brooks was slated the be a starter for the Longhorns on the outside, a position they must now fill after spring practice.

Two big defensive back losses for Texas over the course of two days.

Texas relying on a few experienced defensive backs

Some of the biggest news Texas received this offseason was Jahdae Barron deciding to return for another season. He has played the STAR role and excelled but instead of making the jump to the NFL, Barron will wear the famous No. 7 and spend another season in burnt orange.

With the loss of Brooks, he could be a candidate to move outside and play field corner, while Malik Muhammad has the boundary corner spot on lockdown. Muhammad was a starter as a true freshman and is expected to be one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC moving into the 2024 season.

Steve Sarkisian will have decisions to make, especially if Barron moves outside. This would leave STAR open, giving Jaylon Guilbeau a potential opportunity to slide in. Maybe Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba, who is slated to be a safety but played the position for the Tigers, is an option as well.