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Assessing the Longhorns' focus in the transfer portal

On3 imageby:Bobby Burton•12/10/22•

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Steve Sarkisian (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Ryan Sanborn, a four-year starter at punter for Stanford, is the first official transfer portal visitor for the Longhorns this year.

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Inside Texas broke the news of the visit late yesterday afternoon, just hours after punter Isaac Pearson announced his intent to transfer from Texas. Pearson lost the Texas punting job after one game this season to Daniel Trejo, himself a last minute transfer.

There are two things I like about this:

1. It’s a clear sign Texas continues to try to upgrade and focus on special teams. The Horns clearly won special teams in multiple games this season. So any further improvement, especially with a proven commodity, is more than welcome.

2. It also shows Texas is not being “slow” in the portal as much as they are being deliberate. It’s one thing to add players for depth, it’s another to add starting pieces. Sanborn, if he chooses Texas, would be an immediate starter. It’s a reminder of what we’ve been saying: Texas is looking for impact players in the portal first and foremost, not just depth. Steve Sarkisian is not going to be a short-hitter in the portal, not if he can help it.

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Additionally, the more deliberate portal approach is a clear indication that Sark likes his current roster makeup for the most part, and is simply trying to be additive.

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Defensive lineman Justin Benton out of Georgia is on his official visit to Texas this weekend.

Benton has been committed to West Virginia but is more likely to end up at Texas or Arkansas. We should have more on that recruitment as news develops over the next 24-48 hours.

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Good luck to the women’s volleyball team today. They play Ohio State at 5pm in the national quarterfinals at Gregory Gym. The winner heads to the final four next week in Omaha.

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