On Texas Football: Making a list of Texas’ transfer portal needs
On the latest video episode of On Texas Football, Inside Texas’ Bobby Burton and Paul Wadlington talk about the Longhorns’ needs in the upcoming transfer portal window as well as some player hypotheticals and other happening in athletics around the 40 Acres.
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Wadlington outlined EDGE, linebacker and tight end as targeted positions, but only if the players being considered are as good or better than what the Longhorns already have at the positions.
“Are elite EDGEs a dime a dozen in college football – not really and they’re not a dime a dozen in the portal either,” Wadlington explained. “But if one’s available, Texas is going to be courting him.
“Linebacker is also an area where Texas as a defense could really improve if you got a really solid linebacker complimenting Jaylan Ford, because you know what Jaylan brings.
“Texas is not going to manufacture just a body for one of these needs. They’re past the 2021 Sarkisian phase where if you’re a third-team guy at a ‘name’ program, they’re interested in the warm body. They are not doing that anymore, obviously.”
Wadlington talked about the need for depth at tight end beyond star Ja’Tavion Sanders or even a situational player at the position.
“Texas could use one of two types of tight end – just a big old 270-pound blocking tight end for some of these two tight end sets and for goal line situational football,” Wadlington said. “Or a young tight end who’s a stud, who’s a star a future star. This could be a guy who basically was just in this last class.”
Burton said the Longhorns don’t have to look for a “true” EDGE as much as just a defensive end to help bolster the position.
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“I don’t necessarily think that that the defensive end spot has to be a ‘quote, unquote’ true edge pass rusher,” Burton opined. “They just know that they’ve got youth and inexperience at that position right now, and they need someone that’s going to be an upgrade, period, over last year.”
He also listed defensive tackle as a post of need for the Longhorns.
“I could see Texas adding a guy that they think is a run-stopping defensive tackle kind of like Keondre Coburn just to increase that mix,” Burton said. “Because that’s a position that does get dinged up quite a bit over the course of the season.”
Wadlington opined that FBS teams need two player personnel departments, one that evaluates high school and junior college players and another that looks at players from other FBS teams that have had a good relationship with the Longhorns in the past, such as in recruiting.
“This is where it’s important that the depth and frankly, attention to detail of our player personnel departments come to the forefront,” Wadlington said.
Wadlington outlined a list of players that would be good fits for Texas if they became available.
You will have to go check out the rest of the video if you want to see the discussion of those specific names, as well as other interesting info.
