Players on Texas' 2025 schedule that the Longhorns would welcome in a trade

Trades are not a thing in college football, but they’ve taken center-stage in recent days thanks to the Dallas Mavericks sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. If trades were a part of college football, you’d think a few standouts on the Longhorns like Arch Manning, Colin Simmons, Michael Taaffe, and Anthony Hill would be part of Texas’ untouchable list.

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Other teams have their own untouchable list as well. But what if Texas could broker a trade like the one the Lakers put together and acquire a top or even the best player from an opponent on the 2025 schedule? Here are the 12 choices for Texas should some star players go on the trading block.

Ohio State – WR Jeremiah Smith

Smith could be the best player in college football in 2025. After a 76-catch, 1315-yard season with 16 total touchdowns, Smith would be a welcome addition to every single roster in America, including the Longhorns. But this one is incredibly unlikely as the Buckeyes know they have something special with Smith.

San Jose State – LB/S Ethan Powell

The 6-foot-2, 217-pounder had 43 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one interception playing a hybrid role in the Spartan defense. Powell was one of the highest-graded players on the SJSU defense per Pro Football Focus, and was also the highest-graded player to remain with the Spartans entering 2025. While the eye-opening stats of Jordan Pollard might be captivating, his undersized nature and poor grades make Powell the choice.

UTEP – WR Kenny Odom

The Miners went 3-9 in 2024 in Scotty Walden‘s first year in El Paso, but Odom was a bright spot. A 5-foot-8 firecracker who followed Walden from Austin Peay, Odom logged 46 catches for 741 yards and eight touchdowns. He’ll be Malachi Nelson‘s top target.

Sam Houston – WR Qua’Vez Humphreys

This one was nearly impossible since Sam Houston saw great players go into the portal because of newfound opportunities and also because of a coaching change. There aren’t a ton of options, and there’s no reason to pick up a quarterback, so Humphreys is the choice.

Florida – RB Jadan Baugh

Remember how Manning was on the Longhorns’ no-trade list? DJ Lagway is assuredly on the same list for Billy Napier and company in Gainesville. So with him off the table, and not really needed for the Longhorns in 2025, let’s look to the Gator backfield. Baugh was the Gators’ leading rusher in 2024 with 133 carries for 673 yards and seven rushing touchdowns along with a receiving score. He rushed for 88 yards and a score in Florida’s loss to Texas, and topped 100 yards and scored five touchdowns against Kentucky. Baugh also provided kick returns for the Gators, and he’d bolster a Texas backfield that needs some quality depth ahead of a 2025 with some uncertainty.

Oklahoma – DT Jayden Jackson

The 6-foot-2, 312-pounder was a major target for the Longhorns in the 2024 cycle, but he elected to head to Norman to play for Brent Venables. There, he played in 12 games, started nine, and earned Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-America honors. He recorded 30 tackles with 3.0 for loss and 2.0 sacks. Jackson in burnt orange would be a boost for not just 2025, but also for 2026 and potentially 2027 if the Longhorns were able to hypothetically get him to switch sides.

Kentucky – RB Dante Dowdell

Kentucky Sports Radio had a phenomenal stat related to Dowdell, a transfer from Nebraska, that could help the Longhorns in 2025.

“Dante Dowdell was the best short-yardage rusher in college football last season. No other player had a higher success percentage in short-yardage than the former blue-chip recruit.”

Dowdell was 24-for-27 in converting 3rd-and-3 or less according to KSR’s Adam Luckett. That would play for 2025 Texas.

Mississippi State – TE Seydou Traore

The London, England product who spent time at Arkansas State and Colorado would provide the Texas tight end room with an experienced, physical presence. Jeff Lebby‘s offense demands physicality from the tight end, and that would be evident in the 6-foot-4 tight end. Last season for the Bulldogs, Traore caught 34 passes for 361 yards with a touchdown, so he can threaten in the pass game, too. Mississippi State absorbed a good number of former Longhorns in the most recent transfer portal class, so sending Traore back would be a good return for Texas.

Vanderbilt – TE Eli Stowers

Though Stowers is more of a receiver than a full-fledged tight end typically seen in Steve Sarkisian‘s offense, he was a threat and key part of Vanderbilt’s renaissance 2024 season. The first-team All-SEC tight end, Stowers caught 49 passes for 638 yards and five touchdowns, and even passed for a score. His versatility would be a good lesson for Michael Terry III to follow during his freshman season.

Georgia – DL Joseph Jonah-Ajonye DB KJ Bolden

EDIT 1:50 p.m.: Bolden was a critical part of the Bulldogs’ defense in 2024, tallying 59 tackles, 2.0 TFL, a sack, and an interception.

Arkansas – LB Brad Spence

Already acquired! Spence was assigned a PFF defensive grade of 73.9, good for third on the Razorbacks in 2024, and logged 54 tackles with 4.5 sacks. The Longhorns likely got the player that would work best for them in 2025 from their rival already.

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Texas A&M – RB Le’Veon Moss

The A&M offense looked markedly different after Moss was lost for the year, and it makes sense as to why. He rushed 121 times for 765 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2024 season, and even added 141 yards through the air. At 215 pounds, Moss would be part of the the type of 1-2 punch along with CJ Baxter needed to get across the goal line in the SEC. It would also be a trade piece that takes away a strength of the Aggie offense.