Spring transfer portal could be critical for Texas' backfield depth

Three weeks separate the start of Texas football’s spring practice and the beginning of the spring transfer portal, a 10-day lawless spree of change for programs around the country.

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Last year, Texas used this time to reload at some defensive positions. Bill Norton and Jermayne Lole were big hits, and the process on Jay’Vion Cole was sound. In 2025, it’s expected that the Longhorns will be even more aggressive.

Steve Sarkisian and his staff brought in only five transfers in the winter class, a small group compared to the double-digit classes of years past. The strategy was clear for Sarkisian: let returners battle it out in spring camp before addressing true needs at specific spots.

After a week of practice, Inside Texas has heard reports on what Sarkisian and his staff might target.

The running back position has been a frequent topic of discussion on our board. Texas currently has six scholarship running backs on the roster, already one fewer than Sarkisian usually likes to carry. Additionally, this group includes two running backs returning from season-ending injuries.

CJ Baxter was expected to be the bell cow last season after an efficient freshman year, but a brutal preseason practice injury forced the sophomore into knee surgery before the year even started. Baxter would have been the lead back in 2024 and 2025, but his health remains a question mark.

Christian Clark also suffered a preseason injury last year, but his recovery has been extremely advanced, according to our own Eric Nahlin. Both are expected to contribute in 2025, but there were hopes that Baxter could have been a true No. 1 heading into this year. Clark, meanwhile, has yet to take a snap in college football.

Outside of those two, Texas has only two returners from last season: Tre Wisner and Jerrick Gibson. While freshmen James Simon and Rickey Stewart Jr. might be talented enough to take touches early on, expecting them to compete in the SEC in their first year is unrealistic. Essentially, Sarkisian has only two players at this stage he can fully rely on in this room: Wisner, who rushed for 1,000 yards last season, and Gibson, who has been reported as stepping into the lead role.

Beyond health and inexperience, Sarkisian is missing a key component of his offensive system. Sarkisian has often used a four-running-back system while also having 2–3 backs ready to step in case of injury.

The four roles in this system include:

1. The No. 1: A three-down back who can be the top player in the room. Think Bijan Robinson or Jonathon Brooks.
2. Inside Zone Specialist: A between-the-tackles runner who can convert on late-down and goal-line attempts. Roschon Johnson excelled in this role.
3. The Pass Catcher: A reliable third-down back who can contribute in the passing game. Wisner was expected to fill this role last year, and Keilan Robinson is another great example.
4. The Burner: A true speedster capable of turning a simple toss into a 50+ yard gain. Jaydon Blue has excelled in this role.

Last year’s team had issues with role alignment. Wisner was supposed to be the pass catcher with Baxter as the No. 1, but Blue and Wisner ended up shouldering all four roles themselves.

This year, the roles are a bit clearer. Gibson can be the No. 1, Baxter can work in tandem and on zone reads, and Wisner will be a fantastic third-down back. Clark could ideally be the burner, but can you rely on that?

If Texas gets active in the transfer portal, they should explore speedsters. A veteran back with 4.4 speed would be a great addition. If this player can reliably carry the ball without fumbling issues, he would be an obvious take for Texas. Clark could still have a role, at least early in the season, but asking a second-year player recovering from an Achilles injury to handle critical touches in SEC games is a gamble.

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Texas has a roster spot available, is filled with inexperience and injury concerns, and has the pull to attract a Group of Five transfer to Austin. The right fit needs to be there, but Sarkisian and running backs coach Chad Scott will undoubtedly be paying attention.