Steve Sarkisian evaluates each of Texas football's eight transfer portal additions

Though Steve Sarkisian and his program didn’t announce any new high school additions to Texas’ No. 6-ranked 2024 recruiting class, there were a number of new Longhorns who arrived on the 40 Acres via the transfer portal he spoke about at length for the first time during his signing day press conference on Wednesday.

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Along with other SEC programs like Ole Miss, the Longhorns were praised for their eight additions in the portal. But Sarkisian made sure to note that his imPorts were made with specific needs in mind.

“We are never going to major in recruiting the transfer portal in a way that’s going to make up our roster,” Sarkisian said. “We still want to recruit the bulk of our class from the high school ranks (with) highly competitive, high-character kids coming from great programs, get them immersed in our program, (and) develop them in our program year one, year two, year three. What the portal does for a school like us is it can help you fill the voids when the voids happen.”

There were very obvious needs at wide receiver, tight end, and defensive line for the Longhorns post-Sugar Bowl, but Sarkisian and company added players at other positions and ended up signing the No. 9 portal class according to On3. Texas was the only team in the top 10 of the rankings with fewer than 10 additions.

Sarkisian explained Wednesday what each of those additions brings to the program.

Tia Savea, DT, UCLA > Arizona > Texas

“Defensive lineman from Arizona. A guy (Johnny) Nansen coached at Arizona. 6-4, 305 pounds. Naturally, again, you have the void at interior defensive line and you get a veteran player to fill that.”

Amari Niblack, TE, Alabama > Texas

“Tremendous pass receiving tight end. With the loss of JT Sanders, how do we fill that void? (Niblack) had a tremendous touchdown against us where I think opened a lot of our eyes to what he was capable of.”

Kendrick Blackshire, LB, Alabama > Texas

“Coming back home, from Duncanville. Big, physical inside linebacker where we just got a void at that position. Jaylan (Ford) moved onto the NFL. Jett Bush moves on. We had a couple of transfers. We signed a great class a year ago of five high school linebackers but you still want some of that veteran leadership on your defense. To bring him on board was big.”

Silas Bolden, WR, Oregon State > Texas

“Still at Oregon State. He’s going to end up being a grad transfer. He’s going to graduate this semester at Oregon State and then he’ll join us in June. Another elite speed receiver for us. A veteran player who had a great year last year at Oregon State.”

Isaiah Bond, WR, Alabama > Texas

“Obviously, Isaiah Bond is here from Alabama. An electric receiver for us. A guy that we recruited hard out of high school at Buford High School in Georgia. Went to Alabama. Really had a tremendous year for them this year. Great deep ball player, deep threat, elite speed. We think there’s more to his game than just that. We’re looking forward to working with him.”

Trey Moore, EDGE, UTSA > Texas

“We’ve been talking a lot about how do we improve our EDGE pass rush ability. Think we did a lot of that in the high school ranks with Colin Simmons, Zina (Umeozulu), those guys. But to get a Trey Moore, a guy who had 13.5 sacks last season, conference player of the year, and a guy who we played against two years ago when you could really see the physicality and the intent with which he played the game. Love having Trey and his veteran experience.”

Andrew Mukuba, DB, Clemson > Texas

“You don’t get to be a three-year frontline starter at a Clemson, (and) decide to come back to Texas if you’re not serious about coming back to Texas and being part of our program and what we’re doing.”

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Matthew Golden, WR, Houston > Texas

“Matthew Golden is probably a little more physical than Isaiah and Silas.”

Sarkisian previously discussed the addition of Mukuba and Golden in December when the program first announced their additions: “All the guys we go into the portal for, they fit what we’re about. Matthew Golden and Andrew Mukuba, experienced players. Mukuba, a three-year player at Clemson. Golden, a two-year player at Houston. Very productive players. Have played a lot of football. When you get to visit with them and talk to them, they’re made of the right stuff. They fit in pretty seamlessly for us.”