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The Texas Longhorns Winter Portal Tracker

Eric Nahlinby:Eric Nahlin•12/08/24
Texas HC Steve Sarkisian
Nelson Chenault | Imagn Images

The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opens on Monday morning and will run through December 28th.

As a Texas fan you view this as a major positive. Other schools haven’t been nearly as fortunate as the Longhorns. Not only has Texas added a number of talented players through the portal, they have rarely lost any truly talented players of their own. When it comes to the portal, Texas is an apex predator.

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Retention is often much more important than addition. See: T’Vondre Sweat, Alfred Collins, and Jahdae Barron for recent examples. But admittedly, addition is much more fun to discuss.

Part of the natural lifecycle of roster management: To add to the roster you must lose players from the roster. It’s an unfortunate part of the process.

exPorts

WR Johntay Cook: Cook was dismissed from the team on November 2nd.

DT Jaray Bledsoe: Athletically gifted, the redshirt sophomore could never put it all together in Austin. He entered the portal last Thursday.

DT Aaron Bryant: Entered on December 9. Bryant’s goodbye to Texas is well worth your time. Bryant committed to Vanderbilt on December 17, so the Longhorns will see him in Austin on November 1, 2025.

DT Tia Savea: After appearing in only four games during the 2024 season, Savea now looks to play for his fourth school. He announced his intentions to the portal on December 10th. He will remain with the team through the Playoff.

Edge Tausili Akana: Akana was always a longer-curve developmental player. With Colin Simmons on the roster he wasn’t likely to see playing time in the coming years. He entered the portal on December 9th.

LB Derion Gullette: IT had hinted about this one for a while. Like with most who enter the portal it came down to playing time. He entered the portal on December 9th. He committed to Mississippi State on December 18, meaning Texas will see him in Starkville on October 25, 2025.

CB Jay’Vion Cole: Departed on December 10th.

EDGE Justice Finkley: Finley entered the portal on December 13. He’ll stay with the Longhorns through the Playoff, per Steve Sarkisian.

imPorts

P Jack Bouwmeester, Utah: Committed to Texas on December 13

LB Brad Spence, Arkansas: Committed to Texas on December 14

DT Cole Brevard, Purdue: Committed to Texas on December 14

Roster needs

Inside Texas offers the latest insight and inside info on Texas’ roster needs. ($)

TE Max Klare: Visiting December 12th.

DT Lee Hunter: Visiting the week of December 16 ($)

WR Eric Singleton: Singleton visited Texas during the week of December 15 ($)

Projected 2025 roster by position

Again, this section is a projection. Inside Texas expects Quinn Ewers, Kelvin Banks, Cameron Williams, Isaiah Bond, and Matthew Golden to depart early for the NFL Draft. Of that group, Golden is probably th most likely to return. Other players will surely gauge how the NFL views them.

IT has also heard of a few other potential departures but there’s no reason to name those players at this time.

Quarterback (3): Arch Manning, Trey Owens, KJ Lacey

Running back (7): Jaydon Blue, Tre Wisner, CJ Baxter, Jerrick Gibson, Christian Clark, James Simon, Rickey Stewart Jr.

Wide receiver (10): DeAndre Moore, Ryan Wingo, Ryan Niblett, Aaron Butler, Parker Livingtsone, Freddie Dubose, Kaliq Lockett, Jaime Ffrench, Daylan McCutcheon, Michael Terry (could also be considered RB)

Tight end (6): Amari Niblack, Spencer Shannon, Will Randle, Jordan Washington, Nick Townsend, Emaree Winston

Offensive line (16): DJ Campbell, Cole Hutson, Neto Umeozulu, Malik Agbo, Connor Robertson, Trevor Goosby, Jaydon Chatman, Connor Stroh, Andre Cojoe, Brandon Baker, Nate Kibble, Daniel Cruz, Nick Brooks, Jackson Christian, Devin Coleman, Jordan Coleman

Edge (8): Ethan Burke, Trey Moore, Justice Finkley, Colton Vasek, Colin Simmons, Zina Umeozulu, Lance Jackson, Smith Orogbo

Assuming Moore returns, with linebacker numbers low I would see if he has interest in playing off-ball linebacker to improve his draft stock. It would be similar to Barron returning to prove to the NFL he could play cornerback.

Defensive tackle (6): Sydir Mitchell, Alex January, Melvin Hills, Justus Terry (!), Josiah Sharma, Myron Charles

Linebacker (5): Anthony Hill, Liona Lefau, Tyanthony Smith, Elijah Barnes, Jonathan Cunningham

Safety (7): Michael Taaffe, Jelani McDonald, Derek Williams, Jordon Johnson-Rubell, Xavier Filsaime, Jonah Williams, Zelus Hicks

Cornerback (9): Jaylon Guilbeau, Malik Muhammad, Warren Roberson, Kobe Black, Wardell Mack, Santana Wilson, Kade Phillips, Caleb Chester, Graceson Littleton

Special teams (3): Will Stone, Lance St. Louis, Michael Kern

On3 portal tracker database

That link is an extremely handy and constantly updated reference to see who is in the portal.

In addition to the database, here is a front page featuring the latest articles.

Make sure and check the Inside Texas moderator only thread for accurate and timely information on new targets as they emerge. Lock in and let’s enjoy the ride together.

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