Texas Longhorns Transfer Portal Targets

Texas Longhorns Transfer Portal Targets on Offense

The Texas Longhorns offense was a very young unit in 2022. With only four players with significant snaps needing to be replaced for the 2023 season: Bijan Robinson (running back), Roschon Johnson (running back), Jordan Whittington (wide receiver), and Christian Jones (right tackle). Texas can afford to be selective on who they offer in the transfer portal.

With such a deep running back room already, Texas does not need to go into the portal to find replacements for either of their top two running backs. Cedric Baxter Jr. and Tre Wisner are two running backs who are also committed to Texas. Furthermore, Cedric Baxter is scheduled to be with the team by Spring practices.

Wide Receiver

While maybe not a huge need, Texas did not see a lot of production from their wide receivers in 2022 outside of Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington.

Uber-talented new arrivals Isaiah Neyor, Brenen Thompson, and Agiye Hall will look to become impact players in their second year on campus. However, Steve Sarkisian and this Texas team are primed for a Big XII title in 2023 and a potential College Football Playoff berth. They cannot risk having a thin roster that will be derailed with an injury or two. Adding and stacking talent at that position will ensure Quinn Ewers has options on the outside.

Dont’e Thornton, Oregon

Dont’e Thornton fits the mold of Isaiah Neyor and Agiye Hall. Standing at 6’5″ and weighing roughly 200 pounds. Thornton would be a perfect compliment to Neyor and Hall while allowing Xavier Worthy to work in the slot more often in 2023.

Thornton played in all but one game in 2022. He finished the season with 306 total snaps, 17 receptions, 366 receiving yards, and 1 touchdown. Thornton averaging 21.5 yards per reception in 2022 speaks to his big play ability. Dont’e Thornton has at least two years of eligibility remaining.

Dorian Singer, Arizona

Dorian Singer had a breakout year in 2022 for the Arizona Wildcats. Notching 66 receptions, 1105 receiving yards, and 6 touchdowns. Singer averaged 16.7 yards per reception.

As a recruit, Singer was predicted to commit to the University of Texas. However, now the wide receiver out of Pinnacle high school in Phoenix, Arizona has a chance to become a Longhorn again. His former teammate, five star tight end Duce Robinson is also a Texas target in the 2023 recruiting class. Dorian Singer will have at least two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Offensive Line

Kyle Flood has recruited a lot of high school offensive line talent since being on the Forty Acres. However, only Kelvin Banks (left tackle) and Cole Hutson (right guard) have had significant playing time out of the 2022 freshman class. The right tackle spot is a key hole in this offense right now.

Similar to the wide receiver room, Texas may have their answer to the vacant spot on the roster already. Cole Hutson sliding over to that right tackle spot and D.J. Campbell being inserted as the right guard could be one solution. Cam Williams or Malik Agbo impressing enough in their practice reps to fill that void at right tackle could be another option. However, the Longhorns should look to add some competition to that room.

Tommy Brockermeyer, Alabama

Tommy Brockermeyer has been a name mentioned numerous times as a Texas target since his recruitment in the 2021 recruiting cycle. He has struggled to see the field at Alabama. Brockermeyer battled injuries at the end of his high school career, causing him to see no playing time in 2021. In 2022, Brockermeyer only saw 19 snaps on the season.

As a former five star offensive tackle and a legacy to Texas Longhorns legend Blake Brockermeyer, Tommy is a clear target for this Texas staff looking to fill a hole at right tackle. Tommy Brockermeyer will have at least three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Kyle Flood was one of Brockermeyer’s recruiters in the 2021 cycle. Although, he never got to coach him at Alabama as he left for the Texas offensive coordinator job before 2021 spring practices.

Myles Hinton, Stanford

Myles Hinton is a former four star recruit out of Norcross, Georgia. Hinton has played both left and right tackle during his time at Stanford. However, he was mainly a right tackle. Hinton played right tackle on 992 snaps over the past two seasons. Registering a PFF grade of 54.2 this past season is troubling, but the experience he brings would add value to a very young offensive line room.

Standing at 6’7″ and weighing 320 pounds, Myles Hinton is the exact kind of body type Kyle Flood and Steve Sarkisian covet along the offensive line. The 2023 season will likely be Hinton’s last, as his eligibility will run out after the season. Therefore, Myles Hinton would be a true stop-gap and still give this young offensive line group an opportunity to start while they have eligibility left.

Texas Longhorns Transfer Portal Targets on Defense

This Texas Longhorns defense was one of the best units we have seen on the Forty Acres in a long time. Pete Kwitkowski, with the help of his assistant coaches and Gary Patterson, had this unit playing at an elite level.

The defensive line will lose the most production as Keondre Coburn, Moro Ojomo, and potentially T’Vondre Sweat (however, early reports are that Sweat will return) are heading to the NFL.

Similar to the offensive line unit, Bo Davis and Pete Kwitkowski brought in a lot of high school talent in the 2022 recruiting cycle. With Byron Murphy, Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, and still potentially T’Vondre Sweat coming back, the Texas defensive line may still be in good shape.

DeMarvion Overshown (linebacker), Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey (linebacker), D’Shawn Jamison (cornerback), and Anthony Cook (safety) are also graduating and entering the NFL draft.

Linebacker

Jeff Choate has done an incredible job developing Jaylan Ford. However, the rest of the linebacker room is thin. Losing two out of the top three linebackers will be hard to overcome without bringing in at least one player via the transfer portal.

Justin Flowe, Oregon

Justin Flowe is a former number one linebacker recruit out of Upland, California. Flowe’s time at Oregon was disappointing, to say the least. After playing in two games in his first two seasons at Oregon, Flowe had a disappointing 2022 season. According to PFF, Flowe had a 45.3 grade on 178 snaps in 2022. In weeks 11-13, Flowe had a combined 14 snaps. It was clear he would not be in the future linebacker rotation.

However, as a former top ten overall recruit Justin Flowe deserves another chance in a new environment. Jeff Choate has proven he can develop linebackers. Flowe will still have at least three years of eligibility remaining.

Francisco Mauigoa

Francisco Mauigoa is another off-ball linebacker who Jeff Choate and the Texas staff should target. Mauigoa was a former three star linebacker out of Pago Pago, American Samoa. He has since out-preformed his star ranking and turned into a key contributor for Washington State’s defense in 2022.

Mauigoa is also the older brother of five star offensive tackle recruit, Francis Mauigoa. Francis is currently committed to the University of Miami, however it never hurts to have family in the building when recruiting siblings to the program.

Secondary

Jaylon Guilbeau and Terrence Brooks both were impressive last year. With Ryan Watts and Jahdae Barron both expected back, the cornerback position should be in good shape.

The safety position is still a bit unknown. Jerrin Thompson played well in 2022 and will be back. Kitan Crawford played some snaps in 2022, but never took over the starting role. Michael Taaffee also saw significant snaps in the secondary.

Unless BJ Allen or Larry Turner-Gooden impressed in practice reps, Terry Joesph and Pete Kwitkowski could look to upgrade the position in the transfer portal.

Although the transfer portal does not have a lot of safeties right now, another option could be to add another cornerback from the portal and move Jaylon Guilbeau to safety.

J.Q. Hardaway, Virginia

Rated as one of the best defensive backs in the transfer portal by 247sports and on3, J.Q. Hardaway is a great option at outside cornerback for the Texas defense.

Standing at 6’3” and weighing 185 pounds, Hardaway is perfect pairing to Ryan Watts who has a similar build. The 18 year old from Phenix City, Alabama will still have at least three years of eligibility after his transfer.

Denver Harris, Texas A&M

Denver Harris may be the least likely option on this entire list. Steve Sarkisian and this Texas staff will have to weigh the benefits and detriments to bringing in Denver Harris.

Harris was suspended multiple times in his one year at college station. By all reports, it seems like Harris has character concerns and the Texas staff will have to decide if they want to take a chance on Denver Harris.

However, on the football field, Denver Harris is a nightmare for offenses. As a former five-star defensive back, Harris could contribute to this Texas defense instantly as a cornerback or at safety.

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