Former Arizona linebacker, grad transfer expected to visit Texas

247Sports reported on Monday that graduate transfer linebacker Tony Fields is expected to visit Texas.

Graduate transfer linebacker Tony Fields could fill a significant position of need on Texas’ defense.

On July 26, Fields announced that the top three programs that he has interest in are Texas, Minnesota, and West Virginia. He hopes to make a decision quickly in order to report to campus and start to acclimate to the new program.

Texas is no stranger to targeting graduate transfer players. Coveted transfers such as Parker Braun and Calvin Anderson seemed to work out well in the past, and the Longhorns have already added wide receiver Tarik Black to this incoming class.

The Longhorns could use experience and production at the linebacker position. Injuries haven’t been kind to the Texas defense over the past few seasons, which made the lack of depth at the position stick out like a sore thumb.

Head coach Tom Herman announced that safety DeMarvion Overshown would be making the switch to inside linebacker this offseason. As it sits now, Overshown is currently penciled in as the projected starter.

It appears the talks between Fields and the Texas staff are starting to heat up. 247Sports reported on Monday that Fields is expected to be on campus on Wednesday for a self-guided tour before making his decision.

Fields entered the transfer portal on July 15. He started all 37 games for Arizona since arriving on campus as a true freshman in 2017. In 2019, he finished the season second on the team with 94 total tackles. He also added on five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble last year.

At the time he was recruited, he was rated the No. 8 overall player in Nevada.