Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Several Texas players entered the transfer portal on Friday.
Texas senior safety Jerrin Thompson entered the transfer portal on Friday, according to On3. Continue reading “Texas S Jerrin Thompson enters transfer portal”
Texas lands a commitment from Houston wide receiver Matthew Golden.
For two consecutive years, the Texas Longhorns have secured the top wide receiver from the transfer portal. Last year, it was Adonai Mitchell from Georgia, and this year the Longhorns have done it again.
On Saturday, Houston transfer Matthew Golden announced on Twitter that he has committed to Texas.
Golden had six touchdowns for 404 yards in 2023 on 38 receptions. The 6-foot-0, 190-pound receiver will have two years of eligibility remaining and will play a significant part on this Texas team losing offensive weapons.
While Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy will likely be entering the 2024 NFL draft, it leaves Texas with highly recruited players but minimal experience.
As a recruit, the sophomore was ranked as the No. 25 WR in Texas and No. 150 in the nation. In the transfer portal, Golden was ranked as the No. 4 receiver.
Golden’s veteran leadership will be valuable in the Texas locker room. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers will also benefit from having a reliable pass catcher who can make plays.
Im Home 🤘🏾. Let’s Do It https://t.co/QvQSfhcgXB
— Matthew Golden (@MatthewGolden_2) December 17, 2023
The addition of AD Mitchell means Texas has three No. 1 caliber receivers.
It’s time to make room in the trophy case. The addition of Georgia transfer wide receiver Adonai Mitchell means Texas is a Big 12 championship contender.
The Longhorns made Mitchell’s inclusion for the 2023 roster official as of Friday evening as he signed to join the team. In making the move Texas takes away the Georgia Bulldogs’ No. 1 receiver.
As it stands, Steve Sarkisian will now have three No. 1 caliber receivers including Xavier Worthy and Isaiah Neyor. In addition, the team has an elite No. 2 caliber option in Jordan Whittington and the Big 12’s best tight end, Ja’Tavion Sanders.
The move says a couple things for Texas. First, the team is intent on team building regardless of how good it is presently. Secondly, it gives credence to the notion that Sarkisian and company will spend plenty of time passing the ball.
The biggest takeaway is, Texas is all but injury proof at the position. Now Quinn Ewers can focus on simply getting the ball to the open man rather than forcing it only to his top target.
The Longhorns got better today. You can expect Texas to run empty formation with the five receivers listed above. Mitchell is a significant addition and should make an impact right away.
BREAKING: Former Georgia WR Adonai Mitchell has Committed to Texas!
The 6’4 190 WR from Missouri City, TX had 38 receptions for 560 yards and 7 TDs in his two years at UGA
Texas’ WR room is absolutely loaded 🤘🏽https://t.co/i9qUhmd6lV pic.twitter.com/hHDCA9TSec
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 21, 2023
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Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon is set to visit the Forty Acres.
A former Texas target is considering joining the Longhorns. Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon is set to visit the Forty Acres soon.
Catalon took to social media during dead period to let his followers know he was in Austin. It wasn’t indicative of any campus visit, but at least showed that he enjoyed being in the area.
He was a four-star recruit and standout player at Mansfield Legacy before going to Arkansas. While in Fayetteville, the elite safety earned First Team All-SEC honors to help resurrect a struggling Arkansas program.
The proven player has had issues staying healthy, and his health is worth monitoring moving forward. Nevertheless, Texas is right to kick the tires on the possibility of adding the potential NFL prospect.
The Longhorns are set to lose two starters in the secondary in cornerback D’Shawn Jamison and safety Anthony Cook. Having added Gavin Holmes, Catalon could help raise the group’s ceiling and floor.
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Gavin Holmes was a productive player at Wake Forest.
Texas Athletics could use some good news in light of Monday’s events. They might have found just the news they need in Gavin Holmes’ visit.
The Wake Forest transfer plans to take a look at the Forty Acres this weekend after playing cornerback for the Demon Deacons for three seasons. As early as 2020, Holmes saw the field as a starter.
The following two seasons saw the cornerback become a key contributor to Wake Forest’s on field success. In the team’s 11-3 campaign last season, Holmes played in 13 games compiling 19 tackles and an interception. He stayed active this year with 24 tackles and nine pass breakups.
The departure of D’Shawn Jamison to the NFL leaves a void at cornerback despite the talent the team already possesses at the position. Passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Terry Joseph turned a veteran portal presence into an impact starter last year with Ryan Watts. Whether they plan to do so again is worth monitoring leading into 2023.
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Junior Angilau should see plenty of interest in the portal.
Junior Angilau is in the transfer portal. After suffering a season ending injury in fall camp, the productive starter is looking for a change of scenery.
Angilau started 34 games for Texas. When the veteran player went down with injury many viewed it as a huge loss for what would be a young starting offensive line.
Texas certainly missed Angilau early as interior offensive linemen experienced growing pains. However, as the season progressed, each lineman grew into his role and produced.
While it’s conceivable Angilau could work his way back into the lineup, the Longhorns are well equipped at the position. For the proven starter, there should be plenty of suitors looking to add talent in the interior offensive line.
Here’s a look at what it means for Angilau and for Texas.
Texas should finish with a net gain of talent after additions despite portal losses.
The football season isn’t over yet, but free agency has begun in college football. Multiple Texas players announced that they are looking for new homes on Tuesday.
Hudson Card headlines the group of departing players. Card played solid football in his game action this season and could garner plenty of interest from teams in need of a quarterback.
Other notable departures include Andrej Karic, Jamier Johnson and Troy Omeire.
The losses in and of themselves aren’t program killers but the loss of quality depth is suboptimal for the Texas staff. The reality is, every team will deal with portal casualties and the Longhorns could see more players depart.
The likelihood is that Texas will end up with a net gain of talent this offseason. Given their resources and improved on-field play this season, Steve Sarkisian should be able to improve the roster before next fall.
Let’s look at where Texas might add talent and depth in the offseason.
Wide receiver Jake Smith has entered the transfer portal after two seasons in Austin. Max Olson of The Athletic was the first to report.
While Steve Sarkisian has excelled in the transfer portal, the other side can be just as detrimental.
On Tuesday, wide receiver Jake Smith entered the transfer portal after two seasons in Austin. Max Olson of The Athletic was the first to report the news. A former four-star recruit, Smith played in 20 games, having 568 yards and nine touchdowns.
A broken foot kept the wide receiver out of the entirety of spring practice. While Smith was not expected to be a full-time starter, he was going to be a major contributor in Sarkisian’s offense.
Smith was a member of the 2019 recruiting class under Tom Herman. He was the No. 49 overall prospect after winning the Gatorade National Player of the Year. Being a Scottsdale, Arizona native, a west coast option is the most likely destination for Smith.
Texas WR Jake Smith has entered the transfer portal, @TheAthletic has learned.
— Max Olson (@max_olson) June 22, 2021
Tom Herman’s usage of Smith will leave fans wondering what if. In Mike Yurcich’s offense, Smith played in the slot with Jordan Whittington. Rarely would the two receivers have the opportunity to be on the field at the same time. Smith never had the opportunity to prove he could be an every-down receiver.
With the roster in front of Sarkisian, the addition of Xavier Worthy seems that much more important. Whittington, Troy Omeire, and Joshua Moore will continue to be the top three receivers but the depth gets thinner with Smith’s departure.
The need for four wide receivers in the 2022 recruiting class just became more important.
