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Portal Wish List: Players Texas could target this offseason

joey hickey
·4 min read

The transfer portal is opening. Like pandora’s box, chaos will undoubtedly ensue. Fortunately for Texas, Steve Sarkisian is comfortable with change and should be up to another great portal haul.

Last offseason, Sarkisian had as good of a portal haul as anyone could have expected.

The Longhorns brought in two Day 1 starters from Ohio State, Quinn Ewers and Ryan Watts. In addition, they reeled in Isaiah Neyor, Agiye Hall, Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey and Jahleel Billingsley. In Neyor and Hall, they could have two more starters in 2023.

This year, there aren’t many vacancies for the team to fill through the portal. There is as much depth on the Forty Acres as there has been in awhile.

Despite an already loaded portal class of running backs, Texas might not even give outside options a glance. Jonathon Brooks and Keilan Robinson return as the headliners, while Cedric Baxter, Jaydon Blue and Tre Wisner will push for carries.

Here’s a look at who Texas may target in the transfer portal.

Traeshon Holden, Wide Receiver

Relationships matter in the transfer portal. Holden may not have the best stat line but Steve Sarkisian has brought over plenty of players and coaches from Alabama. The gifted receiver compiled 331 yards and 6 touchdowns on 25 receptions this season for the Crimson Tide.

Dont'e Thornton, Wide Receiver

Thornton appears to be interested in Texas. The talented receiver caught 17 passes for 366 yards in 2022.

Theo Wease, Wide Receiver

Theo Wease doesn’t fit Sarkisian’s mold for receivers, but its time to break that mold. Wease took 19 passes for 378 yards this season. The former five-star has proven to be a consistent pass catcher and big play threat for the Sooners.

Jonathan McGill, Safety

Texas could have a safety position to fill following an Anthony Cook departure. The former Coppell (TX) product could be the answer for Blake Gideon’s unit. His 2022 stat line includes seven pass breakups, 51 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception.

Dominic Lovett, Wide Receiver

If you’re noticing a theme, the transfer portal is inundated with incredible wide receivers. Lovett is one of the best. He went for 846 yards on 56 catches for Missouri this season.

Stephen Herron Jr, Edge Rusher

Herron is the type of pass rusher Pete Kwiatkowski surely covets. He would be a nice addition across from Barryn Sorrell. The former four-star was the No. 7 weak side defensive end prospect in 2019.

Tunmise Adeleye, Edge Rusher

It’s time to right some of Tom Herman’s recruiting wrongs. Lack of development kept Texas out of Adeleye’s sights initially. Steve Sarkisian can offer an alternative close to home.

LJ Johnson, Running Back

Texas is probably going to stand pat at running back, but LJ Johnson should have been a Longhorn in the first place. The once natural Texas lean chose the Aggies over the Longhorns thanks to an unstable regime.

Trey Sanders, Running Back

Another elite running back has entered the portal. If Steve Sarkisian believes him to be an upgrade, he might give Sanders consideration.

Story originally appeared on Longhorns Wire