“Texas Football Eyes Major Transfer Portal Splash: Predicting the First Big Pickup!”

Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian will focus on identifying key players to target in the NCAA Transfer Portal during the winter window this month to strengthen positions of need on the roster.

Transfer Portal Frenzy Looms for Texas Football This Winter
The winter transfer portal window opened on December 9, giving the Longhorns the chance to begin scouting potential players who can help them address areas on the depth chart in need of upgrades for the 2025 season.

Key positions Texas is expected to target in the portal include defensive tackle, linebacker, special teams, wide receiver, and potentially running back.

In addition to the more than two dozen high school players signed during the Early Signing Period last week, Texas’s 2025 signing class could expand to include up to three dozen players, including transfers, by the end of the offseason.

With seven players already departing via the transfer portal this week, it is almost certain that Texas will be active in the portal throughout December.

Prediction for Texas’s First Transfer Commitment
Quinten Joyner, RB (USC)
Texas is projected to have six or seven scholarship running backs for the 2025 season, but it’s unlikely all will remain by the start of fall camp next year due to possible transfer losses or early NFL Draft entries.

Sarkisian and running backs coach Tashard Choice are expected to target a bigger, physical running back to fill a specific role in their offense. One early option in the portal is USC redshirt freshman Quinten Joyner, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound back from Manor, TX, who impressed during his freshman season.

Joyner showcased a remarkable combination of size and speed, excelling in both football and track in high school. He was a key contributor to USC’s ground game in 2024, leading the Big Ten in yards per carry and rushing for 83 yards on just 10 carries in a late-season loss to Notre Dame. Additionally, Joyner led USC in avoided tackles per carry (0.37) and yards after contact per carry (4.50), making him an appealing transfer portal target for the Longhorns.