Texas football has declared which positions it is prioritizing late in the 45-day spring NCAA Transfer Portal window. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian intend to bolster the front seven’s depth heading into the SEC this coming season by adding at least one more impact defensive tackle.
Texas football’s late-spring transfer targets are becoming apparent
The Longhorns may also be trying to bring in a high-profile cornerback to help make up for some of the depth that has been lost in the previous week or so due to portal exits. Texas lost junior cornerback Terrance Brooks and junior nickel Austin Jordan, two seasoned upperclassmen defensive backs, to the portal in the previous week.
After spring ball, there’s also a potential the Longhorns stick with the group of corners they already have on campus. Late in the spring, Texas coaches expressed confidence in the group of cornerbacks they have on staff.
These are the three fresh transfer prospects that the Longhorns have tested out within the past week.
Derrick Harmon, DT
Damonic Williams, a junior defensive lineman with the TCU Horned Frogs, is without a doubt Texas’s top choice among transfer defensive tackles this spring. Last week, Williams made a successful multi-day official visit to Texas, which “checked all the boxes” for the defensive lineman who was named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention twice.
Should the Longhorns be unable in acquiring Williams through the portal during the spring transfer window, their defensive staff may prioritize two other former Michigan State Spartans transfer defensive tackles.
The Longhorns have reportedly reached out to defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, a former junior transfer from Michigan State, according to a report by Texas Football’s Gerry Hamilton on April 26 (premium content). The Longhorns are keeping an eye on the huge 6-foot-5, 330-pound defensive tackle, Williams, depending on what transpires with his potential midweek announcement in the coming days.
Prior to joining the portal this offseason during the spring transfer window, Harmon attended Michigan State for three seasons. Out of the more than twenty games he has played at Michigan State since 2021, he has started fifteen.
Throughout his time at Michigan State, he racked up over 70 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, 37 quarterback pressures, two batted balls, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
The coaching identified Harmon’s size as a critical necessity during the spring portal session and believes he can provide the Longhorns with respectable ball handling reps in the SEC this coming season.
Barrow Jr. Simeon, DT
Simeon Barrow Jr., a senior, is the other defensive tackle prospect from Michigan State whom the Longhorns have tested this spring. One of the busiest players on Michigan State’s defensive line the past several seasons was the 290-pound, 6-foot-3 fourth-year defensive tackle from Grovetown, Georgia.
Barrow produced over 100 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 79 quarterback pressures, one batted ball, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in his three seasons as a starter on Michigan State’s defensive line.
In the past few seasons, Barrow has been a dependable inside run defender and pass rusher for Michigan State’s defensive front. According to PFF, he has finished in the top half of the Big Ten’s starting defensive tackles in both pass rush and run defense grades over the past two seasons.
Based on the information that has surfaced over the last few days on Texas’s pursuit of Barrow through the portal, it appears that, should Williams’ situation not work out, he is the team’s top choice for defensive tackle. It’s been rumored that Texas has discussed a possible visit from Barrow sometime next week.
It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Texas’ coaches really work hard to get Barrow on campus for a visit the following weekend in the event that the Longhorns lose out on the Williams sweepstakes in the gateway when he announces this coming week.
Tacario Davis, CB*
The first player to access the site this summer who started ten or more games for the Longhorns the previous season was Tacario Davis, CB* Brooks. Although Brooks’ announcement last week that he intended to use the portal raised no ill will against the Texas coaches, it can nonetheless have an effect on a secondary that hopes to strengthen its unity in preparation for the 2024 SEC.
The Longhorns are searching for any possible immediate impact transfers to strengthen the secondary as they head into fall camp after Brooks left via the portal. Tacario Davis, a former junior with the Arizona Wildcats, would have to be regarded as the Longhorns’ top target among the corners in the transfer portal this spring.
Even though Davis joined the portal a few months ago, he nevertheless took part in spring ball with the Wildcats and newly hired head coach Brent Brennan to give that new staff an opportunity. According to Brennan, Davis has “not confirmed if he intends to remain with Arizona” following spring training.
When Davis was Arizona’s defensive coordinator the previous season, he was a player for Johnny Nansen, the new co-DC/LB coach for Texas. In the event that Davis does decide in the next few days that he wants to leave Arizona, there are some ties for Texas in this portal recruitment.
This offseason, Nansen has already used the portal to bring in a number of defensive players from Arizona, including Norton and fellow graduate transfer defensive tackle Tia Savea.
When it comes to transfer cornerbacks in the portal this summer, Davis is about as good as it gets. Last season, he was the best graded cornerback in the Pac-12 in pass coverage (per PFF) and tied for sixth place in the FBS in pass breakups (15).
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