OTF Premium Michael Kern Enters the NCAA Transfer Portal (Thursday 4:25 p.m.)

[CJ Vogel]

Texas P Michael Kern has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, CBS Sports the first to report.

Kern, an upcoming sophomore, had won the job as a true freshman in 2024, though the staff opted to go a different direction in 2025 with the addition of Jack Bouwmeester from Utah.

Texas is up to 12 portalers and currently sits with 83 scholarships.

[Beard N Balls Bundle]

He didn’t have a good freshman year. The smart thing to do would be to sit and develop, IMO 

Edited 12 hours ago by Beard N Balls Bundle

[qaertyisthatdude]

Good luck to the young man.  I wonder with that scholly now available if Texas pursues another punter in the portal or uses it to grab another instant impact player?

[GetHooked]

I thought he would redshirt this year and take over in 2026 after he was more developed.

[HookemTexas]

He's betting on himself, good luck to the young man.  Though I agree with others that he would have been best served to redshirt and then takeover after he gained more development.  Fans were ready to run off Michael Dickson after his freshman campaign and by the time he left Texas was considered one of, if not, the best punters in the country.

[CJ Vogel]

Will see if Texas goes the portal only route at K/P.

Yes, there will be a premium paid in terms of NIL, but I think you take that trade off every year knowing it will be a consistent level of kicking. I would prefer this route than HS development at the specialist positions.

[Bevo92]

I can envision Sark taking best available punter and kicker from portal each season when it’s time.   No more recruiting unproven HS kids at these two positions.   

[Texas fan in Georgia]

Any word if Texas will look at the CB from north Texas?

[Hashtag]

22 minutes ago, Beard N Balls Bundle said:

He didn’t have a good freshman year. The smart thing to do would be to sit and develop, IMO 

Maybe wasn’t his choice….imo just get a punter from the portal every year. That way it’s proven 

[Beard N Balls Bundle]

Just now, Hashtag said:

Maybe wasn’t his choice….imo just get a punter from the portal every year. That way it’s proven 

High school is much cheaper

[NothinButDaHorns34]

Couldn’t get the job done when it mattered, But wish him the best. 

[Quinncent McManning, Jr.]

Who is the backup now?  Better hope we don’t have a Georgia punter situation this year. 

[CHorn427]

11 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Will see if Texas goes the portal only route at K/P.

Yes, there will be a premium paid in terms of NIL, but I think you take that trade off every year knowing it will be a consistent level of kicking. I would prefer this route than HS development at the specialist positions.

Shipley only has one year left, right? If so, I can see taking a kicker in the portal again next year.

My ideal would be getting a solid kicker in the portal with two or more years of eligibility, then picking up a solid guy from HS to train behind him. 
 

It seems unsustainable to hope there is a solid kicker in the portal every year that doesn’t just want to go somewhere else

[Hashtag]

10 minutes ago, Beard N Balls Bundle said:

High school is much cheaper

And much more unproven. Having a punter who can flip fields each and every year is worth the price. 

[Beard N Balls Bundle]

4 minutes ago, Hashtag said:

And much more unproven. Having a punter who can flip fields each and every year is worth the price. 

I don’t disagree but it’s a position that can be recruited and developed just like any other. Relying on the portal year in and year out is a gamble 

Edited 12 hours ago by Beard N Balls Bundle

[GoHorns1]

24 minutes ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

Any word if Texas will look at the CB from north Texas?

Extremely doubtful 

[Ace Recruiter]

1 hour ago, Beard N Balls Bundle said:

High school is much cheaper

You get what you pay for

[Ace Recruiter]

53 minutes ago, Beard N Balls Bundle said:

I don’t disagree but it’s a position that can be recruited and developed just like any other. Relying on the portal year in and year out is a gamble 

Normally I would agree with you, but look what happened with Kern. I'm sure this year was to be his year to sit back and develop, but with the portal, kids just don't want to sit.

[Beard N Balls Bundle]

11 minutes ago, Ace Recruiter said:

Normally I would agree with you, but look what happened with Kern. I'm sure this year was to be his year to sit back and develop, but with the portal, kids just don't want to sit.

True

[Burnt Orange Horn]

There is a recruit out there named Strange who is visiting this weekend.

 

[Bevo92]

1 hour ago, CHorn427 said:

Shipley only has one year left, right? If so, I can see taking a kicker in the portal again next year.

My ideal would be getting a solid kicker in the portal with two or more years of eligibility, then picking up a solid guy from HS to train behind him. 
 

It seems unsustainable to hope there is a solid kicker in the portal every year that doesn’t just want to go somewhere else

Correct.   This is Shipley’s 5th year.   He’s a redshirt senior and agree it’s ideal to get players from portal with 2-3 years remaining of eligibility but it’s more important to get the best player available at each position.   They can look again next year for potential younger kicker in portal. 

[justwinbaby]

Good luck to Michael

[GoHorns1]

Good luck Micheal Kerns in four future adventures on and off the field.

🤘