2026 Texas 2 Deep Projection and Transfer Portal Wishlist

[Lam Dinh]

Offense (2 deep)

QB - Arch Manning (KJ Lacy)
RB - CJ Baxter OR Tre Wisner
WR - Emmett Mosley OR Ryan Wingo
WR - Parker Livingstone (Kaliq Lockett OR Jamie Ffrench)
WR - DeAndre Moore Jr (Daylon McCutcheon OR Jermaine Bishop)
TE - Jack Endries (Nick Townsend)
LT - Trevor Goosby (Nick Brooks)
LG - Conner Stroh OR Neto???
C - Conner Robertson (Daniel Cruz)
RG - Nate Kibble OR ???
RT - Brandon Baker (Andre Cojoe)

Biggest Holes: LG, RG, and RB. We don’t have 1 starting caliber Guard on the team going into next year and we yet have 2 open starting spots (gulp). I think we need a bruising RB from the portal who has no injury history. The rest of the offense is going to better in 2026 with an extra year of experience.

Defense (2 deep)

DE - Colin Simmons (Colton Vasek OR Smith Orogpo OR Richard Wesley)
DT - Alex January (Maraad Watson)
DT - Hero Kanu (Lavon Johnson/Justus Terry)
DE - Lance Jackson (Zina Umeozulu)
LB - Tyanthony Smith (Leona Lefau)
LB - Brad Spence (Bo Barnes)
CB - Graceson Littleton (Warren Roberson)
CB - Kade Phillips (Kobe Black)
Star - Wardell Mack (Smoke Matthews)
S - Derek Williams (Jonah Williams)
S - Xavier Filsaime (Jordan Johnson Rubbell)

Biggest Holes: CB and Safety. We need at least 1 starting level CB, maybe even 2. We also need 1 starting level safety, I don’t trust Filsaime.

My Top 5 Transfer Portal Christmas List (from teams who have fired their coaches)

1. Roderick Kearney OG - Florida (started several games as SO this year, has NFL potential) 
2. Ashton Stamps CB - LSU (12 PBUs in 2024)
3. Caden Durham RB - LSU (our new Jaydon Blue)
4. P4/G5 starting level OG
5. P4 starting quality Safety

Who do you guys want most from the portal that isn’t going to completely break the bank?

[AusMOJO]

I think N.Umeozulu and Cojoe probably hit the portal. Unless Cojoe wants to move inside to RG (which he probably doesn't). I think Baxter has had too many injuries to be considered reliable anymore and Wisner is good but will either try his luck in the draft or not be the main back at Texas next year. We don't have a true #1 RB right now, imo. Moore is also someone I could see trying his luck in the NFL regardless.

Probably see a few other guys hit the portal, like Roberson and potentially a few other DB's, imo. Not sure what Cruz will do, will he challenge for the starting job at C or transfer? Rev sharing is going to get some dudes in the portal and paid elsewhere, imo.

As for what we need or should get. 2-3 G's in the portal to create depth/competition there. Our interior needs to get better. I think Bobby or Gerry has mentioned we need an over the ball DT, as we lose both Shaw and Brevard. That would leave you with just Sharma filling that spot.

1 RB, if you want to run 12 personnel some pit fighters at TE who will actually hit someone and block. Maybe an experienced QB similar to Caldwell again?

Defensively, besides the DT I mentioned up above, likely need 1 LB, 1-2 CB's depending on what happens there. 1 S. Potentially going for another K and P in the portal, too.