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Bear with me — as I type this out of my phone instead of laptop — but I have some thoughts on the offensive line. Of course, this comes on the heels of freshman Nick Brooks entering the portal Tuesday afternoon. Brooks becomes the fifth Longhorn offensive lineman to enter the portal in the 2026 portal window, joining Daniel Cruz, Connor Stroh, Nate Kibble and Neto Umeozulu. I tweeted this and mentioned it in the Portal Palace thread, but in the offseasons of 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, Texas had just seven departures out of the offensive line room to the portal. So all of this really comes as new ground for the Texas program. It’s just something that has not been experienced so far and as Texas continues its path down the roster cutting circuit, it makes sense to see this room start to lose some pieces. After all, offensive linemen are relatively expensive. But here is my point here — if the NFL parallels we have seen take place with the Texas roster continue in the offensive line room, it is more than realistic to expect the Longhorns to carry 10-12 offensive linemen in a given season. With where things sit currently, Texas has 12 offensive linemen on roster when you include Sikorski and the 2 early enrollees + Nicolas Robertson. In a given season, all you really need is eight. Both Sarkisian and Flood have mentioned that as the goal to find the top eight in spring and fall camp. While part of that is coach speak, the numbers back it up. *** 2022 • 7 offensive linemen played 100+ snaps 877 - Christian Jones 860 - Jake Majors 858 - Kelvin Banks 850 - Hayden Conner 781 - Cole Hutson 162 - Andrej Karic 129 - DJ Campbell 2023 • 8 played over 100 snaps, only 5 with 150+ 985 - Kelvin Banks 982 - Hayden Conner 908 - Jake Majors 907 - Christian Jones 868 - DJ Campbell 144 - Cole Hutson 126 - Cam Williams 124 - Connor Robertson 2024 • Depth was tested a bit more, with 7 playing over 300 snaps. No on else saw more than 81. 1067 - Hayden Conner 1042 - Jake Majors 975 - Cameron Williams 935 - Kelvin Banks 809 - DJ Campbell 389 - Cole Hutson 319 - Trevor Goosby 2025 • Even with as rocky this offensive line season was, only seven players saw more than 100 snaps. 873 - Brandon Baker 847 - Trevor Goosby 831 - DJ Campbell 645 - Cole Hutson 557 - Connor Robertson 310 - Connor Stroh 221 - Nick Brooks *** All of this to prove the point of this — We are seeing Texas concisely construct a roster with as few fish as necessary. But making sure those fish are the biggest in the pond. I bet Texas carries 10-12 offensive linemen from here on out, with the top 7, maybe top 8, being Ready for Play type of guys. Trevor Goosby, Connor Robertson, Brandon Baker, Dylan Sikorski. There are four of the 7-8. Add in an older Cojoe + Chatman as serviceable options as well. Now, who else joins the pond, and how big of fish are they? Thats the vision on my end.

Without attaching names to the class, i thought this would be a good way to highlight how Texas has constructed its 2026 portal class so far. This has been my favorite way to view the class, personally *** • 1st Team All-ACC running back • 1st Team All-Big 12 running back • No. 1 wide receiver in the portal • 1st Team All-ACC linebacker • All-B1G Honorable Mention cornerback • No. 4 ranked receiving TE per PFF grades in 2025 (86.4 grade) • Redshirt freshman OG with 440+ snaps • Third year contributor at LB with 730+ snaps • 380-pound nose tackle with 680+ career snaps • 360-pound nose tackle with four years of eligibility remaining • Plus, veterans at every specialist position already knocked out.

There are two ways Cam Coleman should positively impact the Texas offense when the former Auburn wide receiver, who committed to Steve Sarkisian's program on Sunday, takes the field in 2026. The first way is Coleman's contested catch ability down the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Coleman faced 11 contested targets on passes thrown to him 20 yards or more down the field as a sophomore. Coleman caught nine of them, contributing almost exclusively to the 10 receptions for 323 yards and three touchdowns he recorded on deep balls. For context, Coleman’s production on contested deep balls in 2025 was better than Lil’Jordan Humphrey's (seven receptions on 11 targets) or Colin Johnson's (six receptions on 10 targets) in 2018. Coleman was also better than what the offense got from Matthew Golden (seven receptions on 10 targets) in those situations in 2023. Given Arch Manning’s prowess throwing the ball down the field (26 for 65 for 934 yards with 13 touchdowns, three interceptions and a PFF grade of 91.5 on pass attempts of 20 yards or more beyond the line of scrimmage) without a receiver with Coleman’s ability to win 50/50 balls, the 2026 offense could feature the best downfield passing attack of the Sarkisian era. The second is Coleman’s ability to win against man coverage. Coleman’s PFF grade of 79.1 against man coverage (14 receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 18 targets) was better than any Texas wideout posted in 2025 (Kaliq Lockett’s grade of 76.7 came on just five targets, making Parker Livingstone’s grade of 70.1 the closest to Coleman among the receivers who were regulars in the rotation). The only Longhorn wide receiver with a better single-season grade against man coverage under Sarkisian is Xavier Worthy’s 82.3, which he earned as a freshman in 2021, when he caught 14 balls for 319 yards and four touchdowns on 21 targets against man coverage. When Coleman hits the field for his first practice, he’ll immediately become the best wideout Sarkisian has had at Texas on 50/50 balls and arguably the best he’s had at being able to win against man coverage. What the Longhorns lost with the departures of Livingstone (a threat down the field) and DeAndre Moore Jr. (arguably the best wideout in Chris Jackson's room working against man coverage when healthy) has been replaced with one player (one with the potential to be selected in the top half of the first round of the NFL draft). Two areas that have been hit or miss for the Texas passing attack under Sarkisian should be remedied upon Coleman’s arrival to the extent that they become strengths for the Longhorns in what should be Manning's last season at the controls. View full news story

Portal of Possibilities This is the new portal thread for the OTF community. Every time a portal thread goes over 100k views, I'll start a new one.

Portalfront Property in Arizona This is the new portal thread for the OTF community. Every time a portal thread goes over 100k views, I'll start a new one.

Jeff Banks is out on the trail tonight. Banks is out seeing Libertyville (Ill.) High TE Brock Williams. Williams visited Texas in November For the game against Arkansas. Texas has a tight end in the class with JT Geraci, but Williams has remained a priority.

Both Pitt linebacker Rasheem Biles and NC State running back Hollywood Smothers have arrived on campus Saturday morning for their visits.

Pitt transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles The All-ACC linebacker is scheduled to visit Texas Saturday and Sunday per a source on the forty acres. The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder totaled 100 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 2 INT's in 2025 Of course anything portal related, it's subject to a rug pull or change.

Yes, the portal is hogging all of the headlines this weekend, but that hasn’t stopped Texas coaches from hitting the road to see 2027 prospects. — Earlier In the week, TE Coach Jeff Banks made the trip up to Illinois to visit 2027 Libertyville (Ill.) tight end Brocks Williams. Williams had visited Austin in late November for the Arkansas game. He is considered the No. 2 TE in the class of 2027 by the consensus rankings. — Additionally, WR coach Chris Jackson is fresh off of a contract extension and made the quick trip up to DFW on Thursday. Jackson stopped by Duncanville to see 2027 WR Trenton Yancy. Yancy told OTF last week at the Under Armour All American game he is eyeing the January 17th Junior Day as his next trip to Austin. — Texas corners coach Mark Orphey was also in DFW. He stopped in Garland to see Centennial CB Montre Jackson, who he extended an offer to on January 2nd. — EDGE coach LaAllen Clark was another Texas coach to make a trip to DFW. — Additionally, 2027 linebacker Ba’Roc Willis tells OTF he has been in contact with the Texas staff about a potential visit to Austin in the future Willis is a top-300 player in the 2027 rankings at the moment. He’s listed at 6–3, 220 out of Moody, Alabama. — The No. 1 corner in Texas, and likely the country, John Meredith III also transferred to North Crowley High school from Euless Trinity. North Crowley of course was the home of John Turntine III and Jonathan Cunningham. North Crowley will also have roughly 7-8 D1 kids in its secondary alone for 2027. Meredith joins Jerry Outhouse, Braylon Cunningham (2028) and Elijajuan Houston (2027) in the secondary. All with major D1 interest.

Christian Alliegro update Wisconsin transfer LB Christian Alliegro has not made a decision as of around 6pm tonight. He's said to still be "thinking about it". The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder made visits to Texas and Ohio State Monday-Tuesday.

Key note Not portal related. Someone else is considering returning/staying. We shall see what happens.

OTF fully expects him to return to Florida.

Oklahoma State EDGE transfer Wendell Gregory OnTexasFootball can report Texas is planning to bring in Oklahoma State EDGE transfer Wendell Gregory. OTF can also relay … his NIL price is way up there. The 6-3, 255 pound redshirt freshman totaled 27 tackles and 4 sacks in 2025. Gregory will have three years left to play at his next destination.

OTF believes Texas will get Cal LB transfer Cade Uluave on campus Thursday or Friday. The 6-foot-1, 235 pounder recorded 97 tackles and 3 sacks in 2025. Uluave went into the transfer portal with a “no contact” tag.

Size + Production of Sarkisian's Running Backs at Texas *** For those of y'all that are relatively new here, welcome in. Follow me down this journey that I like calling a rabbit hole of particular statistics or trends or just interesting tidbits that are relevant throughout the course of a season. Today's rabbit hole is an interesting one. –– Given the news that Texas is set to host Arizona State running back Raleek Brown (5'9" and 195) for a visit on Wednesday, and that the staff remains somewhat interested in former LSU running back Caden Durham (5'9" and 205), it got me thinking quite a bit. Does size actually matter... to play running back in Sarkisian's offense? Texas has been on the lighter end of the running back scale for each of the last two seasons, and given the current running back room, plus the current prospects, is it even a priority for the staff to find what you would consider to be a larger running back? Well, I went through 24 different running backs who have accumulated 10 or more rushing attempts in a single season since Sark arrived in Austin. Here is what I ended up finding out. *** RB By Weight Since 2021 220+ ... 3 210–219: 6 200–209: 7 Under 200: 8 Those three backs over 220 included 2025 CJ Baxter at 227 pounds and both Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson at 222 pounds in 2022. The eight backs under 200 range all the way down to 183 pounds with Keilan Robinson in 2021 when he received 45 rush attempts. *** Best Yards After Contact Seasons There have been six running back seasons ending with a yards per rush after contact average north of 4.00 yards and only one eclipsing the 5.0 mark. 5.07 – Brooks in 2022 4.76 – Brooks in 2021 4.28 – R. Johnson in 2022 4.22 – Colin Page in 2024 4.17 – B. Robinson in 2022 4.06 – R. Johnson in 2021 Three of the four heaviest running back seasons are included above – Roschon and Bijan in 2022 and Roschon again in 2021. Brooks was running right at 200 pounds (199 and 202) in both seasons listed above. Page was listed at 210. *** Best Seasons The best seasons from a Texas running back have included both of Bijan's 2021 and 2022 seasons where he totaled over 2600 rushing yards and won a Doak Walker Award. And Jonathon Brooks' 2023 season right before his injury. Brooks' ACL injury sidelined what could have been a back to back stretch of Doak's returning to the 40 Acres. Brooks was listed at 207 on the Texas roster in 2023. *** Notable Findings • Of the best 11 yards per rush averages a Texas running back has had under Sarkisian, all occurred between 2021 and 2023. • Only five running back seasons resulted in a yards per rush after contact rate under 2.50 yards. 2.41 – CJ Baxter in 2025 2.25 – Jerrick Gibson in 2025 2.24 – Keilan Robinson in 2022 2.18 – Christian Clark in 2025 1.75 – Jaydon Blue in 2022 • The 2025 running back room had the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th worst yards per average marks of all Texas running backs under Sarkisian. • Eight Texas running backs have broken 30 tackles or more in a single season. Every back had an average yards gained after contact of 3.85 or higher except for two seasons – Tre Wisner (3.25) in 2025 and Wisner again (3.08) in 2024. Of those eight running backs, only Wisner and Jaydon Blue weighed under 207 pounds. *** There really was not a sure-fire conclusion here. If there was a takeaway, it's this: Good running backs matter. Size, not so much. Whether it is with elite traits, like speed or contact balance, the best Texas running back seasons under Steve Sarkisian have come with backs taken very early in the NFL Draft. Additionally, the offensive line production up front matters too. But above all, the talent at running back matters. The Longhorn running back room in 2024 and 2025 was a shell of itself from 2021 through 2023. I will explain the biggest takeaway in the comments.

OTF has been wondering who the No. 1 LB target is, well Christian Alliegro, Avon (Ct.) Old Farms/Wisconsin is that guy that's been on top of the board (along with one other). He's expected to visit this week. I'm a big fan of his talent. Wisconsin highlights from this season ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xZMJL8oOhw

Wednesday’s Citrus Bowl pits two of the most highly-touted quarterback prospects in the history of modern recruiting against each other when Arch Manning and Bryce Underwood lead their respective teams into battle for the last time in 2025. Manning, who will make his 15th career start for Texas, is the eighth-highest rated quarterback prospect in the history of the 247Sports Composite, slightly behind Terrelle Pryor and just ahead of Matt Barkley. Ryan Mallett is the only quarterback to ever sign with Michigan rated higher than Underwood (No. 22 all-time in the 247Sports Composite quarterback rankings), who will start for the 13th and final time as a true freshman. That’s where the similarities end between two former prized quarterback recruits at different stages of their respective careers. Against a Wolverine defense that ranks 16th nationally in points per game allowed (18.7), 18th in yards per play allowed (4.77) and 22nd in yards per game allowed (312.3), Manning will look to continue the success he’s enjoyed against the Longhorns’ ranked opponents in 2025. Even though he struggled in a season-opening loss to Ohio State, Manning completed 64.2 percent of his passes (104 for 162) against the Buckeyes, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt, throwing for 1,094 yards and seven touchdowns against two interceptions. Manning’s 112 net rushing yards in those games include a 36-yard game-clinching touchdown run against the Aggies. According to Pro Football Focus, Manning was pressured on 97 dropbacks, but his pocket presence and athleticism minimized the damage to the tune of just six total sacks for the five ranked foes. Wink Martindale, a defensive coordinator known for the variety and volume of pressure looks he’ll throw at opposing quarterbacks, will have to blitz Manning at his own risk. On the 184 dropbacks in which Manning has been blitzed through 12 games, according to PFF, he’s completed more than 57 percent of his passes (96 for 166) for 1,419 yards and 12 touchdowns, throwing just two interceptions with 81 pressures via the blitz leading to only 11 sacks. On the other hand, Underwood’s two games against ranked opponents (a 24-13 loss to Oklahoma in his first start on the road and a 27-9 loss to Ohio State at home in the regular season finale) yielded unsavory results. In Michigan's losses to the Sooners and Buckeyes, Underwood went 17-for-42 through the air (40.5 percent completion rate) for 205 yards (4.9 yards per attempt and 12.1 yards per completion) with no touchdown passes and one interception. Like most inexperienced quarterbacks, Underwood is still learning how to deal with pressure. According to PFF, Underwood is 28-for-61 on the 29.7 percent of his dropbacks in which he’s faced pressure, with 362 yards, one touchdown and one interception, numbers that have contributed to an NFL passer rating of 63.7. Martindale and the Wolverines will play the game without three defensive captains (EDGE Derrick Moore and linebackers Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann). The Longhorns have turned defensive play-calling duties over to Johnny Nansen, who’s left to adjust to the fallout of seven postseason opt-outs. Still, the objective for both coordinators on Wednesday should be to win the race to make the game one in which the opponent has to drop back and throw the football to survive. A Texas offensive line operating at full strength must keep Manning clean and pave the way for the Longhorns to run the ball well enough to achieve a must-have semblance of balance. The Longhorns surrendered just three sacks in their three regular-season wins over Associated Press top-10 opponents, victories over Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M in which Texas averaged 155.3 rushing yards per game (4.68 yards per attempt). Ty’Anthony Smith and Brad Spence will lead an inexperienced group of Texas linebackers against a Michigan rushing attack that’s one of the best in the country (213.2 yards per game and 5.51 yards per attempt are top-15 marks in FBS). Slowing down the Wolverines’ rushing attack isn’t an insurmountable task, however, with Michigan set to take the field without running back Justice Haynes (857 yards rushing, 7.1 yards per attempt and 10 touchdowns), All-Big Ten tight end/H-back/fullback/lead blocker Max Bredeson and All-Big Ten left guard Gio El-Hadi (it also remains to be seen where leading rusher Jordan Marshall is in his recovery from a late-season shoulder injury). Opt-outs and coaching changes add significant unknown variables when trying to predict the winner of a postseason exhibition between two of the five winningest programs in FBS history. The outcome will likely be decided by either the Wolverines slowing down Manning’s ascent toward his ceiling or the Longhorns doing their part to put Underwood’s coming-of-age moment as a college quarterback off until 2026. View full news story

Thoughts from the Weekend It has been roughly 80 hours since the portal opened on midnight of January 2nd. In that time, Texas has secured four signings: Three specialists and a 380-pound nose tackle from Arkansas who logged more than 460 snaps last season. Geffrard, in particular, fills a clear positional need Texas identified heading into January. The Longhorns have also hosted the No. 1 player in the portal in WR Cam Coleman, as well as Michigan OT Andrew Sprague, Florida State DB Edwin Joseph, and several others are slated to visit Monday and beyond. For about a month now, myself and others have been preaching the 'All In' mentality that Texas was set to bring to the portal. I believe now, I will be referring to Texas in the portal to being 'Aggressive' from here on. It's a bit misleading, going All-In typically indicates you are completely committed to a cause and will exhaust all avenues to achieve something. Texas should still put together a very aggressive class. But what I want to shy away from is the idea that if Texas is linked to a player, that means that player will be in burnt orange next year. It just isn't that simple. The Isaac Brown ordeal from Sunday night reminded me a bit too much of the Kenneth Grant or Mason Graham saga from last year. Or the rumors around Peter Woods from Clemson after the CFP game. Or Chris Bell, who also returned to Louisville. Or even for guys who did enter the portal. Remember the Jordan Addison deal as well? Or the connection to David Bailey and Lee Hunter a year ago. It is no secret agents and players use the Texas name and logo to garner extra dollars from the school they originally wanted to stay at. The list of names Texas is rumored to be after mirrored that of an all-conference lineup. Some have entered the portal. Some have not. If Sunday night taught us anything about the rumored targets, it is that there is both reason for optimism and hesitancy. I hate being wrong. And when I said it sounded like Brown and Texas were nearing a marriage, it's because that was what was portrayed to me. Yet, I was wrong. Louisville went full LA Clippers in 2015 to re-sign DeAndre Jordan this weekend. And it worked. What gets overlooked at times is, hey, some other schools are in positions where they need to match the desperation of Texas. However, there is no reason Texas should not be one of the most aggressive schools in the country when it comes to the portal this window. Arch Manning's final year + one of the game's most instant gamebreakers in Colin Simmons spearheads your defense. Again, I do believe Texas is going to fill the majority of its needs If going All In is the true message this year, there is no reason to penny pinch. No reason to sit on money. No reason to look for deals. You do what is required to get the deal done. That goes for Cam Coleman, the Michigan offensive linemen and for now, whatever is necessary to get a true bell cow at Texas for 2026. I guess to wrap this up, my approach to Texas in the portal moving forward is this: Texas will be aggressive. How aggressive? I don't know. History tells me they will finish 2nd or 3rd in portal fights that they would have liked to have won when looking back around week 3 or week 9 of the season.

OnTexasFootball fully expects Texas to consider bringing LSU transfer NG Zion Williams on a visit. The 6-foot-4, 350 pounder would be a developmental over the ball player. Should Texas make a move on him, it would not affect Texas pursuit of Arkansas transfer Ian Geffrard or redshirt freshman Josiah Sharma. In Will Muschamp’s defense, the size and depth over the ball is a requirement.

The first SEC game of the Sean Miller era tips off at the top of the hour. Texas (9-4, 0-0 SEC) hosts Mississippi State (8-5, 0-0) at Moody Center in the first conference game for both clubs this season. A couple of notes: — There were no injuries reported on either side to the conference. The availability reports for the Longhorns and Bulldogs are clean. — I'm told the football transfer portal prospects who are visiting Texas this weekend are expected to be here at some point. — Texas is honoring the 2005-06 team that won a share of the Big 12 title and advanced to the Elite Eight. I'm told the only players on the team who aren't here are Kenton Paulino (he's an assistant coach at Wichita State), Daniel Gibson (travel issues) and Mike Williams (whereabouts unknown).

Texas had a seven-point lead with 2:17 remaining in regulation, but it didn't last. Mississippi State ended the second half on a 7-0 run, Jordan Pope's shot in the closing seconds didn't fall. The Longhorns never led in overtime, losing to the Bulldogs on Saturday at Moody Center, 101-98. Dailyn Swain carried Texas (9-5, 0-1 SEC) with 34 points and 14 rebounds before fouling out at the 1:42 mark of the second half. Tramon Mark (20 points, three rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot) and Matas Vokietaitis (19 points and four rebounds) were the other Longhorns who scored in double figures. Mississippi State (9-5, 1-0) was led by the backcourt duo of Josh Hubbard (38 points, 6-for-17 from 3-point range) and Jayden Epps (27 points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal). Achor Achor (10 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots) was the only other player in double figures for Chris Janz's team. The loss in Sean Miller's first conference game as Texas coach was a game the Longhorns needed to win in their quest to make the NCAA Tournament. Texas is about to go through a brutal three-game stretch with consecutive SEC road games against No. 19 Tennessee on Tuesday and No. 14 Alabama next Saturday before returning home to face No. 11 Vanderbilt on Jan. 14.

Texas will host Rutgers CB Bo Mascoe on Monday for a visit. Mascoe was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2025 and was recruited by Mark Orphey originally to Rutgers. View full news story

Tracking Portal Entrants Across the Country *** Starting an ongoing thread for portal entrants this December and January. There will be a separate thread for Texas entrants, but this should provide an idea of which talent elsewhere is going to be on the move this offseason.