Brad Spence, LB
Matt Zenitz of 247Sports/CBS Sports reported late Saturday morning that former Arkansas linebacker Spence transferred to Texas. Spence is the first portal commitment for the Longhorns on the defensive side of the ball in the winter transfer window. He is also the second portal commitment for Texas overall after landing Bouwmeester from Utah on Dec. 13.
He played 23 games in two seasons at Arkansas, registering 70 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 13 quarterback pressures, 32 defensive stops, one interception (returned for a touchdown), one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery.
Spence had originally announced his plans to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 11. A couple of days after he filed his paperwork to enter the transfer portal, he was already on a trip to Austin to visit the Longhorns on Dec. 13. Texas was the only school Spence visited since entering the portal earlier this week.
The 6-foot-2 and 238-pound linebacker from Klein Forest High School in Houston, TX, appeared in all 12 games for Arkansas during the regular season and made five starts for the Hogs' defense. Spence had 54 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 2024.
Spence is a solid addition for Pete Kwiatkowski and Johnny Nansen to help restore depth and proven experience on defense at the linebacker position. He brings multiple years of SEC experience playing at Arkansas since 2023. Spence has the ability to be dynamic in multiple ways for Texas's defense.
He was Arkansas' highest-graded run defender (registering an 81.9 grade in run defense) in the regular season among the team's linebackers. Spence also led all Arkansas linebackers in sacks.