Texas Football: 4 CB transfer targets to replace Jalen Green

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UCLA Bruins defensive back Elijah Gates (12) tackles Cincinnati Bearcats running back Gerrid Doaks (23) in the first half of the NCAA football game between Cincinnati Bearcats and UCLA Bruins on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.Cincinnati Bearcats Ucla Bruins /

2) Texas football transfer targets to replace Jalen Green

One of the more prominent names in the transfer portal among Power Five defensive backs this offseason is the former UCLA Bruins junior cornerback and highly coveted four-star recruit Elijah Gates. The 5-foot-11 and 180 pound Gates would be a potential immediate impact player for the Longhorns, if he were to take his talents to the Big 12 next.

Gates was a blue chip product coming out of Buena Park High School in Buena Park, CA, as he signed with UCLA’s 2017 recruiting class. He ranked as the nation’s No. 270 2017 high school prospect, No. 32 cornerback, and No. 29 prospect out of California (247Sports Composite). And the Top247 ranked him as the No. 76 cornerback and No. 71 prospect out of California.

As a huge contributor to the defensive efforts the last few years under head coach Chip Kelly for the Bruins, Gates registered 86 career combined tackles, one tackle for loss, no sacks, three interceptions, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries, in 25 games played over the course of three seasons.

During the 2020 season in particular, Gates was big for the UCLA secondary as he registered 11 combined tackles and two picks.

Gates has also registered just 10 missed tackles in his college career to date, 15 stops, and he had no passing touchdowns allowed and just a 50 completion percentage in pass coverage during the 2020 campaign. If Texas wants to get a player that has a couple years of eligibility left in college that can make an impact right away, Gates could be their guy.

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