Could Texas football be in line to get A&M transfer Shadrach Banks?

The NCAA Transfer Portal is playing a huge role in the configuration of the roster this year for new head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Texas football program. In what was a busy offseason thus far for Sark and his new-look coaching staff, Texas has already built out one position group that is predominantly made up of additions from the transfer portal.

In the past week alone, the Longhorns were able to firmly get a commitment from the former Alabama Crimson Tide senior linebacker and elite five-star recruit Ben Davis and from former New Mexico State Aggies redshirt sophomore linebacker Devin Richardson. That adds to a list that also includes former Notre Dame Fighting Irish edge rusher Ovie Oghoufo and LSU Tigers linebacker Ray Thornton among key transfer portal additions to fill out the front seven this year.

Sark and the Longhorns could have another transfer portal candidate on their radar that could play on either side of the ball for them now. Texas is reportedly (per Horns247, paid content) in contact with former Texas A&M Aggies early enrollee and former four-star wide receiver recruit Shadrach Banks this week.

Background of Texas football pursuing Shadrach Banks

Banks was a big-time target for the Longhorns 2021 recruiting class, but he wound up committing to head coach Jimbo Fisher and the rival Aggies when it was all said and done on National Signing Day. But it only took until the conclusion of spring camp for Banks to put his name in the transfer portal and potentially leave College Station.

Texas was one of more than 30 schools to offer Banks out of North Shore High School in Houston, TX, this past recruiting cycle. Some of the other notable schools on his offer sheet included the Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, LSU Tigers, Michigan Wolverines, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, Oregon Ducks, Tennessee Volunteers, and USC Trojans.

Moreover, Banks ranked as the nation’s No. 112 2021 high school prospect, No. 18 wide receiver, and No. 18 prospect out of Texas (247Sports Composite). And the Top247 ranked him as the nation’s No. 127 high school prospect, No. 17 wide receiver, and No. 20 prospect out of Texas.

Banks originally signed with the Aggies back during the Early Signing Period last December and enrolled early to get on campus for spring ball. But then his name popped up in the transfer portal on April 26.

He is reportedly seeing a lot of traction with head coach Gary Patterson and the TCU Horned Frogs. Texas might be in line right behind the Horned Frogs to get the commitment from Banks out of the portal, though.

Texas finished up last season with a record of 7-3 (5-3 Big 12) under the direction of former head coach Tom Herman. Spring ball just wrapped up for Sark and the Longhorns last weekend, and they’ve seen plenty of movement in the transfer portal in the days since then.