Texas Football: 3 players whose stock is up post-spring

Ray Thornton, LB

The transfer portal was bound to play a big role for the Longhorns this offseason, no matter what. But the good news in this regard is that Sark and his coaching staff have largely used the transfer portal to their benefit, instead of their demise, so far this offseason. Texas had quite a few high-profile transfer portal additions.

And since Herman already was looking at an offseason full of roster attrition even if he stuck around on the Forty Acres, Sark didn’t really push the envelope at all in terms of volatility.

One of the most important transfer additions for the Longhorns that should make an immediate impact this fall is the former LSU Tigers senior linebacker and blue chip recruit Ray Thornton. And as one of the initial big transfer portal additions for new co-defensive coordinators Pete Kwiatkowski and Jeff Choate this offseason, Thornton took to the spotlight right away.

Thornton looked to be one of the leaders among the Texas linebackers in spring ball. That was key since Texas missed senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown due to injury in spring camp, and juniors Juwan Mitchell and Ayodele Adeoye put their names in the transfer portal.

Upperclassmen at the linebacker position, like Thornton and Overshown, are going to be looked to this year to lead this entire defense. It is good that Thornton was one of the more impressive linebackers in spring drills and the spring football game last month. They need someone like him to step up in a big way in 2021.