Texas Football: 3 former Fighting Illini to get out of the transfer portal

Texas football was one of the busiest programs around the college football landscape in the NCAA Transfer Portal so far this offseason. An offseason that saw Texas part ways with former head coach Tom Herman was sure to bring plenty of activity in the transfer portal. Most just likely didn’t anticipate that it would extend this late into the offseason.

Oftentimes, the transfer portal activity is mostly wrapped up by the time that summer workouts are in full swing. But this is still a very weird offseason in college football in the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Movement in the transfer portal was never so abundant in this sport as in the past six months.

Texas saw some benefit and some loss to the transfer portal this offseason, but that is a necessary plotline whenever there is a complete turnover in coaching regime. Texas brought in the former Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator/reigning Broyles Award winner Steve Sarkisian to replace Herman as the next head coach.

Other sources for Steve Sarkisian and Texas football to turn to in the portal

Since hiring Sark back on Jan. 2, Texas has built out a pretty impressive roster. But the roster could still continue to experience some volatility throughout the summer months. Texas saw a significant loss to the transfer portal as recently as in the past two weeks when junior wide receiver Jake Smith put his name in the portal.

Another program in the FBS that knows all too well about a heavy amount of movement in the transfer portal is the Illinois Fighting Illini. As Illinois has also undergone a full coaching regime change this offseason, they’ve experienced a ton of roster attrition of late.

Maybe this can be a source for Texas to draw from in the transfer portal in the summer months. Here’s a look into three former Illinois players that Texas might be able to get out of the portal this summer.