Texas Football: 3 preseason transfer portal targets to watch for 2022

Devin Taylor, DB

Texas can find a very underrated defensive back target already in the transfer portal heading into the fall in the form of the former Virginia Tech Hokies standout redshirt senior Devin Taylor. According to a report from The Roanoke Times last week, Taylor left the team and put his name in the transfer portal before competing in fall camp.

Taylor was set to be one of the more experienced defensive backs returning for head coach Justin Fuente and the Hokies this fall. He also only played for Fuente and the Hokies for one year prior to entering the portal. Taylor originally transferred from FCS Illinois State to Virginia Tech during the 2020 offseason.

And Taylor was very productive for the Hokies’ secondary last season. He was a staple for the Virginia Tech secondary last year as he registered 55 combined tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, no sacks, two interceptions, and four pass breakups, in nine games played.

The numbers that Taylor put up at Illinois State were even more impressive. He registered a whopping nine interceptions, 40 pass breakups, 118 combined tackles, and five tackles for loss, during his two and a half years roughly playing for Illinois State from 2017-2019.

Considering Texas could be losing the likes of senior cornerbacks Josh Thompson and D’Shawn Jamison heading into next offseason, finding a versatile replacement could be key. Texas also brought in former McNeese State cornerback Darion Dunn this offseason, but he’s likely to be gone next summer too.