Texas getting a visit from Alabama transfer EDGE Drew Sanders

A recent NCAA Transfer Portal entrant to watch for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Texas football program came to the forefront this week in the former Alabama Crimson Tide sophomore edge rusher and elite five-star recruit Drew Sanders. A Texas native, Sanders would make sense to land in Austin coming out of the transfer portal early this offseason.

Sanders originally put his name in the transfer portal just one day after the Crimson Tide and legendary head coach Nick Saban were topped by the Georgia Bulldogs in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He was one of a number of former Crimson Tide players that put their names in the transfer portal early this week following the loss to the Dawgs in the National Championship Game.

One of the first potential landing spots that came to mind for Sanders once he officially entered the transfer portal was Texas. Sanders was pursued by Texas when head coach Tom Herman and his staff were on the Forty Acres. And the current Texas coaching staff has plenty of ties to Sanders when they were pursuing him on the recruiting trail out of high school with Alabama.

This looks to be one of the reasons why Texas was able to get a reported visit with Sanders locked in so soon after he entered the portal this week. A report from Inside Texas on Twitter on Jan. 12 confirmed that Texas looks to be set to host Sanders for a visit on campus.

Texas football set to host former Alabama EDGE Drew Sanders on a visit

Texas could go on a big run in terms of bringing in talent out of the transfer portal if they could soon land a commitment from Sanders. This coaching staff is clearly seeking help to improve the pass rush in 2022 out of the portal. And Sanders could help to accomplish that mission this offseason.

Sanders did make an impact here and there in games for the Crimson Tide in the season that was. But he definitely still has a long way to go until he reaches his true ceiling. He would surely be able to compete for a starting role right away on the Forty Acres.

Depending on when Texas officially hosts Sanders in Austin, he could be the second big-time visitor in the span of a week. Texas also hosted the former Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Mario Williams on campus this week.

Some other potential names to watch in the portal right now for the Longhorns are fellow former Crimson Tide transfer and tight end Jahleel Billingsley and former TCU Horned Frogs defensive end Ochaun Mathis.