Predicting Texas’ next transfer portal addition after Jahleel Billingsley

Jaylen Moody, LB

There were multiple Crimson Tide players that the Longhorns hosted for visits this weekend. At this point, the one that obviously sticks out the most is Billingsley. But that is since he already committed to Texas on Jan. 16.

Another former Crimson Tide player that visited Texas this weekend is senior linebacker and former under-the-radar three-star recruit Jaylen Moody. Texas has expressed interest in a few transfer linebackers this offseason. Moody just happens to be the last one that visited Texas in the last week or so.

The 6-foot-2 and 225-pound Moody also doesn’t really look to have formed traction (at least publicly) with any other program than Texas. There are likely going to be more schools that emerge in the conversation to land a commitment out of the portal from Moody.

But it looks like Texas could hold an edge at the moment with this fourth-year former Alabama linebacker. He’s got familiarity with a lot of the coaches on this staff from their time under Alabama head coach Nick Saban prior to coming to Texas last offseason.

In his four years playing for the Crimson Tide, Moody registered 45 combined tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, no sacks, eight quarterback pressures, 13 stops, one interception, no pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He also got just over 250 defensive snaps in his time in Tuscaloosa.

The real question mark concerning the pursuit out of the portal of Moody is how Texas feels he meshes with this defense in terms of scheme fit. Texas definitely had a good number of misses in terms of additions at the linebacker position out of the portal in 2021.