3 top Texas edge rusher targets currently in the transfer portal

Ochaun Mathis, EDGE/DE

The most notable edge rusher that remained on the Longhorns’ radar since early this offseason is the former TCU Horned Frogs two-time All-Big 12 senior edge rusher/defensive end Ochaun Mathis. Texas has long kept after Mathis out of the transfer portal. But it could be a few months still until we know the decision for Mathis out of the portal.

At this point of the offseason, it still looks like Mathis is one of the best edge rushers that Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns will find out of the portal. If nothing else, he will remain one of the most proven that can make an immediate impact for Texas coming off the edge.

Back on Feb. 17, Mathis dropped his top five finalist schools on his Twitter timeline. Texas was included in that group of schools that also features the likes of the USC Trojans, Ole Miss Rebels, Penn State Nittany Lions, and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

It is interesting to see that Texas is the only Big 12 program or school in-state that made it into his top five earlier in the week.

Texas is likely going to prioritize the recruitment of Mathis out of the portal for the remainder of the offseason more so than any other player that emerges on the open market. Granted, that will depend on the caliber of players that otherwise appear in the portal heading into the spring.

Moreover, there is no doubting that Texas could get an impact edge rusher right away out of the experienced and proven Mathis. Even during a down 2021 campaign by his usual standard, Mathis still registered 30 total quarterback pressures, 45 tackles, five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, only six missed tackles, 26 stops, and three pass breakups.