Texas in contact with WVU transfer LB Josh Chandler-Semedo

It appears that Texas football has found a new target in the NCAA Transfer Portal that is a recent entrant late this month. Texas now looks to be going after a former Big 12 foe and West Virginia Mountaineers senior linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo after he put his name in the transfer portal on Feb. 25.

According to a report from Horns247 on Feb. 28 (paid content), Chandler-Semedo is already on Texas’ radar after putting his name in the transfer portal just one day prior. Texas getting in on the recruitment of Chandler-Semedo this soon after he put his name in the portal likely signifies how much this coaching staff is willing to prioritize him.

This Horns247 report notes that the Longhorns already made contact with Chandler-Semedo. We don’t know if there is an official offer out there for the former Mountaineer at this moment.

It definitely makes sense, though, that there is interest from the Longhorns in the fifth-year linebacker Chandler-Semedo. One of Texas’ biggest positional needs lies at the linebacker position. And they could definitely use the experience and immediate impact that Chandler-Semedo could have this fall.

Texas football is reportedly already in contact with former WVU transfer LB Josh Chandler-Semedo

It is clear that Chandler-Semedo is one of the most proven and experienced names in the transfer portal at this point of the offseason. In all likelihood, there won’t be many other linebackers that have as much experience as he brings to the table that winds up in the transfer portal at any point of the offseason.

Last season for the Mountaineers, Chandler-Semedo racked up 110 combined tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. For his career in four years at West Virginia, Chandler-Semedo has more than 250 combined tackles and 13 tackles for loss.

Moreover, it is reported that Chandler-Semedo had contact with co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jeff Choate and a couple of other Texas players early this week. He apparently also had contact with senior Texas cornerback D’Shawn Jamison and star junior running back Bijan Robinson.

At a high level, Chandler-Semedo did play mostly at either Will or middle linebacker in the last few seasons. Last season was his first starting at middle linebacker, though. He could likely translate that to compete with the likes of Jaylan Ford and Luke Brockermeyer (at least whenever he’s able to return from injury this fall) for starting reps at the Mike linebacker position. DeMarvion Overshown likely has the will linebacker position locked up in 2022.

We can dig more into how Chandler-Semedo can make an impact on Texas more in-depth and what particular positional needs he could fill right away. But the fact of the matter is that it’s good to see this coaching staff trying to address one of the bigger positional needs this offseason with a very capable and proven player.

The defensive front has a long way to go for Texas in 2022. This was one of the worst defensive fronts we’ve seen in the modern era of the Longhorns football program from what Pete Kwiatkowski’s squad put out on the field last fall.

Texas finished up last season with a record of 5-7 (3-6 Big 12). They will open up spring ball on March 22 and the 2022 regular season is set to begin on Sep. 3 at home against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.