Breaking down 3 new portal targets Texas is interested in this spring

Agiye Hall, WR

The most hotly discussed transfer portal target for the Longhorns at this point of the offseason is the former Alabama Crimson Tide freshman wide receiver and the former highly touted four-star recruit Agiye Hall. Texas showed its interest in pursuing Hall this week after he originally put his name in the transfer portal a few days ago.

It makes sense that Texas is at least kicking the tires on the possibility of pursuing Hall out of the transfer portal since this coaching staff has some connections here during his recruitment. In fact, special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Banks was the primary recruiter for the Crimson Tide with Hall during his recruitment out of high school.

Moreover, what Hall could bring to the table for the Longhorns would be an electric and gifted wideout that could add another dimension to this passing attack. Hall is a lengthy and insanely athletic 6-foot-3 and 195-pound outside receiver that tends to fit the profile of what Sark wants at the position.

The insane physical tools that Hall brings to the table allow him to make some freakish plays on the ball. He’s also got the flat-out speed to burn opposing defensive backs deep. You can see how his physical tools allow him to make these types of plays on multiple occasions in his high school film.

Hall had more trouble, though, trying to make those plays during his freshman campaign with the Crimson Tide. He had three key drops late last season (compared with just four catches), including one at a really critical time in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Georgia. Hall also didn’t come up with a single one of the three contested balls that were thrown his way last season.

There are fundamental aspects of Hall’s game that he still must improve. His route running still looks pretty raw on film from high school and from his one season playing for the Crimson Tide. He’s also still got to time his route and jumps better when he’s targeted in the passing game.

One promising area of his game, though, is the fact that he’s a pretty good blocker. That is something that Texas must improve in the receiving corps this year. And it’s an area where he could make a big impact for the Longhorns theoretically.

Yet, there are two major issues with the Longhorns pursuing Hall out of the portal this offseason. First and foremost, Hall was suspended from the Crimson Tide this offseason which is something that Sark and his staff might want to avoid in terms of the personality fit in the locker room. But that is an evaluation that the Texas staff will have to make with caution to assess how Hall fits with the culture they’re trying to build with this program.

Secondly, Texas already landed one outside receiver out of the portal this offseason in the former Wyoming Cowboys breakout redshirt freshman Isaiah Neyor. Due to that fact, Texas might want to look elsewhere to use up this valuable scholarship spot with a portal player.