Jaren Handy, EDGE
This is going to be the most volatile potential addition for Sark and the Longhorns staff among the potential transfer pickups on this list. Texas trying to scout out the former Indiana Hoosiers and Auburn Tigers junior edge rusher/defensive end and touted blue-chip recruit Jaren Handy would come with its fair share of risks.
Handy was dismissed from the Indiana football program earlier this offseason due to multiple violations of team rules. But the exact reasons for his dismissal from the team and the cause of the multiple team violations aren’t really known at the moment.
Indiana Hoosiers pass rush woes may live on as defensive end Jaren Handy is dismissed https://t.co/Ie7hFiSseR via @indystar
— OLineDLinenews (@olinedlinenews) March 5, 2022
Nonetheless, if the Texas coaching staff can hypothetically take the time to evaluate any potential risks involved with pursuing Handy out of the portal this offseason, then they would have plenty of time to know what he could bring to the table and bring to this locker room. If his evaluation checks out, this could be a potential edge rusher worth looking into for the likes of Pete Kwiatkowski and Jeff Choate.
2019 4-star DL Jaren Handy, who signed with Auburn before transferring to Indiana, re-entered the transfer portal after totaling 19 tackles and 1 TFL during his one season with the Hoosiers @allasleyhttps://t.co/vK3FVvDOj1
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) March 25, 2022
The 6-foot-6 and 255-pound Handy spend one season playing for the Hoosiers after two seasons with Auburn. In those three seasons between his time with Auburn and Indiana, Handy registered one sack, 4.5 tackles for loss, 30 combined tackles, one pass breakup, and just shy of two-dozen quarterback pressures.
During his time with Auburn and Indiana, Handy took just over 200 live-game snaps in pass rush plays and 372 defensive snaps. He was productive and helped provide effective pressure on opposing quarterbacks at times in the last few seasons. But Handy never got a consistent shot to standout as he transferred after two seasons with Auburn and then was kicked out of the Indiana program after one season.
Handy is probably the most potent edge rusher remaining in the portal at this point of the offseason. But there is very likely a reason for that. It will be interesting to see where he winds up this offseason.