6 way-too-early transfer targets to watch for Texas football in 2023

In the next few weeks, we are likely to continue to see some potential targets for Texas football in the NCAA Transfer Portal surface on the open market. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian will very likely have a busy offseason ahead again in the transfer portal after this staff was very busy during the 2022 offseason.

I don’t believe that the roster attrition will be as abundant for Sark and the Longhorns next offseason as it was in the prior two years. But the fact of the matter is that the transfer portal has become one of the biggest parts of college football’s offseason, if not the biggest storyline.

And the Longhorns need to take full advantage of it thanks to the abundance of resources that this program, and the school as a whole, bring to the table.

So far this fall, the Longhorns have only lost one player to the transfer portal, sophomore offensive lineman Jaylen Garth, who committed to the Houston Cougars last month.

But more names are likely to emerge in the portal from the Longhorns in the near future, as are some key targets on the transfer radar for this staff.

Early transfer portal targets to watch for Texas football this fall

With that in mind, here’s a look at six way-too-early transfer targets to watch that are already in the portal for the Longhorns this fall.

Anthony Adkins, RB

One of the best running backs to enter the transfer portal this fall, who is already piling up the Power Five offers, is the former Army Black Knights redshirt sophomore Anthony Adkins. Last offseason, Adkins entered the transfer portal and has yet to find his next landing spot.

Adkins spent three seasons playing for the Black Knights, where he registered 693 rushing yards on 136 attempts (5.1 yards per carry), good for 10 rushing touchdowns. The most productive season for Adkins at Army came during the 2021 campaign, where he picked up 355 rushing yards and five rushing scores.

Texas could get a bowling ball of a running back in the 6-foot-1 and 255-pound Adkins. In fact, the bulk of Adkins’ carries at Army came as more of a fullback than a true running back in that triple-option offense.

Adkins is a hard runner, forcing more than 15 missed tackles on run plays in his three seasons playing for Army. He also averaged around 2.6 yards after initial contact per carry. Last season, he led all eligible Army fullbacks in yards after initial contact per carry, at 2.4.

Moreover, with the attrition that Texas could be set to experience at the running back position next offseason, it makes sense for new RB coach Tashard Choice and this staff to look around for some options in the portal. Texas is set to lose the likes of star junior running back Bijan Robinson, senior Roschon Johnson, and possibly even redshirt junior Keilan Robinson to the NFL next offseason.

If Texas is looking to get someone that can pick up those difficult yards after contact and be ultra-effective in short-yardage situations, Adkins would fit the bill.

The downside to Adkins’ fit with this offense is pretty clear, though. He comes from a much different offensive scheme and might be too one-dimensional for what Sark and Choice are looking for out of the backfield.

For the time being, though, Adkins is one of the most proven and capable rushers in the portal, which is a potential position of need for Texas.