Texas Football: Predicting the Longhorns next transfer loss

David Gbenda, LB

For a similar reason to Wright with the Texas quarterback room, I could see a situation play out this offseason where junior linebacker David Gbenda ultimately decides to test the waters in the transfer portal.

Gbenda looks to be finding himself in a situation soon where he is really fighting to even maintain a spot on the two-deep depth chart heading into spring ball. Not including any possible portal additions later this offseason, Texas is already bringing in three blue-chip linebacker signees from the 2023 recruiting class.

That trio of blue-chip linebacker signees in the Longhorns 2023 class also does not include the possibility of the four edge rushers that Texas signed this cycle shifting to play at the linebacker position in spring or fall camp.

There was a point in time just a few weeks ago when it looked like Gbenda could be in a spot to get double-digit defensive snaps in the Alamo Bowl against Washington on Dec. 29. And while Gbenda did see the field some in the Alamo Bowl last week, he only got eight defensive snaps.

In total, Gbenda only received 22 defensive snaps over the course of two games through the entire second half of the 2022 season. Considering that Gbenda graded out among the top-third in terms of the Longhorns defenders during the 2022 season, I would understand why he would want to take his talents to a place where he could have a shot to get more playing time to round out his collegiate career.