Predicting Texas football’s next transfer addition after S Jalen Catalon

Javontae Jean-Baptiste, EDGE

One of the portal edge rushers Texas appears to have interest (per Inside Texas) in at the moment is the former Ohio State Buckeyes redshirt junior Javontae Jean Baptiste. The 6-foot-5 and 260-pound outside linebacker/edge player is a former blue-chip recruit that definitely looks the part of an athletic pass rusher with next-level tools.

But Jean-Baptiste never got a full-time starter role along Ohio State’s defensive front in his four years in Columbus. The best season for Jean-Baptiste in his four years at Ohio State was in 2022 when he registered four sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.

Moreover, the value that Jean-Baptiste can bring to the table is pretty apparent for Texas. Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns are in dire need of an impact edge rusher. And Jean-Baptiste at least has some top-level Power Five pass-rushing experience and production under his belt.

I also like the fit for Jean-Baptiste as a stand-up edge rusher in PK’s defense. He is a natural scheme fit and will have his skill set put to work in a defensive system that is more conducive fashion than in Jim Knowles’ defense at Ohio State. He was sometimes utilized as a three-tech defensive end at Ohio State in the last two seasons. And I think Jean-Baptiste is a more natural fit as a stand-up edge rusher playing something akin to the jack end position at Texas.

Jean-Baptiste hails from Oradell Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey, which happens to be the same school that 2023 Texas DL signee Sydir Mitchell attended.

This is a school, and an area of the country, where Texas offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Kyle Flood has connections in.