4 new portal entrants Texas football must offer in January

Micah Bernard, RB

If Texas is going to add another running back by way of the transfer portal this offseason, it is going to be one that is bigger-bodied and can set the tone in the zone run game. Sark and running backs coach Tashard Choice will want to add someone that is a proven bellcow that can form a solid top four in this backfield along with freshman Cedric Baxter Jr., redshirt senior Keilan Robinson, and redshirt sophomore Jonathon Brooks.

An option that could check a lot of the boxes that Sark, Choice, and the Longhorns would be looking for in terms of a downhill runner that could set the tone on the ground is the former Utah Utes 6-foot and 205-pound redshirt sophomore running back Micah Bernard.

Bernard is a bruiser that has proven in the last two seasons that he can handle a workload of double-digit carries in the zone run game, even if he isn’t the starting running back. In fact, he’s played eight games in the last two seasons where he had at least eight zone carries in the ground game.

Once Bernard has a lane he can get, he’s going to be able to cut and plow his way to successful carries. In the last two seasons, he’s registered more than 60 missed tackles forced (good for top 10 in the PAC-12 since the start of 2021) and a whopping 34 carries of at least 10 yards.

Bernard could clearly be a real tone-setter and difference-maker in this running back room for Texas. If Sark and Choice aren’t happy with the depth situation in the running back room heading into spring ball, I think adding a veteran impact player such as Bernard makes a ton of sense.