Texas Football: 3 positions of need to tackle in post-spring portal window
Tight end
The position of need on this list that has the least bit of clarity at the closing stages of spring ball is tight end.
Special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Banks and the Longhorns don’t have much proven depth to speak of in terms of threats among receiving tight ends beyond junior standout JT Sanders. Fellow junior tight end Gunnar Helm is a quality blocking tight end that could contribute more to the passing game this fall.
But there is still a ceiling that this staff sees in terms of the role that Helm could play as a receiving tight end. And beyond Helm and Sanders, only junior Juan Davis has taken any sort of live-game reps among the personnel in the tight end room.
Thus, it’s clear to see why Sark, Banks, and the Longhorns would want to add more depth at the position this offseason. They made the move last offseason to add more depth to the tight end room in the form of the former Alabama Crimson Tide junior transfer Jahleel Billingsley.
I could easily see Texas making a move again to add more depth to the tight end room this offseason.
The problem is that there aren’t many quality tight ends that could make a positive impact at Texas that showed up in the portal so far this offseason. Maybe more impact tight ends show up in the portal in the next couple of weeks as the major college programs around the country wrap up spring ball.
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At the moment, the former Ole Miss Rebels 6-foot-4 and 240-pound senior tight end Casey Kelly is the best name I can find among the players available in the portal at the position. Kelly could be a decent big-body tight end that has some proven live-game reps at the Power Five level under his belt. He could also be the type of blocking tight end that could still pose a threat in short and intermediate routes in the flats that Sark can utilize in two tight end sets.