Texas Football: 4 early positions of need for UT in the portal this offseason

Defensive line

Depending on how many defensive linemen Bo Davis and the Longhorns lose this offseason, this could be a very pressing position that needs to be addressed in the portal.

We know that redshirt senior defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat and junior Byron Murphy II are likely headed to the NFL Draft next spring. Senior defensive lineman Alfred Collins has also been discussed to enter the NFL Draft despite him still having one year of eligibility left.

If Collins returns to school for another season, that would be huge for the Texas defensive line. Collins is having the best and most consistent season of his four years at Texas this fall, grading out among the top 10 defensive linemen in the Big 12 for the first time in his career.

Texas is expected to get senior defensive lineman and former Minnesota transfer Trill Carter, redshirt freshman Jaray Bledsoe, redshirt freshman Aaron Bryant, junior Vernon Broughton, and true freshman Sydir Mitchell back in the trenches next season.

It would be great for Texas to have Carter, Collins, and Broughton as the top three in the defensive line rotation next season. Then, the Longhorns could add one more defensive lineman with proven experience at the Power Five level that fits what Davis and PK are looking for up front to round out the top four in the DL rotation in the SEC in 2024.

Texas could realistically pursue defensive line, edge rusher, and linebacker in the portal this offseason if the right players emerge on the transfer market. The Longhorns are talented and deep at most positions along the front seven, but many of these guys are young and mostly unproven in live-game action.