Texas Football: 3 wide receivers UT is targeting early in transfer portal

Deion Burks

Another high-profile wideout who surfaced in the portal on the first day of the December window opening early this week is the breakout redshirt sophomore Purdue Boilermakers receiver Deion Burks. The speedy and elusive 5-foot-11 and 185-pound Burks was Purdue’s leading receiver during the 2023 regular season, registering 47 catches for 629 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

Burks broke onto the scene this fall during Purdue’s season opener against Fresno State in early September, with over 150 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. He was the favorite target for former Texas quarterback and redshirt junior Hudson Card all season, with nearly 100 targets this fall.

Horns247 reported on Dec. 6 (paid content) that Texas “feels good about their chances to land” Burks out of the portal entering the offseason. The question now remains whether Texas pushes more than the other competing schools in this portal recruitment for Burks.

Texas officially offered Burks on Dec. 4.

From the perspective of fit and positional need, Burks makes a lot of sense for Sark and the Longhorns to pursue in the transfer portal. He’s a speedy wideout who is dangerous in space. Sarkisian could also motion him around pre-snap to add layers to the passing game. Burks could fill the slot receiver role left open by the departing Whittington in 2024.