Justice Finkley, EDGE
This past Friday, junior edge rusher Justice Finkley announced he was planning on entering the transfer portal. After spending three years at Texas, Finkley registered 26 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 18 quarterback pressures, five QB hits, one forced fumble, and 10 defensive stops.
Finkley is the most experienced player up front that the Longhorns have lost to the transfer portal in the winter window. He's taken over 500 defensive snaps since the 2022 season for the Longhorns' front seven, including double-digit snaps against Michigan and Oklahoma this regular season in 2024.
It's noteworthy that Finkley is still practicing with the Longhorns through the College Football Playoff this postseason. Finkley, along with Akana and senior defensive tackle Tia Savea, were seen during the open press viewing window at practice on Monday for the Longhorns.
I don't think Texas is going to replace any of the edge rusher depth its lost to the portal from the transfer market for this upcoming offseason. Texas has a ton of EDGE depth already developing that is on campus for the 2025 season, highlighted by Freshman All-American Colin Simmons and incoming freshman five-star Lance Jackson.
Finkley has been one of Texas's more consistent run defenders, setting the edge for the past couple of seasons. He was a consistent and reliable edge rusher in the rotation since the 2022 campaign that the Longhorns knew they could get good snaps from when needed. Finkley played double-digit defensive snaps in all 14 games for the Longhorns last season when they won the Big 12 Championship and made the College Football Playoff.