A second Texas football player has entered the transfer portal just a few days after the spring window opened. This time around, it was a first-year running back who only committed to the Longhorns on National Signing Day after flipping his commitment from Tulsa.
Freshman running back Reid Watkins announced that he would enter the transfer portal after just one season with the Horns, during which he played in one game and earned 15 yards on four carries.
When he committed to Texas, he joined the team as a preferred walk-on during the summer of 2024 after earning a three-star rating from On3. The Texas native maintains four years of eligibility after utilizing his redshirt season last year.
I have entered the transfer portal with 4 years of eligibility left.
— Reid watkins (@reidwatkins05) April 17, 2025
5’11 195 RB@BHoward_11 @RivalsPortal @CoachBeck_PTF @MikeRoach247 @PeteNakos_ @TransferPortal_ pic.twitter.com/hjp9UrREu6
Coming out of high school, he received just a handful of offers, including from the Houston Cougars, Navy Midshipmen, and Troy Trojans. Tulsa sent Watkins one of his first offers, and he initially committed to the Golden Hurricane before decommitting on National Signing Day.
Reid Watkins high school stats
Before ever stepping foot on the field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Watkins had a notable high school career.
During his senior season, Watkins amassed 894 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns as well as 218 receiving yards on 22 receptions. The prior season, the running back earned over 400 total yards and eight touchdowns.
Watkins is the second Longhorn to enter the spring transfer portal this year, following junior wideout Reece Beauchamp did so just a day earlier. So far, head coach Steve Sarkisian has only received one commitment from the portal, sophomore wide receiver Emmett Mosley V from Stanford.