Portal Losses, One Year Later: Which former Longhorns starred or sunk at new stops?

How did Texas's over 20 portal departures last year in the portal cycle fare for the 2024 season?

Jalen Catalon
Jalen Catalon | Ethan Miller/GettyImages
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Savion Red
Savion Red | JASON BEAN/RGJ / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Isaiah Neyor, WR (Nebraska)

Injuries unfortunately limited the impact wide receiver Isaiah Neyor had on the Texas offense in his two years with the Longhorns after transferring from Wyoming for his sophomore year.

Neyor won a starting job with the Nebraska Cornhuskers and head coach Matt Rhule as a top receiving threat on offense for freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. Neyor ranked second on the team in receiving yards (455) and first in receiving touchdowns (five).

He is expected to be a top receiver back for the Nebraska offense for 2025.

Verdict: Starred

Savion Red, RB (Nevada)

Running back Savion Red was utilized in the "Redcat" formation on offense in short-yardage and goal line situations for Sarkisian and the Longhorns on offense last season. Red won a starting job at running back at Nevada after transferring to join the Wolf Pack from Texas last offseason.

Red had a career year, rushing for nearly 700 yards on 119 attempts, with a team-high eight rushing touchdowns in the 2024 season for Nevada.

Verdict: Starred

Ky Woods, RB (Nevada)

Former Texas preferred walk-on Ky Woods transferred to Nevada with Red last offseason after spending multiple years in the Longhorns running back room as depth players at the position.

Woods has been an impact player on special teams in the return game and has rotated in for a few handoffs and targets as a receiver out of the backfield for Nevada.

Verdict: Starred

Maalik Murphy, QB (Duke)

After spending two seasons at Texas with Sarkisian in the quarterback room, Maalik Murphy transferred to win the starting job at QB with the Duke Blue Devils. Murphy made an immediate positive impact on Duke's offense, leading the Blue Devils to nine wins in the regular season for the first time in roughly a decade.

Murphy set single-season Duke passing records in passing yards (2,933) and passing touchdowns (26).

Despite the success Murphy found this season as the starting quarterback leading Duke's offense to a successful regular season under head coach Manny Diaz, he transferred to Oregon State to return to the West Coast for the 2025 season in the winter portal window for the upcoming offseason.

Verdict: Starred

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