Predicting Texas's next transfer after EDGE Billy Walton

In less than 24 hours, the spring NCAA Transfer Portal window opens for underclassmen, which means Texas football can start attacking key positional needs on the roster. Texas is specifically looking to add someone at defensive tackle who can add depth along the interior defensive line rotation and play over the football.

Roster attrition has begun for Texas football in the transfer portal in the final week of spring ball

There is also the possibility that Jeff Banks and the Longhorns add a punter in the transfer portal during the spring window. Texas turned to the transfer portal last offseason to add former Stanford Cardinal senior punter Ryan Sanborn, which turned out to be a great move for the special teams unit in 2023.

For Texas to be able to add transfers at key spots on the roster this spring, head coach Steve Sarkisian and staff need to get down below the 85-player scholarship limit. After a few departures to the transfer portal in the last week, Texas is now down to 86 scholarship players on the roster.

The two most recent portal departures for the Longhorns this week were redshirt freshman offensive lineman Payton Kirkland and redshirt freshman edge rusher Billy Walton.

Texas still needs two more players to depart to get down below the scholarship limit this spring. And that's before considering any other roster needs they would want to add to via the portal in the coming weeks.

I'd expect more attrition among scholarship players for Texas in the coming days, assuming players are getting a jump on their portal recruitments before the spring game on April 20.

Here's a prediction of the next transfer departure for the Longhorns after Walton on April 15.

Zac Swanson, DL

The biggest positional need the Longhorns are looking to address in the portal this spring is defensive line. Texas needs to add one or two proven defensive tackles, at least one of which can play over the football.

The potential for the Longhorns to add a defensive lineman or two from the portal this spring could mean attrition for players deeper down the depth chart at the position. And the most likely candidates to enter the portal will be those that haven't cracked the two-deep late this spring camp.

Among the second and third-year players who haven't cracked the two-deep this spring at defensive tackle is redshirt sophomore Zac Swanson. The 6-foot-4 and 282-pound defensive tackle from Phoenix, AZ, has only played a handful of games for Texas in the last two seasons.

Last fall, Swanson took only one defensive snap in the season-opening win at DKR over the Rice Owls.

So far this spring, Swanson has taken reps mostly with the former walk-ons and the third team. Early in spring ball, he was passed on the depth chart by younger defensive tackles who were recruited over him in the last couple of cycles, including true freshman Alex January.