Predicting Texas's next transfer commit after DL Bill Norton
Ed Woods, CB
Entering the spring portal window on April 16, it was clear that the Longhorns were going to attempt to address a positional need at defensive tackle following the conclusion of spring practice. Texas has done just that with the pickup of Norton in the transfer portal early this week.
Another position that Texas's defensive staff could address in the portal this spring that has emerged in the last couple of weeks is defensive back.
It sounds like the Longhorns coaches will do their due diligence scouting different cornerbacks in the portal late this spring to see if the right player emerges on the transfer market.
It's noteworthy that Texas has already contacted former Colorado Buffaloes true freshman cornerback transfer Cormani McClain this spring. But we don't know how much Texas coaches will push for McClain since he entered the portal late last week.
One quality grad transfer cornerback who emerged in the portal early this week is former Arizona State Sun Devils senior Ed Woods. The 6-foot and 175-pound corner from Oakland, CA, started over a dozen of the 20 games he played for the Sun Devils since the start of 2022.
Woods is a rangy cover corner with multiple years of starting experience in the Power Five. Woods graded out among the 10 best defensive backs in the Pac-12 on defense and in coverage last season.
He registered over 60 combined tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, a dozen pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in the last two seasons at Arizona State.
I haven't heard anything concrete about Texas contacting Woods since he entered the transfer portal earlier in the day on April 22.
Brett Greenberg of 247Sports reported on April 22 that Woods is scheduled to take a multi-day visit to Tuscaloosa this coming weekend to see the Alabama Crimson Tide.
If Texas does decide to push for cornerback help in the portal this spring, Woods would certainly be a name to watch among the proven upperclassmen who could push for a spot on the two-deep entering preseason camp.