Texas Football: 2 Houston transfers UT is targeting in the portal
Jamaree Caldwell, DL
Defensive tackle is among the top positions of need for the Longhorns in the transfer portal heading into the offseason. Texas has to replace two key departures along the defensive line, with redshirt senior defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat and junior Byron Murphy II expected to enter the NFL Draft next spring.
That's a ton to replace for defensive line coach Bo Davis and the Longhorns in the trenches this offseason. Sweat is a likely first-rounder in the NFL Draft next spring after winning the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Outland Trophy honors this season.
Murphy was among the best interior pass rushers in the Power Five this season, as he won the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors.
Another Houston DL has entered the portal. Jamaree Caldwell had 12 TFL the last two seasons from his interior DL spot. pic.twitter.com/MOxgwuSInP
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) December 12, 2023
But a potential option to replace those two key departures along the defensive line could've just surfaced in the transfer portal on Dec. 12. It was reported by multiple media outlets (including Rivals) on Dec. 12 that the former Houston senior defensive lineman and All-Big 12 Second-Teamer Jamaree Caldwell entered the transfer portal this week.
Caldwell is big and productive 6-foot-2 and 325-pound interior defensive lineman who played 11 games for the Cougars this season (10 starts). He's an effective two-gapper who is a really powerful force as an interior pass rusher and run defender.
Caldwell ranked second on the team for Houston in tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (6.5). He was also the highest-graded defender for the Cougars this season.
It sounds like Texas could have interest in Caldwell since he entered the portal this week. Multiple reports (including from CJ Vogel of TFB Texas) tabbed Caldwell as a potential portal target to watch for the Longhorns to fill a positional need along the defensive line.