Texas football 'confident' in chances with Zona transfer DL

Amid the first big Junior Day of the 2024 offseason last weekend, Texas football also hosted a visiting transfer target at a position of need. Texas hosted the former Arizona Wildcats junior transfer defensive lineman Tiaoalii Savea for a multi-day official visit that concluded on Jan. 21.

The connection between Savea and the Longhorns is new Texas co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Johnny Nansen. The newest hire on Texas's defensive staff was Savea's defensive coordinator in the last two years at Arizona and during the 2021 season with the UCLA Bruins.

Texas football in a great spot with Arizona transfer DL Tiaoalii Savea

Savea followed Nansen from UCLA to Arizona via the transfer portal a couple of years ago. He could potentially do that again if he transfers to join Nansen at Texas this year.

The feedback from Savea's multi-day visit to Texas last weekend is positive. While Savea didn't commit to Texas before leaving campus after his visit concluded on Jan. 21, it sounds like Texas is still in good spot to land him from the portal.

CJ Vogel of TFB Texas/On Texas Football reported on Jan. 22 (donor content) that he has confidence in where Texas stands with Savea after his visit last weekend. He affirmed this stance with positive feedback from Savea's visit on the On Texas Football YouTube channel on Jan. 21.

Since transfers only have until Jan. 30, the deadline to enroll for the spring semester for classes and to participate in workouts and spring camp, if Savea were to commit to Texas, he would have to announce likely in the coming days.

Texas targeting a couple of PAC-12 transfers

Texas is in the mix for two transfer targets from the PAC-12, Savea and former Washington Huskies senior cornerback Jabbar Muhammad. Both Savea and Muhammad made visits to Texas in the last week.

There aren't any other confirmed visits for Savea as of the writing of this article on Jan. 22.

Muhammad visited his former head coach at Washington, Kalen DeBoer, and the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last weekend. He is also expected to make a trip to Eugene this week to see head coach Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks.

Texas and Oregon are considered the top two schools battling it out for Muhammad. Texas had some buzz in this portal recruitment when Muhammad's visit concluded late last week.

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