Texas Football: Predicting UT's next portal commit after Isaiah Bond

Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian added their fourth portal commitment of this transfer cycle on Jan. 14 in the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Bond.

The No. 1 transfer wide receiver in the 247Sports Composite committed to Texas in the midst of his official visit to Austin this weekend. Bond joins the former Houston Cougars sophomore wide receiver Matthew Golden, Clemson Tigers junior safety Andrew Mukuba, and UTSA Roadrunners redshirt sophomore edge rusher Trey Moore among the four portal commitments in this transfer class for the Longhorns.

Texas football amid an uptick in portal activity early this offseason

For the second consecutive offseason, Sarkisian and the Longhorns staff have prioritized upgrading the roster with the right impact players at positions of need instead of just throwing out offers left and right in the portal. Texas has added four immediate impact players at positions of need in the portal so far this transfer cycle.

And it looks like this staff is far from done making moves in the portal to upgrade the roster at key positions early this offseason. Texas is still looking to add at least one defensive tackle, potentially a linebacker, and a defensive back via the portal.

Sark and staff could also target tight end if the right player surfaces in the portal.

Here's a prediction of the next transfer to commit to the Longhorns this offseason after Bond pledged to Texas on Jan. 14.

Kendrick Blackshire, LB

Among the three portal targets the Longhorns hosted on campus for a visit this weekend was the former Alabama junior linebacker Kendrick Blackshire. The experienced linebacker arrived in Austin for his Texas visit on the night of Jan. 13.

Blackshire would bring an experienced veteran voice to the linebacker room. He has multiple years of experience in live-game action in the SEC as a rotational linebacker.

Blackshire wouldn't be expected to start at Texas, but he could add valuable SEC experience to a position group that loses All-Big 12 senior middle linebacker Jaylan Ford.

Something to watch here is how much Texas pushes for Blackshire after the news last week that super senior linebacker David Gbenda is returning for a sixth season.