Texas Football: Where ESPN ranked UT transfer commitments

Texas football landed its third commitment from the NCAA Transfer Portal on Dec. 22, the former UTSA Roadrunners redshirt sophomore edge rusher Trey Moore. Moore, the reigning American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, committed to Texas via the transfer portal over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Moore joins the former Houston Cougars sophomore wide receiver Matthew Golden and Clemson Tigers junior safety Andrew Mukuba among the three portal commitments who have signed to the Longhorns in the December window.

Trey Moore highlights Texas football's top ranked transfers in latest ESPN top 75

The Longhorns have been diligent with their portal evaluations so far in the December window. This staff hasn't thrown out a ton of offers and taken every player who's entered the portal. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian have done a great job of upgrading the roster at key positions of need with impactful and proven players who could be immediate starters in 2024.

Sark and the Longhorns have the highest average transfer ranking in the 247Sports Composite of any program in the nation for this cycle. But where do the individual portal commitments for the Longhorns in this cycle rank among the top transfers?

ESPN updated their rankings among the top 75 transfer players this cycle on Dec. 23. Here's where the three Longhorns' portal commitments ranked in the updated top 75 and whether they were over, under, or properly rated.

No. 17: Trey Moore, EDGE

The highest-rated portal commitment for the Longhorns in ESPN's updated transfer rankings is the former UTSA standout EDGE/outside linebacker Moore. He ranks as the top outside backer in this transfer cycle.

But if you classified him as a defensive end/edge rusher, he ranks second-highest on the list behind Ole Miss Rebels transfer and senior Princely Umanmielen.

Moore was the most productive pass rusher in the American Athletic Conference this season. He led the AAC in sacks, tackles for loss, pressure rate, and sack rate. That type of impact is deserving of a top 20 spot on the list, and this ranking is consistent with where Moore stacks up in the 247Sports Composite transfer ranking.

Verdict: Properly rated

No. 20: Andrew Mukuba, S

Texas got an immediate starter out of the portal, likely at the star position, with the three-year starter at Clemson and former Freshman All-American, Mukuba. Like Moore, Mukuba is the highest-rated transfer at his position group. He is also the highest-rated defensive back.

Mukuba is a high-level impact starter with the versatility to play multiple spots in the defensive backfield. Given that he has three years of starting experience at a program as good as Clemson on defense is just more assurance that he deserves to be such a highly-valued commodity in the portal.

P5 transfer defensive backs with this type of versatility, proven production, and ceiling, don't appear in the portal very often.

Verdict: Properly rated

No. 49: Matthew Golden, WR

The lowest-rated of the three portal commitments for the Longhorns by ESPN is Golden. The elusive and speedy 6-foot and 190-pound second-year wideout is tabbed as the 13th best at his position in this transfer class. For a wideout who is faster, more dangerous in space, and a bigger special teams threat than most of the players ranked above him, Golden is clearly underrated by ESPN.

Golden has more receiving yards in the last two seasons than over half of the players ranked above him by ESPN. He has more yards after the catch than all but four of the receivers that rank above him in the last two seasons. And he led the nation in kick returns for touchdowns this season.

Verdict: Underrated