UCLA transfer DL Jay Toia visiting Texas today

The first set of NCAA Transfer Portal visitors arrived on campus for official visits on April 19 to see Texas football for the spring game this weekend. On Texas Football's Gerry Hamilton reported late in the morning of April 19 that the former UCLA Bruins senior transfer defensive tackle arrived on campus on Friday for his official visit to Austin.

Texas football hosting former UCLA transfer DL Jay Toia for a visit on Friday

The 6-foot-3 and 325-pound defensive tackle Toia announced on his X account on April 18 that he is entering the transfer portal this spring. Toia has one year of eligibility remaining after spending three seasons at UCLA.

Texas was immediately identified as a potential favorite in this portal recruitment after Toia announced he was transferring roughly 24 hours ago.

Toia was originally recruited to UCLA after signing his LOI with the USC Trojans on signing day 2021 by former Bruins defensive line coach Johnny Nansen. The former UCLA DL coach and Arizona Wildcats defensive coordinator Nansen coached up Toia during his first year with the Bruins in 2021.

Nansen, the new Texas co-DC/LB coach, has already brought one transfer defensive tackle with him to Austin this offseason, former Arizona senior Tia Savea. Nansen and the Longhorns are also targeting former Arizona defensive tackle Bill Norton, who played under the new Texas co-DC in Tucson last fall.

Multiple transfer DL targets have emerged on Texas's radar this week

Toia and Norton are two of three defensive tackle transfer targets that the Longhorns are either hosting for visits right now or have a trip scheduled soon to Texas. Norton is the other transfer defensive tackle who arrived on campus late this week for his official visit to Texas.

Texas also has a visit scheduled with the former TCU Horned Frogs junior defensive tackle transfer Damonic Williams for next week. Williams will visit Texas on April 23 and 24, after taking a trip to see the Oklahoma Sooners this weekend.

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