Predicting Texas's first transfer portal pickup

Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian will be focusing on players to target in the NCAA Transfer Portal during the winter window this month to upgrade the roster at key positions of need.

Transfer portal chaos and additions soon to hit Texas football in the winter window

The winter transfer portal window opened on Dec. 9, giving the Longhorns the ability to start scouting players who could help them upgrade positions on the depth chart that are looking at heavy turnover ahead of the 2025 season.

Some of the biggest positional needs Sarkisian and the Longhorns staff are expected to target in the portal during the winter transfer window are defensive tackle, linebacker, special teams, wide receiver, and possibly running back.

Texas already signed over two dozen high school players in the 2025 class during the Early Signing Period last week. That number of additions from Texas's 2025 signing class could reach three dozen or higher including transfers for the Longhorns this upcoming offseason.

When you include the seven players the Longhorns have lost to transfer portal departures this week, it is almost a certainty that Texas will heavily shop the portal in December.

Here's a prediction of the Longhorns' first transfer commitment among the players currently available in the portal on the first week of the winter window being open.

Quinten Joyner, RB (USC)

Texas has at least six or seven scholarship running backs on the projected roster for the 2025 season, without any possible transfer losses or early declarations for the NFL Draft next spring. That said, I find it unlikely that all seven scholarship running backs will be around for the Longhorns heading into fall camp next year.

Sarkisian, Tashard Choice, and the Longhorns are expected to target a bigger-bodied running back in the transfer portal who can fit a specific role in the offense.

One of the early options available in the portal at the running back position in the winter transfer window who has some interest from top P4 conference programs is USC Trojans redshirt freshman Quinten Joyner.

Joyner, a 5-foot-11 and 215-pound back from Manor, TX, had a spectacular freshmen campaign for the Trojans this fall. He's got an impressive combination of size and speed, running track in high school along with playing multiple sports beside football in the offseason.

Leading the Big Ten in yards per carry, Joyner was a vital contributor to USC's ground game during the regular season in 2024. He rushed for 83 yards on just 10 carries in USC's loss to Notre Dame in rivalry week in late November.

Joyner also led USC in avoided tackles per carry (0.37) and yards after contact per carry (4.50).