Predicting Texas's next transfer after Jaray Bledsoe

Texas football lost its second player to the NCAA Transfer Portal this fall, before the winter portal window opens on Dec. 9, in redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jaray Bledsoe on Thursday of this week.

Which position groups could experience attrition on the roster for Texas football next offseason?

Bledsoe and sophomore wide receiver Johntay Cook II are the two Longhorns players who have announced plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens next week.

Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian haven't seen that much portal attrition on the roster for the winter transfer window this upcoming offseason since the Longhorns are still practicing for the postseason and SEC title game this week.

But the signing day period for high school recruits to sign on the dotted line for the 2025 class being moved up one week means that more focus can be put on specifically targeting the portal window for transfers in college football this year.

We've seen Texas players enter the portal early before the postseason ends before, since the transfer signing period only gives players a certain amount of time to find their next destination to enroll early for spring ball the following offseason at their new destinations.

Here's a prediction of the next transfer departure for the Longhorns after Bledsoe on Dec. 5.

Tasuili Akana, EDGE

Texas's depth and talent at the EDGE position has been extremely impressive this season. The Longhorns have an edge rusher rotation led by established and emerging starters and standouts like true freshman Colin Simmons and redshirt junior Trey Moore, among others.

But the younger edge rushers have also shown promise this fall and in camp, including redshirt freshman Colton Vasek and true freshman Zina Umeozulu.

The depth that Texas has built at the EDGE position in the SEC has made the competition tough for some of the younger and more inexperienced second and third-year players to climb the depth chart on the two-deep. Second and third-year edge rushers like junior Justice Finkley and redshirt freshman Tausili Akana haven't taken many defensive snaps outside of garbage time during the regular season.

The latter of those two second and third-year Texas EDGEs, Akana hasn't taken any defensive snaps since non-conference play. Akana hasn't played a defensive snap for the Longhorns since final non-conference game in Week 4 against UL-Monroe.

Akana has mostly contributed to Texas's special teams unit this fall, taking a little over three dozen snaps with the kick coverage team (per PFF).