Texas hasn't made a lot of movement since the spring transfer portal opened. With just one transfer committed to the Longhorns so far this spring, head coach Steve Sarkisian's transfer portal class is leaving something to be desired this offseason.
However, one young defensive lineman from Syracuse has expressed interest in Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns.
The Horns are one of four teams in contention for freshman defensive lineman Maraad Watson, who just completed an impressive first season with the Syracuse Orange. Sarkisian has led Texas to be heavily in the mix for Watson, alongside Georgia, Ohio State, and Tennessee.
Maraad Watson 2024-25 season stats
- 30 total tackles (15 solo, 15 assisted)
- 1 sack
- 1 pass deflection
NEWS: Four schools are heavily in the mix for Syracuse standout transfer DL Maraad Watson, a source tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 19, 2025
Texas, Georgia, Ohio State, & Tennessee are the schools to watch for the Freshman All-American
Totaled 31 Tackles and 1 Sack last seasonhttps://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/Ev9RNCvQhj
Coming out of high school, Watson was a three-star prospect as the No. 12 athlete out of the state of New Jersey. Now, he is a four-star transfer and is currently the No. 6 defensive lineman in the portal.
The Longhorns lost some major players to the 2025 NFL Draft this season, including defensive linemen Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton. Bringing in a transfer like Watson could work to fill the void left by the departures of former Texas stars.
Which Texas defensive players have stood out during spring practice?
Defensive tackle Travis Shaw, who transferred to play for the Longhorns from North Carolina, has had an incredible spring. While Shaw struggled with a few off-the-field issues, as well as maintaining his weight, a season with Sarkisian and the Horns could be exactly what he needs for a fresh start.
Defensive backs Kobe Black and Ryan Niblett have also had highly productive offseasons as the sophomore and redshirt sophomore, respectively, look to up their playing time as hopeful starts for the Horns this season.