Texas’ latest incoming transfer adds a missing element to Sark’s offense

One of the transfer portal's top tight ends, Michael Masunas, committed to Texas yesterday and he brings exactly what Steve Sarkisian has been looking for heading into 2026.

Everyone already knows that one of the biggest downfalls with the Longhorns' offense in 2025 had to do with blocking. Not only along the offensive line, but at tight end as well, and specifically at "Y".

Texas didn't really have someone who could line up attached to the line of scrimmage and provide a consistent blocking ability outside of true freshman Nick Townsend this year. Even with him, he wasn't as good at the point of attack and had to be lined up offset or as a wing most of the time.

The Longhorns needed to add a big, powerful blocker at tight end in the portal this season and they undoubtedly accomplished that goal yesterday. At 6'5", 260 lbs., Masunas has an excellent frame and more than enough experience as a true blocker to immediately step in and produce in Steve Sarkisian's offense in 2026. Though he has adequate pass-catching ability, it's likely that Townsend, Jordan Washington, and Emaree Winston handle most of the obvious passing-down work next season with Jack Endries heading to the NFL Draft in April.

Texas had a hard time running outside or off-tackle in 2025 because they were getting spillage from defensive ends and linebackers crashing hard outside. One of the main ways to stop this is by simply using a "Y" or in-line tight end who's a good blocker and can either "run" the defender outside or just handle them with a nice base block down inside.

Steve Sarkisian tried to work around this by consistently using pullers to trap or log defenders, but after awhile that type of stuff get's extremely predictable.

By adding Masunas in 2026, Texas can open up the playbook a bit more just from a blocking variation standpoint on their base runs. It feels weird to say something like this so early in the transfer portal, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Masunas being the most impactful signing from an immediate impact standpoint schematically.

It's rare that you see a collegiate tight end really pride themselves as a blocker, but Masunas 100% does, and that's exactly the kind of player that the Longhorns' offense needed to find.