Analyzing the Texas spring roster matrix
Story by Wescott Eberts
Analyzing the Texas spring roster matrix
Story by Wescott Eberts
Analyzing the Texas spring roster matrix
With the NCAA transfer portal window closed for the Texas Longhorns and the early entrance deadline for the NFL Draft passed, there’s some roster clarity for head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff heading into winter conditioning following classes starting last Monday.
Currently at 82 scholarships for the spring, here’s how the program’s roster matrix currently looks:
After losing 10 players to the NCAA transfer portal, the Horns made four additions during the winter window beyond signing 25 players in the No. 1-ranked 2025 recruiting class. Of those 25 players, 22 are early enrollees.
Any further additions made through the portal will happen during the spring window unless there any uncommitted targets from the winter window who plan to enroll during the summer, which currently seems unlikely.
The roster limits for the sport are set to change as Texas goes through spring practice with final approval for the House vs. NCAA settlement scheduled for early April, which would reduce the overall roster to 105 players for football, although the SEC will limit rosters to 85 scholarship players for 2025.
There are some potential needs on the roster — wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, and defensive line with the possibility of adding experienced depth at cornerback as well.
After making three additions from the transfer portal at wide receiver last offseason, Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden entered the 2025 NFL Draft while Silas Bolden exhausted his eligibility. But Texas wasn’t particularly active pursuing wide receivers during the winter window, only hosting eventual Auburn signee Eric Singleton with limited links to other players like Georgia signee Zachariah Branch. Since the Longhorns are set to have 10 scholarship wide receivers for the fall, that’s the same number as last season.
Texas could also pursue an experienced tight end after missing on Purdue transfer tight end Max Klare last month. The Cincinnati product signed with Ohio State. Otherwise, position coach Jeff Banks will have to rely on a tight end room with 86 career snaps and zero career catches that doesn’t get consensus four-star signee Nick Townsend onto campus until the summer.
The Longhorns are also losing four starters along the offensive line, including both tackles. During the winter window, offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Kyle Flood pursued USC transfer Emmanuel Pregnon, who chose Oregon, although spring practice could determine whether the position remains a priority in the portal.
The biggest remaining position of need is defensive tackle — Texas lost four defensive tackles to the portal and four more exhausted their eligibility, so signing two during the winter window probably isn’t enough.
Depending on what happens at other positions, the Horns could also choose to pursue an experienced cornerback if there is remaining roster space already limited by the current plan to carry five scholarship specialists into the 2025 season.
It’s an unusual roster construction with two kickers, two punters, and a deep snapper all on scholarship as rising redshirt senior Bert Auburn and rising senior Will Stone prepare for an open competition at place kicker after Auburn missed two go-ahead kicks in the Peach Bowl against Arizona State, causing Stone to handle those duties in the Cotton Bowl loss to Ohio State.’
