And then there were five?
With the commitment of Ohio State defensive back Ryan Watts on Wednesday night, the incoming numbers for the 2022 incoming class of players looks like this:
26 High School Signees
2 Transfers
28 total incoming players
As we've discussed numerous times in the last couple of months, the Longhorns are working with the following incoming player formula: 25 (yearly scholarship limit) + 1 (hold over scholarship for 2021 recruiting) + 7 (newly allowed Portal replacements).
The math at this point would suggest that the Longhorns are currently down to 5 remaining incoming player spots for the 2022 season.
Just last week, Steve Sarkisian mentioned on National Signing Day that the Longhorns could end up signing 35 or 36 incoming players for the 2022 class of incomers, but I'm still trying to seek clarification on how those numbers would be possible.
One thing that is certain is that it won't center around being able to add a couple of grad transfers that wouldn't count on the books, as an NCAA official confirmed with me on Tuesday that all graduate transfers will count against the scholarship numbers.
"Any student athlete who receives financial aid counts against the limit," the NCAA official added.
Clearly, Sarkisian didn't invent the notion of having 2-3 more available incoming player slots out of thin air, but for the moment it remains unclear to me how that is possible, although I am seeking out clarification from multiple channels at the UT.
For now, let's just focus on what we know, which is the 33 number we've been working with.
That number leaves Texas with 5 spots, which means that each of those available spots is worth their weight in gold when you consider that the Longhorns could still use some immediate transfer help at wide receiver, offensive line, edge rusher, inside linebacker and in the defensive backfield.
Of course, one of those slots is absolutely reserved for Arlington Bowie offensive lineman Devon Campbell. Assuming that the Longhorns can close with Campbell, that would actually leave four spots.
If I'm the one making the decisions, which I absolutely and very clearly am not, here are the four spots I'd personally address through the portal:
* Starting outside wide receiver opposite Xavier Worthy
* Starting inside linebacker
* A starter level offensive tackle
* Edge rusher
That doesn't help the Longhorns if Hudson Card transfers or the holes in the back end of the secondary or a few other areas whether the team could absolutely use reinforcements, but with the numbers getting tighter and tighter, the Texas coaches will only be able to do so much in this off-season.
Of course, if Sarkisian is right about being able to potentially take two or three more incoming players, maybe the program can address all of its needs.
