Texas football: Ranking transfers on immediate impact in 2025
Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman July 25, 2025
Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian always describes his program’s use of the transfer portal the same way: We’ll never rely on it, Sarkisian says, but we will always use the portal to plug any gaps in the roster.
The 2025 transfer class reflects that approach. Texas signed 11 players in the portal, which is the fourth-fewest in the SEC behind Tennessee (seven), Florida (seven) and Georgia (10) and well behind the conference leader in Mississippi State (34).
From the defensive line to special teams, the newest Longhorns transfers seem to fill some needs. But which of the newcomers will be needed the most for a Texas team that has reached two consecutive College Football Playoff semifinals? Let’s rank the 11 players based on their projected importance to the 2025 Longhorns. Star rankings are based on 247Sports' transfer rankings.
1. TE Jack Endries, California, 4 stars
The tight end plays a pivotal role in Sarkisian’s pro-style offense, as evidenced by the combined 105 receptions from Gunnar Helm in 2024 and Ja’Tavion Sanders in 2023. Texas entered the offseason without a single tight end on the roster that had a catch last season, but the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Endries arrives as an immediate starter and perhaps the most pro-ready receiving tight end in the nation after hauling in 91 catches over the past two seasons for Cal.
2. DT Cole Brevard, Purdue, 4 stars
Transfers and graduation decimated the Texas defensive front, especially in the interior. Sarkisian and his staff responded by signing five defensive tackles, and none bring more bona fides than the 6-3, 345-pound Brevard. The senior played in 37 games with 23 starts for the Boilermakers and projects as an instant starter inside for a group of tackles short on experience.
3. P Jack Bouwmeester, Utah, 3 stars
Last year’s experiment with freshman Michael Kern didn’t work. The blue-chip recruit ranked 15th in the SEC among starting punters in yards per punt, which prompted the Texas staff to replace the youngster with a veteran Australian who played in all 39 games for Utah the past three seasons. An All-Big 12 punter a year ago, Bouwmeester steps in as the unquestioned starter as a position of need.
4. DT Maraad Watson, Syracuse, 4-stars
Based on the scuttlebutt around the program, the 6-foot-3, 313-pound sophomore has separated himself a bit from the pack in the defensive interior and could start alongside Brevard. He started all 11 games for the Orange a year ago while earning some freshman all-American honors, and his level of play seems to have risen to match the competition at Texas.
5. WR Emmett Mosley V, Stanford, 3 stars
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Mosley quietly led all ACC freshmen with 48 catches a year ago and will likely grab a spot in the regular rotation among a receivers group with plenty of talent but lots of inexperience. DeAndre Moore Jr. returns as a reliable starter and former five-star recruit Ryan Wingo flashed his potential on 29 catches in 2024. No other returning receiver had a reception.
6. QB Matthew Caldwell, Troy, 3 stars
Nothing against Caldwell, but Texas fans don’t want to see the senior aside from some mop-up duty. If starter Arch Manning does miss time, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Caldwell is the only backup with starting experience and seems most ready to step in under center. In fact, Caldwell has 485 career pass attempts, which is 484 more than UT redshirt freshman Trey Owens, the only other quarterback on the roster with collegiate experience.
7. LB Brad Spence, Arkansas, 3 stars
The junior served as a rotational player for the Razorbacks over the past two seasons while appearing in 23 games with five starts. Expect a similar role with the Longhorns, especially after the Texas staff moved edge Trey Moore to outside linebacker to play alongside star inside linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. Returning starter Liona Lefaua also returns, which likely means select snaps for the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Spence.
8. DT Travis Shaw, North Carolina, 4 stars
A former five-star prospect out of high school, the 6-foot-5, 342-pound Shaw never lived up to his recruiting hype while playing in 37 career games in three seasons at North Carolina. If the Texas coaches can unlock the senior’s potential, he could challenge for regular snaps in a potentially deep tackle room.
9. K Mason Shipley, Texas State, no stars
An All-Sun Belt kicker in two seasons at Texas State, the Liberty Hill native steps in as the likely starter for Bert Auburn, the Longhorns’ all-time leader in field goals who transferred to Miami after an up-and-down 2024. Shipley, a fifth-year senior, made 31 of 35 field-goal attempts in San Marcos over the past two seasons, He does have some competition from fellow Austin-area product Will Stone (Regents), who has spent his previous three years with Texas as a kickoff specialist.
10. DT Hero Kanu, Ohio State, 4 stars
A 6-foot-5, 300-pound senior, the native of Germany appeared in 30 games over the previous three seasons with Ohio State but never received steady snaps. He’ll likely provide depth behind Brevard, Watson and returner Alex January while contending with Shaw and Lavon Johnson for rotational snaps.
11. DT Lavon Johnson, Maryland, 3 stars
Like Kanu, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound Johnson will try to earn snaps in the defensive rotation. The junior has battled some inconsistency and injuries in two seasons with the Terrapins, but did play well down the stretch of 2024.