Texas DB Jalen Green to enter the NCAA transfer portal

Another Texas Longhorns player is set to join fourth-year running back Keaontay Ingram in the NCAA transfer portal, as Inside Texas reported on Friday that fourth-year defensive back Jalen Green will enter the portal, too.

A top-50 prospect and the No. 4 player in Texas in the 2018 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Green was part of an historic defensive backs class in that cycle, joining consensus five-star prospects Caden Sterns and BJ Foster, DeMarvion Overshown, and D’Shawn Jamison.

Unfortunately for Green, his development didn’t follow the same trajectory as some of his classmates. Not playing defense full time at Houston Heights was likely one reason, but the change in scheme in 2020 also played a role during Green’s crucial junior season.

As a freshman, the 6’1, 197-pounder mostly played on special teams before emerging as a seven-game starter in 2019 with 30 tackles, five pass breakups, and two tackles for loss. However, an early-season dislocated shoulder caused Green to miss four games and influenced his tackling ability when he returned.

When new defensive coordinator Chris Ash arrived in early 2020, his change in scheme favored the faster cornerbacks on the team and Green spent the season as the third cornerback in the rotation behind Jamison and Josh Thompson. Another injury, this time an ankle sprain, limited Green down the stretch and he eventually began cross training at safety when Sterns and Chris Brown opted out of the Alamo Bowl. Green finished the season with 14 tackles, one tackle for loss, two pass breakups, and an interception.

With McNeese State graduate transfer Darion Dunn still expected to enroll at Texas and the return of Jamison and Thompson, Green’s competition for playing time was only going to get more stiff.