Texas OL Willie Tyler enters the NCAA transfer portal

Texas Longhorns offensive lineman Willie Tyler entered the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday, as first reported by Inside Texas.

A fourth-year player in 2021, Tyler was a late addition to the 2019 recruiting class by the Longhorns after spending one season at Iowa Western. Originally from Wisconsin, Tyler played defensive line in high school and signed with Garden City CC in 2017, but left the program before appearing in a game. The next season at Iowa Western, Tyler made the transition to the offensive line.

So the 6’7, 335-pounder arrived in Austin as a raw prospect and redshirted during the 2019 season. And then Tyler made the decision to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, one of four players in the Texas program to do so.

Now it appears that Tyler will not return to play under new head coach Steve Sarkisian after several younger offensive linemen emerged as starters and right guard Denzel Okafor decided to return for his sixth season. Derek Kerstetter, who started at center in 2020 until his scary injury against Kansas State, could also return.

In addition to Tyler, fourth-year defensive back Jalen Green also entered the NCAA transfer portal after news emerged last week that he planned to do so.