LB Ayodele Adeoye withdraws name from NCAA transfer portal

Texas Longhorns redshirt junior linebacker Ayodele Adeoye withdrew his name from the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday after entering the portal in early January. According to a report from Inside Texas, a school spokesperson confirmed that Adeoye is rejoining the Longhorns football program.

A 6’1, 251-pounder from St. Louis, Mo., Adeoye signed with the Longhorns as a member of the 2018 recruiting class. Ranked as a consensus four-star prospect, Adeoye was the No. 119 player nationally and the No. 6 inside linebacker, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Unfortunately, Adeoye’s career was quickly derailed by a knee injury suffered during a preseason scrimmage, causing him to miss all but the final four games of the season, during which he played sparingly and did not record any tackles.

As a redshirt freshman last season, Adeoye started 10 games at the middle linebacker position, logging 45 tackles (24 solo), three tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and one interception.

Under new defensive coordinator Chris Ash in 2020, Adeoye faced increased competition at the Mike position with former safety DeMarvion Overshown earning the starting job at Will linebacker. Juwan Mitchell won the starting job in the middle, with former walk-on Cort Jaquess listed first as a co-backup with Adeoye.

After spending the offseason recovering from foot surgery, Adeoye suffered what was initially thought to be a minor shoulder injury during preseason camp. He was cleared to play in the opener against UTEP, but did not see action against the Miners.

Adeoye attempted to play against Texas Tech and TCU, recording five tackles, but the injury was ultimately deemed serious enough that he needed season-ending surgery.

With Adeoye out in 2020, Juwan Mitchell took over at middle linebacker, but entered the transfer portal during the offseason and landed at Tennessee, opening up an opportunity for Adeoye to return to the Forty Acres.

Texas has added several linebackers since Sarkisian took over for Tom Herman, including New Mexico State transfer Devin Richardson, who could compete for the starting job next to Overshown. Alabama transfer Ben Davis could also compete at inside linebacker.