Texas roster and recruiting matrix for the 2023 season

While the Texas Longhorns are preparing for the Alamo Bowl later this month in San Antonio, players continue to depart the program for the NCAA transfer portal or make decisions about participating in the bowl game.

And the Longhorns even made an addition from the portal on Tuesday with the commitment of Cardinal graduate transfer punter Ryan Sanborn.

With Portal Madness in full swing, let’s take a look at how the roster is shaping up for the 2023 season with Early Signing Day looming in eight days.

A few notes:

• All of the players who had remaining eligibility who received recognition on Senior Day have been removed from the list with the exception of junior wide receiver Jordan Whittington, who has not made a definitive decision about his future.
• Two players with remaining eligibility who did not participate on Senior Day are senior defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat and senior linebacker Jett Bush. While neither has made a statement about their return, Sweat jokingly teased his departure and then seemingly indicated he would be back. The expectation is that both players will be back in 2023.
• Because junior running back Bijan Robinson has reportedly opted out of the bowl game, he’s projected to declare for the 2023 NFL Draft and leave school. Therefore, he’s been removed from the matrix.
• Sophomore Morice Blackwell is listed as a defensive back because that’s where the school lists him, but he’s played more of a hybrid linebacker role this season and could effectively be considered as playing that position moving forward, including in the Alamo Bowl.
• So far, the Longhorns have lost 11 players to the transfer portal and have added Sanborn with one publicly-known offer out to Wake Forest sophomore cornerback Gavin Holmes. With almost the entirety of the 2023 class expected to sign next week, the fact that Texas is moving slowly in the portal is not surprising.
• Texas is currently projected at 81 scholarship with those three aforementioned players returning, leaving only four spots remaining. But, as always, there may be further attrition after the Alamo Bowl and following spring practice, likely between three and five players. Realistically, then, the Longhorns have approximately seven to nine remaining spots between the 2023 recruiting class and transfer portal additions. And although head coach Steve Sarkisian hasn’t given out any scholarships to walk ons during his nearly two years on the Forty Acres, sophomore defensive back Michael Taaffe has certainly earned his between his recruiting efforts of Arch Manning and his steady play on the field.