Texas summer roster matrix update

The Orange-White game is more than three weeks in the past. Finals are done. And the NCAA transfer portal closed a little more than a week ago.

For the Texas Longhorns, it’s one of the true parts of the offseason when players have several weeks to decompress before the summer enrollees arrive on the Forty Acres in early June and everyone else returns for the nine weeks of summer conditioning, then a short break before preseason camp begins in early August.

The addition of Minnesota defensive tackle transfer Trill Carter in mid-April, along with four departures into the portal at the end of spring practice, put Texas at 85 scholarship players for the fall — the roster is now set for the 2023 season.

Here’s what it looks like and where Longhorns who entered the portal landed.

• Only having eight scholarship wide receivers on the roster for the 2023 season marks a major change in roster allocation compared to the Tom Herman era, but if Texas ends up needing numbers at the position, Savion Red and Tre Wisner can both make the move from running back.
• The one position that clearly lacks proven depth is tight end — Gunnar Helm is serviceable, but nowhere near the pass-catching threat of Ja’Tavion Sanders, Juan Davis has barely played in his first two seasons, Will Randle will be rehabilitating his knee injury when he arrives in June, and Spencer Shannon has limited pass-catching experience.
• A look at the offensive and defensive lines provides a clear indication of how Sarkisian has turned over the roster. Of the 17 offensive linemen, 12 signed in the last two classes with additions from the 2022 recruiting class contributing to three departures since the end of the 2022 season. Along the defensive line, 13 of the 18 players were added over the 2022 and 2023 classes, counting Carter joining from the portal, playing a role in four departures over recent months.
• In total, 18 players have entered the portal since the regular season ended, over 20 percent of the roster. Texas added 25 high school signees and five players from the NCAA transfer portal for the 2023 cycle — that’s over 35 percent of this year’s team. Ideally, turnover will slow down as the Steve Sarkisian era matures, but with non-contributors entering the portal after only one season, yearly roster churn even among young players may be the new normal.
• Of those 18 players to enter the portal, 14 players have found new destinations, including nine committing to Power Five programs. Wide receiver Agiye Hall and cornerback Ishmael Ibraheem may both struggle to find opportunities beyond junior colleges, but safety/linebacker Trevell Johnson and linebacker/edge Derrick Brown project as likely Group of Five players as their second recruitments continue.