Ranking the Texas Longhorns’ top impact transfers
As the Texas Longhorns continue to rebuild under head coach Steve Sarkisian, one of the key components in their journey toward championship contention has been their success in the transfer portal. The Longhorns have made a series of strategic moves in recent seasons, adding experienced and talented players to supplement their recruiting classes and bolster positions of need. The transfer portal has become an invaluable tool for Texas to address weaknesses and add depth, and several transfers have already made significant impacts on the field.
In this article, we will rank the top impact transfers for the Texas Longhorns, focusing on players who have contributed immediately and have the potential to shape the team’s future. From seasoned veterans to emerging stars, these transfers have been instrumental in Texas’ rise as a perennial contender in the Big 12 and beyond.
1. Quinn Ewers – Quarterback (Ohio State)
Position: Quarterback
Previous School: Ohio State
Year: Sophomore (2023-2024)
It’s hard to imagine a more impactful transfer for the Texas Longhorns than Quinn Ewers, who joined the program from Ohio State in 2022. A highly touted recruit and former five-star prospect, Ewers came to Texas with big expectations and immediately became the face of the Longhorns’ offense. His decision to transfer to Texas was seen as a game-changer for the program and one of the most high-profile moves of the 2022 transfer cycle.
Ewers’ talent and potential were on full display in his debut season as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback. He possesses a strong arm, excellent mobility, and an ability to make every throw on the field. In his first year with Texas, Ewers led the offense through ups and downs, showing flashes of brilliance but also experiencing some growing pains as he adjusted to the college game and learned under Sarkisian’s system.
Despite the inconsistency that often comes with starting a young quarterback, Ewers showed enough promise to make fans and coaches optimistic about his future. His performance in big games, such as the win against Oklahoma, proved he could rise to the occasion. With a full offseason to refine his game and improve his decision-making, Ewers has the potential to become one of the top quarterbacks in college football. The success of the Longhorns’ offense in the upcoming seasons will largely depend on Ewers’ ability to continue developing and fully capitalize on the talent surrounding him.
Given his immense potential, experience at Ohio State, and the fact that Texas had been searching for stability at the quarterback position for years, Ewers is undeniably the top impact transfer for the Longhorns. His development will be crucial in Texas’ pursuit of a Big 12 title and potential playoff berth.
2. Jahari Rogers – Cornerback (UTEP)
Position: Cornerback
Previous School: UTEP
Year: Junior (2023-2024)
Texas’ defense has been a focal point of improvement under Steve Sarkisian, and one of the biggest areas of need was in the secondary. Enter Jahari Rogers, a transfer from UTEP who immediately made his presence felt in the Longhorns’ defensive backfield. Rogers, a shut-down cornerback, was a standout player for the Miners, and his ability to lock down receivers and make big plays was one of the main reasons why Texas aggressively pursued him.
Upon arriving in Austin, Rogers quickly earned a starting role in the Texas secondary. His ball skills, ability to cover top receivers, and competitive mentality made him an instant asset to the defense. In his first season with the Longhorns, Rogers showed he could handle some of the top wide receivers in the Big 12, providing much-needed stability to the Texas pass defense.
What makes Rogers even more valuable to Texas is his leadership and ability to play in high-pressure situations. Texas’ secondary had been a weak spot in previous seasons, and Rogers’ experience and skills have been crucial in solidifying that unit. With an ability to disrupt passing games and force turnovers, Rogers has quickly become a cornerstone of Texas’ defense.
3. Isaiah Neyor – Wide Receiver (Wyoming)
Position: Wide Receiver
Previous School: Wyoming
Year: Senior (2023-2024)
Another significant transfer addition to the Longhorns offense is Isaiah Neyor, a wide receiver who came to Texas after an impressive stint at Wyoming. Neyor was a big-play receiver for the Cowboys, known for his ability to stretch the field and make spectacular catches. His size and speed make him a versatile weapon, capable of creating mismatches on the outside, and Texas saw the potential to add a deep threat to their passing game.
After transferring to Texas, Neyor immediately became a key contributor to the Longhorns’ wide receiver group. His ability to go up and get passes, combined with his speed to create separation down the field, made him an ideal fit for Sarkisian’s offense. Neyor’s development into a go-to option in the passing game allowed the Longhorns to open up their playbook, especially in the passing attack, which had been one of the team’s weaknesses.
Neyor’s combination of physical tools and production make him one of the most impactful transfers for Texas. Whether it’s drawing double teams, making clutch catches on third downs, or stretching the field vertically, Neyor has proven to be an explosive addition to the offense.
4. Keondre Coburn – Defensive Tackle (Texas)
Position: Defensive Tackle
Previous School: Texas
Year: Senior (2023-2024)
Keondre Coburn has become one of the most experienced players in Texas’ defensive line, and his leadership has been invaluable for the Longhorns. Though Coburn was part of the Texas program before the Sarkisian era, his role as a team captain and key defender has made him an indispensable member of the Longhorns defense.
Coburn’s ability to clog the middle and disrupt plays in the backfield is one of the key components of Texas’ run defense. As a nose tackle and interior defensive lineman, Coburn uses his size and power to eat up blockers, allowing other players to make plays on the ball. His leadership in the locker room and his high level of play at the line of scrimmage provide a foundation for Texas’ defense to be successful.
Coburn’s veteran presence and ability to disrupt both the passing and running game from the interior make him one of the Longhorns’ most important players, even though his transfer technically happened before Sarkisian’s tenure. His development has been key to Texas’ defensive growth, and his ability to lead the young players around him has been critical to their success.
5. T’Vondre Sweat – Defensive Tackle (Texas Tech)
Position: Defensive Tackle
Previous School: Texas Tech
Year: Junior (2023-2024)
Another major defensive addition for the Longhorns came in the form of T’Vondre Sweat, a powerful defensive tackle from Texas Tech. Sweat is a player who brings both size and athleticism to the interior defensive line, which was a position that needed improvement for Texas. His ability to disrupt the pocket and clog running lanes immediately made him a force in Texas’ defense.
In his time at Texas Tech, Sweat proved to be one of the top defensive linemen in the Big 12, and his transfer to Texas was seen as a move to solidify a defensive line that was still looking for more consistency. Sweat’s quickness off the ball and ability to push offensive linemen backward gave Texas a much-needed boost in the trenches. His presence allowed other defensive linemen and linebackers to perform at a higher level by drawing blockers and freeing up space.
Sweat’s transfer immediately made an impact on the defensive line, and his physicality and pass-rushing ability were a perfect fit for the Longhorns’ defensive scheme.
6. Gavin Holmes – Wide Receiver (Wake Forest)
Position: Wide Receiver
Previous School: Wake Forest
Year: Senior (2023-2024)
Gavin Holmes is a skilled wide receiver who transferred to Texas after a productive career at Wake Forest. Known for his speed and ability to separate from defenders, Holmes quickly became another key player in Texas’ wide receiver rotation. His veteran experience has helped provide stability for the Longhorns’ passing game, especially in short-to-intermediate routes.
Holmes’ ability to get open quickly and turn short passes into big gains has made him a key piece in the Longhorns’ offensive attack. With Isaiah Neyor drawing a lot of attention, Holmes has often found himself in favorable matchups and has excelled in his role as a secondary option.
