Texas football reportedly took more hits Thursday in the transfer portal, thinning an already shallow secondary.
According to multiple reports, defensive backs Derek Williams Jr. and Wardell Mack will enter the NCAA transfer portal ahead of the Longhorns’ game Dec. 31 against Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Both players rotated in the secondary this season, with Williams racking up 23 tackles and Mack tallying just six stops in limited playing time.
With the addition of Williams and Mack, Texas now has nine players who plan on entering the portal, including offensive lineman Connor Stroh, running back CJ Baxter, receiver Aaron Butler, running back Jerrick Gibson, defensive back Santana Wilson, quarterback Trey Owens and kicker Will Stone.
The 2026 transfer window is open from Jan. 2-16 for teams that don’t reach the College Football Playoff championship game.
The departure of Williams and Mack further weakens a secondary that will lose several key contributors for next season. Safety Michael Taaffe and cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau have used up their eligibility, junior cornerback Malik Muhammad is expected to declare for the 2026 NFL draft and junior safety Jelani McDonald also may declare for the draft after leading Texas in tackles with 73.
Based on its current roster and assuming Muhammad enters the draft, Texas will welcome back six defensive backs — McDonald, nickel back Graceson Littleton, safety Xavier Filsaime, cornerback Kade Phillips, cornerback Kobe Black and safety Warren Roberson — who had at least 10 tackles this season.