Updated Jan. 16, 2026, 9:09 p.m. CT

The portal officially closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday night, marking the end of this stage in a frantic portal cycle for the Longhorns.

Twenty-five Longhorns have left the program and 15 have arrived. The departure number will be set in stone when the deadline passes. But players could continue arriving for weeks or month because players who entered the portal during this two-week window can sign with any team at any time. 

Let’s jump into what Thursday brought and why there could be more fireworks on the way:

Melvin Siani – Wake Forest OL 

This was not only the best news from yesterday, but also perhaps the biggest pickup thus far for the Longhorns. Melvin Siani is an experienced offensive tackle who started his career at Temple before joining the Demon Deacons. He played 858 snaps at the left tackle spot in 2025. He gave up no sacks and nine pressures. He is expected to hold down the right side of the OL while Trevor Goosby anchors the left. This gives Texas one of, if not the best OT duo in the country. 

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The question most of you are asking is “what does this do to Jordan Seaton’s recruitment?” It’s a fair question and it’s rather simple: Seaton has turned into a true luxury for Texas. The Longhorns don’t need to be desperate and don’t need to get into a bidding war. If Seaton wants to be in Austin, you take him and shuffle the rotation. But I wouldn’t expect Texas to push all that hard here anymore. I’d imagine the focus will shift to finding one more starting level guard and another depth piece on the interior offensive line. 

Princewill Umanmielen – Ole Miss Edge 

I did not expect to see him in the portal, but the Ole Miss contract drama opened the door. It seems Texas will make a run. Umanmielen had 9 sacks for Ole Miss in 2025. If he lined up across from Colin Simmons, they would form the most lethal pass rush duo in the country. Now, obviously LSU is an early team to watch here, but Texas is interested and Umanmielen is from Manor, which is 15 minutes outside Austin. The edge rusher position is not a dire need for Texas, but if Umanmeilen is interested, you can’t pass up the chance to get someone of this caliber. 

Mason Barton – Jackson State OL 

Barton is another OL, among many, that Texas has/will have on campus this weekend. Barton has made his way through Austin and seems to be on his way to Mississippi State, where Jordan Seaton was yesterday, for a visit on Friday. Because of the Siani addition, I don’t expect this to be someone Texas pushes for aggressively, considering he isn’t as capable of moving inside. I’d expect the focus to shift to interior OL, but if Barton is picked up, it’s a solid low risk-high reward addition. 

Texas Targets Commitments

Caleb Herring commits to South Carolina: This was someone the Longhorns were expecting in Austin this weekend, but he will not make it. Herring committed to Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks, rather unsurprising considering the team’s aggressiveness during this window. The Longhorns have the luxury of not needing another edge rusher, but this would’ve been a strong addition. 

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