Texas players withdrawing from transfer portal saved the secondary

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the transfer portal era, roster retention has become just as important as recruiting, and there might be no better example of that than what happened with the Texas Longhorns defense during this cycle.

The Texas and SEC logos adorn an end zone marker ahead of an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

The portal closed for new entries on Friday, and what looked like a mass exodus of defensive backs turned into some key players getting deals done and sticking around. Kobe Black, Warren Roberson and Derek Williams Jr. all went into the portal, but then withdrew after striking revenue sharing/NIL agreements with the program.

How the Texas offense stands as transfer portal period closes

Some players still ended up going to different programs, but with all things considered, it wasn’t all that bad for the Longhorns.

Here’s a breakdown by position of who Texas lost and gained in the transfer portal on the defensive side.

Defensive line

Texas has gained a reputation for hitting the portal with a focus on defensive linemen, and it’s proven to be a good strategy to help build depth. This cycle, however, they didn’t go quite as hard, and that’s fine.

LIST: Texas Longhorns players in the transfer portal or entering the NFL Draft

The two players leaving, Melvin Hills III and Lavon Johnson, were seldom-used rotational players and are probably better off trying to find playing time elsewhere.

Ian Geffrard makes his way to Austin via Arkansas and could make an immediate impact. He started all 12 of the Razorbacks’ games and made 25 tackles this past season. He’ll have two years of eligibility left, so he could help the program past 2026.

Arkansas defenders Xavian Sorey Jr., left, and Ian Geffrard, right, tackle Arkansas State running back Kenyon Clay (5) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Little Rock, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

Zion Williams played in five games for Louisiana State in his freshman year, and the nose tackle has tons of upside that the Longhorns are hoping to develop. He was a 2025 target of Texas before signing with LSU. He has the potential to be a multi-year player for Texas and help them out down the road.

InOut

Melvin Hills III, DL (UConn)

Lavon Johnson, DL (Maryland)

Linebackers

Liona Lefau leaving for Colorado was perhaps the biggest surprise of the transfer cycle. It looked as if he’d be the heir apparent in the middle after Anthony Hill Jr. declared for the NFL draft, but he decided he’d fit in better elsewhere. He ended up with Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes in Boulder.

Transfer portal: Texas continues offensive line rebuild, signs Wake Forest’s Melvin Siani

Bo Barnes showed some promise with a nice showing in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, but he decided to leave for Kentucky, which is also where running back CJ Baxter ended up.

Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos (1) is tackled by Pittsburgh linebacker Rasheem Biles (3) and defensive lineman Nick James (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)

Texas snagged one of the best linebackers in the portal to soften the blow of Leafu leaving, Pitt’s Rasheem Biles. He had two interception returns for touchdowns in 2025 with the Panthers, and that’s not something linebackers typically do. He can step in, alongside Ty’Anthony Smith and Brad Spence, and make a big impact in 2026.

Justin Cryer from Florida State is also on his way in, and with eight starts as a junior for the Seminoles, will be a great depth piece and should see plenty of playing time.

Justin Cryer, LB (Florida State)

OutSecondary

Things could have gone sideways really fast for the Longhorns here, but with Black, Roberson and Williams all staying, it’s a big sigh of relief for everybody involved. Blake Gideon returns to the program as the defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach, and that appears to have played into the trio sticking around the 40 Acres.

Three defensive backs left, but they didn’t factor into the game plan often. Texas added Bo Mascoe from Rutgers, an honorable mention all-Big 10 selection this season. He started all 12 games at corner for the Scarlet Knights and made 53 tackles with an interception.

InOut

Caleb Chester, DB (Arizona State)

Graham Gillespie, DB (North Texas)

Santana Wilson, DB (Louisville)

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Texas players withdrawing from transfer portal saved the secondary

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