Projecting Who's Staying and Who's Leaving from Texas After Bowl Game
Few college football teams head into the offseason with a steadier outlook than the Texas Longhorns.
Although they would've liked to bring home a national title, the Longhorns maintained a place on the national stage. Along with earning a spot in the SEC Championship Game during its conference debut, Texas reached the College Football Playoff for the second straight year.
Following an opening win over Clemson, the Horns survived an overtime thriller to beat Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. But then, Texas lost to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
Yes, the Longhorns will have a bunch of production to replace this offseason. Backed by a healthy NIL budget, though, they have no shortage of talent already on the roster and arriving soon.
Who's Staying
Arch Manning, QB
You might have heard something about this guy. Arch Manning took a redshirt in 2023 but found himself in more significant action this season, partially due to Quinn Ewers' injury early in the season.
Manning showed off a dual-threat skill set, throwing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns in 90 pass attempts with 100 yards and four scores on the ground. He's fully expected to start at QB in 2025.
Healthy Running Backs?!
Despite how it seemed in 2024, it's legal to have a deep group of healthy backs.
Injuries hammered the Horns at the position, keeping both CJ Baxter and Christian Clark on the sideline for the whole year. They're eligible to return, along with Quintrevion Wisner, Jaydon Blue and Jerrick Gibson.
Someone (or two) may transfer, but that's a great unit.
Anthony Hill Jr. and Other Key Defenders
The list of departures may be lengthy, but Texas can be assured—save for an unexpected transfer—that a few critical defenders will be back.
Star linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. is the headliner, while edge-rushers Colin Simmons and Trey Moore give the Longhorns a strong foundation up front.
Who's Leaving
Quinn Ewers, QB
A three-year starter in Austin, Quinn Ewers is expected to declare for the 2025 NFL draft. He would depart with a not-so-complicated legacy as the quarterback who helped shift the tone of "Texas is back" from sarcasm to reality.
No, the Longhorns did not climb the championship ladder as hoped, but Ewers played an integral role in a Big 12 title, an SEC runner-up finish and a pair of CFP trips.
More NFL Departures
In addition to Ewers, left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and wide receiver Isaiah Bond are expected to leave for the NFL. Other players with eligibility who might pursue the pros are wide receiver Matthew Golden, left guard DJ Campbell, right tackle Cameron Williams and safety Michael Taaffe.
Key Seniors
Texas knows it must replace tight end Gunnar Helm, longtime linemen Jake Majors and Hayden Conner, defensive tackles Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton and Jermayne Lole, edge Barryn Sorrell—pause for a breath—linebackers David Gbenda and Morice Blackwell Jr., cornerback Jahdae Barron and safety Andrew Mukuba. None of them have eligibility left.
Who's on the Way
Brad Spence and More Transfers
Texas will be a premier destination for players in the transfer portal, and the Longhorns have wasted no time reeling in targets. Arkansas linebacker Brad Spence notched 54 tackles with 4.5 sacks in 2024, and he may start immediately. Also, they have added Purdue defensive tackle Cole Brevard and Utah punter Jack Bouwmeester.
A Trio of 5-Star Prospects
Within a loaded recruiting class, the Longhorns have three 5-star signees. In-state safety Jonah Williams (11th overall) ranks slightly ahead of defensive lineman Justus Terry (12th), and Dallas-area wide receiver Kaliq Lockett (21st) rounds out the group.
The Nation's No. 1 Recruiting Class
As if that's not enough, Texas boasts eight 4-stars with a top-100 national ranking and eight more 4-star players. Edge-rusher Lance Jackson (34th), wide receiver Jamie Ffrench (35th) and athlete Michael Terry III (38th) each narrowly missed a 5-star billing.