Longhorns Country

Texas Longhorns Hosting Syracuse DT for Transfer Portal Visit

The Texas Longhorns are staying busy in the transfer portal.
Zach Dimmitt|
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian reacts against the Clemson Tigers during the second half of the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Texas Longhorns

AUSTIN -- The Texas Longhorns could be closing in on yet another intriguing talent out of the transfer portal this spring.

Per reports from On3's Hayes Fawcett, the Longhorns are set to host Syracuse defensive lineman transfer Maraad Watson for a visit on Tuesday. Other teams reportedly in the running for the Irvington, N.J. native include Tennessee, Ohio State and Georgia.

A 6-3, 313-pound sophomore, Watson is the No. 4 overall player currently available in the portal, per 247Sports' transfer rankings. The Irvington High School product is listed as a four-star transfer.

Fran Brow
Oct 24, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown reacts against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Watson finished his freshman year at Syracuse this past season with 30 total tackles (15 solo), one sack and one pass breakup. In the Orange's upset win over No. 6 Miami, he had a career-high six total tackles.

Originally a three-star recruit in the 2024 class, Watson committed to Kent State before flipping to Syracuse in December 2023. He received offers from programs like Nebraska, Tennessee, Akron, Rutgers and many more. Watson posted 72 total tackles and 15 sacks in just seven games during his senior year of high school.

This offseason, the Longhorns have managed to put together an impressive portal class. The team has signed the likes of tight end Jack Endries (Cal), kicker Mason Shipley (Texas State), linebacker Brad Spence (Arkansas), wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (Stanford) and punter Jack Bouwmeester (Utah) along with four defensive linemen in Cole Brevard (Purdue), Travis Shaw (North Carolina), Lavon Johnson (Maryland) and Hero Kanu (Ohio State).

If Texas can land Watson, he would mark the fifth d-line commit for the Longhorns this offseason.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

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