Texas Longhorns 'Heavily in Mix' for Syracuse Transfer

The Texas Longhorns could be closing in on another addition out of the transfer portal.

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

AUSTIN -- The Texas Longhorns have been red hot in the transfer portal as of late, something that could potentially continue in the coming days.

Per reports from On3's Hayes Fawcett, the Longhorns are one of four programs "heavily in the mix" for Syracuse defensive lineman transfer Maraad Watson. Other programs in contention for the 6-3, 313-pound sophomore are the Ohio State Buckeyes, Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs.

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

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian against the Clemson Tigers during 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

According to 247Sports' transfer rankings, Watson is the No. 4 overall player currently available in the portal. He's listed as a four-star transfer.

A three-star recruit in the 2024 class out of Irvington High School in New Jersey, Watson originally committed to Kent State before flipping to Syracuse in December 2023. He had received offers from programs like Tennessee, Nebraska, Akron, Rutgers and many more. Watson tallied 72 total tackles and 15 sacks in just seven games during his senior year of high school.

If the Longhorns can land Watson, he'd join a transfer class that features tight end Jack Endries (Cal), kicker Mason Shipley (Texas State), defensive linemen Cole Brevard (Purdue), Travis Shaw (North Carolina), Lavon Johnson (Maryland) and Hero Kanu (Ohio State) along with linebacker Brad Spence (Arkansas), wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (Stanford) and punter Jack Bouwmeester (Utah).

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said in March that the Longhorns had some potential positional needs. Since the opening of the spring portal, Texas has addressed each of the positions he mentioned.

“Naturally, there are a couple of positions depth-wise where we’re not where we need to be right now,” Sarkisian said. “We’ll look at the portal that way. Our numbers are down at receiver right now from a scholarship standpoint. Our numbers are down on the defensive line from where our numbers really should be. And our number’s really down at tight end. It’s not a secret that we’ll look to the portal, but I don’t want to take a guy just for a number.”