The bar at which head coaches and training staffs was measured by was strictly on recruiting. With using the switch portal, it grew to become one other measuring stick but additionally a device for coaches to show round their staff in a single offseason.
The Texas Longhorns are amongst these groups utilizing the portal to restock their roster. As an illustration, Texas tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders left for the NFL draft and so they changed him with former Alabama tight finish Amari Niblack. Total, the Longhorns have the No. 6 switch class per 247Sports with the additions of Niblack, UTSA edge rusher Trey Moore, Clemson security Andrew Mukuba, and extensive receiver Isaiah Bond amongst others.
Bond was listed as CBS Sports activities’ prime impression switch for the Texas Longhorns by Will Backus.
Texas Longhorns Huge Receiver Isaiah Bond
Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
What CBS Says…
Texas’ roster is in nice form after final season’s CFP run, and the Longhorns seem like a respectable competitor of their first yr as an SEC program. However they did enter the offseason with one evident drawback: every of their prime 5 receivers from that 2023 Massive 12 championship staff are gone. That features all three beginning wideouts — Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell and Jordan Whittington — and tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders, who mixed accounted for simply over 75% of Texas’ receiving yards and 19 of its 25 touchdowns via the air in 2023.
Coach Steve Sarkisian hit the switch portal onerous to usher in some expertise and upside. No addition means greater than that of Bond, who’s primed for a breakout after a powerful near the 2023 marketing campaign. He gained nationwide acclaim together with his heroic landing catch to save lots of Alabama in its last-second win in opposition to Auburn and adopted that up with 9 catches for 128 yards within the postseason. A giant-time playmaker, Bond ought to flourish with Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers delivering the ball. Bond ranked because the No. 4 general participant within the portal.
What We Say…
Shedding the trio of Xavier Worthy, AD Mitchell, and Jordan Whittington is a troublesome tablet to swallow however Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian did an excellent job of changing that manufacturing via the switch portal. Silas Bolden (Oregon State) and Matthew Golden (Houston) are good additions, the gem of this class is former Alabama Crimson Tide extensive receiver Isaiah Bond. He’s most recognized for his “grave digger” landing seize in opposition to the Auburn Tigers that stored Bama’s CFP hopes alive on the final week of the season.
With Alabama, Bond was the goal on 75 passes wherein he hauled in 49 receptions. That breaks all the way down to 65.3% of targets have been caught. The advantage of having him on the offense is which you can transfer him round. Bond solely lined up out extensive on 40.9% of snaps. He could be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses to attempt to decelerate if Sark retains shifting him round.
Former Longhorn QB Ja’Quinden Jackson
Picture courtesy of Texas Sports activities
The Longhorns will see a well-recognized face once they journey to Fayetteville for a showdown with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Former Texas quarterback signee Ja’Quinden Jackson transferred in after three seasons with Utah the place he transformed to working again. Jackson takes the spot of outgoing switch Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who’s now at South Carolina.
If the Hogs need to flip round their fortunes from final yr’s 4-8 mark, it should possible come on the shoulders of Jackson. He was ranked because the No. 5 working again within the switch portal in response to CBS Sports activities.
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Story initially appeared on Longhorns Wire