AUSTIN — In the era of the transfer portal, retaining players has become as crucial as recruiting. Nowhere is this more evident than with the Texas Longhorns defense during this cycle.

The transfer portal closed for new entries on Friday, and what initially appeared to be a mass exodus of defensive backs turned into a situation where key players secured deals and chose to stay. Kobe Black, Warren Roberson, and Derek Williams Jr. all entered the portal but later withdrew after reaching revenue-sharing or NIL agreements with the program.

How the Texas offense stands as transfer portal period closes

While some players still moved to different programs, the overall outcome wasn’t too bad for the Longhorns. Here’s a breakdown of who Texas lost and gained on the defensive side during the transfer portal.

Defensive Line

Texas has built a reputation for targeting defensive linemen in the transfer portal, and it has proven to be a smart strategy for building depth. This cycle, however, they didn’t go as aggressively, and that’s fine.

In

– Ian Geffrard, DL (Arkansas): He joins the Longhorns from Arkansas and could make an immediate impact. He started all 12 of the Razorbacks’ games and recorded 25 tackles this past season. He has two years of eligibility left, which means he could help the program well beyond 2026.

– Zion Williams, DL (LSU): Played in five games for Louisiana State in his freshman year. The nose tackle has significant upside, and Texas hopes to develop him. He was a 2025 target before signing with LSU. He has the potential to be a multi-year player for the Longhorns.

Out

– Melvin Hills III, DL (UConn): A seldom-used rotational player who likely found better opportunities elsewhere.

– Lavon Johnson, DL (Maryland): Another rotational player who may benefit from more playing time at another program.

Linebackers

One of the biggest surprises of the transfer cycle was Liona Lefau leaving for Colorado. It seemed as if he would be the heir apparent in the middle after Anthony Hill Jr. declared for the NFL draft, but he ultimately decided to join Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes in Boulder.

Bo Barnes showed promise with a strong performance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl but left for Kentucky, where running back CJ Baxter also ended up.

Texas managed to soften the blow of Lefau’s departure by securing one of the best linebackers in the portal: Rasheem Biles from Pitt. He had two interception returns for touchdowns in 2025 with the Panthers, a rare feat for a linebacker. He can step in alongside Ty’Anthony Smith and Brad Spence and make a big impact in 2026.

Another addition is Justin Cryer from Florida State. With eight starts as a junior for the Seminoles, he will serve as a great depth piece and should see plenty of playing time.

In

– Rasheem Biles, LB (Pitt)

– Justin Cryer, LB (Florida State)

Out

– Bo Barnes, LB (Kentucky)

– Liona Lefau, LB (Colorado)

Secondary

Things could have gone very wrong for the Longhorns in the secondary, but with Black, Roberson, and Williams all staying, it’s a relief for everyone involved. Blake Gideon, now the defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach, seems to have played a role in their decision to remain.

Three defensive backs left, but they weren’t major contributors to the game plan. 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 recorded 53 tackles with an interception.

In

– Bo Mascoe, DB (Rutgers)

Out

– Caleb Chester, DB (Arizona State)

– Graham Gillespie, DB (North Texas)

– Santana Wilson, DB (Louisville)