The Texas Longhorns stormed into the SEC with swagger, making an immediate impact in their debut season. They reached the SEC Championship Game and even cracked the College Football Playoff semifinals—but the season ended in heartbreak, leaving a trail of ‘what-ifs’ in its wake.
What if Quinn Ewers hadn’t fumbled at a critical moment against Ohio State? What if Arch Manning had been given more snaps to prove himself? What if the defense had just one more playmaker to shut down their toughest opponents?
The harsh reality? There are no do-overs in college football.
And now, with Ewers heading to the NFL, it’s finally Arch Manning’s time to take over. The highly anticipated quarterback will command the offense—but he can’t do it alone. The Longhorns need reinforcements, especially on defense, if they want to survive in a conference where dominant defensive fronts are the gold standard.
Texas’ Defense Faces a Dangerous Shortfall—And Sarkisian Must Act Fast
While losing Vernon Broughton and Alfred Collins to the NFL Draft was expected, the Longhorns have been bleeding talent on defense at an alarming rate. Eight defensive linemen and linebackers have either transferred or graduated, leaving a glaring hole in the trenches.
Steve Sarkisian has made some moves to stop the bleeding, bringing in Travis Shaw from North Carolina and Cole Brevard from Purdue. But Texas is still dangerously thin in key areas, and insiders are sounding the alarm.
Recruiting expert Bobby Burton didn’t mince words:
“You think they’re going to go for one more during the spring portal because, look—all they really have coming back from last year is Alex January. Aaron Bryant and Jaray Bledsoe transferred out, on top of the top four rotational players leaving due to graduation.”
That’s a brutal talent drain.
Analyst Gerry Hamilton took it a step further, warning that lack of depth could leave Texas exposed in the SEC, where dominant offensive lines steamroll unprepared defenses:
“You start building that depth at defensive tackle because you never know when an injury could take place. They’ve got to have depth there because you don’t want to just get run over in the SEC, where they have these big humans.”
Translation: If Sarkisian doesn’t stack the trenches, Texas could get bullied on the line of scrimmage all season long.
The injury scare is real—and Texas learned that the hard way in 2024.
- Star wide receiver Isaiah Bond missed crucial time with a high ankle sprain.
- Quinn Ewers was in and out of the lineup with lingering issues.
- The defense had several key players sidelined, making late-season losses even tougher.
That’s why depth isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Texas has only signed four transfers for 2025, while they’ve lost twice as many on defense. That’s not a winning formula in the SEC.
But there’s one bright spot—and his name is Hero Kanu.
Hero Kanu: Texas’ Potential Defensive Game-Changer
Amid the turbulence, Texas secured a major win in the transfer portal, landing former Ohio State defensive tackle Hero Kanu.
This isn’t just a depth piece—Kanu could be a legitimate difference-maker.
At 6’5” and 305 pounds, Kanu brings SEC-level size, strength, and potential. Originally from Germany, he dominated in high school at Santa Margarita Catholic (CA) before making his mark at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes reach a national championship.
His stats don’t leap off the page (14 tackles, 1 sack in 29 career games), but what makes him valuable is his raw power, motor, and ability to disrupt the run game.
Analyst Gerry Hamilton sees Kanu as the perfect fit for Texas’ biggest defensive need:
“Texas has good elements in the run-stopping game, but they need a true disrupter in the middle of the defense. Kanu could be that guy.”
Kanu joins Cole Brevard (Purdue) and Travis Shaw (North Carolina) as Texas’ defensive additions, and while all three bring upside, Sarkisian must keep his foot on the gas.
Is Texas Falling Behind in the Transfer Arms Race?
In today’s college football landscape, winning the transfer portal is just as important as recruiting. And compared to the true powerhouses, Texas isn’t keeping up.
Programs like Alabama, Georgia, and even LSU have aggressively used the transfer portal to reload instantly, while Texas has been slower to adjust.
That’s a dangerous game to play in the SEC meat grinder, where elite defenses are built through stockpiling NFL-caliber linemen and linebackers.
And if Texas doesn’t plug its defensive holes fast, they risk being exposed in a conference where power football reigns supreme.
Can Sarkisian Build a Championship-Caliber Roster?
Texas isn’t far off from being a national title contender. But they’re also one or two key weaknesses away from being an SEC afterthought.
They’ve got:
✅ A rising star in Arch Manning
✅ Explosive young offensive weapons
✅ Momentum after a strong SEC debut
But…
❌ A depleted defensive line
❌ An injury-prone roster with limited depth
❌ A recruiting strategy that hasn’t quite kept pace with the SEC’s elite
Landing Hero Kanu was a big win, but Sarkisian can’t stop there. The transfer portal is still open, and Texas needs more reinforcements before the grueling SEC schedule begins.
This isn’t just about competing—it’s about surviving.
Sarkisian has brought Texas closer than they’ve been in years. But in the SEC, close isn’t good enough.
Texas has one mission in 2025: Turn those ‘what-ifs’ into wins.
