Texas loses a key receiver as Sarkisian aggressively pursues elite talent, potentially splashing major NIL funds for a top portal wideout.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is showing no mercy this offseason.
He's in pursuit of building a team that can beat the Ohio States and Georgias of college football, and he's taking no prisoners along the way.
That trend continued on Thursday when On3 Sports reported that Texas wide receiver Parker Livingstone was entering the Transfer Portal.
Along with being roommates with Texas star quarterback Arch Manning, Livingstone was one of his favorite targets. This season, he was the Longhorns' third leading receiver, catching 29 passes for 516 yards, and reeling in six receiving touchdowns.
Livingstone was a premier deep threat for the Texas offense, averaging a team-high 17.8 yards per catch (amongst players who played more than six games). His 83-yard touchdown catch against San Jose State was also the Longhorns' longest play of the season.
White Chocolate's (Livingstone's nickname) departure is a bittersweet sight for many Texas fans, but it may be a necessary one if the offense is to reach the next level.
The WR core was inconsistent at best, dropping passes at a high rate and struggling for separation against top-quality opposition.
With Manning ready to explode in 2026, Sarkisian knows he must surround him with elite talent across the board.
Along with the return of Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V, the Longhorns have Kaliq Lockett, Daylan McCutcheon and Jaime Ffrench ready for their incorporation into the offense.
That alone is an exciting prospect for Texas fans, but it doesn't stop there.
After the news of Livingstone entering the portal, Kirk Bohls of the Houston Chronicle reported that the Longhorns "are saving their money to land Auburn’s Cam Coleman."
Coleman just recently announced his intent to enter the Transfer Portal, and he's been regarded as one of, if not the best, WR talent in the portal.
The Tigers had a tumultuous offense this season, but that didn't stop Coleman from getting his game off, catching 56 passes for a team-high of 708 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
His potential transfer to Texas would easily make its WR room one of the best in the country. However, it will cost a pretty penny.
Bohls said the Longhorns are in a "good position" to land Coleman over arch-rivals Texas A&M, and the only sticking point is the WR's asking price of $4 Million.
That's a huge chunk of Texas' NIL and revenue-sharing budget that would be going to one player.
Is Sarkisian willing to put his money where his mouth is, or will the Longhorns seek out other targets in this year's Transfer Portal?
Only time will tell.