Texas isn't browsing the transfer portal for fun. The Longhorns are shopping because the roster took hits where it hurts most ... the secondary needs bodies, the trenches need answers, and the offense needs a reliable chain-mover, especially with the Citrus Bowl looming and the 2026 reset already underway.
Locked on Horns gave us three portal names to keep on the radar, along with why each one makes sense for Steve Sarkisian's next roster build.
Bo Mascoe, CB, Rutgers: A Ready-Made Fit For The “New” Texas Secondary
If Texas is serious about getting more physical on the back end, Bo Mascoe checks the box.
The Rutgers corner brings real mileage, over 1,100 snaps across the last two seasons, and he's not a "maybe" player. He started every game in 2025, earned All-Big Ten honorable mention, and put together the kind of resume Texas actually needs right now. He's battle-tested, comfortable in man coverage, and not scared to tackle.
The tie that matters? Texas defensive backs coach Mark Orphey recruited him at Rutgers. That's the kind of relationship that gets a guy on campus quickly - and keeps Texas from getting used as leverage.
The other thing working in Mascoe's favor is that he didn't vanish when the lights got bright. Against Ohio State, he graded out as Rutgers' top defender (per PFF), posted nine tackles, and forced a fumble.
Against Oregon, he was stingy in coverage and didn't get cooked. That matters because Texas isn't adding portal corners to play depth behind five-stars, they're adding them because proven starters are leaving and the margin for error is thinner than fans want to admit.
Texas lost key pieces and needs corners who can survive press-man reps. Mascoe has lived in that world.
Ian Jeffcoat, DT, Arkansas: A 390-Pound Solution To A Very Real Problem
Portal season isn't just about skill guys. It's about plugs, and Texas could use a plug the size of a small truck.
Ian Jeffcoat is listed at roughly 6-5, 389 pounds, and started every game for Arkansas in 2025. He didn't rack up sacks because that's not his job. His job is to eat space, force double teams, and keep linebackers clean. That's the kind of player you don't appreciate until you don’t have one.
Texas just watched its big-body interior options cycle out. Those rental run-stuffers matter in the SEC because you're going to see downhill run games that want to test your toughness for four quarters.
If Texas wants to keep its run defense from slipping - even a little - adding one massive interior anchor makes sense.
Jeffcoat also isn't a one-year patch. He's got two years of eligibility left, which gives Texas flexibility and stability in the rotation.
Danny Scudero, WR, San José State: The Slot Fix That Makes Arch’s Life Easier
Texas can talk about development all it wants, but losing a primary slot option changes the math. You need somebody who can win quickly, get open against man coverage, and become a security blanket when protection breaks down.
He put up video-game production in 2025: with 88 catches, 1,291 yards, 10 touchdowns, and he didn't look out of place when he faced Texas early in the season.
In that game, he snagged seven balls for 60 yards and looked like the rare San Jose State player who belonged on the same field as the Longhorns.
Scudero isn't about being the biggest or fastest. He's about being open. Great routes, reliable hands, and enough juice after the catch to turn a short completion into an actual problem.
And if Texas is turning the offense over to Arch Manning long-term, the value of a dependable slot target goes way up. Every young QB needs a Scudero.
Texas doesn't need to win the portal. It needs to fill specific holes with specific player types:
- A press-man corner with experience and edge (Mascoe)
- A massive interior run plug to stabilize the defensive front (Jeffcoat)
- A proven slot weapon who can separate and move chains (Scudero)
That’s how you use the portal correctly ... less hype, more precision.