CJ Vogel
Texas is still in the running for a National Championship this season, but that doesn't mean the work behind the scenes for 2025 is slowing down.
Of course, the Longhorns are mighty thin on the defensive line for the upcoming season with just 86 snaps on the roster at the moment. The addition of Purdue DL Cole Brevard will help, but Texas is going to need a few more bodies out of the portal to get the 2025 roster to where it needs to be come SEC play.
A look at some interesting options in the portal at the moment:
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Iowa State DL Tyler Onyedim
6'4"
295 pounds
Redshirt Junior
1,194 career snaps
The former Iowa State Cyclone is one that OTF believes Texas has interest in at the moment. Onyedim has been a contributor for Iowa State over the last three seasons with 21 starts in the past two seasons. Originally a native of Richmond, Texas, it would not be too surprising to see a return to the Lone Star State for a fifth season of college football for Onyedim.
Utah DL Keanu Tanuvasa
6'4"
301 pounds
Redshirt sophomore
973 career snaps
Tanuvasa entered the portal Monday morning and immediately hit some of they criteria points of recent Texas DL additions. At Utah, Tanuvasa started 19 games over the last two seasons where 799 of his snaps came over the B-Gap or as a 3-tech. Interesting option there.
Washington State DL David Gusta
6'3"
302 pounds
Redshirt Junior
1,253 career snaps
Gusta is a pass-rushing specialist form the interior. Pro Football Focus had him ranked as the 3rd highest rated pass rusher among all Power Four interior defensive linemen for the 2024 season. With 28 QB pressures and 11.3% win rate, it is easy to see why that rating is where it is. Really intriguing piece in the portal at the moment.
Wisconsin DL James Thompson Jr.
6'5"
290 pounds
Redshirt Senior
932 careers snaps
Texas has yet to show interest in the former Wisconsin DL who played a bit more of the 5-tech look for the Badgers. Thompson has offers and visits set for Tennessee, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and several others at the moment. One hiccup here is the redshirt senior played in just one game in 2024 due to injury.
North Carolina DL Travis Shaw
6'5"
330 pounds
Junior
590 career snaps
Shaw was a solid reserve piece for North Carolina over the last three seasons. He was not credited with a start over his three years in Chapel Hill, but he does have notable size for a guy with 83% of his snaps coming as a 3-tech.