The Texas Longhorns lost another secondary lineman. Veteran safety Derrick Williams Jr. announced Thursday that he will enter the transfer portal. After three seasons in Austin, the Louisiana native will take his talents to a new program where he hopes to get more playing time.
When Williams arrived on campus, he was part of a 2023 recruiting class that was ranked among the best in the nation. That includes Arch Manning, who just finished his first regular season as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback. While Williams’ time at Texas didn’t end the way he expected, he made the most of his playing time.
During his time with the Longhorns, the veteran safety had 75 tackles, two pass deflections, one interception and one forced fumble. In his limited time, Williams proved he could compete in the SEC and hold his own on a team fighting for a national championship.
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The Longhorns’ roster has changed a lot over the past few days. They also lost CJ Baxter, Santana Wilson, Will Stone, Jerrick Gibson, Wardell Mack, Connor Stroh, Aaron Butler, Trey Owens and Melvin Hills III to the portal. While this won’t be an easy group to replace, the Longhorns have a talented class of 2026 that is less than a year away from arriving on campus.
For a team in need of secondary help, Williams should draw a lot of interest. He is expected to start work next year and could play a key role in any project. His departure will also put more pressure on Jonah Williams to be the difference-maker next year for Steve Sarkisian.
Regardless of where Williams ends up, he’s a player that many in Austin will be keeping an eye on.
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This article originally appeared in Longhorns Wire: Texas football loses talented veteran safety to transfer portal
