Teams across the state took advantage of the spring transfer portal to reinforce positions of need and shore up depth across the board ahead of the 2025 season. 

The Texas Longhorns were the most impressive of the bunch, adding a starting tight end, all-conference kicker, a rising star at wide receiver and multiple defensive tackles in April. Texas Tech continued its roster overhaul with a talented edge rusher and a pair of high upside wide receivers. Multiple teams in the G5 also added potential starters to the mix, though the imports might not outweigh the exports at that level. 

Here are our 10 favorite portal adds from the spring. Our only rule was that we couldn’t pick multiple players headed to the same school.

1. DE David Bailey – Texas Tech 

Previous school: Stanford

Texas Tech continued to raid the transfer portal of its top assets during the spring portal window. Bailey was the prize possession. He led the Cardinal last season with eight tackles for loss, eight quarterback hurries, and seven sacks. The Red Raiders added Georgia Tech’s Romello Height in the offseason. Wide receiver additions Roy Alexander and Micah Hudson could also be instant impact players in 2025. 

2. TE Zach Endries – Texas 

Previous school: Cal

Wide receiver Emmett Mosley V and kicker Mason Shipley could easily be ranked amongst the top portal additions of the spring window. We’ll pick Endries because of Steve Sarkisian’s reliance on the tight end position. The Horns are without Gunnar Helm and multiple top targets at wide receiver as Arch Manning takes the reins of the offense. A quality tight end is a quarterback’s best friend and Endries caught 56 passes for 623 yards and two touchdowns last season. 

3. TE Tanner Koziol – Houston 

Previous school: Wisconsin 

Houston was the second-worst scoring offense in the country last year and new offensive coordinator Slade Nagle retooled the entire two-deep through the portal in the winter. He added another big weapon for the offense in Koziol, who caught 94 passes for 839 yards and eight touchdowns last year at Ball State. He spent the spring at Wisconsin. 

4. RB TJ Harden – SMU 

Previous school: UCLA 

The Mustangs needed another body at running back and found that in the UCLA transfer. Harden led the Bruins with 506 rushing yards last year. He’ll share time with Derrick McFall and Miami transfer Chris Johnson Jr. Replacing the production of NFL draft pick Brashard Smith is more than a one-man job. Harden will feature heavily into the running back rotation. 

5. CB Jayden Lawton – Texas State 

Previous school: Tyler JC

Lawton could be a Day 1 starter at cornerback for the Bobcats. Texas State added over a dozen new faces in the spring portal as G.J. Kinne reworks the roster heading into Year 3. Lawton was one of the top JUCO defensive backs available in the portal and had multiple Power Four suitors after a strong season at Tyler Junior College. 

6. DL Avion Carter – North Texas 

Previous school: TCU 

North Texas is transitioning from an odd-man front to a more traditional four-man front and that requires bigger, more athletic bodies. Adding a former four-star recruit with Power Four snaps is a good sign for the Mean Green. 

7. RB LJ Johnson – Rice 

Previous school – SMU 

Rice is moving to an option offense that will feature the running back position heavily, and the Owls made a big splash with Johnson, a former four-star recruit that played at Texas A&M and SMU before arriving on South Main. He’s a different type of athlete than most of the Rice roster and could be a breakout candidate in the AAC if he stays healthy and picks up the offense. 

8. CB Caldra Williford – Baylor 

Previous school: Tennessee Tech 

Improving at the cornerback position was one of the top priorities for a Baylor squad that feels like a Big 12 contender in 2025. Williford registered 88 tackles, two interceptions, and 12 pass breakups over two seasons at Tennessee Tech. He can play outside or at nickel. 

9. S Ryan Yaites – TCU 

Previous school: Cal 

TCU was selective in both portal windows as Sonny Dykes bets on a homegrown roster that won six of its final seven games last year. Yaites can come in and provide depth at safety while pushing for starting snaps this year and beyond. 

10. RB A’Marion Peterson – UTSA 

Previous school: USC 

The Roadrunners were a player short at running back when Brandon High followed former UTSA assistant Julian Griffin to Cal. Peterson is a Texas native who was the District 3-4A Division II MVP in 20222 at Hirschi High School. He took a redshirt in 2023 and played in 10 games last year. He started the Las Vegas Bowl against Texas A&M. 

Others: WR Micah Hudson (Texas Tech), WR Roy Alexander (Texas Tech), DT Maraad Watson (Texas), DT Lavon Johnson (Texas), K Mason Shipley (Texas), Edge Eddie Walls III (Houston)