The college football transfer portal opened on Jan. 2 and there will be dozens of players leaving and arriving at each of our 13 FBS programs in Texas. We asked Portal Santa last week for each of the team’s biggest needs. Below, we look at the top 12 players in the portal who played high school football in the state of Texas. 

The list will be updated as players enter the portal and sign with new teams. The last update was Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. 

1. QB Brendan Sorsby 

College: Cincinnati 
High School: Lake Dallas 
Outlook: Sorsby is arguably the biggest prize in the portal even though he only has one year remaining of eligibility. Reports suggest it is a two-team race between LSU and Texas Tech. The Red Raiders need a one-year quarterback to bridge the gap to the injured Will Hammond. Sorsby is a dual threat who threw for 2,800 yards and ran for 580. The Lake Dallas native began his career at Indiana. 

2. QB Drew Mestemaker 

College: North Texas 
High School: Vandegrift 
Outlook:  The former walk-on is one of the best stories in college football. He didn’t start a single game on varsity in high school at Vandegrift, but emerged as the best QB in the G5 ranks in 2025, leading the country in passing as the only player his year with over 4,000 yards through the air. His head coach – Eric Morris – took the job at Oklahoma State and that’s where Mestemaker is headed unless something weird happens. 

3. QB Josh Hoover 

College: TCU 
High School: Rockwall-Heath 
Outlook: Indiana was the first program mentioned when those close to the former TCU gun slinger were asked about a possible destination. Hoover is an ultra-productive quarterback who threw for 3,472 yards in 2025 and a school record 3,774 in 2024. He’ll be a senior and is one of the most experienced quarterbacks on the market. TCU tried to keep him, but staff shakeups on offense and a promise of a big pay day in the Big Ten or SEC was too much to pass up for Hoover. 

4. QB DJ Lagway 

College: Florida 
High School: Willis 
Outlook: Lagway is a former five-star prospect who regressed in his second season in college. The talent is clearly there and flashes were shown of his immense arm talent, especially as a freshman in 2024. If he wants to return home to Texas, Baylor, where his father played, and TCU are logical options. 

5. WR Wyatt Young 

College: North Texas 
High School: Katy Tompkins 
Outlook: Young finished third in the FBS in receiving yards this year with 1,264. He became Mestemaker’s go-to target through the air and the duo became the most lethal 1-2 passing punch in the American Conference. Ten of his 70 receptions resulted in touchdowns. Young is big enough at 6-0, 185-pounds to play inside or outside at the P4 level and still has two years left of eligibility. 

6. WR Chase Sowell 

College: Iowa State 
High School: Humble Atascocita 
Outlook: The 6-3, 210-pound Sowell is a physical and experienced wide receiver who would be a great No. 2 pass catcher for an elite offense. He’s caught over 30 passes in each of the last three years and his frame makes him a weapon on third down and in the red zone. 

7. WR Darrell Gill

College: Syracuse 
High School: Humble Atascocita 
Outlook: Gill is a long 6-3 outside wide receiver who has registered at least 31 receptions in each of the last two seasons. He hauled in five touchdowns this year while averaging over 15 yards a catch. Gill’s best game in ACC play this year was a five-catch, 79-yard effort against Georgia Tech.  

8. WR Parker Livingstone 

College: Texas 
High School: Lucas Lovejoy
Outlook: Like Wisner, it sounds like the reset in Austin didn’t include a place for Livingstone, who felt like Texas’ best wide receiver for swaths of the season. The redshirt freshman caught 29 passes for 516 yards and six touchdowns. His 6-4 frame and three years of remaining eligibility combined with experience in the SEC should attract multiple P4 offers over the next few days.  

9. RB Tre Wisner 

College: Texas 
High School: DeSoto 
Outlook: Wisner became known as a rival killer in his time at the Forty Acres. He broke the 1,000-yard mark in 2024 and averaged 4.6 yards a carry last year, though injuries kept him from amassing comparable numbers to his breakout campaign a season before. Texas wants to reload at running back and Wisner was squeezed out with new faces expected to be signed. He’ll have plenty of suitors inside and outside of the state. 

10. CB Jeremiah Cooper 

College: Iowa State 
High School: El Paso Andress 
Outlook: A former safety turned cornerback who started the first four games at safety for Iowa State before a season-ending knee injury forced a redshirt, Cooper is a versatile defensive back with starting experience at multiple spots in the secondary. He has over 30 starts under his belt in the Big 12.  

11. Edge Kamauryn Morgan 

College: Baylor 
High School: South Oak Cliff 
Outlook: Potential is the key word for Morgan. The former four-star from South Dallas posted six tackles in 10 games. Coaches will bet on his upside, however, especially with three years remaining of eligibility. The 6-5, 251-pound edge rusher will get plenty of other P4 looks.  

12. RB Cam Cook

College: Jax State 
High School: Round Rock Stony Point
Outlook: The drop down to the G5 ranks at Jax State rejuvenated Cook’s career after an up-and-down stint at TCU. He led the FBS in rushing in 20242ith 1,659 yards while adding 16 touchdowns. Cook will undoubtedly get a chance to retry his hand at the P4 ranks and cash in on his mega season of 2025.