Updates on Texas players in the NCAA transfer portal: Casey Cain reunites with Brennan Marion at UNLV
Since the NCAA transfer window opened in early December, nine Texas Longhorns have entered the transfer portal. As of Dec. 21, four of those players have found new homes, several are actively looking for their next destination, and three are still practicing with the team.
Here’s a look at where things stand with each of those nine players with the dead period starting on Monday and lasting until Jan. 11 except for midyear enrollees, who will be allowed to take visits from Jan. 3-7.
Redshirt freshman CB X’Avion Brice
The former consensus three-star prospect on Dec. 4 and announced his commitment to North Texas five days later, reuniting him with former Texas Director of High School Relations Chris Gilbert, now the assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the Mean Green for the last year.
Redshirt freshman S BJ Allen
The ties of Gilbert, the longtime Lancaster head coach, to players from the Metroplex paid off by landing a commitment from Allen, who won two state titles at Aledo.
Ranked as the No. 117 player and the No. 11 safety in the 2022 recruiting class, 247Sports had Allen as the No. 5 safety available in the portal, making his addition a significant coup for Gilbert and UNT — the Mean Green are bringing Allen in with the hopes he can be an instant-impact player.
S Jalen Catalon
Ranked as the No. 10 safety in the portal by 247Sports, there isn’t any news yet about any visits or potential destinations for the graduate transfer, who has a significant injury history.
OL/DL Sawyer Goram-Welch
Goram-Welch has entered the portal, but is practicing with the team through the College Football Playoffs, according to his announcement, while still looking for his next stop as a graduate transfer.
Still looking for a home!
Graduate Transfer, 2 years of eligibility
— J. Sawyer Goram-Welch (@jsawyergw) December 17, 2023
6’4 305
Recruited as an All-State Defensive linemen in High School. Played 2 years of DL and 2 years of OL at UT. Can play either at a high level. pic.twitter.com/4KQwe7GJQX
WR Casey Cain
[Update: 12/20 12:10 p.m. Central]
The Louisiana product has entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility and is expected to reunite with former Texas wide receivers coach Brennan Marion at UNLV.
Have placed a @247sports Crystal Ball prediction for UNLV to land Texas wide receiver transfer Casey Cain.
Made three starts at UT in 2022 and had 108 yards in a bowl matchup vs. Washington. Would reunite him with ex-Texas WR coach and current UNLV OC Brennan Marion.… pic.twitter.com/9Co8v2FoHJ
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 20, 2023
[Update 12/21 7:37 p.m. Central]
It’s official, Cain is heading west to Sin City.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed on Wednesday that Cain is still practicing with the team.
S Larry Turner-Gooden
A consensus four-star prospect in the 2022 class out of Los Angeles, Turner-Gooden is headed back to California to play for San Jose State, but not before he finishes his Texas career in the College Football Playoffs.
WR Isaiah Neyor
The Wyoming transfer is back in the portal after a knee injury in 2022 preseason camp derailed his career with Texas and limited him to one catch over two seasons.
Neyor took a visit to West Virginia before the dead period, so he has at least one Power Five option, but remains uncommitted.
QB Maalik Murphy
After helping the Longhorns make the College Football Playoffs by leading Texas to wins over BYU and Kansas State, Murphy made the difficult decision to enter the portal and leave the program before the College Football Playoffs, a decision that Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian did not begrudge.
"I love Maalik to death. I loved the opportunity to coach him....wish nothing but the best of luck," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says of the decision by QB Maalik Murphy to transfer.@PeteThamel was 1st to report Murphy's intention to transfer. @khoupic.twitter.com/dqJuEwTeAc
— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) December 14, 2023
Since entering the portal, Murphy was scheduled to visit Duke and South Carolina with the Blue Devils seemingly the favorite heading into an offseason with an open quarterback competition following the transfer of star quarterback Riley Leonard to the Fighting Irish.
