The spring transfer portal has been open for several days, and the Texas Longhorns are wasting no time reshaping their roster. They’ve already lost a key player, made an addition, and locked in an important visit. But they’re far from done—the program is aggressively exploring options across multiple positions.
Texas Loses Kicker, Gets Visit from 3-Star Defensive Talent
On April 18, kicker Bert Auburn announced on X that he would enter the transfer portal and play college football elsewhere next season.
Thank you Texas. Through all the ups and downs, these have been some of the best years. It’s been an honor to be a longhorn! I will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining. pic.twitter.com/8gqnwBh3z8
— Bert Auburn (@bert_auburn1) April 17, 2025
Auburn ended the 2024 season with a 16-of-25 record on field goals, with six of those misses coming from the final five games. His Texas career concludes with a 66-of-86 mark, including a long of 54 yards. He was flawless on extra points, converting all 178 attempts, and caught a one-yard pass on a fake field goal in the 2023 win over the Houston Texans.
On Monday, April 14, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said the kicking competition between Bert Auburn and Will Stone was ongoing. Stone, who handled kickoff duties last season, stepped in as the place-kicker during the CFP semifinal against Ohio State.
However, with the spring transfer portal now open, the Longhorns may look to add another kicker while assessing Stone’s ability to take over the role full-time.
On Thursday, April 17, former Maryland Terrapins defensive tackle Lavon Johnson visited the Longhorns in Austin. He shared photos of inside the Texas football offices and the Austin skyline. However, a day later, on Friday, April 18, Johnson committed to North Carolina, dashing hopes of his potential arrival in Texas.
Johnson entered the transfer portal on April 11 with two seasons of eligibility remaining. He initially entered the portal during the winter window but withdrew just days later. Expected to take on a starting role in 2025, Maryland head coach Mike Locksley and his staff brought him back from the portal in December.
As a true freshman in 2023, Johnson appeared in six games, recording five tackles and one sack. He built on that momentum in 2024, posting 19 tackles, one sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss across eight games.
Injuries limited Johnson’s availability in 2024, restricting him to 164 snaps. However, despite his reduced playing time, he still managed three quarterback hurries and eight defensive stops.
KEEP READING: ‘Texas Is Pretty High on My List’ — No. 1 DL Prospect James Johnson Praises Longhorns Visit
The need for a defensive tackle remains pressing for Texas after losing four players to expired eligibility and four more to the transfer portal.
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