Backup quarterback Trey Owens sent shockwaves around the University of Texas after he announced he will be entering the transfer portal. Officially, the transfer portal is still closed and will open on January 2, which means that for now, he is still with Texas but will inevitably leave once the transfer portal opens.
Several players from all over college football have also announced that they are leaving, and this may be due to various reasons, from coaching changes to not getting enough opportunities. For Texas, three players have announced that they will be leaving Steve Sarkisian’s squad so far, preparing to take their talents to other schools.
3 Texas Players Leaving Austin Once The Transfer Portal Opens
Trey Owens – Quarterback
With Arch Manning as the QB1 and Steve Sarkisian wanting to develop him more, that may leave backup quarterback Trey Owens with not much opportunity for growth and be able to show what he is really capable of. Sarkisian redshirted him last season, which means he is still considered a redshirt freshman this year.
Unfortunately for Owens, his chances of being able to play in Texas dwindled after Sarkisian brought in senior QB Matthew Caldwell, who is the new backup quarterback to Manning. While Caldwell will be graduating soon, Manning is slated to stay a bit longer, and that might pose some problems for Owens, who has not gotten much opportunities yet.
CJ Baxter – Running Back
This one might actually hurt Texas more than Owens, as the veteran Baxter was once one of their most reliable running backs in 2023, and was even the starting running back. However, everything changed when he hurt his knee during the fall camp and missed the entire 2024 season.
He had been relegated to backup, with Tre Wisner, who took over starter duties for him while he was injured, staying as starter when Baxter returned this season. With that, Baxter saw the writing on the wall and chose to leave Austin instead.
Melvin Hills III – Defensive Tackle
A redshirt freshman, Hills only played in 28 snaps during four games in 2025 with Texas and like the others, was just lost in the shuffle. A change of scenery could do him a lot of good, especially as he may just stagnate if he stays with the Longhorns.
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