According to several sources, safeties Jerrin Thompson and Kitan Crawford, who had both played for four years on the Forty Acres, announced their departure on Friday via the NCAA transfer portal. Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the two still have one year of eligibility remaining. They plan to use the portal to have a more successful season the next year.
Thompson, who made 38 tackles, broke seven passes, and caught three interceptions this season—one of which was returned for a touchdown—will be much missed by the Texas secondary. Thompson was one of the players, according to head coach Steve Sarkisian, who believed in his strategy from the beginning and saw it through to completion.
“I just felt like to be authentic early on was important,” Sarkisian said. “Fast forward now three years later, those guys that are still on our team today that were here three years ago all of those guys were critical: Jordan Whittington, T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy, Xavier (Worthy), Jerrin Thompson, Jahdae Barron.”
After moving from cornerback to safety in his third season, Crawford had his breakthrough year in 2022, finishing with a career-high 25 tackles. The year before, he had only five stops. This season, the Texas native has maintained his impressive play, recording 24 tackles and picking up his first-ever interception against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game.
Senior defensive tackle DeAngelo Carter, commonly known as Trill, who only spent one season playing for Texas, is another noteworthy player who has entered the gateway. Carter was a 2023 transfer from Minnesota who finished his career as a Longhorn with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. Carter was supposed to be the next in line for a starting spot, but he was overshadowed by Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat’s performances. However, he will now also be utilizing the portal to take advantage of his last year of eligibility.
By 2024, there will be no shortage of new faces in the safety room because so many important players have left Texas. Many defensive backs have already decided to leave the Longhorns, including X’Avion Brice, Larry Turner-Gooden, BJ Allen, and Jalen Catalon. Sarkisian will have his work cut out for him in terms of recruiting.
But the Texas defense has already discovered commits via the portal, such as safety Andrew Mukuba, a transfer from Clemson. Xavier Filsaime, the No. 2 safety recruit in the country and a former Florida commit, was also brought in by Sarkisian during his recruiting tour. The McKinney product told 247Sports’ Mike Roach that he wants to be on a team with guys “who want to win.”
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