Transfers & new starters highlight Texas Longhorn 2025 breakout candidates

USA Today

3 days ago

Parker Livingstone, Kobe Black looking for breakout seasons with Matthew Golden and Jahdae Barron moving on. Transfers Maraad Watson and Brad Spence are set for huge years next to other elite players.
Texas had 12 players find their way to the next level this offseason, including Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron and the top 3 pass catchers from a year ago. Sarkisian and company were not as active in the portal and many thought, which means they are going to need some new names to break through for a huge season this year.
Here are my picks for breakout candidates for the Horns in 2025:
Kobe Black, SO CB
Kobe Black is a name that has been brought up a lot throughout the offseason, mainly because of Jahdae Barron walking out the door. He is going to be filling some big shoes, but I think will rise to the challenge and be a difference maker for Pete Kwiatkowski and this defense. Physically, he is one of the more impressive DBs Texas has, but with only 13 tackles last year, he will have to make a huge jump in 2025. Likely to be set up at field CB, he will be put on an island frequently. Of all the players on this list, he might be the most needed breakout player.
Parker Livingstone, RS FR WR
Another popular name around the 40 acres this spring was Parker Livingstone. Going into his RS FR year, he is going to be called on to make some big plays for the Horns this year. Sarkisian did bring in Emmett Mosley from Stanford to spread the wealth, but I think Livingstone will be hard to keep off the field. It sounds like him and Arch Manning have a great rapport and I expect Livingstone to be a household name this fall.
Maraad Watson, SO DT
If you watched the Syracuse Orange last year, you heard this name called a lot. Freshman All-American from a year ago and now has found his way to Austin. 30 tackles and 1 sack in 2024 and although Texas brought in a number of DT transfers, this guy will be a huge part of the rotation. He will likely not be asked to be on the field as much as he was last year, which can be a huge boost for DTs, as we've seen with a guy like Alfred Collins last year. Watson is going to be a factor in the program for the next two years at least, but I think 2025 will be plenty productive for the Syracuse transfer.
Colton Vasek, RS SO JACK
This seems to be the forgotten name in the Texas edge rusher room. Colin Simmons rightfully getting tons of national love. Trey Moore and Ethan Burke being two others that are talked about plenty, but Colton Vasek is someone that is sitting quietly right behind ready to perform. Vasek only played in 5 games last year, but was able to get a pair of sacks. He is a very talented player and with all eyes on Colin Simmons or Trey Moore, Colton Vasek could be in line for a nice 2025 campaign.
Brad Spence, JR MLB
The second transfer on this list comes by way of Arkansas, and he is yet another pass rush piece for Texas. Incredible athlete, sideline to sideline speed and really stout at the point of attack. Spence, like Vasek, will benefit greatly because of who is next to him. Anthony Hill Jr. is one of, if not the best LB in the country and will be getting a lot of the attention. That allows a guy like Brad Spence to roam a bit more and particularly be effective in 3rd down, pass rush situations.
There are plenty of other names, including the incoming freshman WR duo of Kaliq Lockett and Jamie Ffrench. Texas will need some of these guys that are unknown outside Austin to become big time players and household names this year. Those five guys will be a huge part of that equation.