The Texas Longhorns are expected to retain redshirt freshman defensive tackle Sydir Mitchell, according to a report from Horns247, after Mitchell announced his intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday before reversing course on Thursday.
Inside Texas confirmed the news shortly thereafter.
It’s a significant decision by Mitchell because Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, Bill Norton, and Jermayne Lole are out of eligibility following the 2024 season and three other defensive tackles have departed via the transfer portal since the winter window opened on Monday. So defensive tackle remains a priority for the Longhorns in the transfer portal, but slightly less pressing with Mitchell expected to remain on the Forty Acres.
A 6’6, 350-pounder out of Patterson (N.J.) Bergen Catholic, Mitchell was a consensus four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class ranked as the No. 205 player nationally and the No. 25 defensive lineman, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. Mitchell held 20 offers during his original recruitment, including Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and USC. He took official visits to Georgia, Miami, and Texas A&M before committing to Texas in July of 2022.
In 2023, Mitchell redshirted while appearing in four games with three tackles, playing 17 total snaps. But during the offseason, Mitchell gained a significant amount of weight — on the spring roster, he was listed at 372 pounds, up 37 pounds from his listed weight last season, which drew the ire of the coaching staff.
And once the season started, Mitchell had a sideline incident in the Louisiana-Monroe game as a result of frustration about his lack of playing time. He didn’t make another appearance until playing 10 snaps, tying his season high. But after the Texas A&M game, Mitchell separated himself from his teammates celebrating at Kyle Field, a notable decision on such a tight-knit team.
Mitchell ultimately played 36 snaps across six games in 2024, recording two tackles and two defensive stops.
