The Texas Longhorns’ successful run in the transfer portal faced a significant setback on Saturday when Jabbar Muhammad, a former cornerback for the Washington Huskies, chose to commit to the Oregon Ducks after a visit to Eugene, rejecting offers from both the Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Last week, Texas seemed close to securing Muhammad, as head coach Steve Sarkisian took the lead in recruiting him and prioritized him for the program. Sarkisian aimed to secure Muhammad’s commitment to prevent the talented cornerback from considering other options.
However, Muhammad followed through with his plans to visit his former head coach Kalen DeBoer at Alabama and then traveled to Oregon, where he ultimately pledged his commitment. In explaining his decision, Muhammad emphasized his desire to be on a competitive team, reach the playoffs, showcase his talents in various ways, and position himself for success in the NFL.
Muhammad, initially a consensus three-star prospect in the 2020 class, joined Oklahoma State but later transferred to Washington. During his time with the Cowboys, he played in 31 games, starting 13, and recorded 71 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble. After transferring, Muhammad excelled as one of the nation’s top cover cornerbacks, contributing 46 tackles, three interceptions, two sacks, and one fumble recovery.
Despite the miss on Muhammad, Texas now faces a need at boundary cornerback that must be addressed through the transfer portal in the upcoming spring window. While Texas secured several high-profile recruits in the portal, Oregon successfully outcompeted Sarkisian and his staff for Muhammad and Houston defensive tackle transfer Ja’Marree Caldwell, preventing the Longhorns from assembling their ideal group of transfers.
