For Jalen Catalan, Austin is at the other end of the transfer portal.
Catalan announced on Monday that he would move to Texas. 5-10, 201-pound safe, Catalon has spent the last four seasons in Arkansas.
During the 2020 season in Arkansas, Catalon was honored by the SEC. However, his 2021 and 2022 seasons were cut short by shoulder injuries. In total, Catalan had 159 tackles and five interceptions in 21 games with the Razorbacks.
In Texas, Catalan joins a minor player who is not without talent in the safety position. Jerryn Thompson was a full starter last season, while Michael Taaffe and Keitan Crawford earned playing time. Austin Jordan, BJ Allen and Larry Turner-Gooden were four-star recruits in the class of 2022. But Anthony Cook, who started 12 times this fall, has exhausted his right.
Catalan’s transfer comes several years after UT tried to lure him to Austin during the 2019 recruiting cycle. Then the four-star prospect from Mansfield, Catalan planned to play football and baseball if he signed with Texas.
Four years later, the Catalan move appears to be linked to one sport. He didn’t play baseball in Arkansas.
Catalan becomes the third player to join the Longhorns this offseason. Former Stanford player Ryan Sanborn and former Wake Forest quarterback Gavin Holmes had previously signed with Texas.
Several players have also left Texas via the transfer portal. Quarterback Hudson Card (Purdue), offensive linemen Junior Anguilau (OR) and Andrei Karic (TN) and wide receiver Troy Omair (Rizona) are among the notable Longhorns who have found new homes. Veteran quarterback Ovi Ogufo announced last week that after two seasons at UT, he would spend his final year elsewhere.
