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On Wednesday morning, the transfer portal claimed another Longhorn in Elijah Barnes. The talented linebacker was ranked as the No. 78 prospect and No. 3 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting class. While his playing time was limited as a true freshman, he flashed the form that made him a human highlight reel in high school.
During the 2025 campaign, Barnes appeared in three regular season games and recorded four total tackles. He also added one sack to his resume while getting playing time against San Jose State, Sam Houston, and Arkansas. His decision to enter the portal surprised some, as Barnes showed during the Longhorns bowl game win over Michigan that he could, at the very least, be a rotation piece in 2026.
As Barnes closes his book on his Longhorns career, he is expected to be a popular player in the portal. Before committing to Texas, the Skyline High Alum received offers from some of the top programs in the nation. That list includes Ohio State, which hosted Barnes for a visit. Depending on how Barnes' markets develop, it will be interesting to see if the Buckeyes enter the mix.
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Over the last few weeks, the Longhorns have seen their depth tested as players decide where to spend the 2026 campaign. Texas has also lost Daniel Cruz, Parker Livngstone, Quintrevion Wisner, Connor Stroh, Neto Umeozulu, and Caleb Chester to the portal. While Steve Sarkisian and his staff have some work to do, they have been busy improving the roster with the additions of Bo Mascoe, Gianni Spetic, and Ian Geffrard.
For teams that need help on defense, Barnes is an intriguing prospect. While there is not a lot of tape of him at Texas, he drew the praise of many scouts in high school. That should help draw interest as Barnes looks to find a program that will allow him to thrive with more playing time.
Although Barnes will be missed at the Forty Acres, he has the potential to be a very good player if he is in the right situation.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Talented Texas Football LB Elijah Barnes enters transfer portal
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