Texas football retains DL Justus Terry

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While the transfer portal has closed, the Texas Longhorns haven’t stopped making headlines. They have reportedly re-signed defensive lineman Justus Terry for the 2026 campaign. After appearing in ten games during his freshman campaign, the former five-star recruit will look to build on his success as a sophomore. 

During his first season as a Longhorn, Terry recorded eight total tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. While his playing time was limited, the Manchester High Alum showed in flashes why he was one of the top players in his class. That has created excitement for what his future in Austin holds. 

Against some of the top programs in the country, Steve Sarkisian trusted the Georgia native. Terry got playing time against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Georgia, Texas A&M, and Florida. In those situations, his own, recording a quarterback hurry against Texas A&M and making life difficult for offensive coordinators.

Although the Longhorns have been busy adding through the portal, they have also retained a few key pieces. Along with Terry, Warren Roberson, Kobe Black, and Zina Umeozulu will also be back after testing the portal waters. That group will look to help the Longhorns return to the College Football Playoff and make a deep postseason run. 

By keeping Terry in the mix, Texas also secured a win over an SEC rival. The Georgia Bulldogs were reportedly expected to pursue the Longhorns defensive lineman if he had entered the portal. Now they will have to find another way to improve their defense. 

With one year under his belt, Terry will be poised for a bigger role as a Sophomore. If he can meet expectations, then the Longhorns will have another star on defense to rely on in one of the best conferences in the nation.

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Football defensive lineman Justus Terry returning for 2026

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