The Longhorns’ defense took another hit on Thursday afternoon. Texas native Zina Umeozulu decided to enter the transfer portal after just two years with the program. While the talented EDGE received limited playing time, he flashed his potential when he was on the field.
After redshirting his freshman year and playing one snap, Umeozulu carved out a role for himself during the 2025 campaign. In 12 games, the Allen High Alum recorded 13 total tackles, including two for a loss. He also added two sacks to his resume, with one coming against UTEP.
While the former four-star recruit was a rotation piece, he was trusted against some of the best teams in the country. That includes Georgia and Arkansas. He was also able to record a tackle against Oklahoma when the Longhorns were in need of a win after a disappointing loss to Florida. Due to Umeozulu’s success, he should generate interest from teams looking for help on defense.
Coming out of high school, the former four-star recruit was ranked as the 21st best EDGE in his class by 247Sports. They also ranked him as the 40th-best player from Texas. Before committing to the Longhorns, Umeozulu received offers from Oregon, Georgia Tech, SMU, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Michigan, Georgia, and Texas A&M.
With starter Ethan Burke exhausting his eligibility, Umeozulu was in line to receive more playing time had he stayed with the program. However, the Longhorns will now be looking for his replacement. While Steve Sarkisian and his staff have many holes to fill, they have already been busy signing some of the top players available, including Raleek Brown.
Over the next few weeks, it will be interesting to see how Umeozulu’s market develops. He had flashes of being a productive player during the 2025 campaign and could thrive in a bigger role. With three years of eligibility remaining, Umeozule will have plenty of time to make an impact at his next stop.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Longhorns lose EDGE Zina Umeozulu to transfer portal
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
