Texas Keeps Justus Terry: A Quiet Offseason Win That Could Pay Big Dividends
In an era where the transfer portal spins like a turnstile and roster turnover is the norm, sometimes the biggest victories don’t come from splashy signings-they come from keeping your own. That’s exactly what Texas just pulled off by retaining defensive lineman Justus Terry for the 2026 season.
This isn’t the kind of move that dominates headlines or lights up social media. But inside the walls of the Texas football facility, it’s a major win.
Terry, a former five-star recruit out of Manchester, Georgia, didn’t post gaudy numbers as a freshman-eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in 10 appearances-but that doesn’t tell the full story. For young defensive linemen, especially in the unforgiving world of SEC football, development isn’t always linear and rarely shows up in the box score. What matters more is trust-and head coach Steve Sarkisian showed early on that he trusted Terry.
Terry was thrown into the fire against some of the SEC’s toughest competition: Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, and Texas A&M. That’s not easing into college football-that’s trial by fire.
And yet, he held his own. Against the Aggies, he even notched a quarterback hurry, offering a glimpse of the disruptive force Texas believed it signed.
And that’s what has Longhorn fans excited: the flashes.
Because for most young defensive linemen, year one is about survival-adjusting to the speed, the size, the technique, and the mental grind of the college game. Very few come in and dominate from day one unless they’re cut from a truly rare cloth.
What you want to see is growth, flashes of potential, and the ability to hold your own. Terry checked those boxes.
Now, with a full year of experience, weight training, and film study behind him, Terry is poised to take a leap. That’s the kind of internal development that championship teams are built on.
But this isn’t just about Terry staying. It’s about who didn’t leave.
Texas also held onto Warren Roberson, Kobe Black, and Zina Umeozulu-three more players who tested the waters but ultimately stayed put. That kind of continuity is invaluable, especially in a sport where roster churn can derail momentum in a hurry.
There’s also a strategic layer to Terry’s decision. Had he entered the portal, Georgia-the powerhouse program from his home state-was expected to make a serious run at him. So Texas didn’t just retain a rising talent; they kept him away from an SEC rival that’s always looking to reload.
That’s a win that won’t show up on any scoreboard, but it matters.
Looking ahead, Terry is expected to play a much bigger role in 2026. More snaps.
More responsibility. More chances to become the game-wrecker Texas envisioned when they landed him out of high school.
Portal wins make headlines. Development wins titles.
And by keeping Justus Terry in Austin, Texas is betting that its next defensive star isn’t coming in from the outside. He’s already here-he just needed a year to get ready.