Last weekend, the Texas football program finished spring ball with their annual intrasquad matchup. Backup quarterback and former five-star mega prospect Arch Manning, the nephew of NFL greats Peyton and Eli Manning, looked great, throwing for three touchdowns while the Longhorns continue their march towards playing in the SEC next fall. On Monday, Texas received good news regarding the transfer portal, landing former Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Bill Norton.
The Longhorns have lost six players to the transfer portal’s spring window, including offensive tackle Payton Kirkland. The former four-star recruit committed to the Colorado Buffaloes football program on Sunday. However, Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian quickly added to the trenches with the addition of Norton.
Former Arizona Wildcats DL Bill Norton: Heading to Austin
Bill Norton becomes the first program addition for Texas football during the transfer portal’s spring window. Norton, the eighth-ranked edge rusher in the class of 2019 according to 247Sports, committed to the Georgia Bulldogs out of Christian Brothers High School in Tennessee. He also held offers from Alabama, Tennessee, and LSU.
BREAKING: Former Arizona DL Bill Norton has Committed to Texas, he tells @on3sports
The 6’6 325 DL totaled 43 Tackles and 2 Forced Fumbles in his college career
Will have 1 year of eligibility remaining https://t.co/lGfd6OVJcH pic.twitter.com/mwJSgoHbX5
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 22, 2024
Norton spent four seasons with Georgia, accumulating 13 tackles and 3.5 TFLs through 20 games. After failing to appear in the team’s College Football Playoff run in 2022, Norton transferred to the Arizona Wildcats. Norton, a six-foot-six, 300-pound pass rusher, collected 32 tackles and 2.5 TFLs across 13 games. He also registered five quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. His best game came against Utah, collecting a career-high six tackles. Additionally, Norton helped the program win ten games in a season for just the fourth time in 90 years.
Texas Football: DL Depth Chart
Entering his sixth college football season, Bill Norton has an excellent chance to play a significant role for the Texas Longhorns next fall. Texas football is fresh off a program-altering season, making the College Football Playoff field for the first time in its nearly ten-year existence. Alongside Norton, the Longhorns added Tiaoalii Savea and Trey Moore through the transfer portal. Savea also comes from Arizona, posting 36 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks across two seasons. Meanwhile, Murphy won the 2023 American Defensive Player of the Year with the UTSA Roadrunners, tallying 45 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, and 14 sacks.
Texas will also return Barryn Sorrell and Vernon Broughton to the defensive line. Sorrell had 37 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and four sacks last year, while Broughton had 17 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, and a sack. The Longhorns allowed only 18.9 points per game in 2023, the 18th-best average in the country.
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