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Texas safety Derek Williams Jr. plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by: Keegan Pope12/11/25bykeeganpope

Texas redshirt sophomore safety Derek Williams Jr. plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons with the Longhorns, he told On3’s Hayes Fawcett.

The New Iberia, Louisiana native appeared in 29 games across his three years on the Forty Acres, registering 76 tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception. He had a breakout season as a true freshman in 2023 with 42 tackles, but suffered a season-ending injury the following year and only appeared in four games in 2024.

He returned in 2025, but primarily served as a backup to senior Michael Taaffe, a second-team All-American last season.

Williams will now head into the portal next month as one of the highest-upside prospects in the country after signing with Texas as the nation’s No. 6 safety recruit in the Class of 2023.

He is expected to have two years of eligibility remaining at his next destination.

Scouting Williams as a high school prospect

At the time of his signing Rivals’ Scouting and Rankings Team wrote this about him as a recruit:

“Williams is a big-framed, physical safety who plays with a knock-your-head-off mentality. Measured at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds with a 32.5-inch arm and 10-inch hand prior to his senior season. Has positional versatility on the defensive side of the ball as a back seven defender. Shows off his explosiveness and overall athleticism on the basketball court (one of the area’s top players) and as a running back on offense. Flies downhill and runs the alley as good as any prospect in the 2023 cycle. Lines up as a corner, center field safety, down in the box as a backer and occasionally off the edge as a pass rusher. Tends to play in the box more than in deep coverage. Was kicked out to corner when facing top wide receivers on Friday nights and held up well in coverage. Has shown encouraging signs in coverage but still remains a projection there relative to some other top safeties. Should be able to tack on considerable mass once in a college strength program with his big frame.”