Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed the reason running back Jerrick Gibson and kicker Will Stone entered the transfer portal is because they wanted to redshirt and play at another program next season.
“Who will take those carries? Everybody,” Sarkisian said. “Whether that’s Tre [Quintrevion Wisner], whether that’s Christian [Clark], whether that’s James [Simon], or whether that’s Cedric [Baxter] when he gets back. We’ve got ample bodies, so we should be okay in that aspect.”
Sarkisian also said Mason Shipley will continue to handle kickoff duties in Stone’s absence.
Sarkisian also voiced his support for a potential “five-in-five” rule, which would let athletes compete in five full seasons within a five-year window, eliminating the need for redshirts, waivers, or other eligibility exceptions.
“I’ve been an advocate for five-for-five,” Sarkisian said. “I’ve said it all along. I think it’s a terrible position to put these players in — to make these decisions right now. There’s money involved, there’s revenue sharing, there’s NIL, there are different factors.
“It’s putting agents, family members, and student-athletes in a difficult position to make business decisions in the middle of the season. But that’s where we’re at. I’m not here to complain about it; it’s just the reality of the situation.
“So, when a player asks to do that, I thank them for their time and wish them the best of luck. What else are we supposed to do at that juncture? These are the rules we’ve put in place, and we’ve got to operate within those parameters.”
