The Texas Longhorns football team has added depth to its running back position with the arrival of Velton Gardner. The former Kansas and SMU running back announced his decision to join Texas via his Instagram account on Wednesday night. Gardner had previously entered the transfer portal in February, and his move to Texas was first reported by On Texas Football.
Earlier this week, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was asked about the possibility of bringing in a running back through the transfer portal following season-ending injuries to CJ Baxter (knee) and Christian Clark (Achilles). Sarkisian acknowledged the need for reinforcements and stated that the team had an open roster spot.
He mentioned they were exploring all options, including graduate transfers, but emphasized that they didn’t want to add a player just for the sake of filling a spot. Instead, they wanted someone who could contribute, whether in a limited or significant role.
By bringing in the 5-foot-9, 189-pound Gardner, Texas secures a player with significant college football experience. Gardner, a three-star recruit from Dallas in the 2019 recruiting class, spent three seasons at Kansas, where he started six games and was the team’s leading rusher in 2020. Over the past two seasons, he played 18 games for SMU.
Throughout his college career, Gardner has rushed for a total of 1,024 yards, giving the Longhorns a veteran presence in their backfield as they navigate the challenges caused by injuries to their key running backs. His experience and versatility will be valuable as Texas looks to strengthen its rushing attack for the upcoming season.