Texas Lands Former Syracuse DT Maraad Watson in Key Transfer Portal Addition

Defensive Tackle Maraad Watson is heading from the ACC to the SEC after a breakout season at Syracuse. 

It didn’t take long for Maraad Watson to find a new home. Just days after entering the transfer portal, the former Syracuse defensive tackle has committed to Texas, giving Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns another formidable presence in the trenches.

Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 310 pounds, Watson brings both size and experience to Austin. He will arrive with three years of eligibility, and expectations are high for what he can contribute to a defense that already set the standard in the SEC last season.

Watson becomes the second significant defensive line addition for Texas in recent days, joining former Maryland standout Lavon Johnson, who made headlines with a swift flip from North Carolina to the Longhorns last week.

Texas has landed former Syracuse freshman standout DL Maraad Watson

Watson was one of the best freshman DL in the nation last season. He was credited with 10 QB pressures, 1 sack, 3 batted passes pic.twitter.com/cdvW94kqjG

— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) April 22, 2025

Watson’s 2024 Breakout Season

Watson emerged as a force for Syracuse in 2024, starting 11 games at defensive tackle. His stat line was a reflection of his disruptive potential: 31 total tackles, 1.5 for loss, one sack, 10 quarterback pressures, and three batted passes. More than just numbers, Watson’s ability to occupy blockers and collapse the pocket gave Syracuse’s defense an edge in the ACC. Now, that talent shifts to the SEC.

For Texas, a program looking to build on last season’s defensive dominance, Watson fills a need and raises the ceiling. In 2024, the Longhorns held opponents to a league-best 283.4 yards of total offense—a mark of their discipline, depth, and strength at every level of the defense.

Watson’s arrival adds yet another weapon to a unit determined to stay at the top.

A Star from the Start

Before he was making noise in college, Watson was already turning heads at Irvington High School in New Jersey. A former three-star prospect and member of the Rivals 100, he racked up 72 tackles and 15 sacks as a senior, drawing attention from top programs around the country.

His move to Texas signals not just a return to form but an opportunity to elevate his game in one of college football’s most competitive environments.

Following the addition of Syracuse DT Maraad Watson… pic.twitter.com/e5LAIpwDoG

— Geoff Ketchum (@gkketch) April 22, 2025

Watson’s quick decision underscores the intensity of the spring transfer portal window, which opened on April 16 and remains active for 10 days. This window is crucial for teams fine-tuning their rosters ahead of the summer, and Texas has wasted no time making high-impact moves.

As rosters shift and players seek new opportunities, Watson’s transition to Texas is emblematic of the evolving college football landscape. With transfer rules and windows becoming a key part of roster management, coaches like Sarkisian are capitalizing—bringing in players who can make an immediate difference.

Looking Ahead in Austin

With Watson now part of the fold, Texas solidifies its defensive front. His experience, combined with the recent addition of Lavon Johnson, gives the Longhorns a powerful interior rotation capable of anchoring the defense for seasons to come.

And for Watson, the next chapter begins—under the lights, in the heart of Texas, with everything to prove and everything to gain.