Longhorns add QB depth with acquisition of Coastal Carolina’s MJ Morris from Transfer Portal

Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns added much-needed depth to the quarterback room on Thursday, picking up Coastal Carolina’s MJ Morris from the transfer portal.

Morris, a 6-1, 209 lb. native of Carrollton, Georgia, signed with North Carolina State out of high school. He played in nine games and started in seven of them for the Wolfpack, throwing for 1,367 yards, 14 touchdowns with six interceptions. He also rushed for 103 yards and one touchdown.

Following two seasons in Raleigh, Morris entered the transfer portal and was picked up by Maryland. As a redshirt sophmore, he started one game for the Terrapins and appeared in a total of seven games. He transferred to Coastal Carolina in 2025 and appeared in four games for the Chanticleers, passing for 304 yards and one touchdown.

The addition of Morris, a seasoned quarterback, helps Texas provide depth behind Arch Manning. The Longhorns lost second-string quarterback Matthew Caldwell to eligibility and backup Trey Owens to the transfer portal, leaving redshirt freshman KJ Lacey and the newly signed Dia Bell as the previous names on the depth chart. Bell will likely redshirt, so expect to see Morris compete for snaps behind Manning.