Former Texas Longhorns running back Savion Red transferred to the Nevada Wolfpack under new head coach Jeff Choate, who had previously served as Steve Sarkisian’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for three seasons.
The 5’10, 240-pounder left Forty Acres following spring practice and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Red, a consensus three-star prospect from Grand Prairie in the 2022 recruiting class, was ranked as the No. 1,414 player nationwide and No. 107 athlete by the 247Sports Composite. As position coach Andre Coleman and the Longhorns failed to recruit wide receivers during that cycle, Red received an offer from Texas in late November 2021, five days after abandoning his long-term commitment to SMU. Red chose Texas on Early Signing Day few weeks later over offers from Kansas and Mississippi Valley State.
Red was named District 8-6A MVP in 2021 after completing 70-of-138 passes for 857 yards and seven touchdowns, 157 rushing attempts for 1,367 yards (8.7 ypc) and 20 touchdowns, and 10 receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown. Red also punted 13 times, returned six punts, and blocked one field goal.
Despite his conventional running back stature, Red began his career at Texas as a wide receiver, catching six passes for 34 yards in nine games as a true freshman.
With better depth at wide receiver after Texas signed three prospects in the 2023 class, Red moved to running back last spring and functioned as the fifth-string running back until starter Jonathon Brooks’ late-season injury pushed Red up the depth chart. Because of his problems carrying the ball in short yardage and in the red zone, Red got action as a Wildcat quarterback, converting 6-of-9 short yardage opportunities on third or fourth down and sprinting for a touchdown in the victory over Houston.
Red ran the ball 30 times for 131 yards this season, including a career-high nine carries for 72 yards in a blowout victory over Texas Tech.
During the spring, however, Red turned up with 240 pounds, up 26 pounds from his recorded weight in 2023, causing head coach Steve Sarkisian to mention that the staff wanted him to lose some of the extra weight.
Red also faced more competition at the position as sophomore Tre Wisner improved and two highly anticipated 2024 signees, Jerrick Gibson and Christian Clark, arrived.
The Grand Prairie native was one of ten Texas athletes who signed with the portal during the spring transfer window. Only linebacker S’Maje Burrell and edge Kris Ross have yet to commit.
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