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Texas A&M Football: Transfer Portal Wish List and Top Needs

By Graham Harmon

Nov 11, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) runs the ball to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) runs the ball to the end zone for a touchdown during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jalen Catalon Texas A&M football
Texas defensive back Jalen Catalon (11) tackles Kansas wide receiver Doug Emilien (5) in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns’ game against the Kansas Jayhawks, Saturday, Sept. 30 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Texas won the game 40-14. /

Texas A&M Football Transfer Portal Targets: S Jalen Catalon, Texas

Speaking of the Longhorns, they are losing one of their top defensive backs to the portal in Jalen Catalon. Texas A&M football fans will remember Catalon’s name as a longtime Razorback before he entered the portal last year. The Aggies reportedly made a bid for his services, but he obviously ended up in Austin. By all reports, he acquitted himself well on the field, as was expected given how he played in Fayetteville. Nevertheless, following injury, the Longhorns questionably never put him back out on the field, and he is now looking elsewhere to conclude his college career.

As I mentioned, the Aggies were a suitor for Catalon when he was coming out of Arkansas last year. Given that fact and that he is from the state of Texas, not to mention the need the Aggies will have at safety now that Demani Richardson is NFL-bound, Texas A&M football seems like a natural fit for Catalon.

The safety out of Mansfield measures 5’10” and 202 LBs. He’s struggled with some significant injuries during his time in college, including a back injury that ended his final season at Arkansas almost before it started. In 2020 and 2021, he recorded 5 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles to go along with 145 total tackles. This past year, he only recorded 17 tackles before injury sent him to the bench, but he did notch a forced fumble. Catalon would be a great add to the Aggie defensive backfield, and now that Elko has hired a DB coach, hopefully we hear some good news on this front soon.