As the 2025 college football season draws to a close and the College Football Playoff picture begins to take shape, the transfer portal has become the next focal point of the college football landscape. Opening officially on January 2, the transfer portal is set to see considerable activity, especially from the Texas Longhorns, who are poised to make significant moves to bolster their roster after several departures.
In a pivotal development, Texas has secured a commitment from former Michigan State tight end Michael Masunas. The 6-foot-5 veteran, who ranks as the eighth-best tight end in the transfer portal according to On3 and among the top 150 players available overall, announced his decision to join the Longhorns via Twitter.
Masunas ended his time at Michigan State with an impressive track record, finishing his redshirt junior season as the team’s fifth-leading receiver and its top tight end. He recorded 19 receptions for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the 2025 season alone. Throughout his career with the Spartans, which included redshirting his freshman year in 2022, Masunas participated in 25 games and accumulated 24 catches for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
A product of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona, Masunas was a highly regarded three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, ranked as the No. 58 tight end nationally and the No. 17 player from Arizona.
With the impending loss of starting tight end Jack Endries—who is declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft after a solid season that featured 33 receptions for 346 yards and three touchdowns—the Longhorns find themselves in need of experienced leadership in their tight end room. Currently, the team has four other tight ends who played this past season, including sophomore Spencer Shannon and redshirt freshman Jordan Washington, who are the most experienced among the group, along with freshmen Nick Townsend and Emaree Winston.
Additionally, with the recruitment of Charlie Jilek, a three-star prospect joining in the 2026 class, Masunas’s arrival serves to fortify what will otherwise be a relatively young tight end group, offering both stability and experience as Texas prepares for the upcoming season. His presence will be crucial as the Longhorns strive for success in 2026, bolstering their offensive capabilities.