The Alabama product departs the Forty Acres less than four months after arriving from Tuscaloosa.
Former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Kendrick Blackshire won’t appear in a game for the Texas Longhorns after re-entering the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday.
Texas linebacker Kendrick Blackshire has re-entered the transfer portal, @On3sports has learned.
He transferred in this winter from Alabama. In his three years with the Crimson Tide, he totaled 25 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery.https://t.co/VNvB2Ek6qR pic.twitter.com/QbbW3drGrx
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) April 30, 2024
Blackshire has one year of eligibility remaining.
The Duncanville product signed with the Longhorns in January after taking official visits to Texas and Ole Miss following his departure from Alabama in the wake of head coach Nick Saban’s unexpected retirement.
Originally expected to compete for the starting job at middle linebacker, Blackshire started spring practice listed at 261 pounds on the Texas roster, up nearly 30 pounds from his listed weight at Alabama. Head coach Steve Sarkisian said that weight was heavier than the staff preferred.
In the Orange-White game, Blackshire played snaps as the backup to sophomore Anthony Hill Jr., who moved to middle linebacker this spring after playing on the weak side as a freshman.
As a recruit, Blackshire was the No. 168 player overall and the No. 21 linebacker in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, committing early to Alabama and current Texas assistant Jeff Banks during the COVID recruiting season. The Longhorns offered Blackshire as well, along with nearly 30 other programs.
Blackshire appeared in eight games for the Crimson Tide in 2023, racking up 16 tackles and a forced fumble for Alabama while also playing a key role on special teams.
Texas is now at 81 scholarships for the fall with Blackshire becoming the ninth player to depart the program since the spring transfer window opened earlier this month. With Blackshire and S’Maje Burrell both in the portal, the Longhorns are down to six inside linebackers.