On Monday, a third Texas Longhorns player announced their plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal in the January window with redshirt freshman defensive tackle Melvin Hills III joining redshirt freshman quarterback Trey Owens and redshirt sophomore running back CJ Baxter in departing the Forty Acres.
Hills prepares to depart the Longhorns program as head coach Steve Sarkisian holds exit meetings with players following the conclusion of the regular season.
Out of Lafayette Christian Academy in Louisiana, Hills was one of two defensive tackle signees for the Longhorns in the 2024 recruiting class as position coach Bo Davis missed on multiple top targets before returning to Baton Rouge to work for the Tigers. A consensus three-star prospect, Hills was the lowest-ranked non-specialist in the class as a consensus three-star prospect slated as the No. 685 player nationally and the No. 77 defensive lineman, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
After redshirting in 2024, Hills failed to crack the depth chart this season, playing 28 snaps in wins over San Jose State, UTEP, Sam Houston, and Arkansas, recording a tackle against the Spartans.
