The University of Texas football program has been hit with a stunning midseason shake-up that’s sending shockwaves across the college football landscape. Running back Jerrick Gibson and kicker Will Stone — two notable members of the Longhorns roster — have officially left the team and entered the NCAA transfer portal, multiple sources confirmed late Monday night.

The news, first reported by On3Sports and later confirmed by Texas insider Anwar Richardson, has ignited a firestorm of speculation about what’s happening behind the scenes in Austin.

⚡ The Announcement That Rocked the Longhorns

In a terse statement, Richardson wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

“I can confirm that Texas running back Jerrick Gibson is no longer with the Longhorns. He plans to enter the transfer portal. @On3sports was the first to report.”

“In addition, kicker Will Stone is no longer with the program. He plans to enter the transfer portal as well.”

No official comment has yet been issued by head coach Steve Sarkisian or the University of Texas athletics department, but sources close to the program describe a “tense and emotional” few days inside the locker room.

According to early reports, Gibson — a highly touted former 4-star recruit — had grown increasingly frustrated with limited touches in Texas’s offensive rotation, while Stone’s departure reportedly stems from “internal dissatisfaction” and “philosophical differences” with the team’s new special teams strategy.

💣 A Season Already on Edge

For Texas, the timing could not be worse. The Longhorns, currently in the heart of their Big 12 campaign, have been struggling with consistency — and now face questions about team chemistry, leadership, and morale.

Gibson, who joined the Longhorns with sky-high expectations out of IMG Academy, had shown flashes of brilliance in limited carries this season. Many analysts pegged him as a breakout candidate for 2026, but insiders say he felt “boxed out” of meaningful opportunities behind veteran backs.

“Jerrick’s an explosive player, but he’s been frustrated for weeks,” one team source told SportsEdge. “He wanted a bigger role, and when it didn’t come, tensions boiled over.”

Will Stone, meanwhile, had served as Texas’s primary kickoff specialist and backup field-goal kicker. Though less of a headline name, his departure leaves a surprising hole in the team’s depth chart, particularly as the Longhorns head into crucial late-season matchups.

🔥 The Locker Room Eruption

Multiple insiders describe a heated meeting late last week where players voiced frustrations over playing time and communication breakdowns with staff. According to one anonymous source, Gibson “walked out” of a team meeting after an exchange with a position coach.

“It wasn’t a blow-up,” the source clarified. “But it was clear he was done. You could feel it — the energy in the room shifted.”

By Monday morning, both players had cleaned out their lockers. Within hours, their names were listed in the NCAA transfer portal.

The departures come amid growing chatter that several other Longhorns players are “evaluating their options” following what one insider called “a disconnect between talent and opportunity.”

🧨 What It Means for Texas

The sudden exits of Gibson and Stone raise significant questions about Texas’s internal stability — especially as the program continues its transition toward SEC competition next season.

College football analyst Joel Klatt weighed in on the situation:

“You don’t lose guys like Jerrick Gibson in the middle of a season unless something’s seriously off,” Klatt said. “This feels like more than just playing time — it feels like a culture fracture.”

Social media reactions have been fierce. On X, the hashtags #TexasTension and #LonghornExodus trended nationwide within hours. Some fans blamed the coaching staff for mismanaging young talent, while others applauded the players for “taking control of their futures.”

💬 Fan Reactions

The fanbase remains split:

• “Losing Gibson midseason is a gut punch,” one user posted. “That kid had star potential — this is on Sark and the offensive staff.”

• “Will Stone leaving too? What’s happening in Austin?” another wrote. “This isn’t normal.”

• “Good for them,” a fan countered. “If Texas isn’t giving them the platform they deserve, go find it somewhere else. Players have power now.”

🚨 Transfer Portal Impact

Gibson’s entry into the portal will make him one of the most sought-after offensive weapons in the current cycle. With his mix of size, agility, and pass-catching ability, early projections have linked him to programs like Florida State, Alabama, and Oregon — all known for featuring explosive backs in dynamic offenses.

As for Will Stone, sources indicate early interest from Big Ten and ACC schools, particularly programs seeking consistent special teams reliability.

Both players remain immediately eligible to transfer under current NCAA guidelines, provided they maintain academic standing.

🧠 The Sarkisian Question

For Steve Sarkisian, the departures mark a potential crossroads in his tenure at Texas. Known for his offensive genius but sometimes criticized for locker-room management, Sarkisian now faces scrutiny over whether internal morale is slipping amid rising external expectations.

A former assistant coach who worked under Sarkisian told SportsEdge:

“This kind of thing starts small — one frustrated player, one tough conversation — then suddenly it’s two, three, four. Texas has to get ahead of this fast or risk a spiral.”

Texas remains a top-15 program in national rankings, but this sudden turbulence has reignited doubts about whether the Longhorns can sustain championship focus under pressure.

🕯️ The Human Side

Despite the headlines, teammates close to Gibson and Stone say the departures weren’t marked by animosity — just exhaustion.

“We love those guys,” one senior said. “It hurts to lose them, but sometimes you have to do what’s best for you. College football’s a business now.”

That sentiment — echoed across programs nationwide — underscores the new era of player empowerment in college athletics. The transfer portal, once a backup option, has become a defining force reshaping the sport’s culture and rosters week by week.

🧩 What’s Next

Texas will now lean on freshman RB Jaydon Blue and veteran kicker Bert Auburn to fill the gaps left behind. Internally, the focus will shift toward stabilizing morale and avoiding further exits.

As one anonymous staff member put it bluntly:

“We can fix mistakes on film. But once trust starts slipping? That’s harder to rebuild.”

Whether this becomes a blip or a breaking point for the Longhorns remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: the storm inside Austin isn’t over yet.