Texas football general manager Brandon Harris has reportedly agreed to terms on a new contract, making him one of the highest-paid college football front office officials in the country, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, though the terms of the deal have yet to be announced.
Before ascending to the GM role in February 2024, Harris served as the program’s director of recruiting since head coach Steve Sarkisian’s arrival in 2021.
“I wanted to make sure that I had somebody in that role that I was connected to on another level and I think my time with Brandon has allowed me to do that,” Sarkisian said after Harris’ promotion last year. “I think he thinks a lot like me, which is important — as much as I try to kind of oversee it all, I want to make sure if I can’t be in a meeting that somebody is thinking and speaking on my behalf that is on the same wavelength as me.”
Harris, once a highly touted recruit himself, made 15 starts as a quarterback at LSU where he threw for 2,756 yards and 20 touchdowns along with 10 interceptions before transferring to North Carolina for his senior season.
Now, as a general manager, Harris is responsible for roster management, navigating NIL and handling negotiations with agents among other tasks. His contract renewal comes shortly after the news of Steve Sarkisian’s extension.
Under Harris and Sarkisian’s stewardship, the Longhorns are bringing in the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, according to 247sports. This is the first time the program has done so since the recruiting site was founded in 2010.
In the December transfer portal window, Texas welcomed defensive linemen Travis Shaw and Cole Brevard, formerly of North Carolina and Purdue, respectively, while linebacker Brad Spence also arrived on the Forty Acres, transferring from rival Arkansas.
Amari Niblack, a reserve tight end who transferred to Texas from Alabama a year ago following Nick Saban’s retirement, was one of a handful of Longhorns to enter the portal.
The program is tasked with replenishing talent once again, with 11 major contributors having declared for the NFL draft a year after a program-record 11 players were selected in the 2024 NFL draft.
