Sports | North Texas Mean Green Secures 52 Transfer Portal Additions Under New Coach Neal Brown After Record 12-Win Season

North Texas Revolutionizes Roster with 52 Transfer Portal Signees

Following a breakthrough 12-win season, North Texas Mean Green football has welcomed 52 incoming transfers under new head coach Neal Brown, signaling an ambitious rebuild for the 2026 campaign. This massive portal class addresses key departures and infuses the roster with proven talent from Power Four programs, positioning UNT for continued contention in Conference USA.

Neal Brown's Aggressive Portal Strategy Pays Off

Neal Brown, who took over as head coach after the program's record-setting year, has leaned heavily on the transfer portal to reshape the team. Sources indicate the Mean Green approached nearly 50 new players, focusing on depth across the offensive line and defensive production. This approach compensates for significant outflows, including quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins, and wide receiver Wyatt Young, earning the class a strong B+ grade from analysts for its blend of experience and upside.

Key Additions from West Virginia and Beyond

• RB Jahiem White (West Virginia): A breakout star under Brown at WVU, White rushed for 844 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, providing a feature back to anchor the offense.
• DB Jason Cross Jr. (West Virginia): Redshirt freshman defensive back reunites with Brown, bringing high school production of 41 solo tackles and 11 tackles for loss, with three years of eligibility remaining.
• Defensive Backs Galore: Additions like CB Keshawn Davila (Arkansas), DB Cameron Jenkins (Baylor), S Taye Seymour (Auburn), and others fortify the secondary with P4 pedigree.

Further bolstering the unit are offensive linemen and depth pieces from programs like Texas and Emporia State, ensuring comprehensive coverage at every position with at least two players per spot.

Staff Overhaul Complements Roster Build

Brown has swiftly assembled a seasoned coaching staff, announcing six new hires including run game coordinator Mike Bloesch, wide receivers coach Kishawn McClain—a former UNT standout with 336 career tackles—and running backs coach Chad Scott, who brings experience from Texas and six years under Brown at West Virginia. Support staff additions like director of scouting Jarae Thurmond enhance recruiting and operations.

This combination of portal influx and staff expertise underscores Brown's vision: leverage his West Virginia connections and portal savvy to sustain momentum from the 12-win season. With the portal now closed, North Texas enters 2026 with a revamped, battle-tested roster ready to defend its success.