The Horns hosted the former Terrapin on Thursday.
Former Maryland Terrapins defensive tackle Lavon Johnson committed to the North Carolina Tar Heels on Friday following a visit with the Texas Longhorns in Austin on Thursday.
BREAKING: Maryland transfer DL Lavon Johnson has signed with North Carolina, @PeteNakos_ reports https://t.co/GmZKd2FBvQ pic.twitter.com/i8y46tqDCt
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal_) April 18, 2025
Johnson announced his intentions to enter the NCAA transfer portal on April 11 with two seasons of eligibility remaining. During the winter window, Johnson entered the portal before withdrawing several days later.
As a true freshman in 2023, Johnson appeared in six games, recording five tackles and one sack before notching 19 tackles, one sack, and 1.5 tackles for a loss in eight games in 2024. He projected as a starter in 2025, which is why head coach Mike Locksley and his staff were intent on recruiting him out of the portal in December.
Johnson missed several games with injury during the 2024 season and only played 164 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, recording three quarterback hurries and eight defensive stops.
Texas has a remaining need at the defensive tackle position after four players exhausted their eligibility and four entered the NCAA transfer portal. In the 2022 recruiting class, the Longhorns have lost all three defensive tackles, as well as the only defensive tackle take in the 2023 class. As a result, Texas took three defensive tackles out of the portal last year and three during the winter window with the potential to take two more during the spring window.