Could Robert Griffin III Have Opted for Texas Over Baylor in a Hypothetical Transfer Scenario?

What if Robert Griffin III had chosen Texas instead of Baylor? He said such a scenario was possible both in today’s college football landscape and during his 2007 recruitment.[/p]

During an appearance on the Joel Klatt Show, Griffin explained that Texas mishandled his recruitment and noted that, in today’s environment, he likely would have transferred to Texas even after early success at Baylor.[/p]

Griffin attended Copperas Cove High School, where he excelled in multiple sports and considered himself “world‑class” in track. However, prominent programs such as Texas and Texas A&M doubted that his slender build, suited for track, would translate to the quarterback position at the collegiate level.[/p]

Baylor, however, had no reservations, and Griffin’s choice was straightforward.[/p]

When Baylor faced Texas on November 8, 2008, late in Griffin’s freshman season, a 3‑6 Baylor squad kept pace with the fifth‑ranked Longhorns in the opening quarter. Griffin’s rushing touchdown and a 55‑yard pass to Kendall Wright knotted the score at 14.[/p]

Texas ultimately pulled ahead, securing a 45‑21 victory. Coach Mack Brown, impressed by Griffin’s performance, approached him at midfield after the game.[/p]

Brown told Griffin, “If you want to transfer to Texas now, we’ll welcome you,” adding, “We really botched your recruitment. We should have asked you to play quarterback rather than safety.”[/p]

In 2008, Griffin was unwilling to endure a year‑long transfer sit‑out to play at Texas and appreciated Baylor’s decision to recruit him as a quarterback, meaning Texas erred first. Nevertheless, he noted that in today’s climate, he might not remain at Baylor.[/p]

Robert Griffin III playing for Baylor in 2011. (Photo by Greg Nelson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Griffin acknowledged that, even with Texas’ earlier misstep, he would have seriously contemplated transferring in 2026, when the transfer portal is commonplace and carries no penalties.[/p]

Nonetheless, the Longhorns captured the 2009 BCS National Championship, and Griffin earned the Heisman Trophy in 2011. Both achieved success, yet the intriguing question persists: How might Texas and Griffin have performed together had they been united in the current transfer‑portal era?[/p]

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