The Texas Longhorns continue to add to the 2026 roster with Thursday’s pledge from former Michigan State Spartans linebacker Darius Snow on a visit to the Forty Acres.
The son of Michigan State standout point guard Eric Snow was granted a seventh season of eligibility by the NCAA in December after entering the NCAA transfer portal.
Advertisement
A member of the 2020 recruiting class with players like former Texas star Bijan Robinson, Snow signed with Michigan State out of Lewsville Hebron over 27 other offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M. Snow was a consensus four-star prospect ranked as the No. 430 player overall and the No. 27 outside linebacker, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
After playing in six games on special teams as a freshman, making three tackles on the kickoff coverage unit, Snow had a breakout season in 2021, starting the final nine games, including eight at nickel back at one at safety, and notching 87 tackles (61 solo, 26 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, three pass break ups, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Snow also served as a core contributor on special teams. Against Ohio State, Snow recorded a career-high 16 tackles.
Snow made the move to linebacker during spring practice and started there in the 2022 season opener against Western Michigan, but suffered a devastating left injury in a nasty collision with a teammate that ended his season, returning in the third week of the season in 2023, playing in four games before missing the final six games.
In 2024, Snow started two games at linebacker while contributing on special teams again with seven tackles in the third phase to total 29 on the season, then continued to play a rotation role on defense and special teams last year with 34 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and one quarterback hurry in 232 snaps on defense and 150 on special teams.
Advertisement
Snow remains a solid tackler, but his coverage ability and run defense have suffered since his injury, keeping him from consistently earning a starting role again, but he’s a proven special teams contributor who will add depth and veteran leadership for the Longhorns, joining a position room that now features eight players, an improvement over the 2025 season.
Though Snow is now limited athletically, he’s a survivor who committed to Mark Dantonio before playing for three other Michigan State head coaches, three defensive coordinators, and five position coaches in addition to battling his way through the Covid-19 pandemic and the serious injury.
“Ever since I’ve came to Michigan State, I’ve experienced adversity,” Snow said three years ago. “Basically from a couple weeks when I stepped on campus I’ve experienced adversity in some way. Some directly affected me, some inadvertently affected me. But it’s made me a better man, it’s grown me.”
