Texas Longhorns senior left-handed pitcher Ace Whitehead announced his entrance into the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer on Tuesday.
A quarterback at Lampasas, the 5’11, 175-pounder signed with Texas in the 2021 recruiting class as the No. 500 prospect and No. 164 left-handed pitcher, according to Perfect Game.
Whitehead played in the outfield as a freshman, batting .556 in 25 games with one start, but struggled at the plate the following season in three starts, hitting .111. In 16 appearances on the mound, Whitehead showed promise, going 4-0 with a 4.10 ERA and one save in 16 appearances, striking out 24 batters in 26.1 innings.
As Texas dealt with inconsistent pitching in 2024, Whitehead emerged as an unexpected weekend starter, posting a 4-2 ledger with a 4.16 ERA and a complete game against Baylor while holding opponents to a .237 batting average.
Whitehead was sidelined in 2025 after requiring surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, opting to redshirt instead of making any late-season appearances.
Following Sunday’s season-ending loss to UTSA in the Austin Regional, Whitehead is the fifth player to depart the program, joining third baseman/outfielder Sam Richardson, outfielder Matt Scott, outfielder Donovan Jordan, and left-handed pitcher Chance Covert.