Darius James, the nation's No. 1-ranked offensive guard in the class of 2013 according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, is transferring from Texas. The 6-foot-6-inch, 320-pound lineman has been given his unconditional release and is free to transfer anywhere, including to schools within the Big 12, once he wraps up the spring semester at Texas.

A source close to James who told Horns247 of the transfer said James has put out feelers to multiple Power Five schools who've shown interest. It's unclear where James will head next, but he'll have three seasons to play two when he arrives at his new destination.

An Under Armour All-American and a five-star prospect out of Harker Heights, James saw action in six games with two starts during his redshirt freshman season. James' 2014 season was cut short in November with a knee injury, a predicament that was likely going to cost him time on the field during the 2015 season.

James is the fifth offensive lineman to leave the program since the current staff arrived, joining Rami Hammad (transfer to Baylor), Kennedy Estelle (dismissed last fall), Desmond Harrison (withdrew from school after the fall semester) and Curtis Riser (transfer to Sam Houston State). Sources have indicated to Horns247 redshirt freshman offensive lineman Alex Anderson is an attrition candidate as well.

James, along with Hammad, Harrison, Kent Perkins and Jake Raulerson were part of a 2013 offensive line signing class expected to be the cornerstone of that position group in the future at Texas. With James leaving, Perkins and Raulerson are the only two remaining on the roster entering the 2015 season.