Not long ago, the narrative around the Texas Football program was the Longhorns don’t produce enough NFL talent. Now, it seems maybe UT produces too much.
With the deadline to declare for the NFL Draft on Wednesday (for players not in the national championship game), a slew of Longhorns are forgoing the rest of their college eligibility and heading to the NFL.
So far, 19 Longhorns have declared their intentions to enter the NFL Draft. The biggest name, Texas QB Quinn Ewers, added his name to the list on Wednesday.
Some big names from the 2024 CFP semifinalists have declared so far, including Gunnar Helm, Isaiah Bond, Andrew Mukuba and Kelvin Banks Jr. There are also some names on the list that might be less familiar to the casual Longhorns fan.
Obviously, teams lose players to the NFL Draft every year. But as the quality of the team rises, so do the number of quality players. Good players want to get to the league as quickly as they can.
Here are the latest Longhorns to declare for the NFL Draft:
QB Quinn Ewers
— Quinn Ewers (@QuinnEwers) January 15, 2025
TE Gunnar Helm
Texas TE Gunnar Helm declares for the 2025 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/yvVjt84lqA
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) January 14, 2025
WR Isaiah Bond
Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond is leaving school early to enter the NFL draft, he told ESPN. Bond projects as one of the fastest players in the upcoming draft, and he ranks as the No. 6 wide receiver in Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL draft rankings. pic.twitter.com/jqi4XxSc3H
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 14, 2025
DB Andrew Mukuba
— Andrew Mukuba ¹ (@Andrewmukuba2) January 13, 2025
WR Matthew Golden
Matthew Golden, Texas’ leading wide receiver in 2024, tells ESPN he’s leaving school early and declaring for the NFL Draft. He had team-highs with 987 yards and 9 receiving touchdowns. He finished with 54 catches and averaged 17 yards per catch. pic.twitter.com/VB552pIxQ5
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 13, 2025
RB Jaydon Blue
Love y’all longhorn nation ! #23out pic.twitter.com/QjkcYw32be
— DA BLUEPRINT (@Jaydonblue23) January 12, 2025
LT Kelvin Banks Jr.
Kelvin Banks Jr. has entered the NFL Draft
Likely top 10 pick pic.twitter.com/im3UsGH98I
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) January 12, 2025
RT Cameron Williams
Texas star RT Cameron Williams is leaving school early to enter the NFL draft, he told ESPN. Williams is a true junior who projects as prototype NFL tackle, at 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds. ESPN’s Field Yates projects Williams as the No. 28 overall pick in his latest mock draft. pic.twitter.com/AZ0T1ME7FY
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 14, 2025
C Jake Majors
Thank you, Texas!
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.””
– Deuteronomy 31:6 pic.twitter.com/VEgoXdMiQD— Jake Majors (@jakob_majors) January 13, 2025
OL Hayden Conner
#respectmydecision pic.twitter.com/SzWaoznZbP
— Hayden Conner (@HaydenConner) January 12, 2025
DL Alfred Collins
BREAKING NEWS:
Alfred Collins is graduating and will enter his name into the 2025 NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/Sdf2eIziIv
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) January 14, 2025
LB Morice Blackwell Jr.
Texas LB Morice Blackwell Jr. declares for the 2025 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/Ky0FInfxIK
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) January 14, 2025
DL Bill Norton
On to the next chapter!!! Hook em pic.twitter.com/nESvFEA1t6
— Bill Norton (@billlnorton) January 14, 2025
DT Vernon Broughton
Vernon Broughton Has Declared for the NFL Draft pic.twitter.com/emM7tTkkd3
— Orangebloods.com (@orangebloods_) January 13, 2025
LB David Gbenda
Linebacker David Gbenda has declared for the NFL draft
A true example of developing and waiting your turn in the Texas program. Then he set the example for young LBs like Lefau and Hill Jr.#HookEm | #Texas pic.twitter.com/ymeEJmA0Ij
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) January 14, 2025
DB Gavin Holmes
A thank you letter to everyone that has helped me get where I am today pic.twitter.com/Ahix8xgRPG
— Gavin Holmes (@GAVINH0LMES) January 13, 2025
DL Barryn Sorrell
OFFICIAL! EDGE Barryn Sorrell @BarrynSorrell_ from @TexasFootball is heading to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl!!! #HookEm #BestOfTheBest #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️@JimNagy_SB @PaniniAmerica #RatedRookie pic.twitter.com/0AxjXUp2pF
— Reese's Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) December 11, 2024
DB Jahdae Barron
The latest @BleacherReport #NFL mock draft has two #Longhorns in the first round, including Thorpe Award winning DB @Officia1dae going No. 11 overall.
No. 11 – 49ers – Jahdae Barron
No. 18 – Seahawks – Kelvin Banks@OnTexasFootball pic.twitter.com/ciU9YZU2iq— Blake Munroe (@BlakeMunroeOTF) January 7, 2025
RB Velton Gardner
Texas RB Velton Gardner Has Declared for the Draft pic.twitter.com/P0sGpn6q8Z
— Orangebloods.com (@orangebloods_) January 14, 2025