Longhorns ‘Senior Day’ will combine emotional farewell with high-stakes clash against Kentucky

The Texas Longhorns honor a very special senior class Saturday. But the team is still focused on important clash with Kentucky.

Saturday will mark the final home game for the Texas Longhorns seniors. This class of seniors was instrumental in rebuilding UT into the title contending power the program aspires to be. But it won’t be just a stroll down memory lane. There is an important football game to be played and won.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian feels it is important to stop and reflect on the accomplishments of this senior class. “[I’m] looking forward to celebrating Senior Day,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said “A lot of these guys have done so much work for us and have been such catalysts for our culture and what we do. And so to celebrate them, I’m looking forward to that.”

Sark says the team culture buy-in from these seniors helped guide the Longhorns program ‘back.’ “These guys bought in,” Sarkisian said. “And when it got difficult year one, year two, they didn’t jump off and go somewhere else. They stayed the course with what we were trying to do. And so, super grateful for these guys and I owe a ton to them.”

Fifth-year senior Alfred Collins is a good example. The defensive lineman wasn’t a consistent starter before this season. There were several players head of him on the depth chart and his play had been uneven.

But Collins never entered the transfer portal hoping to start sooner. “This is home,” he said. This season, the Bastrop native has started every game and is just won the SEC Defensive Lineman of the week.

Thorpe Award semifinalist Jahdae Barron has also shown growth over his time on the 40 Acres. Barron was also a Thorpe semifinalist last year and could have gone pro, but instead chose to return to Texas to help the Longhorns achieve their goals. “It was sad last year, but this one really knowing that I actually can’t come back ever again, I’m gonna drop some real gangsta tears out there,” Barron said.

Senior tight end Gunnar Helm praised Barron for his leadership. “It’s massive to have a leader like that come back,” Helm said. “And he’s played a lot of college football, so to have him back this year to hopefully go on a championship run, it would speak volumes to Jahdae’s character.”

Senior EDGE Barryn Sorrell discussed how his emotions on Senior Day will stem from finding a home at UT in 2021, not just within the team, but also with the fanbase. “Any opportunity to play is definitely special, but just knowing that this is the last time that I’ll be playing in front of Longhorn Nation at home, just knowing that going into my freshman year, Longhorn Nation took me in with open arms, I just want to obviously leave a good taste in their mouth,” Sorrell said. “I really want to enjoy this experience with my teammates.”

As emotional as it will be for the seniors, the team has an incredibly important game to play after the flowers are passed out. A dangerous Kentucky team comes to Austin hoping to wreck Texas’ playoff ambitions. UK lost by just a point to Georgia and beat Old Miss. If the Horns don’t play well, the season could come crashing down on a day that’s supposed to be of celebration.

But Helm said the Longhorns Bond will ensure the team is ready when they take the field at 2:30 PM CT at DKR. “Obviously, we’re very close,” Helm said. “We all want to win for each other. So I think that’s why everyone’s here.”