Texas is trending to retain perhaps its second most important returning player behind starting quarterback Quinn Ewers.
According to multiple reports, playmaking defensive tackle Alfred Collins is looking at returning for a final season in Austin. It is the type of return that could launch Texas to another 10-win season and College Football Playoff berth.
Chip Brown of Horns247 reported Collins is expected to come back for another season. The versatile pass rusher is seen as an NFL player despite limited playing time behind arguably the two best defensive tackles in college football: Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat. With those two departing, Collins is needed for the 2024 squad. With him, Texas can duplicate its 2023 success.
There is a history at Texas of veteran players returning for a fifth or sixth season and breaking out in their final year. Keondre Coburn went from NFL afterthought to NFL draft pick in last season’s draft after an impressive 2022 campaign. T’Vondre Sweat, of course, won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year this season.
Collins has the ability to have a late career surge under defensive line coach Bo Davis just like his two defensive tackle predecessors. Fellow interior defensive linemen Trill Carter and Sydir Mitchell stand to benefit from a Collins return as well.
The former five-star recruit could maximize the Longhorns’ loaded edge room that could include Barryn Sorrell, Ethan Burke, UTSA transfer Trey Moore and five-star freshman Colin Simmons. With playmaking from the interior, the edges could have more freedom to make plays of their own.
We will continue to monitor Collins’ decision as well as that of Barryn Sorrell and other Longhorns upperclassmen.
Our @ChipBrown247 of @Horns247 is reporting that #Texas DL Alfred Collins is expected to return for another season!!#HookEm pic.twitter.com/fC6x6FPkK7
— Texas Sports Unfiltered (@TSUnfiltered) January 3, 2024