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Texas has a group of freshmen that will make immediate impacts.
This past recruiting cycle for Texas is one that can help shape the program for years to come. Continue reading “Steve Sarkisian praises the freshmen class and how talented they are”
Look out for these youngsters!
For the first time since 2009, Texas is favored to win the Big 12 and actually have a legitimate chance to contend for all the marbles.
Two of the reasons it is favored and expected to have this degree of success are the continuity in the coaching staff and all of its returning players. The Longhorns will field one of the most experienced teams in the country in 2023. Their wide receiver, offensive line and defensive line units are among the best in the country.
However, even with all of the seasoned vets across the roster, some young guns stand out and could shine for the Longhorns in 2023. Here are three freshmen I think have that chance:
Texas is going to be good. Wild card players will determine if it is great.
Texas returns its fair share of certainty heading into the 2023 season. Though the team seemingly always has talent, this year’s squad has developed talent. Several preseason predictions seem to confirm that notion.
The Longhorns have a high floor. We know the team is going to get reliable play at receiver, tight end, both tackles, linebacker, cornerback and safety. It’s elsewhere that will determine whether Texas is a conference title contender or simply a good team.
Earlier this offseason we singled out Quinn Ewers as the determining factor for the team’s success. If Ewers plays up to the pedigree that placed him in the same tier as five-star quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, Texas is going to win a Big 12 championship and make the playoff. That outcome should not be expected.
Several players can take pressure away from Ewers. Topping that list are dynamic wide receivers AD Mitchell and Isaiah Neyor. Both Neyor and Mitchell have been slowed by injury despite performing at elite levels when healthy. On the defensive side, All-SEC transfer Jalen Catalon should cover whatever field fellow safety Jerrin Thompson isn’t occupying.
Freshman receiver Johntay Cook. linebacker Anthony Hill and running back Cedric Baxter Jr. are among underclassmen who can make impact contributions. If they do, Texas can push toward heights the program hasn’t seen in a long while.
The Longhorns are likely going to be good this season. Wild cards will determine just how good they play.
These six players weren’t going to be supplanted by Brenen Thompson on the depth chart.
Former Texas wide receiver Brenen Thompson is set to leave Austin, Texas. It appears he plans to transfer to The University of Oklahoma.
Thompson is an excellent athlete and has the ability to make a significant impact at his next stop. Nevertheless, there wasn’t a path onto the two-deep for the player this season due to transfer additions and one of the program’s best ever wide receiver recruiting classes.
We predicted in February that Thompson could fall in the depth chart after running track instead of participating in spring football. That wasn’t a knock against the talented player, but a reflection on how much the receiver room improves with transfer receivers AD Mitchell and Isaiah Neyor.
There wasn’t anything wrong with his decision to run track. Even so, it was head coach Steve Sarkisian’s prerogative to elevate players like Johntay Cook and Casey Cain for working with the team year round. Cook and Cain won that tie breaker and are more polished route runners presently.
Thompson wasn’t going to play many snaps at Texas this season. Here’s a look at the all but solidified two-deep of Longhorns receivers.
The offense put on a show unlike we’re used to seeing in the spring game.
The Texas Longhorns put their 2023 squad on display in Saturday’s Orange and White game. While we don’t want to make too much of the meaningless scrimmage, it looks like a handful of offensive players could be special.
The Texas offense went off in Saturday’s game. The most noticeable contribution came from the trio of Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and AD Mitchell. Heading into the scrimmage, it seemed apparent that the wide receiver room was the strength of the team. That’s a testament to the work head coach Steve Sarkisian has done in receiver recruiting.
When Sarkisian took over at Texas, the cupboard was bare at receiver and offensive linemen. Those positions have vastly transformed as we saw firsthand in Saturday’s exhibition.
Texas’ top two quarterbacks made a number of plays as the offense looked better than usual in spring games. Quinn Ewers looked to have improved at the quarterback position, while Maalik Murphy proved able to step in and win games at the quarterback position.
Let’s look at our takeaways from the spring game.
Play of the day?!
The highlights from Texas’ Orange-White spring game keep coming. Continue reading “WATCH: Texas QB Maalik Murphy finds freshman WR Johntay Cook for 79-yd TD”
Arch Manning, Anthony Hill, Cedric Baxter, Johntay Cook and several others will be making their Texas debut on April 15.
Texas will host the annual Orange-White spring game on Saturday. Continue reading “How to watch Texas’ annual Orange-White spring game on Saturday”
Texas’ freshman class is gaining the respect of the veterans.
14 players from Texas’ highly touted 2023 signing class are already on campus participating in spring ball.
Texas’ 2023 signing class ranked as the No. 3 overall class in the nation. It marks the best group Texas has signed since the 2010 cycle under Mack Brown.
Texas has seen multiple freshmen come in and make an immediate impact over the past couple of seasons. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy (2021) and offensive lineman Kelvin Banks (2022) earned freshman All-American honors for the Longhorns.
The trend of breakout freshman stars has a good chance to continue for Texas this upcoming season.
Former five-star Arch Manning, Anthony Hill, Cedric Baxter and Johntay Cook highlight a few of the uber-talented prospects who decided to enroll early for the spring semester.
It appears the newcomers are gaining the respect of the veterans around the program. When speaking with the media this week, many of the older players on the roster had nothing but praise for the Longhorns’ freshman class.
We know more about the football team following spring practice reports.
Practice reports can be hit-or-miss in regard to what a team actually brings to the table. We saw that fact bear itself out under past football and basketball coaches.
There was a time when the Texas football coaching staff viewed the team as a playoff contender before falling flat in the regular season. Former starting quarterback Hudson Card, who could be primed to finish in the Top 10 nationally in passing yards at Purdue, was once viewed as an Aaron Rodgers clone. Those predictions were both swings and misses.
There are a few reports that have caught my attention and appear to have merit based on what we’ve observed and what makes logical sense. Here are a few things we’re picking up about the team as we approach the spring game.
Savion Red’s beast stiff arm, Quinn Ewers’ dime to Ja’Tavion Sanders and more.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has his team looking sharp this spring. That is, if this highlight reel is any indication.
There’s a great deal to unpack with a handful of players flashing on the field. Upperclassmen linebacker David Gbenda, wide receiver Casey Cain and backup quarterback Maalik Murphy see plenty of camera time in the featured reels. It gives credence to the notion that Casey Cain brings some of his best football in practices.
The three biggest takeaways for me involve three players who could have breakout seasons in 2023. First, Quinn Ewers looks incredibly sharp in the limited action we’re able to watch. Ewers makes an effortless throw to Ja’Tavion Sanders on the run, hitting Sanders on a corner route in stride.
The second realization is that edge rusher Barryn Sorrell is huge. Sorrell looks like the freshman iteration of Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins.
The most enlightening highlight sees Texas running back Savion Red displacing second year edge Justice Finkley with a powerful stiff arm. Short as it may be, the highlight gives an idea of why the team thinks so highly of Red heading into the season.
Plays being made all over the field 👀 pic.twitter.com/N4HYpsxOwT
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 4, 2023
