Spring practice is underway as the Texas Longhorns prepare for Head Coach Steve Sarkisian’s third year in charge. The Longhorns building depth is the focus for Sarkisian. Every year, we hear that Texas football is back. Is this that year?
Longhorns Building Depth
Texas looked impressive in the trenches after the first week of Spring ball, Sarkisian said. While missing key pieces from last season, the offensive line returns intact and the defensive line has a platoon of young players ready to step in.
The offense could be potent behind an experienced line. A mix of returning starters and young players coming through the system has spread optimism through the Texas camp. “Any time you can return your entire offensive line, and then you add the players that we have, that feels really good,” Sarkisian said.
On defense, the departure of linemen Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn did not detract from the coach’s enthusiasm. “We lost two good players in Coburn and Ojomo, and it still feels good. I still feel like our defensive front is one of our strengths,” Sarkisian said.
The Longhorns went 5-7 in Sarkisian’s first season and improved to 8-5 last year. Building depth is a prime ingredient in any successful program, and Texas knows it has to improve in that area to achieve the results Sarkisian was hired to provide.
Which Players Are Emerging
Sarkisian peppers his comments with statements such as, “We’ve got a long, long way to go.” When it comes to the defensive line, Texas has Alfred Collins, T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy II, and Vernon Broughton coming back. All of them weigh over 300 lbs. and have earned multiple varsity letters. Add to the mix Barryn Sorrell and redshirt freshman Jaray Bledsoe, and the Longhorns’ depth starts shining through. In year three of the Sarkisian tenure, the players now understand the importance he places on leadership. “Barryn Sorrell has really stood out to me of what that looks like,” he added.
It was too soon to tell which position group was the furthest ahead. “We’ve got a good influx of young talent on our team,” Sarkisian said. “I’d hate to say right now that one position group just feels so good.”
Answers At Linebacker
That influx of young talent might be just what the Longhorns need at linebacker. Texas welcomes the return of David Gbenda and Jett Bush. The big question is who will fill the cleats left behind by DeMarvion Overshown.
In the opening week of Spring camp, one of the names that came up was linebacker Jaylan Ford. He already has the football side of things down pat. Ford registered 119 tackles last year and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team. He said he re-watched all the Longhorns games and came to an inescapable conclusion: It’s time for him to step up and be a leader. “The first thing for me is just kind of getting outside my comfort zone and just being more vocal, especially with the team, and then just demanding the best out of everybody,” Ford said.
No examination of the Texas linebacker corps can be complete without mentioning true freshman Anthony Hill Jr., who showed well in the first week of spring practice. Hill arguably would have been the biggest splash of the signing season were it not for Arch Manning.
The defensive backfield appears to be in solid shape. Texas will be led by safety Jerrin Thompson, a fifth-year defensive back Sarkisian said was one of the team’s natural leaders. Vying for the other safety spot will be a group of players with starting experience, including Kitan Crawford and Jahdae Barron. Ryan Watts appears to have locked down his cornerback position since arriving from Ohio State before last season. The other corner could be manned by Terrance Brooks, who played in nine games and made three starts last season as a true freshman.
How About The Offense?
On offense, it remains to be seen who will run behind the veteran line. Texas is trying to replace the production of NFL-bound backs Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson. The first week of practice saw the reemergence of Jaydon Blue, a sophomore who took snaps with the first-team offense during the opening week of Spring practice. Blue worked hard last season while buried in the depth chart, Sarkisian said, and he learned a great deal from Johnson and Robinson as well as a pair of backs still on the roster, Jonathon Brooks and Keilan Robinson.
I’ve been pleased with Jaydon,” Sarkisian said. “Not only the physical maturity, but I think the mental maturity of how to attack every day.”
Blue, who did not play his senior year of high school football, came to Texas last year as a blue-chip prospect. He spent his freshmen season buried on the depth chart while earning a varsity letter. Now earning first-team reps, he’s a 5-star recruit who had to wait his turn while climbing his way up the ranks. He’s shown the ability to absorb contact and make tough runs, according to his coach.
“There’s always this expectation if they don’t play their freshman year, like, what’s wrong? And a lot of times, the development side of their game is really important to their future,” Sarkisian said.
The QB
The quarterback position is Quinn Ewers’ to lose. Ewers directed the Longhorns’ offense to 34.5 ppg last season. He has a selection of known quantities to throw to, among them Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, and Georgia transfer Adonai Mitchell. Ja’Tavion Sanders set a school record for tight ends with 54 receptions last season.
Manning is participating in spring drills, joining Ewers and redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy as the top signal-callers.
Sarkisian said he was pleased with the progression he’s seen with the team this spring. He emphasized the value of leadership as the Longhorns try to continue their upward swing. “Now that we’re going into year three, a lot of these guys have had a model of what it looks like,” he said.
Photo courtesy: Ricardo B. Brazziell / American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
