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Spring yields plenty of reason for Longhorn football optimism
AUSTIN — We said goodbye to football Saturday afternoon for more than four months until the Texas team returns in August for fall drills.
It’s safe to say we like what we saw in 15 spring football workouts.
In part, because of whom we didn’t see.
So we like what we saw because of what we believe we already know about a third or more of the starting 22 that we didn’t see in the full 11-on-11 on that brisk, blustery April day at Royal-Memorial Stadium. They’re big-time players.
That’s right. Now a few played in the seven-on-seven drills, but not the full, take-to-the-ground scrimmage, and those who did showed a ton of athleticism, speed and promise.
Those would include five-star wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. and sophomore wideout Daylan McCutcheon (Citrus Bowl star Kaliq Lockett was also out with an injury) as well backup quarterback KJ Lacey Jr. and freshman running back Derrick Cooper and 6-foot-4, 254-pound speedy edge rusher Richard Wesley, who I think has to get on the field this season and have an impact in that positional rotation as well as special teams because he looks, well, special.
It wouldn’t shock me if this is one of Texas’ best recruiting classes and as impactful as it’s had in a while. I could count a dozen who could find their way on the field.
As for so many others, head coach Steve Sarkisian held out, by my count, as many as eight regulars who will line up and start against Texas State in the Sept. 5 season opener. That’s a ton.
That number includes seven on offense. Quarterback Arch Manning and receivers Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V were held out of the full scrimmage at DKR. So were left tackle Trevor Goosby and 6-6, 313-pound right tackle Melvin Siani, the Wake Forest transfer who had better be one of the top two transfer acquisitions this offseason if Texas hopes to be a national contender.
For me, there’s no bigger addition out of the portal than Siani other than Coleman, the physical receiver who will stretch the field, will make yards after the catch and who will catch balls in traffic.
Of course, you can add Laurence Seymore to that number, too, because the 6-2, 320-pound Western Kentucky guard who didn’t give up a sack the past two years recently was awarded another year of eligibility but hasn’t joined the team yet and obviously wasn’t playing Saturday. That would make nine first-teamers who were not on full display in the spring game.
That should make Longhorn fans a tad more encouraged because the offensive linemen who did play, including some walk-ons, did little to dent Will Muschamp’s first- and second-team defenses.
I believe Manning is already a top-five college quarterback who could elevate to No. 1 at his position. Just remember, he put up 20 total touchdowns and just two turnovers in his final six games of 2025.
Texas had eight players named to the first, second and third All-SEC teams, and none of those were Manning or electric punt returner Ryan Niblett. Three of those eight will be back this fall. Those are junior edge rusher Colin Simmons, who will be a top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL draft; Goosby, who will go in the first round; and third-teamer Wingo, who was an offensive star the second half of last season.
In other words, this team is loaded, packed with experienced, proven players and bolstered by 22 newcomers from the portal.
A clear top-five preseason team.
Now there are question marks that are obvious. Can Texas run the ball better than last season when it ranked 90th nationally and had no one with more than 600 yards? How will the Longhorns fare in the always-critical red zone? Sarkisian has a new kicker and new punter, and I have questions about both.
But there are so many positives that Longhorn Nation should be counting the days until Sept. 5. And counting starters, all of whom we will see for real when the Bobcats and Buckeyes come to town in September.
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Kirk Bohls, University of Texas Columnist |
Around the Horns
Sean Miller continues to kill it in the transfer portal. The first-year Texas men’s basketball coach added a potential fifth starter to next year’s lineup when he gained a commitment from 6-foot-8 wingman Elyjah Freeman from Auburn to replace NBA draft-bound Daylan Swain. Don’t look now but the Longhorns have quickly put together a formidable starting five that should compete for an SEC title. Freeman averaged 9.2 points and 5.3 rebounds a game in his only year of Division I basketball after a standout season at Division II Lincoln Memorial. ….
It came as no surprise when sophomore forward Justice Carlton announced she was transferring from Texas to Houston where she will join her sister, Madison. Carlton, a Seven Lakes graduate, chafed under the old-school ways of Vic Schaefer, and the two clashed. That’s a shame because she is a terrific talent who is only going to get better. I understand that she wanted to play alongside her sister, but I was hoping she would land at another SEC school — as did newest South Carolina Gamecock Jordan Lee — so we could see her play against the Longhorns and provide some compelling drama. …
Wasn’t too keen on Jim Schlossnagle calling on valuable reliever Sam Cozart to close down the 10-2 Texas win over Alabama when the Longhorns already led 8-2 in the seventh. But Schlossnagle knew what he was doing because he got the save with three perfect innings and came back the next day for another save Saturday. The 6-6, 260-pound right-hander was named Co-SEC Freshman of the Week for retiring 12 of 13 batters. “I think in the post-season, Sam’s got to be prepared to do that,” Schlossnagle said of pitching on back-to-back days. “If you’ve never done it, then it’s hard to have the confidence that you can do it even though he has a lot of confidence.” He was right.
Quote of the Week
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Stats of the week
Who’s hot
Texas’ starting pitchers, who struck out 49 Alabama batters in the three-game series that produced two wins.
Who’s not
Entering Monday, the Longhorn softball team had lost six of its past nine games, all to ranked teams like Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma and Georgia.
Stat of the day
True freshman left fielder Anthony Pack Jr. had seven hits in 12 at-bats for the hottest Longhorn in the Crimson Tide series and raised his average to .348 on the year
📬 Texas Mailbag
Q: Kirk, you’ve said the Longhorn baseball team lacks position depth, but since the regular lineup is half-empty on hitting lately, is there ANY shot at a surprise weapon emerging? Who could it be? — Scott in Austin
KB: Excellent question. I think Dariyan Pendergrass could be that person. The redshirt senior outfielder from College of Charleston drove in three runs in the Tuesday game and had a pair of hits in the first game against Alabama before tweaking his hamstring. He’s had back issues all year and has very few at-bats, but he’s a left-handed batter and could emerge as a valuable pinch-hitter, pinch-runner, defensive replacement or even as an occasional starter.
Q: Michael Terry III was a big catch as a versatile blue chipper a year ago. Since then … nada. I’ve read that he might be the fourth running back. Does that just mean he’s riding the pine this fall and hitting the portal next winter? — Jimbo in San Antonio
KB: I think you may be correct, Jimbo. Every once in a while there are players who are so versatile that coaches just aren’t sure how best to use them. Johnny “Lam” Jones was one of those back in the 1970s. However, I do think this staff will eventually find a place for Terry, whether it’s at running back, wideout or defensive back. He’s too athletic to waste.
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🤘 Longhorns Trivia
This week’s question: Texas pitchers struck out 19 in a win over Alabama last Saturday. What is the baseball team's record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game?
Hit reply and let me know your guess for a chance to win.
Last week's question: Katie Stewart hit her 22nd home run of the season to beat Oklahoma in softball on Sunday. What is the school record for homers in a season?
Answer: Reese Atwood has the record of 23, set last season.
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