Bobby Burton
What are reasonable expectations of the incoming freshmen?
And by expectations, I'm talking about their potential mixing with their ability to take college coaching and strength and conditioning, along with their health and overall opportunity at the position. There are a lot of factors at play when it comes to expectations.
Here's what I'm thinking on each of the 22 new enrollees before they start their first spring practice.
Quarterback
KJ Lacey - the fall expectations of a redshirt season are obvious with both Arch Manning and Trey Owens ahead of him. Yet we've heard some very positive reports on Lacey. Some could see a battle in the offing with Owens for the back-up spot. But, at least this point, I do not expect Lacey to unseat Owens in part because folks behind the scenes seem to be very high on Owens himself.
Running back
James Simon - there's an open spot right now for a bigger back to carry the load on interior run plays. Could that be Simon? Or is it more likely Jerrick Gibson filling that role until Ced Baxter returns? Odds are that Gibson wins the job, but I don't think that's a given by any stretch.
Rickey Stewart - at least for now, expectations are that Simon might be ahead of fellow freshman Ricky Stewart because of the type of inside runner Simon is. But Stewart has some quickness to him that may allow him to see the field on special teams, like Tre Wisner did his freshman year. Stewart could also be groomed for the role as a receiving threat out of the backfield, similar to both Keilan Robinson and Jaydon Blue.
Wide receivers
Jamie Ffrench, Kaliq Lockett, Daylan McCutcheon, Michael Terry - the differences between the receivers, at least out of the gate, will likely come down to as much mental as physical for three of the four receivers in the class. French could be more of a punt or kick returner than the others. But I truly have weighted expectations for both Ffrench and Lockett beyond those of McCutheon. That being said, McCutcheon has gained some steam behind the scenes, perhaps because of his uptake of the offense itself and the system he ran in high school. Terry is the outlier because of his physical size - he's the only one already well above the 200-pound mark. How adaptive he is to style of play, the offense, while finding a future position, is up the air and thus makes it hard to really know much before the team starts truly practicing.
Tight end
Emaree Winston - Whether right or wrong, Nick Townsend, who won't enroll until summer, received the lion's share of attention at the position in this recruiting class. However, we've been told that Winston has been somewhat quietly impressive behind the scenes. Will he be impressive enough to hold off Townsend when he arrives? Is he just plain good enough to be a future pro? Fair questions without any definitive answers quite yet.
Offensive line
Nick Brooks - Brooks impressed folks almost immediately upon arrival. He's already reshaping his body and his size is perhaps one of those rare instances where he was actually bigger than listed. He could be a fast riser in this class. But we need to see how he performs this spring.
Jackson Christian - one of the quieter level of expectations for now. Christian is expected to get a try at guard, but there is a significant catch-up phase to those ahead of him physically in the classes ahead of him. Perhaps that changes when the pads come on.
Defensive end
Smith Orogbo - expected to miss some of spring while recovering from surgery.
Lance Jackson - Jackson is as athletically and physically gifted as any player in this recruiting class. But the question is: how good and how productive of a player will he be out of the gate? In other words, is he ready for the big time? Right now, that is a fair question and we don't know the answer. I lean toward needing at least one full year of seasoning given the older players at the position.
Defensive tackle
Justus Terry, Myron Charles, Josiah Sharma - according to several folks behind the scenes, Terry has been one of the most impressive athletes in the entire class. But he's also lighter than his counterparts. Sharma tipped the scales right at 345 just a week or so ago. Charles is in better shape perhaps than initially expected. If Texas gets anything out of these defensive tackles early in their careers, it will be a pleasant surprise. If one of them really stands out, we could be talking about a future star.
Linebackers
Elijah Barnes, Jonathan Cunningham - Barnes has trimmed some weight since arriving on campus yet continues to test well. Both he and Cunningham are tailor-made for duty on special teams as true freshmen. Cunningham could certainly fill a Mo Blackwell-type of special teams role early in his career.
Defensive backs
Graceson Littleton, Caleb Chester, Kade Phillips, Zelus Hicks, Jonah Williams - this could be as talented a group as Texas has recruited in quite some time. Littleton has received some praise behind the scenes, as has Hicks, whose size is more imposing than perhaps you would have thought in recruiting and given that he graduated an entire year-and-a-half early from high school. Phillips may be the most likely to earn a special teams role. And if either he, Chester or Littleton show elite coverage skills early, one of them could contend with Kobe Black, Jaylon Guilbeau and Warren Roberson for a starting corner spot.