CJ Vogel
Texas is seven practices into spring football, meaning they are essentially at halftime.
We have learned a lot of what's going on in spring ball, but there remains plenty of unknowns for the second half of spring football. However, based off of what we know, I wanted to give a projected 2-deep at each position for the midway point.
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Offense
Quarterback
Rs. Sophomore Arch Manning
Rs. Freshman Trey Owens
Pretty cut and clean at the quarterback position for Steve Sarkisian and AJ Milwee. Texas has its starter for the fall. Of course, early enrollee KJ Lacey is running third.
Running Back
Junior Tre Wisner
Sophomore Jerrick Gibson – OR – Rs. Freshman Christian Clark
With CJ Baxter still recovering from his knee injury from fall camp, the Longhorns are rolling with Tre Wisner once again as their lead back. Sarkisian confirmed it at the media availability on Tuesday as well, Wisner is the guy. Gibson has the edge over Clark as he gets back to 100% as well. Gibson has filtered in with the first unit often, and Clark has received a solid amount of reps with the 2's. Early enrollees James Simon and Rickey Stewart are growing into their own.
Wide Receiver
X – Rs. Freshman Parker Livingstone
Z – Freshman Jaime Ffrench
H – Freshman Daylan McCutcheon
and
X – Freshman Michael Terry III
Z – Freshman Kaliq Lockett
H – Freshman Aaron Butler
Specifics on the X, Z, H are subject to change, but this is where the reps have been split mostly at practice thus far. Kaliq Lockett was also mentioned by Steve Sarkisian as someone who is running with the first team often. I have not heard that as much for Aaron Butler, however he will get his looks as the spring continues.
Tight End
Rs. Sophomore Spencer Shannon
Freshman Emaree Winston
Texas is banged up. No Jordan Washington for the time being, otherwise he would be your No. 1 option here. Fortunately, this provides great looks for Spencer Shannon for the first time in his career with the first team. Nick Townsend arrives in the summer and will make noise as well.
Offensive Line
LT1 – Rs. Sophomore Trevor Goosby
LT2 – Freshman Nick Brooks
LG1 – Junior Neto Umeozulu
LG2 –Rs. Freshman Nate Kibble – OR – Rs. Sophomore Jaydon Chatman
C1 – Senior Cole Hutson
C2 – Rs. Freshman Daniel Cruz
RG1 – Senior DJ Campbell
RG2 – Rs. Freshman Nate Kibble
RT1 – Sophomore Brandon Baker
RT2 – Rs. Sophomore Andre Cojoe – OR – Freshman Nick Brooks
For the time being, that's where we stand on the offensive line. Plenty of battles on the offensive line as well. Nick Brooks is getting looks at both sides of the ball, a great sign early. Daniel Cruz has been someone we have heard plenty about making noise and Nate Kibble had a tremendous redshirt year and is pushing at both guard spots.
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Defense
EDGE
Sophomore Colin Simmons
Rs. Freshman Zina Umeozulu
Senior Ethan Burke – OR – Senior Trey Moore
Freshman Lance Jackson – OR – Freshman Justus Terry
Obviously with Trey Moore getting reps at linebacker, it changes a bit of what Texas is doing off the edge. No Colton Vasek means Zina Umeozulu also gets some notable key reps in the first and second units as well. But both new early enrollees are getting some key snaps as well against Nick Brooks and Andre Cojoe, both will payoff in the long run.
Interior DL
Senior Cole Brevard & Sophomore Alex January
Senior Travis Shaw & Senior Hero Kanu
I wanted to show the interior defensive line in a duo look. Expect a lot of snaps for Alex January and Cole Brevard in 2025, they are your No. 1 guys on the interior with Brevard manning the nose. Travis Shaw is limited with a lingering knee, but will be a key piece next fall over the nose as well. Will be interesting to see who Texas adds out of the portal, as well as what Myron Charles and Josiah Sharma bring to the table.
Linebacker
MIKE1 – Junior Anthony Hill Jr.
MIKE2 – TyAnthony Smith
WILL1 – Junior Liona Lefau – OR – Senior Trey Moore
WILL2 – Senior Brad Spence
Again, the movement of Trey Moore makes things really interesting for the Horns at the second level. What kind of pass rush and identification issues can the Horns provide with their weapons at the linebacking position. TyAnthony Smith, Brad Spence each bring individual skillsets as well, but they complement each other well.
STAR
Rs. Freshman Wardell Mack – OR – Junior Jelani McDonald
Sophomore Jordon Johnson-Rubell – OR – Sophomore Ryan Niblett
Lots of bodies getting cross-trained here at the STAR position. Wardell Mack had been getting the first-team looks this spring with Jelani McDonald back at safety due to some injury issues back deep. Will be really intersting to see if Ryan Niblett brings anything to this room.
Cornerback
Junior Malik Muhammad
Junior Warren Roberson – OR – Freshman Kade Phillips
Senior Jaylon Guilbeau
Sophomore Kobe Black – OR – Rs. Freshman Santana Wilson
Plenty of bodies right now in the cornerback room as well, so much so, that Steve Sarkisian called it the "best-looking" room on the 40 Acres currently. Given the names above, it is hard to disagree. The length and speed of the guys listed on the two deep are tremendous. Texas might not be super experienced here, but the skillset is great and with Guilbeau moving outwide, necessary experience as well.
Safety
Senior Michael Taaffe – AND – Junior Jelani McDonald
Sophomore Jordan Johnson-Rubell – AND – Sophomore Xavier Filsaime
The return of Derek Williams Jr. and eventual debut of Jonah Williams will make this room great. Right now, it is really good. Michael Taaffe and Jelani McDonald bring plenty of experience and the most underrated part of the Texas defense will be the vocal leadership and communication of Taaffe at the safety spot. JJR has been receiving some praise and there is the athleticism to note of Xavier Filsaime that could bring some juice. Of course, early enrollee Zelus Hicks is someone to monitor as well.