OTF Premium Defining players for the 2026 team

[Gerry Hamilton]

Defining players for the 2026 team

A question for the OnTexasFootball community. 

What provides the opportunity for a team to accomplish special things in a season isn't just about the known stars have strong seasons, but the players that go to another level or go beyond the expectations of the coaching staff. Texas needs at least five or six players to make that leap or just go beyond what Steve Sarkisian and staff thought when recruited from the portal or high school. For me, there are a number of candidates and players that are needed to be those players in 2026. 

Who are your defining players? These are mine. 

1. Jonah Williams - The second year safety is one of the most gifted player in the program, period. Whether it's athletically or as a playmaker, he's an elite talent even in a very talented program. If Williams stays healthy and becomes a player at the safety opposite Jelani McDonald, the ceiling of the secondary and defense goes to another level. 

2. Melvin Siani - Sark already told the fan base Siani is looking like one of those guys. Texas knew he was a talented pass protector when they recruited him, but he's bringing piss and vinegar as a run blocker. With his frame, if he's equally as talented as a run blocker and pass blocker, he will ascend on NFL draft boards. That would give Texas two OT's that will be top 3 round picks, and change the trajectory of an OL that also has a future top 3 round pick in Brandon Baker. 

3. Bo Mascoe - This one is already coming home, and it began in the spring. Texas did go into the spring with multiple questions at corner. Mascoe has taken away one question, and in spades. He's also the No. 2 nickel. 

4. Kade Phillips - Phillips has to come through and be a very good player, period. This schedule has too many talented QB's and WR's to have a question at a corner spot. Phillips is how you draw up a corner physically. Texas doesn't have to have him be an All-SEC pick level corner in year two, but they need to have him play like a future top 3 round type pick this season. The margins are very thin with this schedule, and the corner spot opposite Mascoe must come through. 

5. Brad Spence - The change at DC will benefit Spence more than any other defender. Now, Texas needs him to be a top 2-3 pass rusher on this team and a physical contact player that impacts the run game too. Spence is an easy pick for me to have a better season than expected coming off of 2025, but also down the list because he's already proven at Arkansas before Texas wasted a year with him in 2025. 

6. Justin Cryer - Cryer has to be the 'thumper' at linebacker, point blank. He's the guy. Muschamp's defense has to have that bigger, physical thumper. Stopping the run is No. 1, 2 and 3 for the Texas defense. In order for the Longhorns to maximize in that capacity, Cryer has to be a consistent and productive player vs. the run. He is a proven player in that regard, so he's down the list. He's also already showing the signs that he could go beyond what was initially expected when recruited out of the portal. 

7. Lance Jackson - This one is easy. Jackson needs to look like a future top 3 draft pick this season. He has to be more than a run defender, and has the ability to. Even if his best pass rush ability is when he spins inside on 3rd downs, he has to help provide pass rush. This could also be a Jackson-Umeozulu combo, but the spot Colin Simmons needs to be productive to maximize this defense. Jackson is a very good scheme fit for Muschamp, and there are expectations he makes a big jump in year two. 

8. Nick Townsend - Michael Masunas is a very solid inline TE. Townsend brings a different dimension. He's pound-for-pound one of the best athletes in the program. He's more than a willing blocker, and Texas should be very solid blocking at the TE position. The staff needs Townsend to be a dependable pass catcher in year two, and sprinkle in some explosive plays at the TE position. He's absolutely the best option at TE in that regard. For the offense to maximize, he needs to become that level player. Every player a opponent has to be weary of, the more consistent the Texas offense will become. 

9. Maraad Watson - Watson is down the list because he's already a known talent. The former freshman All-American was not healthy the last half of 2025. I'm of the believe Will Muschamp is going to help take him to another level, and Watson is currently the best chance of an interior defensive line to become a consistent disruptor. Watson is having a very good fall camp, and appears to be heading in that direction. 

10. Laurence Seymore III - Already a proven player, Texas needs one thing from Seymore III. A nasty disposition. That's it. Siani and Seymore III both brining pissed off on contact mentality to this line and offense is absolutely needed to maximize the run game. If this happens, the OL will appear totally different on contact in 2026. 

 

[Joe Zura]

Great stuff Floods Puppet 🤘

[DanielOnorato]

11. Justus Terry?

[JMarquette]

9 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Defining players for the 2026 team

A question for the OnTexasFootball community. 

What provides the opportunity for a team to accomplish special things in a season isn't just about the known stars have strong seasons, but the players that go to another level or go beyond the expectations of the coaching staff. Texas needs at least five or six players to make that leap or just go beyond what Steve Sarkisian and staff thought when recruited from the portal or high school. For me, there are a number of candidates and players that are needed to be those players in 2026. 

1. Jonah Williams - The second year safety is one of the most gifted player in the program, period. Whether it's athletically or as a playmaker, he's an elite talent even in a very talented program. If Williams stays healthy and becomes a player at the safety opposite Jelani McDonald, the ceiling of the secondary and defense goes to another level. 

2. Melvin Siani - Sark already told the fan base Siani is looking like one of those guys. Texas knew he was a talented pass protector when they recruited him, but he's bringing piss and vinegar as a run blocker. With his frame, if he's equally as talented as a run blocker and pass blocker, he will ascend on NFL draft boards. That would give Texas two OT's that will be top 3 round picks, and change the trajectory of an OL that also has a future top 3 round pick in Brandon Baker. 

3. Bo Mascoe - This one is already coming home, and it began in the spring. Texas did go into the spring with multiple questions at corner. Mascoe has taken away one question, and in spades. He's also the No. 2 nickel. 

4. Kade Phillips - Phillips has to come through and be a very good player, period. This schedule has too many talented QB's and WR's to have a question at a corner spot. Phillips is how you draw up a corner physically. Texas doesn't have to have him be an All-SEC pick level corner in year two, but they need to have him play like a future top 3 round type pick this season. The margins are very thin with this schedule, and the corner spot opposite Mascoe must come through. 

5. Brad Spence - The change at DC will benefit Spence more than any other defender. Now, Texas needs him to be a top 2-3 pass rusher on this team and a physical contact player that impacts the run game too. Spence is an easy pick for me to have a better season than expected coming off of 2025, but also down the list because he's already proven at Arkansas before Texas wasted a year with him in 2025. 

6. Justin Cryer - Cryer has to be the 'thumper' at linebacker, point blank. He's the guy. Muschamp's defense has to have that bigger, physical thumper. Stopping the run is No. 1, 2 and 3 for the Texas defense. In order for the Longhorns to maximize in that capacity, Cryer has to be a consistent and productive player vs. the run. He is a proven player in that regard, so he's down the list. He's also already showing the signs that he could go beyond what was initially expected when recruited out of the portal. 

7. Lance Jackson - This one is easy. Jackson needs to look like a future top 3 draft pick this season. He has to be more than a run defender, and has the ability to. Even if his best pass rush ability is when he spins inside on 3rd downs, he has to help provide pass rush. This could also be a Jackson-Umeozulu combo, but the spot Colin Simmons needs to be productive to maximize this defense. Jackson is a very good scheme fit for Muschamp, and there are expectations he makes a big jump in year two. 

8. Nick Townsend - Michael Masunas is a very solid inline TE. Townsend brings a different dimension. He's pound-for-pound one of the best athletes in the program. He's more than a willing blocker, and Texas should be very solid blocking at the TE position. The staff needs Townsend to be a dependable pass catcher in year two, and sprinkle in some explosive plays at the TE position. He's absolutely the best option at TE in that regard. For the offense to maximize, he needs to become that level player. Every player a opponent has to be weary of, the more consistent the Texas offense will become. 

9. Maraad Watson - Watson is down the list because he's already a known talent. The former freshman All-American was not healthy the last half of 2025. I'm of the believe Will Muschamp is going to help take him to another level, and Watson is currently the best chance of an interior defensive line to become a consistent disruptor. Watson is having a very good fall camp, and appears to be heading in that direction. 

10. Laurence Seymore III - Already a proven player, Texas needs one thing from Seymore III. A nasty disposition. That's it. Siani and Seymore III both brining pissed off on contact mentality to this line and offense is absolutely needed to maximize the run game. If this happens, the OL will appear totally different on contact in 2026. 

 

If you get 8/11 (I’m at 6 right now) maximizing and being better than anticipated, we should achieve the goals we’re setting out.

[BurntOrangeHorn]

Players who will define Texas in 2926!

What happened to Spencer Shannon?  Overtaken?

OL has a lot of non starters who can step up, but in what order!

Emaree Watson must get some chances. Which two TE will be in on 12 or 22 formations??

🤘🏻🤘🏼🤘🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿

[Texas fan in Georgia]

I’m surprised kicker and punter wasn’t 1&2

[Dawson Yarbrough]

12. Ryan Wingo. Imagine if he truly takes a huge step and is more than just a deep threat/WR screen guy. This offense is scary if he proves he can catch 7-12 balls and take the game over. 

[NTX_Horn]

Justus Terry is my pick.  If he can be a consistent disruptor up the middle, then this defense really goes to another level.  Texas doesn't have the disruptor now, but if Terry can be that, look out.

[akhookem]

Justus Terry and Jonah Williams are in the same category/situation for me.

Besides that I think Ryan Wingo really needs to be that guy, any time you have 2 studs at WR at any level of football you’re hard to stop, especially when you factor in Mosley as the stabilizer.

I think a freshman linebacker will have to be a dude as the year wears on. Whether it’s Okpala or someone else, that room is just too thin to count on 3-4 guys all year long.

Greffard up front for me. Texas needs 1-2 DTs to be stuffers on short yardage situations, goal line, or 4th downs.

May sound obvious, but the biggest one of all is Arch Manning. Can’t do much if he has too many inconsistency on easy throws or starts the year slow. I’m not saying I think he will do that, but that is the biggest of all in my opinion.

[thatdude2]

Emmett Mosley V

[Beast Texas]

I just want to compliment your use of "piss and vinegar" here Gerry