Moderators CJ Vogel Posted March 13 Moderators Share Posted March 13 Over the last few days we have covered the ins and the outs of both sides of the ball. However, now it is time to take a deeper look behind the curtain with the task of pinpointing which Longhorns might steal headlines over the next month and a half. Five prospects I have my eyes on this spring to make a big time splash for the 2024 Longhorns. *** DL Jaray Bledsoe – Redshirt Sophomore Bledsoe has all of the athleticism you could desire for a defensive lineman. After seeing just 85 snaps in 2023, Bledsoe certainly qualifies into the breakout category for the spring. Texas must find suitable replacements for T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy, can Bledsoe jump into the rotation? Again, the athleticism is there and now that Bledsoe is north of 290 pounds, it feels like the stars are aligning to finally see an increase in on-field role for Texas this spring. WR DeAndre Moore – Sophomore A lot of talk around the Texas wide receiver room is around the transfer portal additions, as well as the incoming early enrollees. However, Moore is entering his second year in the system and is in the conversation for having the most refined routes of anyone on the roster. Of Moore's 92 snaps last fall, 40 came in the slot. DB Jelani McDonald – Sophomore The versatile secondary member is now firmly in the boat at the safety position which is something I am very much a fan of. McDonald was previously split between linebacker, safety and potentially cornerback when he first arrived in Austin, and now Blake Gideon is in charge of molding him into a big-time ballplayer. The 6-foot-2 DB will have the opportunity to crack the rotation Texas has used at the safety spot over the last two seasons. With Andrew Mukuba, Michael Taaffe and Derek Williams looking for a fourth member, McDonald will be tasked with fending off early enrollee Xavier Filsaime for the role. OL Neto Umeozulu – Redshirt Sophomore We have mentioned it here on OTF over the last few months there might be some changes coming to the Texas offensive line. The left guard position will have a lot of eyes on it this spring as Hayden Conner looks to fight off Cole Hutson and Neto. The light flicked on for Umeozulu at the end of the regular season and into bowl practices last fall, now it is time to keep it on full time. If that is the case, the expectations that have risen over time now have the opportunity to come to fruition as the former Allen Eagle enters year three. CB Warren Roberson – Redshirt Freshman Texas returns two starting cornerbacks on the outside with Malik Muhammad and Terrance Brooks. Though, it remains a thin room and if we have learned anything over the last couple of years, the Longhorn staff likes to rotate their DB's. Warren Roberson entered college as an extremely twitchy prospect that Texas had to pry from the grasp of TCU – a program with plenty of history in developing defensive backs. Roberson will have plenty of opportunity to make plays this spring with run against the top unit often, despite just two snaps on the field in 2023. I have a feeling we will hear his name often this spring. View full news 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NothinButDaHorns34 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 I didn’t even realize deandre got ANY snaps last season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators CJ Vogel Posted March 13 Author Moderators Share Posted March 13 2 minutes ago, NothinButDaHorns34 said: I didn’t even realize deandre got ANY snaps last season. 33 came against Texas Tech lol 4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Edwards Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 This is the type of development and growth Texas needs to see on a regular basis. UT will draw more recruits in future if more sophomores morph into strong players and potential NFL talent down the road. Good piece C J. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agentmule Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 These are 5 players I'm excited to track as well. Thanks for sharing, CJ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drawls Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 Great write up, totally agree! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperDave0805 Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Wonder if the aggies will give Trev Alberts Jimbo's blank national championship trophy?? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sirhornsalot Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 A friend of mine who see practices told me last fall that there are times when Bledsoe is unblockable. He said his weight was the only thing holding him up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watty7796 Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Of those mentioned Bledsoe is the one who must make the leap as Texas D Line group is woefully short on experience and to a degree depth. Letting teams stay in games that the Longhorns should have blown out see houston Rice etc cost the guys on roster opportunities in real games to develop. Just my opinion. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horns 7 Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 We have the talent but what is it going to take in key games next season to put us in a position to win a Natty, without a Superstar like VY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VFL TX-EX Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Can't wait for this season. Here's hoping we have more than 5 breakout players coming out of spring! 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 For a little spin on the article, instead of the 5 players most likely to breakout, if you could pick 5 players whose breakouts would have the biggest positive impact on the '24 season, who ya got? My list: 1. Sydir - IMO, the one player whose breakout could singlehandedly take our D from a top-35 squad to a top-5. Would allow PK to unleash Alfred and the edges, maximize pass rush, clog the middle, make the LBs jobs easy. 2. Cam Williams - solidify the RT position and our OL becomes instant Joe Moore Award finalists. 3. Lefau/Gullette - need one of these young guys to step up. An injury to Hill would be devastating. 4. Terrance Brooks - I feel great about MM's trajectory. But if Brooks can take his game up a level or two where MM's viewed as our "#2 CB" - scary! 5. Blue - Probably should've gone with D. Williams here, but I can't help but think of word out of spring camp is that Blue has separated himself and taken his game to another level, he could become the most explosive RB we've had since Jamaal Charles... and our O would be humming. Honorable mentions: Derek Williams (improved S play will be vital), Cook (I feel great about our WR depth, but if he can step up to the challenge and make the transfers the 1B to his 1A, then that means he's future 1st round talent), Niblack (we know what we have in Helm - an underrated solid TE, but if Niblack proves to be a willing blocker, I'd feel much better about him becoming JT pt2, rather than another Billingsley). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkInAustin Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 I rec'd your comment, Wabi Sabi, for the form it took, but not necessarily the suggestions. I do think the question for the team is "whose breakouts would have the biggest positive impact?" I would have to go all in on the defensive unit. I believe the offensive unit is two deep in high level talent and is in no particular need of a "breakout." On the defensive unit, the breakout need is greatest for two interior DTs and an inside LB. So I would go with Bledsoe and Bryant as DTs, although a surprise from the less experienced Sydir or January would be welcomed. Then I would pick Gbenda as the high breakout potential inside LB, but all the others you named plus a role for Trey Moore at ILB [the other position he played at UTSA] would be quite welcome. And I would not discount the possibility of Blackwell as a breakout ILB, either. I don't think the team needs a breakout star DB or Nickel, so I would choose my last two breakout stars from my honorably mentioned ones, above. Say, January and Gullette. YMMV! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codaxx Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 based on the list I am going to go with Bledsoe and Neto. I like Moore, Roberson and McDonald, but there path to extensive play time is going to be tough. Bledsoe has the easiest path of the bunch. I would add Baxter. Someone is going to grab the RB job this year, he might as well be the guess. Guy I will be watching is Guilette. HE was a freak of an athlete prior to the injury. I dont think he will be a big break-out candidate, but I guy who might slowly come on during the season and get fans excited with some flash plays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Gothic Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 DB Jelani McDonald – Sophomore The versatile secondary member is now firmly in the boat at the safety position which is something I am very much a fan of. McDonald was previously split between linebacker, safety and potentially cornerback when he first arrived in Austin, and now Blake Gideon is in charge of molding him into a big-time ballplayer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codaxx Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 9 minutes ago, Park Gothic said: DB Jelani McDonald – Sophomore The versatile secondary member is now firmly in the boat at the safety position which is something I am very much a fan of. McDonald was previously split between linebacker, safety and potentially cornerback when he first arrived in Austin, and now Blake Gideon is in charge of molding him into a big-time ballplayer. better than DB Jelani McDonald – Sophomore The versatile secondary member is now firmly in the boat at the safety position which is something I am very much a fan of. McDonald was previously split between linebacker, safety and potentially cornerback when he first arrived in Austin, and now Blake Gideon is in charge of molding his hands into a big-time ballhawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielsheehan Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 We really need Roberson to take that next step to bring some more quality depth to that CB room because if Brooks or Muhammad go down, I think we might be in trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Five Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 1 minute ago, danielsheehan said: We really need Roberson to take that next step to bring some more quality depth to that CB room because if Brooks or Muhammad go down, I think we might be in trouble Gavin Holmes would come in, and we'd be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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