Jeff Howe

Jones. Jeremy Jones.

I can't lie, I thought the first post in this thread would be, "... wear a helmet!"

The fourth and final Longhorn who met with the media before Saturday's scrimmage was cornerback Malik Muhammad. Here are a few things he said on select players, including his first thoughts on Duane Akina. On his first impression of Duane Akina: “I don't want to call it old because that sounds kind of bad, but to be that age and still have that juice and still run around at practice — do the flying eagle around the field — and just have that energy. The first impression was great.” On what Graceson Littleton has shown throughout camp: “Physical, plays with high, fanatical effort. He's smart, is about his business and he's just consistent, on and off the field… [Littleton came in] ready to play. Ready to take on whatever he had to take on, whether it’s special teams, whether it’s on defense… He came in with the right mindset, for sure.” On Jaylon Guilbeau's transition from STAR to cornerback: “He's adjusted to corner well, because at [STAR], it's more into the box, more short yardage, but out at corner, you have more space. You have to think, you have to know whether you're in the boundary or the field, so you've got to know how to play. In the boundary, you have to play tighter because it's more quick throws. Into the field, you've got more space, more time to break.” On what stands out about Warren Roberson: “He's a monster at corner. Great technique, explosive, physical at the point of attack and he just plays hard with fanatical effort.”

Like the quotes I posted from Thursday's media availability with DJ Campbell and Quintrevion Wisner, linebacker Liona Lefau spoke highly of a few Longhorns when asked about them individually. On Trey Moore’s transition from EDGE to linebacker: “That's not a hard transition at all, especially the level that we play at. He's been doing a great job. He's a very smart player. He learned the playbook pretty fast. Now he’s just [working on] little movements and transitions here and there, like dropping into coverage and all of those things. He's doing a good job of getting extra work in to learn how to do that at a high level. I think he's doing a great job.” On Ty’Anthony Smith's growth at linebacker: “I'm thankful for Ty because he's pushing us every single day, bringing the right energy, bringing the right juice. Every time he makes a play. He plays very physical, very violent.” On what to expect from Brad Spence: “A very physical and violent player. He's exciting to watch.” On what he’s seen from CJ Baxter: “He's picking up where he left [off]. They're pushing him in slowly. They don't want to rush him in and push him past the [limit], but he's doing a great job picking up where he left off.” On competing against Jack Endries in practice: “As a linebacker, we play a lot of coverage on him and he blocks down on us, and a thing that stands out the most is his effort every play. He gives good effort in the run game and the pass game. He wants to do that stuff. There's not a lot of tight ends who want to block and run routes. He's good at doing both as well. It's a good challenge for us and we're happy we got him because he pushes us every single day.”

From Thursday's media availability, here are some player-specific thoughts from the junior running back: On how Arch Manning has looked in camp: “That's my dog — [number] 16. Arch looks real good. He's doing a better job also of being a vocal leader, whether it's to the defense or the offense. He's definitely stepped up and he's playing a major role. He knows what's at stake whenever it comes to him being in that backfield, so he's doing a great job of tapping into everybody. Whether it's a young guy or older guy, he's tapping into everybody.” On what a healthy CJ Baxter will bring to the backfield: “I’m glad my brother is back. We came in together, so there's nothing like being able to play with the running back that you came into college with. He went down last year, so that kind of tilted things, but just being able to have him back in the room with us and me and him attacking defenses like we're about to, it's going to be crazy. That's what he brings." On seeing some of himself in true freshman Rickey Stewart: “The thing I could give Ricky, though, for my freshman year, he's faster than me. I can't cap. Ricky's got some speed. But the thing I like most about Ricky — he's good with adversity. Not many freshmen you see come in and could face adversity and keep it going, but Ricky didn't shut down. He faced his adversity, came back and he's looking good right now. He's gaining weight, looking faster and he's keeping his head on right.” On what DJ Campbell means to the running game: “Coming in my freshman year, over these three years I've been here, being able to participate on this team with DJ, I can see the improvement — not only in him as a player, but him as a person when it comes to the facility and the culture we've got. DJ is definitely an O-lineman that we look to whenever we need that juice and that energy to get going in practice and game day. He's definitely a key factor to the way we run the ball… It takes a real dog to not have someone get him going. DJ could come out and even if he's not feeling it, he's still going to go because that's who he is. That's what we look for whenever it's time to run a ball — somebody that's always on go. That's what DJ does.”

These are a few quotes from Texas right guard DJ Campbell during Thursday's post-practice player availability, which was two days before the team's first camp scrimmage. On what stands out about right tackle Brandon Baker: “Probably his relentless effort. He reminds me a lot of Kevin Banks because KB was a technique freak. That reminds me of Brandon Baker as well. Whenever I see his game — that’s a technique freak right there. He's doing everything fundamentally right.” On the health of the running back room with CJ Baxter and Christian Clark back from injury: “I've just been seeing, like I said, the relentless effort from all of us. It's all gas, no breaks for everybody in that running back room, from Christian Clark to Tre Wiser... They're all going at each other. Having them all back and healthy, it's going to be exciting for us to watch.” On left guard Neto Umeozulu taking advantage of his opportunity to start: “It's been real fun, I'd say, because he's one of my tightest friends. Seeing him develop through the years, and now he's finally got his chance to showcase his talent, it's been fun.” On Cole Hutson taking over for Jake Majors at center: “I really don't see much difference from Jake and Cole. Cole has been doing a great job of stepping into that center position and actually leading us, just as if Jake [were].” On what he’s seen from true freshman tackle Nick Brooks: A real young guy coming in — got a lot of talent — that can really showcase early. As long as he keeps going, keeps [developing] with the offense, I'm pretty sure he'll be in early.”

That’s it for the availability. CJ and I will be live on YouTube in 10 or so minutes.

Mack said Littleton and Wardell Mack have stood out most at STAR. Jelani McDonald has also worked there.

Duane Akina is stressing to the current defensive backs to watch the goal reels he’s put together over the years of great Texas defensive backs. He wants the current crop to be inspired by guys who’ve been high draft picks and Pro Bowl players in the NFL.

“I have,” Muhammad said while chuckling when asked if he’s picked off Arch Manning in camp.

DeAndre Moore Jr. got singled out by Muhammad as a receiver who’s been hard to cover in camp.

Muhammad said Mark Orphey brings plenty of juice to the room. He’s helping bring guys out of their shells.

The 2023 recruits in the defensive back room are close, Muhammad said. It’s a connection those guys value.

Muhammad smiled big when reminded Texas held Jeremiah Smith to one catch for three yards in the Cotton Bowl. ”It was a team effort,” he said.

Muhammad on whether or not the he views the 2025 season as a contract year: “I don’t want to think too much about it… but I’ve got that in mind.”

Malik Muhammad will round out today’s availability.

Winning a national championship is the goal, but Lefau said Texas is a team that’s focused on the process. Sark has compared it to climbing a mountain, and Lefau said they’re taking things one step at a time en route to the summit.

Even though the coaches are easing CJ Baxter back into the mix, “he’s picked up where he left off,” Lefau said.

“There’s not a lot of tight ends who want to catch and run routes,” Lefau said Jack Endries. “He’s good at both.”

Lefau said Brad Spence is a “physical, violent player.”

Wisner said “it’s going to be crazy” when he and Baxter start attacking defenses as a 1-2 punch in the backfield.

“It’s just a watch list at the end of the day,” Wisner said about being on the Doak Walker Award watch list. “Nothing is etched in stone.”

NFL scouts from the Commanders, Broncos, Jaguars and Vikings were at Texas practice today.

Wisner said he changed his eating habits to help him on the right kind of weight in the offseason. ”Eat like a champion,” is how he described his new eating habits.