Texas Football: Ranking the top 10 players after spring sessions
The Longhorns are loaded as they emerge from spring football. We’ve discussed the depth of the quarterback room, but it truly extends across the entire roster.
The greatest strength is without a doubt the receiver room which features matchup nightmares across the board. It’s the arsenal of pass catchers we thought the team had last season before jump ball target Isaiah Neyor suffered injury and elite talents Jahleel Billingsley and Agiye Hall were unable to embrace team culture.
This group of wide receivers in deeper and bought in for the 2023 season. Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and Ja’Tavion Sanders stand as certain, proven commodities after strong 2022 campaigns. The Longhorns add transfer wide receiver AD Mitchell and freshman receivers Johntay Cook and DeAndre Moore to the fold among other talented players.
The aforementioned Neyor and Arkansas transfer safety Jalen Catalon have the ability to raise the team’s ceiling to the sky. Given the immense amount of talent on the team, let’s rank the surest contributors to the 2023 squad.
T'Vondre Sweat
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T’Vondre Sweat is a terror on the inside. Texas hopes fellow defensive tackles Byron Murphy and Alfred Collins will join him on this list. Sweat showed up in big games against Alabama and Oklahoma. A consistent season could make him a nightmare in the Big 12 Conference.
Jahdae Barron
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Don’t let the No. 9 ranking designation fool you. Barron will play a huge role in the success of the Texas defense. His versatility in slot coverage makes defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense work. Look for another big year for the third-year player.
Ryan Watts
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Cornerbacks of Watts’ size typically lack the speed necessary to play well at the position. Watts has that speed paired with the physicality and explosion to punish smaller receivers. His veteran presence is a huge reason the secondary is a strength for the Texas defense.
Quinn Ewers
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Saturday, April 15, 2023.
You can’t pronounce “win” without “Quinn.” That could be the circumstance for Texas with Ewers on the field. If the team gets more of the Ewers we saw in big games and in the spring game, he will skyrocket to the top of the list.
AD Mitchell
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Mitchell is likely going to make spectacular plays for Texas. The question for AD is health. In four playoff games he caught four touchdown passes for the Georgia Bulldogs the last two seasons. His early rapport with Ewers is reason to believe he’ll be a fixture in the offense.
Jordan Whittington
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Whittington is a great football player, although his skill set doesn’t necessarily lend itself to being viewed as a great receiver. He is a great athlete which was what he was recruited as out of high school. Whittington should be a trustworthy chains mover. He should effectively act as a second intermediate outlet for Ewers without a proven tight end behind Ja’Tavion Sanders.
Ja'Tavion Sanders
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Sanders was a huge surprise last season. He returns as the top tight end in the Big 12 Conference. Ja’Tavion’s ability to win jump balls and get open make him one of the most dynamic players on the roster.
Kelvin Banks
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Banks would probably be the No. 1 player on nearly every Big 12 roster. This roster is loaded. That doesn’t diminish the upside Banks brings to the team. After an impressive freshman season, I would be surprised if Kelvin is not drafted in the Top 10 of the NFL Draft down the road.
Xavier Worthy
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Worthy was good in his first two seasons in Austin. He was scary good in the Orange and White game. After a sophomore slump, Xavier could compete for a First Team All-American designation at receiver. If he plays up to his ceiling, the Texas offense should carry the team to a Big 12 championship.
Jaylan Ford
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Ford had a historic year in his first full season as a starting linebacker in 2022. Without fellow playmaking linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, he’ll carry a bigger load in his next season. Ford should be up to the task. He is perhaps the most impactful linebacker on the Forty Acres, in terms of wins and losses, since Derrick Johnson.
