Texas’ players with breakout potential for the 2022 season
Texas will have many fresh faces in the program next season.
Over 30 recruits and transfers will make up an exciting group of newcomers joining Texas’ roster.
Steve Sarkisian has a good amount of talent to work with between the newcomers on the team and the young players who have been held over from last season.
Despite the 5-7 record, many around the program feel they are knocking on the door for a massive improvement. Texas proved they could compete with any team in the conference last season but struggled to find ways to win in the second half of games.
Finding some breakout players could turn Texas into real competitors in the Big 12 conference. Last season Xavier Worthy and Bijan Robinson established themselves as elite players. Who on the roster could share similar leaps in the 2022 season?
Here are 10 players who could break out into major contributors next year:
QB: Quinn Ewers
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
The former five-star Ohio State transfer enters a fantastic situation to have a huge season. Steve Sarkisian is one of the better quarterback gurus in the nation, developing six NFL draft picks over his career. Ewers will also have some strong weapons around him in Bijan Robinson and Xavier Worthy.
WR: Isaiah Neyor
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The 6-foot-3 speedy wideout is coming off a special season at Wyoming. Neyor snagged 44 catches for 878 yards and 12 scores. Texas’ offense is a very wide receiver-friendly system. Expect Neyor to be a huge part of the Horns offense in 2022.
LB: Jaylan Ford
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Linebacker is one of the position groups Texas needs to see the most improvement from in 2022. Jaylan Ford was a guy who flashed the potential to become a playmaker. He, and the defense as a whole, will need to find a way to be more consistent and stop the run in 2022.
CB: Jahdae Barron
Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Jahdae Barron is one of a few promising young defensive backs on the roster. He played in nine games tallying 18 tackles, three pass breakups and one forced fumble. Barron seems like the prime candidate to replace Josh Thompson at cornerback or fill the role at nickel.
DL: Alfred Collins
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It feels like it is now or never for Alferd Collins. The second highest-rated player in Texas’ 2020 class showed loads of potential as a freshman but did not make a huge leap in his sophomore season. Collins could benefit by moving back into his natural interior defensive line position. For Texas’ defense to reach its peak, Collins needs to have a monster season.
WR: Brenen Thompson
Stephen Garcia/Reporter-News
Thompson is the ideal receiver for Steve Sarkisian’s offense. His elite speed should make him an immediate big-play threat. Texas saw Xavier Worthy have a huge season as a true freshman last year. The wide receiver depth is much stronger this season but Thompson should make his way into the rotation sooner rather than later.
TE: Jahleel Billingsley
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The Alabama transfer will fill a major need at tight end after Texas lost both starters from a year ago. Billingsley has a high ceiling as a pass-catching tight end. After playing for Sark at Alabama, Billingsley is likely a plug-and-play starter.
DB: Ryan Watts
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
The last of four transfers on this list, Ryan Watts will bring in both athleticism and experience to Texas’ secondary. Watts played sparingly in two seasons at Ohio State, recording six tackles and two interceptions.
DL: Justice Finkley
AP Photo/Michael Thomas
Texas is in desperate need of a pass rusher. The Longhorns finished in the bottom third in the Big 12 in sacks and did not have a single player record more than three. Four-star edge rusher Justice Finkley has a college-ready 6-foot-2, 255-pound frame with an impressive first step off the ball. Finkley will have an advantage to gain early playing time as he has already enrolled for the spring semester.
OL: Kelvin Banks
AP Photo/Michael Thomas
Kelvin Banks is the first five-star offensive lineman Texas has signed since 2010. Banks is an uber-talented tackle who will have an opportunity to crack the starting lineup in his first year. He would be high up on the list if he enrolled early.
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