The Texas Longhorns are hoping to be “back” this fall thanks to a large array of 2024 NFL Draft prospects. With head coach Steve Sarkisian in his second season and the majority of the team’s primary playmakers entering draft-eligible seasons, expectations are rightfully high. Let’s dive into Texas’ top talent in their final season in the Big 12.
Texas Longhorns Roster and Depth Chart Changes
The Longhorns finished 8-5 in 2022 and are returning 14 starters from last year’s team. Making progress won’t be easy — even as Sarkisian will have a second top-five recruiting class to backfill the roster — as the offense lost star rusher Bijan Robinson and another four players who were drafted this past spring. The pressure is on the veterans to lead a young cast of talented recruits.
That starts with quarterback Quinn Ewers, who now has to look over his shoulder to see Arch Manning waiting in the wings. He’s flanked by talented pass catchers and an offensive line that is bringing back all five starters. Texas also added former Georgia Bulldogs receiver Adonai Mitchell via the transfer portal.
Texas’ defense has a tougher task to improve after finishing 28th in scoring allowed last year. Having a group of experienced players lead their secondary will help, as incoming transfer Jalen Catalon and Gavin Holmes join seniors Ryan Watts, Jahdae Barron, and Jerrin Thompson.
Texas NFL Draft Prospects
Quinn Ewers, QB
Entering his second season as a starter, Ewers has a unique pressure on him. It’s likely his last season at Texas, as Manning has already been hailed as the heir to the job in future years. Although Ewers’ stat line of 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 58.1% completion rate isn’t overly impressive, he did show off high-level NFL traits in 2022.
Ewers has good but not great arm strength and flashes fantastic touch and ball placement when he sets his feet and drives his lower body into his throws. He doesn’t consistently do this, though, and he doesn’t have the high-end arm talent to reliably make tight-window throws while on the move or while under pressure. With the NFL seeing more dual-threat quarterbacks raise the bar on what a franchise QB means, Ewers has to be an elite pocket passer to be a top pick.
Improving his mechanics will get Ewers much closer to his peak. He’s a smart passer who produced some of the most impressive throws of the 2022 season. There’s real Round 1 potential with Ewers, but he could just as easily be looking to transfer again next offseason if he struggles and can’t fend off Manning.
Keilan Robinson, RB
Formerly of Alabama, Keilan Robinson can become the third Texas rusher drafted in a two-year span after this season. Although his rushing opportunities dipped as Roschon Johnson earned more of a share, Robinson still contributed as a receiver. He reached a career-high in receptions with 20 and receiving yards with 219 in 13 games.
Robinson is a shifty, small presence at 5’9″ and 183 pounds. He’ll fight for playing time behind Jonathan Brooks and Jaydon Blue, but there’s room for Robinson to earn consideration to be drafted if he tests well and continues to be a spark for the offense.
Xavier Worthy, WR
The team’s leading receiver from last year is back. Xavier Worthy is looking to follow in Zay Flowers’ footsteps as a thin receiver who goes in the first round. However, Worthy has a different game as a 6’1″, 160-pounder who relies on sharp routes and the ability to get up to top gear quickly.
Worthy sells his routes effectively and has good straight-line speed and great acceleration. He’s highly competitive at the catch point and plays bigger than he is, but he’s also not someone who can leap out of the gym or outrun defenders without a move. A good player who projects more as a complementary piece than a featured star, Worthy enters the year with a Day 2 grade.
Adonai Mitchell, WR
Transferring from Georgia, Mitchell joins an impressive room of players who will benefit from his size. At 6’4″ and 190 pounds, Mitchell is a prototypical big-bodied threat who relies on his size to finish at the catch point. He’s not quick or explosive enough to generate wide-open windows but flashed confidence, focus, and strong hands at the catch point on contested plays.
He’s a later-round prospect entering the year but still has one more year of eligibility left after 2023.
Jordan Whittington, WR
A slot receiver who is built more like a running back at 6’0″ and 204 pounds, Jordan Whittington isn’t someone who will impress with high-end athleticism. He’s a natural hands catcher who finds holes in zone coverages well and gets upfield into more space quickly. With only four career touchdown receptions, Whittington will be a late-round prospect next year.
Isaiah Neyor, WR
It’s possible Mitchell will be fighting with Isaiah Neyor for playing time this fall. The former Wyoming star is 6’3″, 219 pounds, and is expected to run in the mid 4.4s in the 40-yard dash. But he missed last season with a torn ACL.
At his best, Neyor is a field-stretching, big-play machine. He averaged 20 yards a catch on 44 receptions with 12 touchdowns in 2021. If Neyor is healthy, he can be a massive x-factor in key games this fall and be one of the biggest draft risers of the class.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE
The best pass-catching prospect on Texas is tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders. He moves extremely well for a 6’4″, 255-pounder, showing off great comfort as he releases off the line of scrimmage and even as defenders drape his body in coverage. Sanders is a natural receiver in the mold of Gerald Everett, thanks to his quickness and willingness to get physical to finish the catch.
He won’t be confused for an especially effective blocker, but Sanders makes an effort. Sanders should be valued as a strong Day 2 prospect with another quality year in 2023.
Christian Jones, OT
Returning for his sixth season, right tackle Christian Jones has already been a player who has gotten better throughout his career. He was one of the best run blockers in the conference last year, then allowed only one sack in the final 10 games of the 2022 season. Jones is a mauler at 6’6″ and 321 pounds.
Like most massive right tackles, Jones has some limitations in pass protection because of his top-heavy nature. He’s prone to overextending with his upper body, and speed rushers can get around him. Still, he has value as a potential Day 3 draft pick.
T’Vondre Sweat, DT
A mammoth at 6’4″ and 346 pounds, T’Vondre Sweat is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the Texas defense. He makes everything else possible for his teammates, holding up extremely well at the point of attack, even against double teams. He’s a big part of the reason the Longhorns had such a massively improved front seven in 2022.
Sweat’s stats aren’t impressive due to his role, as he’s amassed only 53 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks in four seasons. His burst off the line hasn’t been quite good enough to create his own sack opportunities. If that changes, Sweat could push to be the next Dontari Poe and lock in a top-50 grade.
Barryn Sorrell, EDGE
With good size at 6’3″ and 246 pounds, Barryn Sorrell looks the part of an NFL-caliber edge defender. He produced 5.5 sacks in his first full season of action but mostly stood out for being a smart run defender who was consistently in a position to own his gap and force ball carriers to change direction. Just a junior, Sorrell would benefit from a faster first step off the line and improving his ability to shake blockers off his body.
Alfred Collins, DL
Somewhat playing out of position as an edge rusher with Texas, evaluators like Alfred Collins to be more of a 3-4 end or 4-3 tackle at the next level. He’s a gigantic presence at 6’5″, 307 pounds, occupying space effectively. But his lack of speed and struggles to break free of tackles who get into his chest are areas he has to improve to become a draftable defender.
Jaylan Ford, LB
A hyperproductive tackler who finished 2022 with 119 stops, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and four interceptions, Jaylan Ford was everywhere last season. He has good closing speed and does well to keep his eyes in the backfield without losing his positioning in zone drops. Most importantly, he’s an asset on passing downs because of his flexibility in coverage and ability to blitz the quarterback and create a push.
Ford’s aggressiveness and instincts can improve a bit on play action. Much of his game is based on patience and rightly balancing his responsibilities, so decreasing the likelihood he’s targeted by passing games can be a meaningful area of growth this season. Ford figures to land in the Day 2/early Day 3 range.
Ryan Watts, CB
Senior cornerback Ryan Watts is one of the biggest corners in the nation at 6’3″ and 215 pounds. He’s a plus athlete capable of face-guarding receivers through their routes before competing at the catch point. However, he’s far more reactive than someone who is comfortable reading routes and predicting the receiver’s next steps.
Watts has to become more instinctual and a better playmaker in coverage. With only one interception last year, Watts is more intriguing than effective right now.
Jahdae Barron, CB
A competitive defender built to play as a slot safety or nickel DB in the NFL, Jahdae Barron is a tenacious run defender who flies to the ball carrier. Though he has the size to play outside at 5’11” and 193 pounds, Barron is reactive in coverage and not overly fast on crossers and deep routes. His physicality can give him Day 3 value for zone defenses in particular.
Texas Longhorns Schedule
- Week 1
BYE - Week 2
Sept. 2: vs. Rice Owls - Week 3
Sept. 9: at Alabama Crimson Tide - Week 4
Sept. 16: vs. Wyoming Cowboys - Week 5
Sept. 23: at Baylor Bears - Week 6
Sept. 30: vs. Kansas Jayhawks - Week 7
Oct 7: at Oklahoma Sooners - Week 8
BYE - Week 9
Oct. 21: at Houston Cougars - Week 10
Oct. 28: vs. BYU Cougars - Week 11
Nov. 4: vs. Kansas State Wildcats - Week 12
Nov. 11: at TCU Horned Frogs - Week 13
Nov. 18: at Iowa State Cyclones - Week 14
Nov. 24: vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders - Week 15
BYE