82 days until Texas Football: Gus Asel and his peculiar presence at tight end during spring
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 82 days until kickoff. No. 82 will be worn for the Longhorns this season by Gus Asel, a senior walk on.
Gus Asel season outlook
Last year during the leadup to the Iowa State game, Eric Nahlin wrote in the Humidor that Asel was one of a handful of scout teamers that gave the defense problems during preparation for games. Asel, who transferred up from the Division III ranks, was mentioned along with Maalik Murphy and Jaden Alexis.
During the spring, Asel, listed by the school at 6-foot-1, 217 pounds, worked with Jeff Banks and the tight ends during the media viewing portions of practice. He was last in line behind Ja’Tavion Sanders, Gunnar Helm, Patrick Bayouth, and Juan Davis.
It was never clarified publicly by Steve Sarkisian why Asel was with the tight ends. With Will Randle and Spencer Shannon enrolled, Asel could return to the wideouts now that the numbers are right at tight end or continue to split time as an analog for other team’s multi-purpose players with the scout team.
Asel is a transfer from Hendrix College in Arkansas. He did not see any action last season, his first with the Longhorns. Asel is a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2022, fall 2022).
Notable player to wear No. 82: BJ Johnson
Johnson played for four seasons for Texas, finishing with 152 receptions, 2,389 yards and 16 touchdowns. During his senior year it was revealed that Johnson played the whole season with a broken tibia.
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All-Americans to wear No. 82
Corby Robertson, LB, 1967
Joe Cook co-authored this article
