89 days until Texas football: 2023 signee Spencer Shannon looks for early opportunity
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s 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 for 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 89 days until kickoff. There is not a player wearing 89 this season, so we’re going to take a look at 2023 signee Spencer Shannon.
Spencer Shannon 2023 season outlook
Texas enters the season with quality at tight end but light on quantity. Ja’Tavion Sanders and Gunnar Helm are the top two at the position, but the only other tight end with considerable game experience is Juan Davis.
Sanders is not going to be moved from his TE1 spot, and Helm has a good grip on the backup role when Sanders needs a break. Plus, Helm will be the in-line option alongside Sanders whenever Texas deploys regular 12 personnel.
Pending physical development, Shannon could see opportunity as Helm’s understudy considering there isn’t another scholarship tight end like the Mater Dei product on the roster. He may not strike fear in opposing defenses as a receiver, but he should be serviceable as a back-up even in his true freshman season at a position with considerable physical demands. However, should Texas lean into the heavy 12 personnel again with an offensive lineman as the in-line tight end, that could cut into Shannon’s opportunity.
Tight ends also play a role on special teams, and Jeff Banks could make use of Shannon on a number of units.
Despite his lower ranking compared to others in the 2023 class, the second lowest of the group, Shannon could compete for playing time earlier than other higher-rated teammates.
Spencer Shannon as a recruit
Shannon was the No. 698 overall recruit, the No. 39 tight end, and the No. 58 player in California in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. Texas beat West Coast schools for Shannon’s commitment. He joined Texas’ 2023 class on June 13, 2022.
Most recent player to wear No. 89: Brayden Liebrock
Liebrock played in just seven games in his four-year, injury-plagued career. He caught two passes for a total of 11 yards in his redshirt freshman season of 2020, when he played in four contests.
Liebrock was a seven-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2019, spring 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021, fall 2021, spring 2022, fall 2022).
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All-Americans to wear No. 89
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