99 days until Texas Football: A look at Sydir Mitchell ahead of his debut season
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on 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 for every player, from five-star to walk-on.
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In addition, we’ll look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 99 days until kickoff. No. 99 on the current 2023 roster is worn by Sydir Mitchell.
Sydir Mitchell season outlook
Mitchell, a 6-foot-6, 359-pound true freshman out of Paterson (N.J.) Bergen Catholic, enrolled early as part of Texas’ 2023 class. The Longhorns topped Georgia and Texas A&M, among others, for his signature.
The only defensive tackle in the 2023 class, Mitchell arrives and takes over No. 99 for Kansas City Chiefs sixth-round pick Keondre Coburn.
Playing time is available, but as the cover picture shows Mitchell is one of the largest Large Humans on the roster. Plus, with veterans like T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy, Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, Trill Carter, and Aaron Bryant at the same position, that combination of needing to work on his endurance plus being down on the depth chart may limit his opportunities this year.
Mitchell could utilize the four-game redshirt rule, but with his height he might be an option on field goal block teams like Cam Williams was in his first year.. Developing under Bo Davis is the best use of his time, as Sweat, Murphy, and Collins could all depart after the upcoming season.
Sydir Mitchell as a recruit
Mitchell was the No. 225 overall recruit, the No. 26 defensive lineman, and the No. 3 player in New Jersey according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He committed to Texas on July 3, 2022.
Most recent wearer of No. 99: Keondre Coburn
Coburn, a member of the Longhorns’ class of 2018, was recently selected by the Chiefs in the 6th round of the 2023 NFL draft.
During his career, Coburn tallied 95 tackles with 15.0 for loss and 6.5 sacks. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022.
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Notable No. 99: Roy Miller
All-Americans to wear No. 99
Tony Degrate, DT, 1984
Steve McMichael, DT, 1978-79
