Five Longhorns with something to prove as Texas returns to spring practice
Spring football resumes Tuesday morning for the Texas Longhorns, as Steve Sarkisian’s program has 11 practices and the Orange-White Game ahead of it over the course of March and April.
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Major determinations about the depth chart won’t come until preseason camp, but the remaining practices provide an opportunity for several players, both new and old, to solidify or alter their position on the depth chart before August and September.
Ahead of the remaining practices, Inside Texas looks at five players with plenty to prove at either the Frank Denius Fields or Campbell-Williams Field.
Neto Umoezulu
The second-year player out of Allen (Texas) was seen taking reps at guard during the first three practices of spring football. With Cole Hutson recovering from injury, Umeozulu has a chance to contend for one of the guard spots along with DJ Campbell and Hayden Conner. He could also carve out a role akin to the one occupied by Andrej Karic last season.
CJ Baxter
Considering that Jonathon Brooks and Keilan Robinson have been limited for the early portion of the spring, Baxter has received second-string reps during public viewing portions behind Jaydon Blue.
Baxter has a better physical profile as it pertains to being a between-the-tackles runner, but has room for improvement when it comes to running behind zone schemes. Baxter can utilize the inside run and scrimmage settings to show he is able to fulfill those responsibilities. If he’s able to showcase those abilities, plus prove himself as a capable receiver out of the backfield, it would give him an inside track toward being one of Bijan Robinson or Roschon Johnson‘s successors.
Jonathon Brooks
Brooks was limited in the first portion of spring practices as a result of an offseason sports hernia procedure in the aftermath of his limited usage during the Alamo Bowl (eight touches for 55 total yards and two touchdowns). While Brooks may not have the same level of explosiveness as Robinson, Johnson, and even Keilan Robinson, he could show that (when healthy) he can be a RB1 in a Sarkisian offense thanks to his vision, size, and overall athleticism at the position.
Casey Cain
With an expected penchant for 11 personnel on offense in Texas’ future, Cain could build off of his career-best four catches for 108 yards he recorded in the Alamo Bowl in order to springboard into his sophomore season. Cain has been a consistent name at the XWR spot the past year. Texas’ affinity for 12 personnel in 2022 made snaps for Cain tough to come by. If he can prove over the next 11 practices and the Orange-White Game that he is capable of being on the field and doing everything asked of a boundary receiver, he could put himself in great position ahead of an upcoming competition with AD Mitchell.
David Gbenda
The Will linebacker position is up for grabs with DeMarvion Overshown off to the NFL, and no one has a better opportunity than Gbenda to take the available snaps. A senior from Katy (Texas) Cinco Ranch, Gbenda does have a handful of starts to his name but he was not relied upon often last season. He was one of the names most often talked about as showing significant improvement ahead of spring practices. During brief media viewing periods, he has operated at Will alongside Jaylan Ford.
