IT Roundtable: The position battles to note during Texas football's training camp

With the season approaching, the Inside Texas staff is putting together Roundtables covering top storylines, college football’s biggest developments, and much more.

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Yesterday’s focused on the most important offseason developments for Texas. Today’s will go over position battles of note during the upcoming preseason camp.

What position battle on offense are you watching most? Starter or backup.

Eric Nahlin – Position battles are a way to assess competition and actual depth. I guess I’m most interested in who will be the third tackle. Given, there’s no real competition at tackle to start ahead of Trevor Goosby and Brandon Baker, I’m curious who No. 3 OT will be. Jaydon Chatman or Nick Brooks?

Justin Wells – No. 3 WR. DeAndre Moore and Ryan Wingo are known commodities. Who snags that No. 3 role at receiver?

Ian Boyd – I think left guard, where everyone wants Neto Umeozulu to put it all together and be great but they could potentially mix things up by moving Brandon Baker inside or sliding Cole Hutson back to guard and putting Connor Robertson at center.

Joe Cook – I’m with Ian, but I guess that means I’m watching two positions. Does Neto Umeozulu grab the role and keep Cole Hutson at center? Does Connor Robertson show progress since the 2023 Red River Shootout, something a lot of Texas fans seem to think isn’t feasible since that performance? Umeozulu has his pass-pro problems, but if those are alleviated it’ll be tough to unseat the fourth-year junior.

Charlie Williams – RT battle. Can Brandon Baker be the guy?

Paul Wadlington – A lot of people think Matthew Caldwell could take Arch‘s job, but I’m Team Manning.

RT Young – Right tackle. Can Brandon Baker be pushed?

Even Vieth – It has to be running back. I do think Quintrevion Wisner takes the bulk of the carries against OSU, but who will have the staff’s favor for The Swamp and Red River? Will Christian Clark burst into a top-three spot? How far along is CJ Baxter? Jerrick Gibson?

What position battle on defense are you watching most? Starter or backup.

Eric Nahlin – I bet many of my colleagues will go with Jaylon Guilbeau versus Kobe Black. That’s a good one, but I’m most curious about D-tackle given all the positives we’ve heard throughout the entire offseason. I want to know who is paired with who and whether they’re first, second, or third-team.

Justin Wells – Cornerback between Jaylon Guilbeau and Kobe Black.

Ian Boyd – Defensive tackle in general, both to learn what combinations they like and to see which of the many portal additions are panning out.

Joe Cook – Defensive tackle, but this is a much different competition than we’ve ever had to deal with. Is there enough talent to have three whole waves? Or is it still a two line system with some occasional appearances from line three.

Charlie Williams – Kobe Black and Jaylon Guilbeau

Paul Wadlington – Jaylon Guilbeau–Kobe Black at CB.

RT Young – The cornerback battle opposite Manny Muhammad and it’s not close. I think a lot of guys will play, but there’s a Jahdae Barron shaped hole on one side of the defense for Kobe Black, Jaylon Guilbeau or a young pup.

Even Vieth – CB2, which in turn impacts two other positions. Apparently Jaylon Guilbeau is the fastest CB on the team in practice, but I’m sort of gunning for Kobe Black to be that CB2. That then impacts if Guilbeau or Jelani McDonald are at STAR and what happens at the second safety spot with McDonald.

Predict it now: Who is the “Camp MVP” a la DeAndre Moore last season?

Eric Nahlin – Well, for Texas to have the season it needs to have, wide receiver Ryan Wingo has to have a very strong camp. It’s been a bit of a quiet offseason for him so far.

Justin Wells – Jerrick Gibson or TyAnthony Smith

Ian Boyd – Ryan Wingo. I think he’ll be dominant and may even get put on ice after the first scrimmage.

Joe Cook – Moore played in nine games in 2023 before elevating himself to a full-time role in 2024 thanks to a strong training camp. So I’ll pick someone from the “occasional appearances in 2024” crowd. Although Colton Vasek played in 11 games in 2024, he only logged 65 defensive snaps. Injuries and players like Ethan Burke and Barryn Sorrell being ahead of him explained the rare appearances. Now? It may just be his old high school teammate in Burke. Vasek has drawn a lot of positive buzz over the summer and his capability to play up to top-100 billing would make the Texas D-line even scarrier.

Charlie Williams – Easy answer. Colin Simmons

Paul Wadlington – Ryan Wingo. Feels like it’s coming together.

RT Young – Besides Arch Manning? I heard from a source last offseason that Jelani McDonald is a “superstar, but he might be a year away.” I’m going to trust that opinion and say this is offseason he breaks out.

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Even Vieth – Give me Zina Umeozulu.