Members of Texas' 2020 class will man critical roles for the 2024 Longhorns
Most of the current Texas roster signed up to play for Steve Sarkisian, with top classes from 2022, 2023, and 2024 making up the bulk of the team. The 2021 class signed with Tom Herman, but many stuck around after Sarkisian was named head coach of the Longhorns barely three weeks after putting pen to paper.
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Those players from the class of 2021 still on campus, Morice Blackwell, Hayden Conner, Juan Davis, Barryn Sorrell, Gunnar Helm, and Max Merril, have only known life as part of a Sarkisian program.
That’s not the case for the four remaining members of the Longhorns’ 2020 class. Two, Vernon Broughton and Jake Majors, are entering their fifth (though not necessarily final) year of eligibility. Two more, Alfred Collins and Jahdae Barron, are using the year of eligibility relief provided by the NCAA as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All four of those players will fill crucial roles for the Longhorns and their performances will determine just how far Texas can go during its first year in the Southeastern Conference and the era of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Alfred Collins, DT, Senior (COVID-19 year)
2023 stats: 22 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 PBU
Career in a nutshell: Elite athlete who bounced between DT and DE early in his career before finding a spot inside. Has been a part of the rotation for the last two seasons and made a nice step forward behind two NFL defensive tackles last season.
The latest on Collins: The Texas defense has a significant void in the middle of it thanks to the departures of Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat but Collins is working hard to adequately replace those two future NFLers. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 321 pounds, the motor issues are a thing of the past and Collins is the No. 1 player at defensive tackle for the Longhorns. He’ll be effective on the move moreso than anchoring against double teams, though that’s something he’ll still have to do. So too will run stuffing, which he has shown progress in during recent practices (premium content) but the litmus test may not come until Texas heads to Ann Arbor.
Vernon Broughton, DT, Fifth-year senior
2023 stats: 17 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 1 fumble recovery
Career in a nutshell: Has appeared in 40 games but had to wait for extended playing time behind four NFL defensive tackles. Saw more action in 2023 and acquitted himself well in second line duty. Capable pass-rusher but can get moved in the run game more often than a defensive coordinator would like.
The latest on Broughton: Much of what applied to Collins also applies to Broughton, but the Houston-area product has much more to prove in run defense. A capable player on the move, Broughton has to show he can anchor. That’s a bit easier for Collins at 321 pounds than it is for Broughton at his listed 307. If he can pair an ability to play solid first- and second-down defense with his skill set, he should have ample opportunity to make impacts in the pass-rush on third down.
More on the defensive tackle position here (premium content).
Jake Majors, C, Fifth-year senior
2023 stats: 14 starts
Career in a nutshell: Texas’ center since the end of the 2020 season. Texas has tinkered with others at center in years past, but Majors has been consistent in his steady play as part of O-lines that have produced several 1000-yard rushers.
The latest on Majors: The Prosper product provides the type of on- and off-field leadership a veteran offensive line benefits from ahead of the Longhorns’ first year in the SEC, undoubtedly a line of scrimmage league. Should outside zone continue to be a significant aspect of Sarkisian’s offense (premium content), that’ll suit Majors’ strengths and provide Texas with a center most college football programs would be envious of.
Jahdae Barron, DB, Senior (COVID-19 year)
2023 stats: 60 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 1 interception, 6 PBUs, 1 fumble recovery
Career in a nutshell: Went from rarely used cornerback to joining the regular corner rotation to becoming indispensable as the Star (nickel corner) in the Longhorns’ defense the past two seasons with occasional appearances out wide at CB.
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The latest on Barron: The heart and soul of the Texas defense, Barron helps the Longhorns via his return by not only providing an all-conference caliber player at Star, but also a quality option at corner. Development behind Barron at either position could allow Pete Kwiatkowski to deploy No. 7 (new senior year number) in a variety of roles. Barron is an undisputed leader within the program and a football player in every sense of the word. His presence, no matter the position, is big for the 2024 Longhorns.
