Texas Football's 10 most important first and second year players rest of season
While the backbone of championship teams is often built on high-impact returning starters and veterans in the locker room, it’s hard to find a national champion that didn’t receive a boost from some of its youngest players.
Some contributions are expected coming into the year, while others aren’t. Ohio State knew what it had with Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs last year, but how many Michigan fans expected their top receiver to be a true sophomore tight end with under 20 career catches entering the championship season? The two best receivers on the 2022 Georgia squad were underclassmen now tearing up AFC West secondaries.
Entering the year, we knew Texas would need to rely on a number of underclassmen and new starters. That was the biggest storyline for a Longhorn team that sent more than 15 high-impact players to the NFL. A few standouts have emerged early, while others need to get going sooner rather than later.
No. 10: TEs Jordan Washington or Nick Townsend
2025 combined stats: 4 receptions, 66 yards, 1 TD
The TE2 competition was an important talking point of the non-conference slate for Texas. Against Ohio State, redshirt sophomore Spencer Shannon looked like the true No. 2 to veteran Jack Endries, but he may have already been passed by two younger players.
Jordan Washington seemed like the TE1 heading into the year before Endries transferred from Cal, while Nick Townsend has been a highlight-reel blocker and elite athlete in limited snaps. One of them will likely win the TE2 job, and that player will have a huge impact on Steve Sarkisian’s heavy 12-personnel offense.
No. 9: LB Ty’Anthony Smith
2025 stats: 14 tackles, 7 stops, 1 sack
Any contributions from linebackers not named Anthony Hill and Liona Lefau seemed like a luxury, and yet Ty’Anthony Smith has at times looked like the most talented player in the room.
The true sophomore was an undersized three-star recruit, but he’s already blossomed into a heavily involved rotational player. He played a lot against Ohio State and will continue to feature in Texas’ NASCAR package and as a reliever for Lefau and Hill.
No. 8: DT Maraad Watson
2025 stats: 3 tackles, 2 stops, 2 QB hits
The sophomore Syracuse transfer had a rough debut at Ohio State but has bounced back in the last three games. He’s clearly the second-most dependable defensive tackle on this team, ahead of Cole Brevard but behind star DT Hero Kanu.
Watson is big, athletic, and should work well in tandem with the next player in forcing pressure up the middle.
No. 7: DT Alex January
2025 stats (1 game): 2 tackles, 2 stops, 1 pressure
January has been sidelined most of this season with an injury, but his return is a big win for Texas’ interior pass rush.
Similar to Smith, January wasn’t a highly rated recruit, but he’s quickly earned trust and become one of the most impressive interior defensive linemen.
The sophomore duo of Watson and January already flashed against Ohio State and will be key in early-down situations against pass-heavy teams.
No. 6: WR Emmett Mosley
2025 stats: N/A
Yes, Emmett Mosley does exist.
Mosley practiced for the first time this season on Thursday and will instantly slot in as Texas’ primary underneath target. A strong blocker and reliable slot receiver, Mosley gives the Longhorns the steady hands they lacked against Ohio State and even against weaker non-conference opponents. Adding him ahead of SEC play feels like an NFL team making a deadline trade to give its quarterback a game-changing weapon.
No. 5: STAR Graceson Littleton
2025 stats: 9 tackles, 1 PBU, 1 interception
How many of you, if asked in April, would’ve guessed Graceson Littleton would be one of the five most important underclassmen on this team?
Littleton burst onto the scene in camp and has since won the STAR role, starting all four games and ranking sixth on the defense in snaps—surrounded by five others likely NFL-bound next year.
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Littleton’s play isn’t quite as crucial as the ones above because of how strong this defense is, but there’s only one underclassman on this side of the ball who means more to Texas.
No. 4: WR Parker Livingstone
2025 stats: 11 catches, 232 yards, 3 TDs
Livingstone continues the trend of fantastic 2024 evaluations by this Texas staff. Like Smith and January, he wasn’t expected to be a star this early, but he’s been Texas’ most productive receiver.
He scored Texas’ first two touchdowns of the year on long plays, and his field-stretching speed and size make him a perfect deep threat for QB Arch Manning. He’s still expected to “start” over Mosley, though more rotation is coming to the WR room.
No. 3: EDGE Colin Simmons
2025 stats: 3 tackles, 9 pressures, 2 sacks
Simmons is Texas’ best underclassman, but probably not the most important for the rest of the season. The defense is elite thanks to him, but not solely because of him.
Still, he’s a menace off the edge whose “down year” has seen him register a pressure on 20% of true pass sets. Teams are already game-planning around him, using chips and quick passes to slow his impact. His numbers will only climb as the season progresses.
No. 2: RT Brandon Baker
2025 stats: 129 pass block snaps, 6 pressures allowed, 0 sacks
Baker is arguably one of the three most important players on this team, period. The environment in Ohio shook him a bit, but he’s grown each week as the starting tackle in just his second year. His run blocking has improved greatly, and he’s been outstanding in pass protection.
The offensive line holding up for the next 9–13 games is one of the biggest keys to a Texas playoff run. Baker was the biggest unknown entering the year, but he’s turned into a solid piece with plenty of upside.
No. 1: WR Ryan Wingo
2025 stats: 13 catches, 190 yards, 3 TDs
There’s no playmaker Texas needs to get right more than Ryan Wingo. Thankfully, that process already started before the bye.
Wingo had a breakout game, catching four passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly, he had no drops and connected with Manning on a deep ball that looked like Texas’ best play all year.
Texas can only go as far as Manning and Wingo take them. Both are uber-talented players still learning how to be the guy at a program like Texas. If Wingo develops into the top-five SEC receiver many projected, look out.
