What to look for as Texas opens practice ahead of the 2024 season

I know it’s football season when Justin Wells and I text Will Gallagher the schedule for practice availabilities and Will responds “football is finally here.” It’s one of my favorite parts of this job, as is covering the first few days of practice.

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Besides Will’s warm welcome to training camp, I look forward to the start of practice because it is when Inside Texas is at its best. Our team information is unrivaled when it comes to accuracy pertaining to depth charts and to things like schematic trends and emphasis. We provide as complete a picture as possible of what’s going on in Longhorn football.

That also includes the chance to see the Longhorns practice, albeit for a brief window. Texas has opportunities for the media to watch a few stretching periods, routes on air, and other drills this week for local media. Today’s action starts around 3 p.m. CT. Once the Longhorns are through with practice, head coach Steve Sarkisian will be available to the media. We’ll be on the scene for that.

Tomorrow is another afternoon practice, and players will likely be available following the second session. Practice three is on Friday night, and it includes another chance for IT to be on location.

All that’s to say, you aren’t going to want to miss what we offer this week.

It’s not clear yet if Texas will hold a scrimmage on Saturday. After all, that should be the first day the Longhorns can even wear full pads to practice because of NCAA rules. No matter what, we’ll have consistent practice reports and up-to-date info on the goings on at the Denius Fields (or on Campbell-Williams Field).

Speaking of, I’ve got a few things I’m lookin’ for today…

What does the second string OL look like? Kyle Flood gave away the goods yesterday when it comes to the first-string O-line. Four starters return in Kelvin Banks, Hayden Conner, Jake Majors, and DJ Campbell. The fifth spot is at right tackle and Flood said it belongs to Cam Williams.

Texas is 💪🏿 at right tackle with Cam Williams! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/36Xl7VlPgn

— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) July 30, 2024

While Texas looks to have a “top eight or nine” instead of just plugging in the second-string left tackle, I’m curious to see who is behind the first stringers at left tackle, right tackle, and center. Where do players like Trevor Goosby, Brandon Baker, and Cole Hutson fit into the equation?

Strength on the EDGE: This is the most talented EDGE room Pete Kwiatkowski has likely ever had. How does he deploy the wealth of talent he has at his disposal? We have an idea of the first string guys at Jack and Buck, but will Texas limit itself to just playing Jack and Buck this year if EDGE proves to be one of the team’s strongest positions?

Punter! The third phase is important, and Texas has been the beneficiary of quality play at punter over the past few years. From Cameron Dicker, to Daniel Trejo, to Ryan Sanborn, field position has rarely been a problem for Texas. The Longhorns have faith in true freshman Michael Kern, but a true freshman is a true freshman is a true freshman. Can competition from the walk-on ranks rise past the scholarship punter in Kern? There won’t be any Michael-Dickson-First-Day-Of-Practice-Kicks-That-Land-On-Red-River, right?

DB deployment: There are a variety of ways PK can put his defensive backs out on the field. Of course, with 31 days until the season gets going, there is also ample time to test out all the different defensive back combinations. That said, Texas has been on the field over the summer using allotted time with coaches to craft a better sense of the right DB combinations. What do they try on the first day? The group of five they trot out in the typical 2-4-5 defense on day one could have been the best over the course of the summer when the players were in shorts and T-shirts. What happens when helmets come on? Then what happens when shoulder pads come on? Then what happens when it’s full contact?

The future at RB: It’s pretty clear that the top two running backs are Jaydon Blue and CJ Baxter followed by Tre Wisner. But we know how well Tashard Choice has recruited the position in recent years and the talent that room has seen during Sark’s time at Texas. Christian Clark and Jerrick Gibson will someday be asked to continue that trend. With what we already know about Blue, Baxter, and Wisner, how do the two freshmen (who enrolled early) look running against air?

WR groupings: Flood mentioned yesterday that as many as nine wide receivers could receive reps with the ones and twos this camp. There are 10 scholarship wide receivers. That indicates the talent in the room, but Sark doesn’t run 10 personnel. What is the initial pecking order at the position, and how might it evolve in the coming days and weeks?

DT pairings: Texas brought in defensive tackles via the transfer portal with a variety of skill sets. They join Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, Jaray Bledsoe, and Aaron Bryant on the roster. Collins is the leader of that group, but how players are paired in any sort of 11-on-11 setting could instruct future lineups. Does a do-it-all guy like Collins get paired with a run-stopping nose like Bill Norton? Can Broughton and Jermayne Lole be on the field together? The quick pursuit drill reps may be all we get to see on Wednesday, but it’s worth tracking via insider reports and other windows as camp progresses.

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These are just a few of the storylines the Longhorns have associated with them entering the 2024 season. We can’t wait to dive into these and ones we haven’t unearthed yet as the countdown to kickoff continues.