Bobby Burton
Before we get going with spring practice, I always like to make a note of any preconceptions we have about the team heading into spring ball, so that we can circle bak after spring ball and the regular season to gauge whether the info we received and interpolated actually mesh with the outcome. Or if there are straight up misses.
Some preconceived notions about this team to monitor:
- Texas will be a more downfield passing attack in 2025 led by Arch Manning. There will be more play-action, more QB run game (even if we're merely talking about the threat of the run game).
- Texas will utilize QB run in the red zone and pass more over the middle of the field in the red zone with Manning.
- Texas will utilize more play-action passing with Manning and perhaps less horizontal passing game.
- The Texas offensive line will be able to run the ball more effectively up the middle with a different group of players at G-C-G.
- Ryan Wingo is expected to make a big leap in year two.
- Jordan Washington is expected to be the next big-time TE for the Horns but with some help from young TEs like Nick Townsend and Emaree Winston. Are we not talking enough about the abilities of Spencer Shannon as a key in-line piece?
- The Texas pass rush should be even better than 2024.
- The Texas run defense is a major question mark given the losses up the middle of both 2023 and 2024.
- The Texas linebackers are expected to be the best group the Horns have had overall in years.
- Kobe Black and Jaylon Guilbeau are expected to battle for the starting corner spot opposite Manny Muhammad (is Warren Roberson too much of an after thought currently?).
- Is Parker Livingstone genuinely the next receiver up, following Wingo and Moore? Or will one of the four new receivers break through and perhaps surpass him?
But I wanted to get these written down so we can track some of them during spring ball and the regular season. Let me know if there are others you are thinking of and I'm somehow neglecting to mention.
One note: I did not mention much about the true freshman. I want to tackle that topic, and their expectations, separately.