Texas Football: 3 players to watch in mandatory workouts

2. Jalen Green, Cornerback

When it comes to configuring the defensive backfield for this fall, there is going to be a lot of pressure falling on the shoulders of recently hired defensive coordinator/safeties coach Chris Ash and cornerbacks coach Jay Valai. While Ash and Valai did a good job recruiting their side of the ball out of the gates, they’ll have to do a fantastic job maintaining continuity in a still difficult Big 12 to compete in this year.

Texas does bring back the bulk of their starters in the secondary, but there were a few notable losses along the way. The names that are important to note there includes cornerback Kobe Boyce (who recently said he’s stepping away from football on his Twitter timeline over the weekend), Anthony Cook (entered the NCAA Transfer Portal), and safety Brandon Jones (ran out of eligibility).

This leaves four names in particular that are going to be the most crucial to hold up this secondary if there’s a season this fall. That list includes rising juniors like safety Caden Sterns, B.J. Foster, and cornerbacks Jalen Green and D’shawn Jamison. With Green and Jamison as the likely two starting cornerbacks this year, Texas could have a bright immediate future at the position.

Jamison showed down the stretch last season that he could be one of the best playmaking corners in the Big 12. And Green can be a stud in one-on-one pass coverage when healthy. Last season, Green registered 30 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, no sacks, and five pass deflections, in nine games played.