Texas Football: 5 players with a lot to prove in summer workouts

Jake Smith, WR

As another Texas wide receiver with a lot to prove in summer workouts, the former Gatorade National High School Football Player of the year and junior Jake Smith needs to get ready for a season where he needs to stay healthy. Staying healthy consistently is something that eluded Smith since his true freshman campaign back in 2019.

And the writing is already on the wall that Smith could struggle with injury issues again in 2021. Early in spring drills, Smith broke his foot again. That caused him to miss the entirety of spring camp and the Orange-White Game. He’s being held out of a lot of the summer conditioning program too, at least for the full-speed drills and workouts.

Although, it does look like Smith is on track to make a full return for the Longhorns by the start of fall camp. That is good since he needs to shake some of the rust off ahead of the start of the 2021 season. It was clear with Smith’s slow start once he got back into the lineup last fall that missing time in camp due to injury hurt him at the outset.

Smith missed roughly four games for Texas during his true freshman campaign and was out for four more last season. Injuries and inconsistency at times on the field have kept Smith from reaching his true potential as a borderline five-star recruit coming out of Arizona.

Thus far in two years playing for Texas, Smith registered 48 catches for 568 receiving yards (11.8 yards per catch), and nine touchdown catches. If he can get back in rhythm with Texas in limited work during summer conditioning, it could be huge for Smith come the start of fall camp.