3 Texas football players making a statement in summer workouts

We are now less than 60 days from the start of the 2022 regular season for head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Texas football program. Texas will face the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in the regular season opener on Sep. 3 at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

That will come one week before the biggest game of the non-conference slate, by far, for Sark and the Longhorns. Texas is set to take on the reigning National Champion runner-up Alabama Crimson Tide and head coach Nick Saban in Week 2 of the regular season.

Texas is now preparing for this difficult start to the regular season with a couple of weeks remaining for summer workouts. For the last month or so, the Longhorns have gotten to work in summer workouts with some time in the weight room, film room, and newly-added on-field practice.

Texas football seeing a wide receiver duo lead the way among the tone-setters this summer

Sark and the Longhorns are allowed to get some additional time in the film room and with on-field practice drills this summer, which is a new development this offseason. There are some players that have stood out, especially among the new enrollees with the program, in the midst of some of these new opportunities to get integrated with the team during the summer.

With that in mind, here’s a look at three Longhorns players that are making a statement in summer workouts so far.

Jerrin Thompson, S

We’ve talked a little bit about the former blue-chip recruit and rising junior safety Jerrin Thompson this week as we get closer to wrapping up summer workouts. Thompson has quietly risen to the occasion at times during the spring and summer.

A report from Bobby Burton of Inside Texas a couple of weeks ago from summer workouts (paid content) indicates that Thompson has emerged as one of the “vocal leaders” of the defense since the start of spring ball. That is big considering some of the inconsistencies experienced by Thompson in the last couple of seasons.

Thompson needs to emerge as one of the versatile leaders of this secondary this fall if he wants to keep getting consistent reps for Pete Kwiatkowski. He definitely has the tools necessary to thrive as a versatile, but specialized, player in this secondary.

But as this secondary improves, Thompson needs to make some of the necessary strides along the way to make some meaningful contributions as he has at times in the last two years.

Thompson has made ample strides in a bit of a new role for this Longhorns’ defense since the start of spring camp. That includes the aforementioned report noting that Thompson has become more vocal along with showing more understanding of the defensive schemes in Year 2 under Coach K.

It’s not like we’re hearing that Thompson is likely still going to challenge for starting reps in fall camp at one of the safety positions due to a lack of depth around him. Thompson is remaining competitive in this defensive backfield this offseason thanks to some of the progressions he’s made in the last few months.