3 immediate impact 2023 summer commits for Texas football
Malik Muhammad, CB
The latest commit to join the mix for the Longhorns 2023 class is the elite five-star South Oak Cliff cornerback Malik Muhammad. Texas landed a commitment from Muhammad on the evening of July 20. That gives the Longhorns the fourth five-star commitment in the 2023 class.
Texas has a special group forming in the secondary in the 2023 class between the trio of Muhammad, Williams, and four-star Arlington-Seguin safety Jamel Johnson.
Muhammad might be the most college-ready defensive back in this trio of commits in the Longhorns 2023 class, though. The 6-foot and 170-pound corner does need to add some size to his frame. But he’s not far off the size he would need to compete in man-on-man pass coverage at the Power Five level.
The fact that Muhammad already exhibits the length, quickness, and fluidity, required to stick to opposing wideouts in pass coverage assignments off the line of scrimmage is something that should translate quickly at the next level. Muhammad could at least be a situational cornerback that Kwiatkowski and cornerbacks coach Terry Joseph could utilize in press coverage looks in his first year with the program.
If Muhammad can add some size to his frame and continue to round out as a complete cornerback that can also cover the field well defending the run and chasing down the ball carrier, then he should be a candidate to get some key live-game reps right away next fall. He’ll have an uphill battle to win a starting spot at the cornerback position right away next year.
dark. Next. Predicting Texas' next 2023 commit after Malik Muhammad
But I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that someone like Williams or Muhammad competes for the starting spot at the star position if Barron does declare for the NFL Draft next year. Granted, it doesn’t seem too likely at the moment that Barron takes his talents to the NFL a year early.
Even if Muhammad doesn’t win a starting job right away next year at star or corner, he should be backing up someone like Terrance Brooks or Ryan Watts as a slot CB as a true freshman.