Analyzing 3 Texas football defensive players who must step up in fall camp

D’Shawn Jamison, CB

One of the most recognizable names on this Texas defense is the returning super senior cornerback/special teams weapon D’Shawn Jamison. Texas is going to get one more season out of Jamison starting at one of the cornerback spots and presenting a threat to the opposition with his proficiency and explosiveness in the return game.

Despite Jamison’s plethora of starting experience for the Longhorns, he’s still got a lot to prove in fall camp. Jamison just had his most inconsistent season in terms of his production in pass coverage during the 2021 campaign.

Last season, Jamison posted both his worst coverage and overall defensive grades of his career to date. Jamison also gave up a career-worst 70 percent of passes that went his way, for nearly 500 yards, and four receiving touchdowns.

In fact, last season was the first time that we saw Jamison give up more receiving touchdowns in pass coverage assignments than he had interceptions and pass breakups combined.

Needless to say, Jamison should head into fall camp this year with a big chip on his shoulder. Jamison will need to prove that he’s ready to be more of a proficient playmaker by drumming up some energy and consistency from the defensive backs in fall camp.

And from what we’ve heard coming out of spring ball and summer workouts, Jamison is turning a corner ahead of a potential rebound season this fall. He was apparently making all sorts of plays on the ball during spring camp and continued to prove his value during the summer workout program and on-field practice.

If Jamison continues to show he’s ready to have a big 2022 campaign in fall camp, that type of energy could reverberate throughout the defensive backfield heading into the season.