Texas football vs. UTSA: 3 adjustments Sarkisian should make for Week 3

Start Jahdae Barron at field corner

In the loss to Alabama, I firmly believe that junior defensive back Jahdae Barron played well enough at the star position to win his starting job back over true freshman Jaylon Guilbeau.

But it now looks like Texas might need Barron elsewhere in the secondary against UTSA thanks to another injury issue. It makes sense to move Barron over to the field corner position against UTSA if the coaching staff is worried about the lower-body injury that senior cornerback D’Shawn Jamison suffered in the first half against the Tide.

If Jamison isn’t able to start at field corner next weekend opposite of redshirt sophomore Ryan Watts, it will likely either be sophomore Jamier Johnson or Barron getting the starting reps in this spot. Johnson has shown flashes of becoming a reliable field corner, but he just isn’t all that proven.

And with the Longhorns set to take on a seriously talented and deep wide receiver room in UTSA, I would make sure that this secondary is in the best position possible to succeed. That would mean going with the more experience and proven option in pass coverage to start at field corner, thus giving Barron the start over Jamier.

Not only did Barron post the best coverage grade among Texas defensive backs in the loss to Alabama, but he also was the highest-graded defensive back in zone coverage on the team throughout last season. Barron has proven in the past that he is a reliable and versatile DB in pass coverage assignments.

Texas also has the depth necessary at the star position to let Barron slide over to field corner. Despite having a down week against the Tide, Guilbeau still has the tools necessary to start at spur if needed against the Roadrunners next weekend.

Texas will need that sort of presence in the secondary to face this vaunted UTSA wide receiver trio that includes seniors Zakhari Franklin, Joshua Cephus, and De’Corian Clark. This trio of UTSA wideouts has already registered a combined 40 receptions for 600 receiving yards and six touchdown catches in just two games.