Texas Football: Breaking down 5 immediate impact 2023 early signees
Colton Vasek, EDGE
Texas surely landed a ton of depth and talent to come off the edge in the 2023 class. Between the blue-chip linebackers and edge rushers that signed to the Longhorns 2023 class, there are a half-dozen recruits that will all be competing for early reps next year. Landing the highly touted four-star Skyridge (UT) edge rusher/outside linebacker Tausili Akana brought Texas up to three blue-chip edge rushers and a half-dozen recruits at the position in the 2023 class.
The edge recruit that might be in the best position to contribute immediately, though, is the former Oklahoma Sooners commit and four-star Austin Westlake product Colton Vasek.
Once Texas flipped Vasek from Oklahoma last month, it looked like co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns could try to work him and freshman edge rusher Ethan Burke as starters opposite each other along the front seven. That is certainly still a viable possibility, with sophomore edge rusher Barryn Sorrell still getting reps in the line rotation.
Vasek is already a mature edge rusher that has the physical tools and pursuit to compete for starting reps right away. The 6-foot-6 and 230-pound local product definitely has the frame to go up against Power Five level competition next fall. He’s got the strength and overall mass to fight through blockers as a run-stopper and to get after the quarterback.
Where I would like to see Vasek make some strides in workouts and camp next offseason is in terms of adding more moves to his arsenal as a pass rusher and getting more bend in the waist off the edge. Vasek doesn’t have the most natural movement as an edge rusher, especially if he’s lining up in the three-technique pre-snap.
All in all, the tools are there for Vasek to earn first or second-team practice reps in camp as soon as spring ball. It’ll also help him get adjusted to college-level competition since he’s likely going to be an early enrollee that can participate in spring camp.