Texas Football: 3 defensive players ‘taking the next step’ this spring

In the last six days, Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian took part in the first week of spring practice. Spring camp opened up for Texas with the first day of drills on March 6. And then, Texas took part in one more practice before putting on the full pads for drills on March 10.

Sark and the Longhorns got three spring practices in before spring break will put a week’s pause on camp. Then, Texas will get back to it with another full-pads practice starting on March 20.

Spring ball is a really exciting time this year for Longhorns faithful given the quantity and quality of new additions to the program that could contribute right away. Texas brought in well over a dozen new additions to the program among the early enrollees for the spring semester.

But we shouldn’t overlook what some of the players returning to Texas in 2023 can do coming out of camp. On both sides of the ball, the Longhorns have some returning starters that are ready to take this team to the next level this fall.

Byron Murphy II and the Texas football defenders that are making big strides early this spring

With that in mind, here’s a look at three returning defensive players for the Longhorns that are “taking the next step” this spring.

Barryn Sorrell, EDGE

You know you’re doing something right when the media and the coaches are impressed with your progress in every phase of workouts and camp during the offseason. This is what it sounds like is going on for junior edge rusher Barryn Sorrell, who is looking to make another leap forward as a leader along the defensive front for Pete Kwiatkowski and the Longhorns.

Sorrell added some muscle mass and looks a lot stronger coming out of the winter strength and conditioning program this year. He is also looking even quicker and more agile through the first week of spring practice in drills.

A report from the first week of spring practice from Eric Nahlin of Inside Texas last week (paid content) mentions that Sorrell and sophomore Justice Finkley are “taking the next step” this spring. Nahlin mentions Sorrell, in particular, as someone to watch as a legitimate breakout candidate in 2023.

Sorrell already had a solid year for the Longhorns in his first year as a full-time starter coming off the edge. But Sorrell has the opportunity to take the next step to become one of the best edge rushers in the Big 12 this fall.

Texas clearly needs an impact pass-rusher to step up along the defensive front this year. And Sorrell currently looks like the most likely edge rusher to fill that role.