Texas Football: 4 underclassmen that have improved the most this spring

Austin Jordan, DB

A name that we’ve mentioned often on the site throughout spring ball thus far is the former blue-chip recruit and sophomore defensive back Austin Jordan. This is a pretty busy spring for Jordan, who is getting cross-trained at two positions in the secondary due to an important injury to a player on the projected two-deep (sophomore nickelback Jaylon Guilbeau).

Last year, Jordan was the backup behind redshirt sophomore cornerback Ryan Watts at the boundary spot. But he’s getting looks now both at boundary corner and nickelback.

That means Jordan is getting a lot of valuable reps at two positions that can maximize his strengths and versatility as a rangy and gifted 6-foot-1 defensive back. But he is also getting valuable experience being able to learn under the likes of Watts and standout senior nickelback Jahdae Barron.

A practice report from last week from Eric Nahlin of Inside Texas (paid content) specifically mentioned Jordan as someone that is displaying “better fundamentals” at both star and corner. It sounds like Jordan is not only getting a better understanding of the defense, but also how his skill set can be best maximized in whatever role he’s playing in the secondary, whether it be at boundary corner or star.

Jordan is starting to show that he could be the next in line to compete for starting reps either at boundary corner or star when key starters such as Watts and Barron are done on the Forty Acres in the next couple of years.