Texas Football: 3 upperclassmen that exceeded expectations this spring

After the last full-pads practice for head coach Steve Sarkisian and Texas football on April 11, there is only one day of spring drills remaining before it’s time for this program to take part in the annual Orange-White spring football game. Texas will return to the field at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on April 15 for the Orange-White Game.

And it looks like this year’s spring game will be more of a traditional game format. Last year, Sark and the Longhorns ran an altered version of a spring game. It was essentially an open practice with a scrimmage setting at the end.

With just a few days remaining before the spring game, it’s worth taking a look back at the progress that the Longhorns made in camp on both sides of the ball. It does feel like this program is headed in the right direction with all the talent and depth we’ve heard about on a consistent basis this spring.

Texas is sounding more complete and ready to make a run at the Big 12 title than it did in the prior two years under Sark as the head coach. And one of the big reasons for that is the player development that is taking place, even among the upperclassmen.

Upperclassmen for Texas football that have made the biggest strides this spring

With that in mind, here’s a look at three upperclassmen for the Longhorns that have surpassed expectations this spring.

David Gbenda, LB

Linebacker depth was a concern for co-DCs/LB coaches Pete Kwiatkowski and Jeff Choate heading into spring ball. Texas was lacking proven producers at the linebacker position this spring after the loss of senior DeMarvion Overshown to the NFL Draft.

The expectation this spring was that some of the talented blue chips that the Longhorns brought in via the high school ranks in the 2023 class, such as Anthony Hill Jr. and Liona Lefau, would be the answer to fill depth concerns at the position heading into the fall. And while we’ve heard a lot of good things about the impressions that Hill and Lefau have made in spring camp, the biggest breakthrough has come from a more experienced player at the position.

Fifth-year linebacker David Gbenda is the player that has surpassed expectations to the greatest extent among players at this position for the Longhorns this spring. Gbenda has exceeded all expectations this offseason, which is a narrative that started before spring camp.

It sounds like Gbenda was already making a lot of the right moves in the film room and in the weight room during the winter strength and conditioning program and even in bowl practice last December.

In a press conference last week, Sark mentioned Gbenda among the upperclassmen that have made “considerable progress” early this offseason.

"“Gbenda is playing good football for us. Probably the best version of David Gbenda that we’ve seen to go along with Kitan Crawford.”"

We did an article on the site last week talking about players winning position battles through the first few weeks of spring ball. Gbenda was one of the players we included on the list since he has made such a strong impression on the coaches and his teammates since spring break was let out a few weeks ago.

With just a few days remaining of spring camp, it looks like Gbenda will head into summer workouts as the projected first-team will linebacker. He still has work to do heading into fall camp. But this was about as good as spring camp could’ve possibly gone for Gbenda thus far.