Texas Football: 3 Longhorns players that improved most in spring camp

Roughly one month ago, Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian wrapped up spring ball with the conclusion of the Orange-White Game at DKR (April 15). Spring ball was a fun time on the 40 this year, given all the excitement surrounding the Texas program in the third year under Sark and Co.

Sark and the Longhorns welcomed more than a dozen new additions to the program for spring camp, including a few highly anticipated NCAA Transfer Portal pickups.

We also got to see improvement put on display from some of the returning players during spring practice and in the Orange-White Game last month. I think that is the most exciting part about covering spring ball this year is how much more talent and depth shined through this offseason compared to what I’ve covered with this program in the last few years.

There is a lot more confidence in the air as it pertains to player development and coaching heading into the 2023 season than there was in the first couple of years under Sark.

Texas football players that showed high rates of improvement this spring

With that in mind, here’s a look at three of the most improved players for the Longhorns from the spring.

BJ Allen Jr., S

There was a little bit of time during spring ball when I didn’t feel great about the standing on the depth chart of the former blue-chip recruit and second-year safety BJ Allen Jr. At the outset of spring practice, there were times when we were hearing about Allen getting reps behind some of the walk-ons in the secondary.

As spring ball progressed, though, we heard more and more positive feedback regarding the performances of Allen. He started to make more plays after spring break and was moving up the depth chart in terms of the distribution of practice reps at the safety position.

By the end of spring ball, I was confident enough to say that Allen will be able to challenge for a spot on the two-deep heading into fall camp. If he continues to improve at a high rate for the rest of the offseason (including summer workouts), Allen could push senior Kitan Crawford for the backup job at boundary safety this fall.