Texas Football: 3 underclassmen with most to prove in summer workouts
Sydir Mitchell, DL
The necessity for a true freshman such as the former highly touted four-star recruit out of Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic High School Sydir Mitchell to play early for the Longhorns along the defensive line isn’t as pronounced after the addition of Carter from Minnesota. Defensive line coach Bo Davis and the Longhorns adding Carter out of the portal this spring was key to adding more proven depth and experience to the interior defensive line rotation heading into the fall.
Texas also has other veteran defensive linemen in the mix such as senior Alfred Collins, redshirt junior Vernon Broughton, junior Byron Murphy II, and redshirt senior T’Vondre Sweat that are likely to assume more live-game reps out of the gates this season than Mitchell.
Yet, just because there won’t be as much of a need for Mitchell to step in and assume key live-game reps in the defensive line rotation right away, that doesn’t mean that his progress should be slowed this offseason. Mitchell could still be an impact player that shows plenty of growth during his true freshman campaign before Texas will really be counting on him to step up upon the transition from the Big 12 to the SEC in 2024.
I would like to see Mitchell get down to work in the summer strength and conditioning program to carry his enormous 6-foot-6 and 360-pound frame a little bit more effectively. We heard that there were times during spring ball when Mitchell still looked like he needed to get his body right before he was ready to assume a bigger load of live-game reps along the defensive line.
dark. Next. 3 players that benefit most from the addition of Paul Chryst
This summer will serve as a great opportunity for Mitchell to not only get in better shape and get his body right but also to absorb all the knowledge he can get from the plethora of experienced upperclassmen in the D-Line room with him.
Mitchell needs to make real progress this offseason as Texas will be counting on him to step up with so many defensive linemen likely to depart the program in 2024.