Texas Football: 3 Longhorns summer enrollees impressing in workouts

A few weeks into the summer workout program, Texas football has seen some players stand above the rest from what we’ve heard. Texas had quite a few players that needed to put on some weight and get their bodies right in the summer strength and conditioning program ahead of a critical final season in the Big 12.

The summer enrollees for the Longhorns make up a large portion of the group that needed to get down to work immediately in the strength and conditioning program, especially since most of them are true freshmen.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns welcomed roughly a dozen new additions to the program this summer, which included double-digit players from the high school ranks in the 2023 class and a couple of NCAA Transfer Portal pickups. And it’s already looking like some of the summer enrollees could make an impact for the Longhorns on the field this fall.

Which summer enrollees are standing above the rest in workouts for Texas football?

With that in mind, here’s a look at three summer enrollees for the Longhorns impressing in summer workouts this offseason.

Jelani McDonald, DB/LB

Among the most physically-gifted summer enrollees for the Longhorns this offseason is the former high-four-star athlete recruit out of Waco (TX) Connally High School, Jelani McDonald. The 6-foot-2 and 205-pound versatile athlete McDonald is looking the part as one of the most athletic players in this freshman class for Texas so far this summer.

McDonald arrived on campus in good shape, putting him in a spot to hit the ground running early in summer workouts. He needs to add around five or 10 more pounds in muscle mass this offseason to get a better weight to face Power Five competition.

With the likelihood that McDonald will start his collegiate career at the nickel position for the Longhorns, it’s not like he needs to add a ton of weight. But getting up around 215 pounds would be ideal for the position.

It was hard not to see McDonald being one of the most in-shape freshmen among the summer enrollees. A few weeks before he arrived on campus, he competed in multiple events in the state track meet in May.