Texas Football: 3 Horns summer enrollees pushing for early playing time
By Shane Black
Derek Williams, S
No. 48 nationally, No. 4 safety
Derek Williams is the clear-cut number one answer when discussing the potential immediate impact summer enrollees. The Westgate High School (LA) graduate was a high four-star prospect touted as one of the best safeties in the class of 2023. This was a massive recruiting win for Coach Sarkisian and Coach Gideon in the boot.
Affectionately referred to as “the raptor,” Williams is a sideline-to-sideline safety with incredible football instincts. He pairs those instincts with the ability to drop his shoulder and protect the middle of the field. Listed at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds, Williams has the room to add 15-20 pounds to his frame. That said, I do not think his current weight willkeep him off the field this fall.
The starting safeties for Texas football in 2023 will undoubtedly be Jerrin Thompson and Jalen Catelon. However, the roles behind that duo are up for grabs.
Kitan Crawford had a strong spring and seems to have locked down the backup field safety role behind Catelon. Others competing for reps are former walk-on Michael Taaffe and redshirt freshmen B.J. Allen and Larry Turner-Gooden. Given the injury history of Catelon and the need to rotate in the back, Williams could work his way onto the field early in 2023.