Texas Football: 4 upperclassmen with most to prove in fall camp for Horns

Gavin Holmes, CB

The former Wake Forest Demon Deacons redshirt junior cornerback Gavin Holmes was one of the Longhorns’ first portal additions of the offseason. Texas’ staff identified Holmes early on in the first portal window of the 2023 transfer cycle as a priority defensive back target that could help fill a depth need at field corner.

Since then, Holmes has proven that he is a viable candidate to win the starting job at field corner heading into fall camp. Holmes had a strong showing during the spring and summer workouts, where he showed his skills as a one-on-one cover corner and impressive straight-line speed.

There are many years at Texas where a proven and productive defensive back like Holmes would be a clear-cut starter heading into fall camp. But Texas has so much depth and talent amid the players in the competition for the starting reps at field corner this fall that he’ll really have to earn his spot on the depth chart.

Competing with Holmes for the starting job at field corner is sophomore Terrance Brooks and true freshman Malik Muhammad. Brooks was the starter at field corner in most games late last season, supplanting the departing senior D’Shawn Jamison.

Muhammad probably has the highest ceiling of the candidates to win the starting job at field corner. He’s the most physically gifted, with the potential to be a future early-round NFL Draft pick as a sticky cover corner.

Holmes will be an integral part of the DB rotation this fall regardless of who wins the starting job at field corner.