Texas Football: 3 underclassmen who can win starting jobs in fall camp

The start of fall camp for Texas football is so close we can taste it. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian kick off fall camp on Aug. 2, precisely one month before the 2023 regular season opener, against the Rice Owls at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sep. 2.

Texas will begin its quest to win its first Big 12 title since 2009 in the dogged days of fall camp early next month. Sark and the Longhorns have the highest expectations for this program in the last few years, with all the depth and talent on the roster heading into the 2023 season.

Not only was Texas pegged as the top team in the Big 12 media preseason poll, but it also has top-10 odds to make the College Football Playoff from all the major sportsbooks.

One of the big reasons for the elevated expectations for the Longhorns this fall is the immense talent and proven experience returning on both sides of the ball. Texas returns at least 18 starters on both sides of the ball heading into fall camp.

Texas football underclassmen that can win starting jobs in fall camp in 2023

But some of those starters could be unseated or will at least be pushed for live-game reps by younger players. If you include the looming position battles this fall, multiple positions could have younger players pushing for starting reps. Here’s a look at three underclassmen that could win starting jobs in fall camp for the Longhorns.

Terrance Brooks, CB

Position battle: Field corner

One of the deepest and most talented positions on either side of the ball for the Longhorns is at field corner. Texas has three starting-caliber corners vying for the starting spot at field CB during fall camp.

Sophomore Terrance Brooks, redshirt junior Wake Forest transfer Gavin Holmes, and true freshman Malik Muhammad are the three players likely in the running for the starting job at field corner.

Brooks took the most reps at field corner late last season in rotation with senior D’Shawn Jamison. In the last four games of last season, Brooks took nearly 150 defensive snaps after taking just a few dozen in the first half of his true freshman campaign.

Brooks was solid for the Longhorns at field corner late last season, especially in the Alamo Bowl against the Washington Huskies. He only allowed two catches and 27 receiving yards on five targets, with zero touchdowns and two pass breakups.

Heading into fall camp, Brooks and Holmes are probably the odds-on favorites to win the starting job at field corner. Those two have the most live-game experience under their belts. Brooks has the edge over Holmes with the experience in the system at Texas for one more year.

On the other hand, Holmes is the faster of the two corners from what we’ve heard coming out of summer workouts.

Brooks has impressed the coaches with his progress so far this offseason. If he continues to grow within the role of field corner during fall camp, he’ll have a great shot to be the Week 1 starter at the position.