Texas Football: 4 biggest standouts Sarkisian praised in training camp
Alfred Collins, DL
The uber-talented senior defensive lineman Alfred Collins was the most exciting player that emerged in a big way in fall camp for the Longhorns. This was easily the most consistent training camp for Collins since he arrived on the 40 four years ago.
We couldn’t go more than a couple of days without hearing Collins’ name mentioned among the standouts for Texas in fall practice and the two scrimmages the last couple of weekends. He was effectively getting pressure on the quarterback up the middle while being consistently disruptive in run defense.
Texas has also moved Collins around to different spots along the defensive line in training camp. He played three-tech and five-tech during fall practice and the two fall scrimmages. And we heard good things about what he could do playing both techniques in practice and the scrimmages.
#Texas HC Steve Sarkisian on defensive standouts in Saturday’s scrimmage, “T’Vondre Sweat had his best day Saturday…Ethan Burke had a really nice scrimmage…Gavin Holmes had a really good week.”
— Noah Gross (@noah_gross27) August 21, 2023
Also says Alfred Collins and Byron Murphy looked good. #HookEm | @KXAN_News pic.twitter.com/7d3QJDZOuI
Moreover, Sark mentioned Collins among the few defenders he tabbed as players that caught his attention during fall camp. He also mentioned junior defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, redshirt senior defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat, redshirt junior cornerback Gavin Holmes, and Burke among the players that either stood out in camp or specifically in the scrimmage last weekend.
Collins’ emergence is big for the Longhorns for multiple reasons. This fall, he is a critical part of the interior defensive line rotation for DL coach Bo Davis and the Longhorns. Texas needs reliable interior defensive linemen in the rotation behind the starting duo of Sweat and Murphy.
Word on the street is that Texas has a solid duo in the defensive line rotation behind Sweat and Murphy in Collins and junior Vernon Broughton.
It’s also worth noting that Collins could have the highest ceiling of any of the Texas defensive linemen this year. If he can show his insane talent on a more consistent basis this season, Texas will be formidable and deep up front. A more consistent effort from Collins on the field this fall would also dramatically boost his NFL Draft stock for 2024.