Texas Football: 3 true freshmen bound to get extra reps vs. Rice

Ryan Niblett, Texas football
Ryan Niblett, Texas football /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Arch Manning, Texas football
Arch Manning, Texas football. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas football enters its season opener this weekend against the Rice Owls at home at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium as a five-score favorite in the opening odds. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian have an opportunity to get some momentum to start the season with a commanding win over Rice and some valuable live-game reps to the younger players on the team.

The Longhorns need to get off to a good start this season to get momentum heading into the massive Week 2 showdown in Tuscaloosa on Sep. 9 against the No. 4 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

Texas football true freshmen we want to see getting extra reps vs. Rice in Week 1

Texas has two chances, one before and one after the Alabama game, to get younger players additional live-game reps before Big 12 play kicks off against the Baylor Bears on Sep. 23. The Rice game on Sep. 2, and the matchup against the Wyoming Cowboys on Sep. 16 are Texas’ two best chances to get younger players in the game if the team gets big leads at halftime.

For now, we’re focusing on the younger players who could get key live-game reps in the season opener on Sep. 2. Here are three Texas true freshmen who are bound to get additional reps against Rice this weekend.

Billy Walton, EDGE

One of the players that could turn out to be an underrated get for the Longhorns in the 2023 recruiting class is the true freshman edge rusher out of South Oak Cliff High School, Billy Walton. Texas signed the 6-foot-3 and 215-pound South Dallas edge rusher as a developmental player along the defensive front that could contribute a few years into his collegiate career.

But it looks like Walton is ahead of schedule in his development. We’ve heard more about Walton in various fall practice reports and discussions and in summer workouts a couple of months ago than most edge rushers who signed with Texas in the 2024 class.

Inside Texas tabbed Walton on their projected depth chart for the 2023 season among the edge rushers who are “showing promise” in fall practice and could earn more reps as the season progresses, along with Tausili Akana and Colton Vasek.

Given Texas’ need for younger players to step up at the EDGE position this fall, it would make sense to get a potential future starter like Walton valuable early-season reps if the opportunity presents itself this weekend against Rice.