It's no secret that 2026 is a huge year for Texas football, and if the Longhorns are going to make it to the College Football Playoffs this season, these five youngsters are going to have to step up their games for Steve Sarkisian and Company.
R-Fr. WR Kaliq Lockett
Kaliq Lockett has the chance to be one of Texas' top rotational receivers in 2026, with the potential for more if Emmett Mosley doesn't live up to the hype early in the year. Lockett's a much more complete receiver than Sterling Berkhalter right now, and the former blue-chip recruit has a lot to gain this summer.
Texas WR Coach Chris Jackson is counting on Lockett to be a playmaker when on the field this year.
So. CB Kade Phillips
Phillips had a pretty good year as a true freshman, starting three games and playing in 12 for former defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski.
He's incredibly athletic and is smooth in transition, which allows him to mirror receivers in the short to intermediate areas of the field. His fearlessness and willingness to step up and make nice tackles against the run were also apparent in 2025, really hammering home his reputation as a physical corner coming out of high school.
Will Muschamp is going to need Phillips to be a lockdown corner in 2026 across from Bo Mascoe and Graceson Littleton.
So. TE Nick Townsend
It looks like Townsend has won the starting tight end job this summer, which means that he'll be expected to be a functional part of the offense this year. There were early rumors that Spencer Shannon was ahead of Townsend on the depth chart, but it appears as though they were just rumors.
As we've seen from the way Steve Sarkisian uses the tight end position in his offense, Townsend could be counted on to be the Longhorns' main chain mover in crucial areas of the field. He made his mark in the blocking department as a true freshman, but now he'll have to impress as a pass-catcher in 2026.
So. DE Lance Jackson
Jackson's development has been one of the main storylines of the offseason, and for good reason. Towards the end of the 2025 season, he looked like an absolute monster and someone who could be a legitimate playmaker for Texas on the defensive line.
He gained a good amount of weight in the spring, and now he's set to takeover as the full-time starter at defensive end opposite Colin Simmons in 2026. If he steps up and performs the way he should, Jackson could be in the running for some All-Conference honors as a true sophomore.
So. WR Daylan McCutcheon
Similar to Lockett's outlook, McCutcheon has the chance to be one of the Longhorns' top bench receivers in 2026, as long as he continues to impress the coaching staff. He looked good throughout the 2025 season in practice, and followed it up with a good spring performance earlier this year.
If McCutcheon can get some quality reps in the slot throughout the summer and in fall camp, he might even have a better chance of seeing the field than Lockett in 2026. Regardless, both sophomore receivers will be leaned on heavily leading up to the regular season.
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