3 big standouts for Texas after Day 10 of spring practice

Jelani McDonald is a serious threat to crack the safety rotation this fall

Another uber-talented underclassmen in Texas's secondary who has made his presence known this spring in team drills and during last weekend's scrimmage is sophomore safety Jelani McDonald. Sarkisian was very complimentary of McDonald during his press conference on April 9 as someone who has "made some really tremendous strides at safety".

It's a big deal that Sarkisian specifically mentioned McDonald among the defensive standouts he's noticed during the scrimmage last weekend, along with key players like linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and edge rusher Colin Simmons.

"Defensively, Anthony Hill played played really well in the scrimmage along with Jelani McDonald and Jaylon Guilbeau. Colin Simmons definitely showed up in the scrimmage. Those ones are the first ones that popped into my head."

McDonald has been praised by Sarkisian for his ranginess, physicality, and instincts. He talked about McDonald's football IQ from when he played both sides of the ball at Waco (TX) Connally High School.

I mentioned in a piece on the site this week that McDonald's stock is soaring among the underclassmen who have impressed down the stretch this spring.

He's on a path to solidifying a spot on the two-deep at the safety position entering preseason camp if he continues to show progression in his fundamental tackling ability and ranginess in the secondary in team drills and in the spring game next weekend.