3 emerging leaders for Texas entering preseason camp

Players report for preseason camp for Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian early this week. Fall camp beginning so soon is building the excitement for the start of the 2024 regular season in the SEC for Texas.

Texas football coaches watching new leaders emerge in practice and workouts entering the SEC

We will get updates from the coaching staff and potentially a few of the Longhorns players during the media availability/press conferences before preseason camp begins on July 31. Those press conferences will take place on Tuesday.

Texas has a very good squad with some newer starters taking over key roles on both sides of the ball entering this fall in the inaugural campaign in the SEC. Preseason camp will be another good test to see which leading voices will step up for each side of the ball for the upcoming season for the Longhorns.

The media and fans have already heard about a few potential emerging leaders for the Longhorns through spring ball and the end of summer workouts last week. But competition will resume to see which players can be the true leaders for this team during fall camp and early in the regular season.

Here are three emerging leaders to watch for the Longhorns entering preseason camp.

Gunnar Helm, TE

Following the departure of junior All-Big 12 tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders to the NFL Draft this offseason, the opportunity is here for senior Gunnar Helm to step up into the top tight end role for the Longhorns this upcoming season. Helm was a critical role player and contributor in Texas's tight end room for the last couple of seasons.

Horns247 reported during summer workouts in mid July that Helm was one of the leading voices in the locker room and tone-setters in the weight room and on the practice field in spring ball and summer S&C on the offensive side of the ball.

Jeff Banks and the Longhorns will be counting on Helm to not only be TE1 on the field this fall, but also the leading voice to help develop and mentor a lot of the younger guys in this position group this season. Texas has a very deep and potent group of young tight ends in this group this year, including true freshman Jordan Washington and redshirt freshman Spencer Shannon.

The stability and leadership Helm brings can also help the transition with another new addition to the tight end room this offseason, former Alabama junior transfer Amari Niblack.

We mentioned Helm among the leaders starting to show out early in summer workouts last month for the Longhorns. His rise is a testament to the growth of Texas's tight end room under Banks that we've seen in the last few years in Austin.