3 leaders emerging during summer S&C for Texas

Gunnar Helm, TE

Texas's tight end room looks to be in good shape entering preseason camp in a few weeks. Jeff Banks and the Longhorns brought in Alabama transfer and senior Amari Niblack to replace the threat JT Sanders posed in the receiving game at the tight end position last year.

Niblack is a legitimate downfield threat at tight end in the passing game. But he doesn't do the same thing that Texas had in Sanders in the short and intermediate passing game during the route and after the catch.

That's where fellow senior tight end Gunnar Helm comes into play for Sarkisian and the Longhorns in the passing game this fall. Helm is a very capable receiving tight end who looks ready to take on a bigger role running routes and getting key targets on short and intermediate passes from redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers.

On the limited occasions he was targeted last season, Helm made good things happen almost every time he touched the football. He didn't have a single drop on 17 targets and 14 catches last season, which turned into two touchdowns and seven first downs.

Aside from his expanded role on the field, Helm has emerged as an important leader in the locker room in offseason workouts this year. Horns247 reported that Helm is one of the offensive leaders among upperclassmen in summer workouts, along with Ewers and a handful of other skill players.

Helm is the most experienced tight end on the roster for the Longhorns this year. He has an important leadership role to help transition the couple of new guys in this position group this offseason, along with helping to mentor the redshirt freshmen in the room (Spencer Shannon and Will Randle).

Check out our latest Texas football articles on Hook'em Headlines