3 takeaways from Texas's Friday spring practice

Young talent shining in the secondary

While the new talent and depth in the receiving corps has generated much of the buzz among the best position groups for the Longhorns on each side of the ball, the secondary deserves some recognition, too. Texas's secondary has reportedly looked completely rejuvenated with all the new additions to the mix via the transfer portal and the high school recruits in the 2024 class.

Texas signed the highest-rated defensive back class in the nation for the 2024 cycle, adding a half dozen blue-chip signees in the secondary. Many of the early enrollees among the defensive backs from the 2024 signing class have shown positive traits and maturity early this spring.

It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if the Longhorns have at least a couple of immediate impact players in the secondary among the true freshmen on campus this spring. Two of the early enrollees at defensive back who have reportedly stood out the most early in spring practice are cornerback Kobe Black and safety Xavier Filsaime.

Black reportedly had a nice interception for the Longhorns where he got the jump on an accurate pass from quarterback Cole Lourd in the Friday spring practice on March 29. He showed good anticipation and baited Owens into throwing the pick in team drills.

Filsaime has also shown great range and better-than-advertised ball-hawking skills at safety early in spring practice.

Two other young defensive backs who have looked good this spring are redshirt freshmen Warren Roberson and Jelani McDonald. Roberson reportedly had a near-pick-six against redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning in team drills on Friday.

McDonald has also gotten his body right and physically looks ready to go in that hybrid safety role that the Longhorns defensive coaches want him to play at long-term.

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