3 Texas early enrollees turning heads entering spring ball
A record-breaking group of 17 early enrollees from Texas football's 2024 signing class from the high school ranks is about to participate in their first spring camp next week. Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian kick off spring ball on March 19, a couple of school days after UT students return from Spring Break.
True freshmen on the verge of big showings in spring ball for Texas football
Sarkisian and the Longhorns have a talented and deep roster on both sides of the ball, giving the fan base plenty to be excited about entering spring ball. Texas returns over half of their starters on both sides of the ball and brought in one of the most talented high school and transfer portal signing classes in the Power Five this offseason.
One of the most exciting aspects of the start of spring practice this offseason is the chance for the fans and the media to see and hear about the new additions to the program in camp. For the first time, all these talented and promising new additions for the Longhorns can battle for their spots on the depth chart starting next week.
Many of these new additions to the program among the early enrollees have already impressed those in and around the program early in offseason workouts. Here are three early enrollees turning heads for the Longhorns entering spring camp.
Zina Umeozulu, EDGE
The EDGE position is absolutely loaded for the Longhorns in 2024. Texas added two uber-talented and lengthy EDGE recruits from the high school ranks in the 2024 class and one proven, high-caliber EDGE via the transfer portal early this offseason.
Texas's two EDGE signees out of high school in the 2024 class are Duncanville five-star Colin Simmons and Allen four-star Zina Umeozulu. The Longhorns' proven and ultra-productive portal addition at EDGE is former UTSA redshirt sophomore Trey Moore.
All three of Texas's new additions at the EDGE position have really impressed during winter workouts. But it was largely expected for Moore and Simmons to look like impact-ready players who could contribute immediately for Texas's defensive front in 2024.
Umeozulu's rise is probably the biggest pleasant surprise for the Longhorns coming out of winter workouts at the EDGE position. Orangebloods reported last week that Umeozulu has "been killing it in offseason workouts".
The progress Umeozulu made in offseason workouts paid dividends in how he got his body right by adding the necessary weight to his frame entering spring ball. Umeozulu added 35 pounds since his last high school weigh-in at Allen, ringing in at 6-foot-5 and 255-pounds on Texas's spring roster.
Umeozulu will have to fight for reps given how deep and talented Texas is at EDGE this year. But his progress is a sign of Texas's newfound strength as part of the best EDGE room we've seen for Pete Kwiatkowski in the last few years on the 40.