3 Texas football upperclassmen standing out in winter S&C

In roughly one month, Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian will begin spring practice. In the meantime, Texas still has a couple of weeks remaining for the winter strength and conditioning program.

The Longhorns began winter workouts last month, welcoming nearly two dozen new enrollees via high school signees and transfers from the 2024 class. Texas had a record-breaking number of early enrollees from the high school ranks in the 2024 class for the spring semester (17).

Texas football upperclassmen showing out early in offseason workouts

Sarkisian and the Longhorns staff also added seven immediate impact players via the transfer portal among the spring enrollees early this offseason.

But the Longhorns also return many key players among the rising upperclassmen on both sides of the ball this offseason. Texas returns over half their starters on each side of the ball for the upcoming 2024 season, many of which are upperclassmen who have been in the program for at least a few years.

These upperclassmen are counted on to be emerging and/or returning leaders who can help lead this team into their first year of competition in the SEC in 2024. The leading voices among these upperclassmen for the Longhorns are also important to help guide the younger players in the program in winter workouts and spring ball.

Here are three upperclassmen who have stood out in winter workouts this offseason.

Matthew Golden, WR*

Among the most important portal additions for the Longhorns early this offseason was the former Houston Cougars sophomore wide receiver Matthew Golden. The rising junior and skiled wideout Golden was one of the many immediate impact receivers Sarkisian and the Longhorns found in the portal in this transfer cycle.

Golden caught the attention of those in and around the program immediately upon arrival on campus for the spring semester. A few weeks ago, we mentioned on the site that Golden "stood out" in his first few weeks on campus as a spring enrollee. He showed a business mentality right away, which has translated into winter workouts.

But we've also heard about some other positive developments in Golden's role in the receiver room and how he's stood out throughout winter S&C. Horns247 reported this week that Golden's "actions speak loudly" in the locker room and in workouts.

These immediate impact transfers in the receiving corps are the most experienced leaders that the Longhorns have at the position this offseason. Guys like Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond, Oregon State transfer Silas Bolden, and Golden are the de facto leading voices in the wide receiver room for the Longhorns.

It's pivotal that Golden, Bond, and Bolden continue to step up as leaders by example and vocally in the locker room and on the practice field this spring.