4 Texas true freshmen impressing after 2 weeks of fall camp

While running back injuries have overtaken the headlines for Texas football in the last week or so of preseason camp; it sounds like the competition and intensity in fall practice have reached new levels. Texas hit the practice field on the night of Aug. 13 for the second day of full pads fall practice in the second full week of preseason camp.

Ryan Wingo leading the way for Texas football's true freshmen in fall practice

Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns have suffered two unfortunate injuries that have greatly impacted the depth and the two-deep in the backfield in the first half of preseason camp. Texas has lost both sophomore running back CJ Baxter Jr. and true freshman Christian Clark due to season-ending lower-body injuries in fall practice in the last 10 days.

After the first two days of fall practice this week, the Longhorns are confident in the competitiveness and the results showing from both sides of the ball. The first and second-team offenses have produced positive results in team drills in the last couple of weeks of preseason camp.

And the defensive side of the ball for Texas got the best of the first and second-team offenses in the first fall scrimmage last weekend.

One of the major reasons for confidence for the Longhorns as we approach the halfway point of preseason camp is the emergence of so many impactful true freshmen. Texas is seeing some potential immediate contributors and underclassmen with very bright futures on the Forty Acres come out of this true freshmen class after the first two weeks of fall practice.

Here are four true freshmen who have shined for the Longhorns to start off preseason camp.

Trey Owens, QB

Redshirt junior Quinn Ewers and redshirt freshman Arch Manning usually get all the attention in the media and the headlines for Texas's immensely talented quarterback room. But one of the big reasons why Texas's quarterback room should be considered the best in the country this year is the young talent Sarkisian has with the freshmen like Arch and Trey Owens.

Owens has been tremendous in individual and team drills in the last couple of weeks of preseason camp. He's shown off his high-level arm talent by making on-time throws and showing natural chemistry with many of the underclassmen at wideout with the second and third-team offenses in fall practice.

In the scrimmage last weekend, Owens made multiple big plays and scored a handful of touchdowns using his arm and his legs. He scored a 15-yard touchdown pass on a pass to true freshman tight end Jordan Washington, and added another in the scrimmage on Saturday with his legs on a two-yard run.

Owens has proven to be a very underrated recruit as a low three-star or high-four-star, depending on the recruiting service you look at, in the 2024 class for the Longhorns. He's showing the early signs of developing into a guy who could compete for an important spot in this quarterback room for Texas in the next couple of years after guys like Quinn and potentially Arch go to the NFL.