4 Texas underclassmen with most to prove in summer workouts

Derion Gullette, LB

It's been a tough road for redshirt freshman linebacker Derion Gullette to get his feet wet since he arrived on campus at Texas last offseason. He couldn't go through offseason workouts and camp as he was recovering from a knee surgery he had to repair a torn ligament stemming from an injury in high school.

Gullette spent much of last year trying to regain that explosiveness and athleticism that made him such a special player on the defensive side of the ball in the first three years of his high school career.

During spring ball, we started to see and hear about Gullette looking more like the old version of himself (per Horns247) before the knee injury he suffered during his senior year at Teague (TX). This year will be the first opportunity for Gullette to crack the two-deep at the linebacker position.

Gullette has the type of closing speed and natural pass-rushing tools from the outside linebacker spot that could make him an intriguing potential breakout candidate to watch in preseason camp.

Since Texas returns multiple starters at the linebacker position this year, including super senior David Gbenda, sophomore Anthony Hill Jr., and junior Morice Blackwell Jr., Gullette can develop and learn in camp.

If he continues to improve and find his role in the defense this fall, Gullette could fulfill his potential of becoming a meaningful contribute as a rangy linebacker and athletic pass rusher at his position.