Texas DB Jaylon Guilbeau making big strides in winter S&C

Spring camp is just a couple of weeks away for Texas football. Spring practice begins on March 19 for Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian.

The Longhorns have been hard at work in winter workouts in the last couple of months. We already have a good idea of which players are starting to step up and assume bigger roles on the two-deep entering spring ball.

Texas football DB Jaylon Guilbeau showing out ahead of spring practice

In the secondary, a few players have made positive impressions on the coaching staff and their teammates during winter S&C. Among the players we've heard positive feedback about early in offseason workouts is rising junior defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau.

It sounds like Guilbeau has made ample strides in winter S&C, potentially earning him more first and second-team reps at nickel in spring practice. This is big since Guilbeau is a talented piece of this secondary who could be a meaningful and consistent contributor in Year 3 of his collegiate career at Texas.

Guilbeau has been limited by various injury issues during his first two seasons on campus. As a freshman, he made an immediate impact on the secondary before suffering an unfortunate season-ending knee injury halfway through the campaign.

Last year, Guilbeau still had a couple of injury issues that limited him in camp and during the season. But once he got healthy late in the season, Guilbeau was a more consistent part of the two-deep in the secondary in live-game action.

Guilbeau played double-digit defensive snaps in four games in the second half of the 2023 season.

The early feedback from offseason workouts has indicated that Guilbeau continues to make progress and show why he was such a highly touted recruit as a blue-chip in the 2022 class.

Horns247 reported on March 7 (paid content) that Guilbeau has shown that he is "back to the speed and movement he had two years ago". This says a lot about Guilbeau's progress in offseason workouts this year.

When Guilbeau is fully healthy, he is a quick and uber-athletic DB at the nickel position. Just a couple of years ago, Guilbeau was actually the starter at the star position over Jahdae Barron, until he dealt with injuries that ended his freshman campaign early in Big 12 play.

Texas's DB depth looks strong early this offseason

This emergence for Guilbeau at the star position is big for the Longhorns for another reason too. Guilbeau's rise means that Texas can utilize Barron in other ways in the secondary to ensure that the best personnel group is out there starting on defense.

Barron can be moved around between star and corner, while Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba can focus on training at the safety position.

Star is proving to be one of the deepest position groups on the defensive side of the ball for the Longhorns for the spring. Texas also has depth and proven experience at the star position entering spring ball with rising junior defensive back Austin Jordan.

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