Texas Football: Alfred Collins 'expected' to return to UT

With the season coming to an end for No. 3 Texas football in the College Football Playoff Semifinals game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, various NFL Draft decisions are expected to be announced from key players in the coming weeks.

Junior wide receiver Xavier Worthy became the first player for the Longhorns to declare early for the 2024 NFL Draft. Worthy said he would be leaving for the NFL Draft via a post on social media on Jan. 2.

Texas football reportedly could get DL Alfred Collins back in 2024

Another key player for the Longhorns who could declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, but also has another year of eligibility remaining in college is senior defensive lineman Alfred Collins. After two of the most consistent seasons of his collegiate career at Texas in the last couple of years, Collins could declare for the 2024 NFL Draft this offseason.

But it sounds like Collins is considering returning to Texas and using the final year of his eligibility in college thanks to the COVID-19 redshirt rule. Horns247 reported on Jan. 3 (paid content) that Collins is leaning toward returning to Texas for another season in 2024.

Collins hasn't made any announcements yet regarding his NFL Draft decision for 2024. But he reportedly "has given several people close to the situation the indication" he wants to return to school for a fifth year.

Getting Collins back for the 2024 season would be a major boost for the Texas DL

Texas and defensive line coach Bo Davis are expected to lose their two top defensive linemen to the NFL Draft this spring in redshirt senior T'Vondre Sweat and junior Byron Murphy II. Sweat and Murphy were the two highest-graded defensive tackles in the Power Five this season.

Since losing Sweat and Murphy leaves such a gaping hole in the trenches for Davis and the Longhorns heading into the first season playing in the SEC in 2024, getting Collins back would be a huge boost for this group.

Collins was Texas's third highest-graded interior defensive lineman this season. And he ranked among the top five highest-graded defensive tackles in the Big 12.

Texas is expected to get junior defensive tackle Vernon Broughton and senior Trill Carter back for the 2024 season. If Texas can get the trio of Collins, Broughton, and Carter back for the 2024 campaign, that would be a great situation for Davis's group up front in the SEC next fall.