These Texas players are being underrated going into 2024
It's hard to believe, but we're just a few weeks away from players reporting for the start of preseason camp for Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian. Texas has a couple of weeks of the summer strength and conditioning program left for players to get their bodies right for the start of fall camp.
Which underrated Texas football players can be solidified starters in the SEC in 2024?
SEC Media Days is also right around the corner for the Longhorns for the first time since leaving the Big 12 earlier this month officially. Media days is often a time considered to be the mark of the upcoming college football season and training camp not being too far away.
Texas has high expectations entering the upcoming inaugural season in the SEC in 2024. Key returning starters like third-year starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, junior offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., and sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., among others have led the hype for the Longhorns entering the SEC this fall.
But the depth and pure talent on the two-deep depth chart is also reason for buying into the hype for the Longhorns in 2024. Texas has the depth at most positions, especially on the offensive side of the ball, to contend with the best of the best in the SEC this year.
One of the biggest reasons why Texas can keep up with the best of the best in college football this year are the players who don't get as much love in the media, but hold up their end of the bargain on the field on gameday.
Here are three of the most underrated and overlooked Longhorns players going into the 2024 season.
Gavin Holmes, CB
Texas has shored up the cornerback position with young and developing talent and experience from the transfer portal this offseason. The Longhorns brought in former San Jose State Spartans junior corner Jay'Vion Cole as one of the highest-rated spring transfers in the SEC on the defensive side of the ball.
Terry Joseph and staff also have a ton of young talent in the cornerback room that will ensure this position group is stocked full depth-wise well into the future in the SEC.
Cole is expected to battle fellow former cornerback transfer from Wake Forest Gavin Holmes for the starting job at field corner opposite sophomore Malik Muhammad this fall. Holmes is a solid corner who has improved this offseason after putting up decent numbers in his first year in 2023.
Holmes especially improved his ability in man coverage one-on-one since early last season. He showed better technique and recovery late last season and during the spring game in man coverage.
If Holmes continues to improve at the rate he has since late last fall and during spring camp, he has a great chance to be Texas's starting field corner for Week 1 against Colorado State.