These Texas players are being underrated going into 2024

Jaylon Guilbeau, DB

Junior defensive back Jaylon Guilbeau pushed senior Jahdae Barron for starting reps at the star position during spring camp. Guilbeau's emergence after finally getting through a spring camp fully healthy throughout was a pleasant surprise for the Longhorns' secondary at nickel.

Guilbeau spent much of his first two seasons on the Forty Acres battling various lower and upper-body injuries that limited his time on the field in live-game action and getting practice reps. When healthy, though, Guilbeau is one of the most capable and versatile DBs Texas has on the two-deep.

Like Barron, Guilbeau is a formidable figure both playing at the cornerback and nickel positions. He showed the coaching staff and his teammates during the spring and in 7-on-7 work this summer that he is back up to speed and ready to make plays for the secondary.

Part of the reason why Guilbeau received more first-team reps at nickel during spring ball was the fact that the defensive staff had Barron cross-training at field corner. With the possibility that Barron, and potentially even Guilbeau, takes snaps at corner and star in live-game action this coming season, both of them need to be healthy and on their game this fall.

If Guilbeau shines as a potential starter in the secondary for the Longhorns this season, he could work his way into the NFL Draft conversation over the next two years.