Terminator or teenager? Texas DE looks like an absolute unit in spring practice

Texas had multiple true freshmen contributors in 2025, but one of them stood out almost every single time he stepped on the field for former DC Pete Kwiatkowski. Defensive end Lance Jackson looked like he had already been in a collegiate strength and conditioning program for two years by the time he arrived on campus, and his above-average strength and explosion were evident as a run defender over the second half of the year.

It had gotten to the point to where he was taking snaps away from upper-classmen on a fairly consistent basis, and Texas' defensive line coaches were raving about him all season long as a true freshman.

Now, he's gained about 10-15 solid pounds (reportedly up to 272 lbs.) and he'll be able to be an impact player for Will Muschamp and Co. in 2026 at multiple different positions along the defensive line.

Oh yeah, he looks incredibly intimidating in pads right now too.

Jackson has worked very hard to get to where he is today, and it'll undoubtedly pay off for him throughout the summer and into the regular season. His ability to play so many different roles for Texas' defense is going to bode astronomically well for his NFL future, and he definitely has the potential to be an All-American type of player for the Longhorns before he leaves Austin.

It was initially reported that Muschamp was looking for a "chess piece" type of player that he could move around the defensive line to create mismatches for opposing offensive lines, and it looks like Texas' new defensive coordinator got his wish.

Jackson has the pure strength and power to be effective on the interior at 3-technique or 4i, and the explosion and length to punish offensive tackles on the edge. Very few players at the FBS level can do the things that he can, and he's primed for an enormous year two for Steve Sarkisian and this national championship-caliber Texas Longhorns team in 2026.