In the Longhorns' final season in the Big 12, Texas football could rely on freshmen to step into prominent roles in the last chance for a conference title.
The future of the Texas Longhorns athletic department is looking toward greener pastures. Just eight months from now, they will be gearing up for their debut in the SEC.
For the 2023 season, however, it's all about the current. And this year's incoming freshman class for Texas football has plenty of chances to produce high-volume players on a team picked by many to win the league.
We dive into five freshmen who can obtain consistent field time in 2023.
Texas football: 5 freshmen who might earn playing time in the 2023 season
5. Anthony Hill, LB
The top-ranked linebacker in the 2023 class has the opportunity to be one of the best instant-impact players in Austin since Steve Sarkisian has taken over.
He finished as the 17th-ranked player in the country last season and has the size to play the position at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds. Although he isn't expected to play much offense, coming in at fullback or even a third-down option if the running back room still needs to be figured out might work.
Hill possesses all of the assets to be a freshman all-American and should slide into DeMarvion Overshown's role on the defense.
4. CJ Baxter, RB
With Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson off to the NFL, it creates a massive hole in production. One that CJ Baxter could quickly fill.
He totaled over 4,000 yards and 58 touchdowns in high school, averaging over seven yards a touch rushing. At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, his physique makes him a guy that can fill a role early next to other potential contributors like transfer Keilan Robinson and sophomore Jaydon Blue.
With a young room, Baxter receiving carries early is not out of the question.
3. Johntay Cook II, WR
It's not because the room is thin. More so, just how much Johntay Cook II's athleticism and immediate impact jump off the paper. He is among the most ideal instant starters a freshman can be equipped with.
Cook's ability to separate should be familiar. He was a part of the regional-qualifying 4×200 track relay team. It may be a crowded room with Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington returning, alongside Wyoming's Isaiah Neylor making his debut, with Georgia Transfer A.D. Mitchell. However, there could still be room for Cook in year one.
Neither he nor Hill was meant to be here at one point, Hill was committed to Texas A&M, and Cook took five unofficial visits to Texas A&M and had this iconic line about Texas' trophy case.
However, with the dust settled, both could arguably be the best freshman on their respective sides of the ball in the conference and possibly the country.
2. Jelani McDonald, ATH
Jelani McDonald played both quarterback and safety during his final season with Connally High School in Waco, but projects with the Longhorns to stick on the defensive side. He can roam from either off-ball linebacker or a box safety.
His most significant attribute that jumps off the screen is his athleticism. He was a three-sport athlete who jumped out of gyms in basketball and leaped past records, as he won the state title in the triple jump this past month at the UIL State Meet.
I do not think he is a player that will be a day-one starter, but the athleticism he brings and his ball skills could see him on the field much more often in November.
1. Colton Vasek, DE
Colton Vasek was one of the captains for Austin Westlake this past year and was a consensus four-star recruit since 2021.
Colton is a Texas legacy, with his father, Brian, playing for the Horns from 1991-1995. He has recorded double-digit sacks in back-to-back seasons at the state's highest level of high school football.
With a deep rotation, Vasek could quickly become this team's quickest freshmen contributor.
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