Texas football: 5 things to know as Longhorns begin spring practice

Barely two months after Ohio State ended the 2024 season for Texas football in a College Football Playoff semifinal, the Longhorns return to the team’s facilities at Denius Fields Tuesday for the first of 15 spring practices.

And these next five weeks could be especially critical for a Texas squad that went 13-3 this past season but must break in 27 new players, including 22 true freshmen already on campus and five transfers. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said his team will have three practices a week up until a fan-friendly event April 26 that takes the place of the traditional spring game.

Like the Longhorn fans, Sarkisian said he’s looking forward to melding together the new faces with the dozen or so returning players with significant starting experience.

“It feels like every year you start over, and that’s the fun part for us,” he said earlier this month. “We have (new players) that we’re getting acclimated to our program and to our culture. That’s why winter is so important for us to do that, and why spring ball is going to be so important for us from a developmental standpoint.”

Here are five things to watch as Texas football opens spring practice.

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Arch Manning: How much command does he show?

At last, one of the most heralded recruits in school history takes over at quarterback. But can Arch Manning, the rising redshirt sophomore, match the sky-high expectations while taking over for a three-year starter in Quinn Ewers? Based on comments from his coaches and teammates during winter workouts, he’s already taken leadership of the locker room. Now, we’ll see how he fares on the field.

Jerrick Gibson: Will he take next step at RB?

CJ Baxter, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound incoming redshirt sophomore, seemed poised for a breakout 2024 before suffering a season-ending knee injury in August. He won’t practice in the spring while he readies for a summer return, which may open the door for the 5-10, 205-pound sophomore Jerrick Gibson. Texas needs a power back to complement returner Quintrevion Wisner, as evident by its short-yardage struggles last season. Can Gibson lay a claim to that role in the spring?

Offensive line: What faces are in new places?

Cole Hutson and DJ Campbell have both started multiple games in their career, but will Hutson move to center? Is Trevor Goosby ready to fulfill the promise he showed in spot duty at both tackles last season? And who will start opposite Goosby? Texas lost four full-time starters on this unit in the offseason, which means plenty of lab work for Sarkisian and offensive line coach Kyle Flood.

Defensive line: Are transfers filling in at tackle?

The good news for the Texas defensive front? Colin Simmons, Trey Moore and Ethan Burke all return as part of one of the best edge groups in the country. But there’s concern, too. For the first time in Sarkisian’s five offseasons, the Longhorns don’t have two upperclassmen tackles in the system ready to plug and play. Transfers Cole Brevard (Purdue) and Travis Shaw (North Carolina) will have to quickly adapt to the Longhorns’ defense.

Michael Taaffe: How important is safety for secondary?

Taaffe, a fifth-year senior, turned down the chance to enter the NFL draft for one more season in burnt orange. But the Westlake High School graduate won’t have his Austin brethren by his side since Jahde Barron (Connally High School) and Andrew Mukuba (LBJ High School) are both prepping for the draft. Taaffe’s role as an on-field coaching extension will only grow for a secondary that must break in two new starters.

Reach Texas beat reporter Thomas Jones via email at tjones@statesman.com.

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