Jaylan Ford downplays Texas' concerns with preseason hype

There is no shortage of preseason hype around Texas heading into the 2023 season as the Longhorns have been picked to win the Big 12. But linebacker Jaylan Ford said the Longhorns aren’t really tuned in to outside chatter.

Plus, he’s been on teams that have had plenty of potential and didn’t realize it. He knows Texas has the goods to be very good on the field, but it’s about going out and making it happen this year rather than falling flat.

“To be honest we don’t even really pay too much attention to it. It’s just, when you’ve been around — most of the guys that have been around here so long we know the talent and we know the potential we have on this team,” Ford said.

Since Steve Sarkisian took over the Longhorns more than two seasons ago, Texas has upgraded in recruiting and developed talent on the roster. Quarterback Quinn Ewers is back for a second year at quarterback and the defense is loaded with players like Ford who should make it one of the best in the Big 12.

But Texas has been really good on paper only to fall short of expectations on the field plenty of times in recent memory. Ford wants this group to put everything they have into extracting every last bit they can from their talent.

If they do that, Texas could be very, very good in 2023.

“I think our biggest thing is we just want to stop letting it be potential and actually go make it happen on the field when we go out and face our opponents. So I think our biggest thing is just to make sure everyone is giving out all effort and everybody is doing their part in making this team great,” Ford said.

Ewers has altered his diet ahead of the 2023 season for Texas

The transformation Ewers is the main storyline in Austin this offseason. QB1 has gone from a blossoming freshman with flashes of potential to a potential breakout star for Texas. People around the program have noted how Ewers has stepped up as a leader. Not just on the practice field but also by taking care of himself.

A lot has been made of Ewers’ hair. No longer do we have the famous blonde mullet. Instead, he decided to go with a simple buzz cut, citing the Austin heat and Ewers may have a point there. But nothing shows the buy-in more than Ewers having a body transformation.

After being 218 pounds during the bowl game against Washington, Ewers claims to be around 200 pounds early in fall camp. He says the process was not too complicated, just removing the fast food from his diet. Taking advantage of the kitchen inside of the football facilities wound up being the choice.

“Just not as much fast food,” Ewers said. “I was focused on eating what the University provides. Higher doses of protein, less carbs. More vegetables. Just the healthy stuff. Nothing too much to it besides trying to eat healthier.”

But there was one aspect of the diet nobody should have to go through.

“I laid off the Chick-Fil-A that I was having a lot,” Ewers said. “Big Chick-Fil-A fan.”