18 days until Texas Football: Liona Lefau looking to earn playing time; Ryan Niblett translating track to the gridiron

Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on. 

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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best. 

Today is 18 days until kickoff. No. 18 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by three players – Ryan Niblett, a true freshman wide receiver, Liona Lefau, a true freshman linebacker, and Joe Tatum, a sophomore walk-on quarterback.

Ryan Niblett season outlook

This segment on Niblett was originally published in June prior to him receiving No. 18.

Along with Tre Wisner, Niblett committed to Texas ahead of the 2022 Orange-White game. He remained committed to the Longhorns, even after a late flirtation with Houston.

Niblett possessed explosiveness and speed few others in the Houston area could match. He was a state finalist in 2023 in the long jump finishing 6th in 6A with a personal record leap of 22-8.75 (+0.9 m/s). He also triple jumped 46-8 in his high school career. He had several speedy non-wind-legal times, like a 10.41 100m with a +3.6 m/s wind. His best wind-legal times were a 10.78 100m run into a -1.4 m/s wind and a 21.52 200m.

On the football field for Eisenhower, Niblett did it all. He played multiple positions for Ike including quarterback, defensive back, and returner. He focused on receiver his senior year, hauling in 55 catches for 1088 yards and 10 touchdowns.

His film gave a glimpse into where he excels and where he needs improvement. Eisenhower got the ball in his hands savvily. They messed with rules of opposing defenses to get him one-on-one opportunities. Sometimes he would blow by the defender, other times his QB would get the ball in his hands quickly and let him work via screens or handoffs.

What his film didn’t show a lot of was crisp route-running ability. As a slot or even as a field receiver, the ability to combine his athleticism with football skill will tell the tale of his Texas career.

His services may not be needed on standard downs in 2023 as Jordan Whittington has the slot position held down, and DeAndre Moore saw plenty of action behind J-Whitt in camp. At field, Xavier Worthy is WR1 and has both experienced players and talented freshmen there with him.

Niblett could factor in at return, and that might be a smart utilization. To see the field on conventional downs, plenty of work refining his game with Chris Jackson is the key.

Ryan Niblett as a recruit

Niblett was ranked as the No. 66 overall prospect, the No. 11 wide receiver, and the No. 12 player in Texas in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

Liona Lefau season outlook

The early enrollee from Hawaii came to Austin in January ready to battle for playing time in his first year on the Forty Acres. Lefau is battling at the Mike backer position behind the incumbent Jaylan Ford. Lefau hopes to see the field in a special teams role in 2023.

Liona Lefau as a recruit

Joe Tatum season outlook

Tatum did not see any game action in his first season on the 40 Acres. He was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2022).

Recent player to wear No. 18: Tyrone Swoopes

Swoopes played in 40 career games with 14 starts in his four years at Texas, finishing his career ranked 13th on the UT career passing yards list (3,038), sixth in school history among quarterbacks with 967 rushing yards and third in rushing touchdowns (24). He became the starter early in 2014 and then became a reserve with his feature package, called the “18-wheeler” early in the 2015 season.

Swoopes had two of the longer streaks in school history without throwing an interception (77 passes, 2014 and then 104 in 2014). He was a 2014 Academic All-Big 12 and a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2014; spring 2016).

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All-Americans to wear No. 18

Stanley Richard, DB, 1990