Fall Camp Diagnosis: What position groups are championship caliber?

Though there have been talks about Texas being a national title favorite all offseason, we now have proof the CFB world sees the Longhorns as the best.

Coaches and writers have Texas at No. 1, Arch Manning is a Heisman favorite, and this team is finally hitting a roster-building status that marks elite talent in every group.

It’s hard to build a championship team where you can point out multiple holes on the roster. Sure, Ohio State struggled to pass block in 2024 and Michigan had lackluster pass catchers in 2023, but stardom elsewhere and depth at every other spot helped make sure those weren’t their downfalls. Texas needs to have the same fate with some of its weakest groups.

Fall camp has been positive, but work remains. With just over two weeks left before kickoff, Texas can begin to identify which spots can carry them to stardom and which ones are lagging behind.

QB: You know it is

Arch Manning is going to be one of the best in the nation. Sarkisian’s kryptonite has always been red zone play-calling, but it seems like Manning is already excelling past those faults in camp. He’s not turning the ball over, and he has an obvious “it” factor to him.

Though unlikely, this team may have the ceiling to win a playoff game with one of Matthew Caldwell or Trey Owens in a pinch.

RB: Yes, but the ceiling is admittedly low

The health of CJ Baxter determines where this group goes. Christian Clark and Jerrick Gibson will play roles, but Texas needs to be able to rely on Baxter and Quintrevion Wisner to take 30 combined carries per game. If it’s only Wisner able to do that, the rushing game ceiling is low. Even with Baxter, it doesn’t compare to the likes of Penn State, Notre Dame, and Oregon on the ground. This group won’t carry Texas, but it will maintain a much-needed floor.

Pass Catchers: A cautiously optimistic yes

Pre-camp, we might’ve gone with “no,” but everything we hear about Ryan Wingo and Parker Livingstone points to this group possessing an enormous ceiling. Wingo had three touchdowns on Saturday, and Livingstone is beating out an already established Emmett Mosley for the final starting role.

By the end of last season, the receivers were paper-thin. It shouldn’t be that way in 2025. Now, you add in an experienced pass catcher in Jack Endries and a deep TE room behind him, and with good injury luck, Texas could have an elite pass-catching unit. To be fair, we felt a similar way entering last season…

Offensive Line: No

Penalties, penalties, penalties. It’s almost always a problem for Texas’ offensive line, and if there’s one negative we’ve seen from scrimmages so far, it’s that. This unit still feels like the worst on the offense, and it’s also the thinnest.

RT Brandon Baker doesn’t need to do much to be as good as Cam Williams in 2025, but the news of penalty problems is worrisome. Or that’s just the Colin Simmons effect. Every player from left to right needs to be solid in 2025 because there’s no more Kelvin Banks to make up for lackluster pass blocking elsewhere. We’re not sure it’s at that spot yet.

Defensive Tackle: Yes

Coming into the offseason, and even fall camp, this looked like one of Texas’ biggest holes on the roster. Not anymore. This unit has overperformed almost all expectations. Hero Kanu looks steady as a rock, Alex January and Maraad Watson are flashing high-level pass-rushing acumen, and Texas has enough beef to withstand Cole Brevard getting hurt in practice. This lineup will have three different rotations that can all play significant snaps as early as the Ohio State game. Name another team in America that feels that way.

Edge and LB: Of course

These two are grouped because the answer is obvious. There may not be a single unit, outside of Ohio State pass catchers, that profiles better than Texas’ pass-rush/linebacker mix. They have two of the best players in the nation in this unit, two Buck/LB hybrids that are matchup nightmares, returning starters, and upcoming talents. The player we’ve heard most about in the last few days is Ty’Anthony Smith, the projected LB4. If he is an above-average contributor, look out, world.

Secondary: Not quite yet

Does Texas have a STAR? If you’re talking about an elite player in the secondary, the answer is yes, but if you’re talking about a nickel defender, the answer may be no. The CB2 and STAR positions are still very up in the air with the Ohio State game fast approaching. Is Texas going to be relying on a true freshman? Are Jelani McDonald and Jaylon Guilbeau ready for shifts in positions heading into the year? There are still a few too many questions for our liking.

Special Teams: Too early to tell

Mason Shipley has missed some field goals in practice and scrimmages, but you really can’t tell with kickers until they actually hit the field. Jack Bouwmeester seems like a big hit at punter, and the return games should be strong in ’25. Expect some blocked kicks as well.