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Five Texas Longhorns accept Senior Bowl invitations

Eric Nahlinby:Eric Nahlin•01/24/25
Gunnar Helm
Gunnar Helm (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

Perhaps it’s indicative of the season, perhaps it’s happenstance, but of the five Longhorns headed to the Senior Bowl, four are on defense.

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Those who have RSVP’d are defensive tackles Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton, Edge Barryn Sorrell, safety Andrew Mukuba, and tight end Gunnar Helm.

While many of the NFL Draft’s top targets elect to sit out the Senior Bowl, all five of these Longhorns have early round potential.

Collins and Broughton, Broughton and Collins, both from the 2020 recruiting class, had their best year in Austin just as Texas needed it. Pundits and fans alike wondered how the interior of Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense would fare in the absence of first-round pick Byron Murphy and second-round pick T’Vondre Sweat.

Sorrell was one of the steadiest Longhorns of the last decade. Each year he took a predictable step towards becoming a more complete player. Not only is he a good run defender and solid pass rusher, he also possesses leadership intangibles exemplified in his motor.

After the early departure of Ja’Tavion Sanders, Helm proved more than ready to step in as not only a secondary receiving threat, but often primary. Helm bested Sanders’ previous year with 60 receptions, nearly 800 yards, and 7 touchdowns.

After putting 11 players in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Texas Longhorns appear poised to match that number, if not eclipse it. In addition to the above players, six Longhorns declared early for the draft, including offensive tackles Kelvin Banks and Cameron Williams, wide receivers Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond, running back Jaydon Blue, and of course quarterback Quinn Ewers.

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