Five biggest Texas Longhorns camp surprises add immediate impact, depth

The 2021 Texas Longhorns depth chart had few questions entering August camp. The roster is deeper and more experienced than it is talented, but there’s still plenty of talent tempering upward mobility from newcomers, whether they freshmen or transfers.

Still, you always want to hear about surprises, even if they won’t be expected to start. Depth is very important, especially if you hope to play in the conference championship game at the end of the year.

We’ll go in order of expected immediate impact on the season.

Sr. DB Anthony Cook, #11, 6-foot-1, 191 pounds

Cook was a highly rated cornerback in the 2018 class out of Houston Lamar high school who chose Texas over LSU. Some outlets even considered him a five-star for a time. As a recruit, he demonstrated great short area quickness but not long speed. That lack of speed is what derailed him at cornerback, especially as one position coaching change gave way to another.

In any coaching change, there are winners and losers based on new scheme preferences. Cook, who was always physical but now a muscled up 190 pounds, was a big winner as the new defense called for more coverage specific nickel personnel. While he may not have the pure athleticism required for cornerback, he certainly has it for nickel. It took only a few practices for Cook to get playing time with the first team and he hasn’t looked back.

Jr. LB Luke Brockermeyer, #47, 6-foot-3, 225 pounds

Some players need the right fit and some just need a chance. Brockermeyer may have received a scholarship under the previous coaching staff but he didn’t receive much of an opportunity. He received that opportunity this past spring and played so well he entered August camp with a genuine chance of starting, if not the favorite.

He’s had a strong August playing alongside De’Marvion Overshown and behind a stout defensive line. Brockermeyer is a better athlete than given credit for; he gets good drops in coverage but also plays downhill quick and decisively.

The first game against run-heavy Louisiana-Lafayette will be a great opportunity for him to show the wold ability comes with the last name and not the other way around.

Sr. EDGE Ben Davis, #6, 6-foot-4, 236 pounds & Jr. EDGE Ovie Oghoufo #18, 6-foot-3, 237 pounds

As we near the beginning of the season, you can’t talk about one without the other because they’ll both play quite a bit, maybe even at the same time.

Both transfers arrived in June from prestigious programs; Davis from Alabama and Oghoufo (pronounced uh-GO-fu) from Notre Dame. Both benefit from the scheme change deployed by new defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. While they play different outside linebacker positions, they compete for snaps at Sam linebacker when in base defense, which is something we’ll see quite a bit this year. The amount of base defense may be the real surprise.

Both possess a tenacious and physical play style, and Davis has already emerged as a team leader. Both can drop into coverage and be disruptive in the back field.

Texas went from having big questions at EDGE to having quality depth in a matter of months.

Fr. OL Hayden Conner, #76, 6-foot-5, 332 pounds

If you watched Alabama the last couple of years you know new Texas offensive line coach Kyle Flood prioritizes size. Conner has had that since the 8th grade which has given him a lot of time to get comfortable in his own body.

Offensive line is a very difficult position to play which is why you don’t see many true freshman play well, if at all. Conner won’t be forced into the action this season, but he can already be relied upon to play if need be. While his future appears to be at guard, there’s enough flexibility and foot quickness to work with that the staff isn’t ruling out tackle in the coming years.

The current Texas offensive line depth chart is the best it has been in years, but with o-line more so than other positions, you have to look a couple years ahead. Conner has the look of becoming a fixture as he gains more experience. Some of that experience will likely come this season, even if in the 4th quarter.

He’ll push to start in his second year as Denzel Okafor departs.

Fr. RB Jonathon Brooks, #24, 6-foot-0, 199 pounds

Brooks was underrated coming out of Hallettsville, TX, where he had a near storybook senior year, falling just short in the state championship game. Like current Texas wide receiver Jordan Whittington from the same area a couple of years before, Brooks was the best athlete on every field he stepped on.

Though he had obvious athletic traits that would transfer to the college game — great feet, agility, and initial quickness — there were some questions of how quickly he’d adapt to the step up in competition. Athletically, it didn’t take him long to assimilate as he made impressive plays in the team 7 on 7 setting in June and July.

When the pads came on this Texas Longhorns camp, he again answered the call and showed the look of a future productive college player.

Last year, Texas only had two running backs it could count on for carries, but with the addition of Alabama transfer Keilan Robinson and Brooks, Texas has a much deeper bench.

Brooks may redshirt this year but the depth he brings may allow the staff to tinker more with two-back personnel, or with playing the highly versatile Robinson more at slot receiver.

Texas Longhorns camp honorable mentions:

So. CB Jahdae Barron, #23, 5-foot-11, 186
Fr. TE Gunnar Helm, #85, 6-foot-5, 238
Fr. TE Juan Davis, #81, 6-foot-4, 226

Cover photo by Will Gallagher for Inside Texas