How did the 2023 season go for Texas' true freshmen?

The Texas Longhorns’ 25-man 2023 class was ranked No. 3 in the country behind only groups signed by Alabama and Georgia and featured four On3 Industry Ranking five-stars, nine top-100 prospects, and 15 top-300 recruits.

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Expectations were high for a group that had higher quality skill position talent compared to the trench-heavy class of 2022. Many of those players delivered.

Nine Longhorn freshmen burned their redshirts in 2023, with a number of players surging to the top of the depth chart over the course of their debut season.

Inside Texas takes a look at how those players, and those that maintained their redshirts, fared during their first year on the 40 Acres.

Anthony Hill

Stats: 67 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks, two passes defended, one forced fumble

Hill finished as the second leading tackler on the team behind standout senior Jaylan Ford. Hill’s season began with him as a second-stringer at Will linebacker behind David Gbenda, but his talent necessitated that the Texas defensive staff find a role for him early. He made impact plays versus Alabama coming off the edge, and eventually carved out a role as the starting Will linebacker for six of the last seven games. With Ford moving on to his professional career, the Longhorns will look to Hill to step into the void at inside linebacker and continue to be a force in the middle of the field.

CJ Baxter

Stats: 138 carries for 659 yards and 5 touchdowns, 24 catches for 156 yards

Baxter became the first true freshman running back to start his Texas debut since Ricky Williams in 1998, but bumps and bruises suffered in the first two games versus Rice and Alabama limited him in the early portions of the season. He ceded RB1 carries to Jonathon Brooks but still was an effective runner in second-string duty. When Brooks went down with an injury, Baxter stepped up and performed admirably including a 20-carry, 117-yard game in the win over Iowa State. There’s still a significant learning curve for the young freshman to traverse, but the talent was on display early and often this season.

Johntay Cook

Stats: 8 receptions for 136 yards

Between a tight three-man wide receiver rotation of Adonai Mitchell, Jordan Whittington, and Xavier Worthy and Texas’ propensity to mix 11 personnel with 12, 21, and 20 personnel, opportunities for Cook as the fourth wide receiver were limited. He did showcase his five-star potential with a 51-yard catch versus Baylor, but he didn’t have enough time on the field to make much of an impact in his freshman season.

That is likely to change ahead of 2024 with Worthy and Whittington moving on and Mitchell expected to do the same. Cook saw what it’s supposed to look like thanks to those three, and now will have the opportunity to do it himself.

Malik Muhammad

Stats: 31 tackles, one interception, four passes defended, one special teams touchdown

Muhammad was a second-stringer behind Ryan Watts and Terrance Brooks for most of the season but Texas’ cornerback rotation ensured he saw the field plenty during the 2023 campaign. When Watts was unable to go for most of the Texas Tech game and the entire Oklahoma State game, Muhammad stepped up with seven tackles, an interception, and two passes defended across those two contests.

He made mistakes common to freshmen defensive backs but showcased an acumen and physical ability that should keep the corner position strong ahead of Texas’ first season in the SEC.

Derek Williams

Stats: 42 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, two passes defended

Williams rose up the depth chart over the course of the season, becoming indispensable thanks to his athletic ability and his tackling prowess. He became a crucial part of the Texas defense thanks to his own quality play, with Jalen Catalon‘s injuries and ensuing portal defection playing a factor. Williams has a good grasp on a starting safety spot next season and should be another nice proof of concept for Sarkisian and company to use when recruiting Louisiana.

Tre Wisner

Stats: Seven tackles, 12 carries, 73 yards, one touchdown

Wisner made the most of his opportunities on the field no matter what phase of the game they were in. He gave exceptional effort on special teams, often delivering big hits to unsuspecting opposing returners. When he had opportunities with the ball in his hand, he made the most of them including a seven-carry, 60-yard, one-touchdown day against Texas Tech in the regular season finale.

Wisner can likely fill in a role Keilan Robinson occupied on the Longhorn offense in the coming years, but the example he sets on special teams, in addition to his play, are invaluable to Sarkisian and Jeff Banks.

Liona Lefau

Stats: 7 tackles

Lefau was a special teamer in the 2023 season and was a key player for the Longhorns in that regard. His future is at linebacker, where senior departures should provide him with plenty of opportunity.

Jelani McDonald

Stats: 2 tackles

Like Lefau, McDonald made his impact on special teams. One of the most athletic members of the 2023 class, McDonald offers Pete Kwiatkowski positional versatility that could see him used as a bridge between the linebackers and defensive backfield if not as a traditional safety.

DeAndre Moore Jr.

Stats: One kick return for 15 yards

Moore saw most of his snaps on special teams in 2023 and will compete with his fellow classmates and Longhorn portal additions for receptions in 2024. He best profiles as a slot receiver in the Longhorn offense.

Redshirted but played

Arch Manning

Stats: 2-for-5 for 30 yards, three carries for 7 yards

Manning entered the season with as much hype as a freshman quarterback could bring with him but was behind Quinn Ewers and Maalik Murphy on the depth chart. He finally saw an opportunity to take the field in the Longhorns’ blowout of Texas Tech, and did so again versus Oklahoma State.

He assumed the backup role prior to the Sugar Bowl once Murphy transferred out, and is likely to keep that spot should Ewers return as expected

Ryan Niblett

Niblett redshirted in 2023 while seeing limited action. He has elite athleticism but his game as a receiver required refinement. He drew positive reviews for that athleticism in the preseason and could be a factor at receiver in 2024.

Tausili Akana

Akana only played in the season opener versus Rice, and did so as an off-ball linebacker. Pass-rush is his best skill, but he could benefit from becoming more versatile and being a piece that can be moved around a la Hill. If that’s not something that takes, then refining his pass-rush skills, potentially as part of a specialty package, might be his next step.

Jaydon Chatman

Chatman saw action at tackle in the final two games of 2023. While Kelvin Banks has a stranglehold on left tackle, Chatman could compete for right tackle, in addition to other positions, in 2024

Sydir Mitchell

Stats: 3 tackles

Mitchell stands to benefit from Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat moving on to the NFL. The type of “Big Human” that Sarkisian and Bo Davis like, Mitchell saw some early action this year and played as many snaps in a Sweat-like role as his conditioning would allow. Refining his body and providing himself with a chance to give a greater effort down after down would greatly benefit the New Jersey product.

Trevor Goosby

Goosby saw action in just the first game versus Rice. He profiles as a tackle and is likely to compete with Chatman or incoming freshman Brandon Baker at right tackle if he isn’t penciled in as Banks’ backup ahead of the 2024 season.

Billy Walton

Walton played in two games, both of them blowouts, but didn’t record any stats. He is a great fit for the Buck position and is likely to compete there with incoming freshman Colin Simmons and maybe even transfer Trey Moore especially if Ethan Burke continues to grow into a Jack.

Warren Roberson

Roberson saw just one game of action. He is likely to be a future factor at cornerback or potentially Star once the depth chart clears up and his athleticism can be displayed.

Redshirted and didn’t play

• Payton Kirkland
• Connor Stroh
• Andre Cojoe
• Spencer Shannon
• Will Randle
• Derion Gullette
• Colton Vasek
• S’Maje Burrell

Kirkland, Stroh, and Cojoe were all O-linemen who needed a year of redshirting and development in order to become Big Football Players as opposed to simply Big Humans. All earned positive reviews at various junctures, though Kirkland was sidelined midway through the season with an injury.

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Randle used the 2023 campaign to recover from a knee injury suffered in high school, as did Gullette. Vasek’s freshman season was limited as well.

Shannon and Burrell developed during their redshirt season.