Inside Texas Spring Game Roundtable: Players to watch, positions of intrigue, looking forward

The annual Orange-White Game is this Saturday at 1 p.m. The spring game serves as the final of 15 opportunities for members of Steve Sarkisian‘s program to make strides ahead of summer conditioning, fall camp, and the first game versus Rice.

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Ahead of the Texas spring game, the Inside Texas staff offers thoughts on a variety of topics including standout players, expectations, lingering concerns, and more.

There is intrigue involving multiple players and multiple positions. What individual player has your attention on Saturday?

Eric Nahlin – If boiling it down to one player I would go with Ethan Burke. Hopefully we see him go up against one of the first team offensive tackles to get an understanding of where he is both as a pass rusher and setting the edge. He lacked play-strength last year, how much has that improved? If he holds his own it will be a good sign for this season.

Joe Cook – I’m going to say Gavin Holmes. The Wake Forest transfer has drawn rave reviews in his first spring in Austin. The Longhorns have a stout receiver corps for him to work against, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles any run game responsibilities in addition to lining up opposite Xavier Worthy or Johntay Cook or even AD Mitchell.

Paul Wadlington – AD Mitchell. Very curious to see what he looks like, how he moves and if he’s building a body that can get him through the nagging injuries that hamstrung him at Georgia last year. If Mitchell is high level, opposing defenses will have to pick their poison and accept that there’s no antidote for the Longhorn passing attack if they can’t stop it at the point of origin.

Justin Wells – Cam Williams at RG and Savion Red at RB.

Ian Boyd – Quinn Ewers. He holds the key to the season in his hand like a fragile bird and his development as a decision-maker and field general is the most important offseason story.

Gerry Hamilton – Cedric Baxter Jr. The spring game provides opportunities for running backs to be seen more than in the media windows during the spring. It’s not Baxter running with the ball I want to see, but rather him in pass pro, running a route or two, and overall comfort.

Bobby Burton – Savion Red. Is it all talk or is it real?

One thing you want to see from each position group

Eric Nahlin – QB – I want to see carry-over and improvement from Quinn Ewers from the Alamo Bowl, meaning composure, decisiveness, and spreading the ball around.

Eric Nahlin – CB – At corner, one thing I’ll be looking for is which of the first three has improved on weaknesses: For Ryan Watts that could be covering the whole route tree, with Gavin Holmes we’ll look for physicality, and with Terrance Brooks we don’t want to see any coverage busts.

Joe Cook – WR – Separation, always separation. That has rarely been a question for Xavier Worthy. What does it look like for Jordan Whittington from his proper place in the slot? How do Casey Cain and AD Mitchell get past Ryan Watts or Terrance Brooks?

Joe Cook – iDL – Strength against the run from the perceived second team. There’s a good sense of what T’Vondre Sweat, Byron Murphy, and even Alfred Collins can do. What about Vernon Broughton, Sydir Mitchell, and Zac Swanson? Platooning DL helped Texas a ton last year. The ability to do it again would be huge.

Paul Wadlington – S/N – In Sarkisian’s first year, Safety was a team weakness with poor depth. In 2022, the position improved to solidity. In 2023, it could potentially be a team strength. Even absent Jalen Catalon and highly anticipated freshman Derek Williams, can the Horns still put out a good unit with a real two deep? I’m fairly confident in what Jerrin Thompson brings, but I’m curious to see if it’s actually clicking for Kitan Crawford and B.J. Allen. People also forget how young Michael Taaffe is. He still has athletic upside. Nickel Jahdae Barron may be the most underrated defensive asset on the team and the cross experimentation with Austin Jordan there is promising as Jaylon Guilbeau fights to keep his role as a primary back-up. That battle will continue into the Fall.

Justin Wells – RB – Is Jonathon Brooks ready for No. 1 RB carries? Is Baxter the next Benson? And is Savion Red simply better at tailback?

Justin Wells – TE – We know Texas has an NFL tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders. But behind him, I’m curious how Gunnar Helm and company look this spring.

Ian Boyd – LB – We know the athleticism is getting a lot better at linebacker. How many of these guys know where to be on the field against the run or pass?

Gerry Hamilton – OL – It’s the second year guys, save Kelvin Banks. I want to see physicality and body quickness from Cam Williams, Neto Umeozulu and Malik Agbo. This is where Texas can form terrific depth next season.

Bobby Burton – EDGE – Is Ethan Burke really ready to be an answer? And if not him, then how is Texas going to generate a consistent pass rush? I’ve also heard some nice things behind the scenes on Kristopher Ross of late. So what he looks like is of particular interest, too.

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Aside from an injury-free contest, what’s the best result possible from this year’s Orange-White Game?

Eric Nahlin – If Sark splits the teams evenly we want to see a tug-of-war with no true winner.

Joe Cook – Steve Sarkisian mentioned he wanted to see a “crisp game.” To me, that’s no big plays either way. While that would work against Sark’s offensive philosophy which includes play-action deep shots, points for either team without the benefit of big plays would indicate a decently even contest between the assembled offenses and defenses.

Paul Wadlington – Defensively, Texas gets more clarity at linebacker and safety while Collins, Sweat and Murphy demonstrate that they’re ready to improve on last year’s quality interior play. Offensively, are the Texas quarterbacks and offensive line ready to assume the burden of a more open-ended, pass-focused offense?

Justin Wells – Arch Manning throwing two touchdown passes so the national media can claim a QB controversy in Austin.

Ian Boyd – A strong showing from Quinn Ewers and an equally strong push by Arch Manning to force him to stay sharp.

Gerry Hamilton – Wide receivers making plays for the QBs. That has to improve in 2023. Defensive backs playing fast. Not looking fast, but playing fast. Finally, the 2022 front seven class of defenders looking like they can develop a year ahead of the move to the SEC.

Bobby Burton – I want to see an efficient passing game. That was probably the biggest disappointment for me a year ago. The passing game would just go silent for long stretches.

Who is your pick as a player who will use this game as a springboard into a successful spring/summer?

Eric Nahlin – Kitan Crawford has had a good Spring and seen his hard work and trust in the staff rewarded. A good public scrimmage will serve as a confidence boost.

Joe Cook – Jonathon Brooks. He succeeds almost every time he gets a chance with the football, and the opportunity to operate at near full-go for the spring game should put him in a good position to be RB1 come September.

Paul Wadlington – Quinn Ewers

Justin Wells – Kitan Crawford. He’s champing at the bit to prove his best football is ahead of him.

Ian Boyd – I think the ideal answer would be Ethan Burke, I’ll say Savion Red though.

Gerry Hamilton – Cam Williams. He’s been coming on the last half of the spring and has true NFL upside.

Bobby Burton – I’ll go with Cam Williams. He’s on the precipice. He just needs to keep plugging.

Even after 14 practices, what’s a lingering concern you have about the 2023 Longhorns

Eric Nahlin – The interior O-line still has a ways to go to become a good unit, much less on par with the tackles.

Joe Cook – Interior OL.

Paul Wadlington – LB, Edge, the 2nd safety if Catalon can’t go, red zone offense, offensive identity

Justin Wells – Linebacker/EDGE play. Can the guys step up like Jaylan Ford in 2022? Who is going to get to the quarterback at EDGE? Ethan Burke? Justice Finkley?

Ian Boyd – Can they run the ball and prevent quick pressure with this interior offensive line once everyone is healthy and things shake out in the fall?

Gerry Hamilton – Pass rush off the edge remains the one area where Texas doesn’t have a true difference maker. The cream of the crop programs in college football have them right now, and adding thataspect is what Texas has to do to take that next big step.

Bobby Burton – Pass rush. It’s going to cause an unnecessary loss or two if they don’t get it figured out.