Texas’ fifth- and sixth-year seniors provide great foundation, experience

The transfer portal has been a game changer in college athletics, allowing players to pick and choose schools that will give then more time on the field, better preparation for a career at the pro level or one more season playing the game they love.

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The latter of those three aspects was created, in part, when an extra year of eligibility was granted players by the NCAA because they were freshman during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The extra year of eligibility has led to a proliferation of fifth- and even sixth-year seniors on many teams, with those players forming the foundation for success because of their overall experience in the college game and their maturity in general. While players don’t have to have been in the portal to gain the sixth year, most have.

That formula was on ready display at Washington, which had nine sixth-year seniors on the roster (including quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the runner-up for the 2023 Heisman Trophy) for its College Football Playoff semifinal game against Texas.

The Longhorns will enter spring drills with one sixth-year senior and five players entering their fifth year. Included in that half-dozen are two likely starters on the defensive front, a linebacker who was a part-time starter last season, Texas’ starting center, two defensive backs that are among the most important players on the team, and a transfer wide receiver that will add uber-playmaking ability on special teams.

Let’s take a look at those players:

Sixth-year senior

David Gbenda, LB

Gbenda, who was a redshirt freshman in 2020, decided to stay for his sixth season (all at Texas) after producing 50 tackles (23 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and one pass breakup last year. He played in all 14 games in 2023 with eight starts.

Fifth year players

Alfred Collins, DT

Collins was named honorable mention All-Big 12 after appearing in all 14 games with six starts in 2023, totaled 22 tackles (12 solo) with two tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups. He is expected to be a starter this season.

Vernon Broughton, DT

Broughton played in all 14 games last year with one start while establishing career highs with 17 tackles (seven solo) 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery. He should pair well with Collins, and vice-versa, as the Longhorns look to fill holes in the interior defensive line.

Jake Majors, OL

Majors has played in 42 games in his four-year career at Texas and has started 41 of them. He played in and started all 14 games at center last year and was an honorable mention All-Big 12, a Joe Moore Award semifinalist and was named fourth-team All-Big 12 by Phil Steele. He’s the bedrock of the Longhorns’ offensive line.

Jahdae Barron, DB

Barron was one of the unquestioned leaders of the Texas defense last year and has been one of the “faces” of the Longhorns’ resurgence. He’s played in 41 games with 23 starts in his four years on the 40 Acres; last year Barron played in 14 games with 12 starts and registered 61 tackles (32 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery and a career-high six pass breakups. He was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, was selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team, tabbed All-Texas First Team by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and a fourth-team All-Big 12 selection by Phil Steele.

Gavin Holmes, DB

Holmes transferred to Texas for the 2023 campaign after playing at Wake Forest from 2020-22. He played in all 14 games with two starts last year and amassed 16 tackles (13 solo) and two pass breakups. He will be a mix-and-match piece for the Longhorns’ stable of cornerbacks in 2024.

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Silas Bolden, WR

Bolden transferred to Texas this offseason after four terrific seasons with Oregon State (2020-23). With the Beavers last year Bolden racked up a team-leading 54 catches and 746 receiving yards while playing primarily as a slot receiver. He was responsible for 24.3 percent of the Oregon State’s receptions. Bolden had five receiving touchdowns and averaged 13.8 yards per catch and added two rushing TDs and returned a punt for a score.