Texas football roster countdown: New additions previous editions missed
As preseason training camp ahead of the Texas Longhorns first season in the SEC approaches, Texas is 42 days away from taking the field on August 31 against the Colorado State Rams. Inside Texas looks at the players recently added to the updated roster not mentioned in previous countdown articles.
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- Roster countdown: Nos. 99-95
- Roster countdown: Nos. 94-85
- Roster countdown: Nos. 84-80
- Roster countdown: Nos. 79-75
- Roster countdown: Nos. 74-70
- Roster countdown: Nos. 69-65
- Roster countdown: Nos. 64-60
- Roster countdown: Nos. 59-55
- Roster countdown: Nos. 54-50
No. 99 – Jermayne Lole, SR
Lole, a seventh-year senior, was a late flip in the portal cycle from Oklahoma, though sources told Inside Texas that USC was the real runner-up in this recruitment and not OU.
Lole was a major part of Steve Sarkisian‘s efforts to address the lack of quality defensive tackle depth exiting the spring. At 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, Lole has potential few in the transfer portal possessed. He was incredibly productive at both Arizona State and Louisville but was twice sidelined with season-ending injuries.
If he can approach his 2019 and 2020 output as a part of Texas’ defensive tackle rotation, Lole will be a key part of the Longhorns’ defensive efforts in 2024. If not, he’ll at least be a big body that Texas believed it lacked at the end of spring.
No. 99 was last worn by Sydir Mitchell in 2023. Mitchell now wears No. 90.
No. 82 – Ridge Barker, FR
Barker, a product of Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy, was unranked as a prospect. He had offers from Air Force, Army, UNLV, Columbia, Dartmouth, Memphis, Rice, Washington State, Tulane, Texas State, and Georgia Tech.
No. 82 was last worn by Gus Asel in 2023.
No. 70 – Nate Kibble, FR
Thought to be a Texas A&M lean in his recruiting process, Kibble proved that line of thinking to be in error as he quickly committed to Texas following his official visit to Austin. Kibble has promise as a strong interior presence but will spend most of his first summer and fall at Texas developing and providing looks on the scout team.
No. 70 was last worn by Christian Jones from 2018 to 2023.
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No. 55 – Melvin Hills III, FR
Hills is a true freshman who checked in at 6-foot-3, 305 pounds on his Texas roster debut. That size may lend itself to some special teams snaps or opportunities in garbage time. However, the transfer portal additions and other veteran defensive linemen will likely relegate Hills to the scout team during his first year on the 40 Acres.
No. 55 was last worn by walk-on linebacker Winston Smith in 2023.
