With 23 players selected in the last two NFL Drafts, the Texas Longhorns have emerged as one of the most successful programs in the country at developing players into professional prospects.
Look for returning players like senior Jack end Ethan Burke and senior cornerback Jaylong Guilbeau to join the burgeoning rankings of Longhorns who have improved their draft stock in their final season on the Forty Acres.
But behind the players emerging from contributing roles to become program centerpieces, there
are younger players who have the chance to emerge into contributors this season with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian citing eight on Monday.
The first player Sarkisian mentioned was redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Connor Stroh, a mammoth 6’7, 341-pounder who has not seen any game action during his first two seasons on the Forty Acres.
I’m very proud of him. He’s put in a lot of work and he’s changed his body. A guy I’m definitely proud of how far he’s come,“ Sarkisian said.
Now the question for Stroh is whether he would be the first interior offensive lineman off the bench — a role that redshirt junior Connor Robertson — or if he’s even improved his mobility enough to be a factor at the tackle position after a photo from the second scrimmage seems to show him getting reps at right tackle.
The second player mentioned by Sarkisian is another lower-ranked member of the 2023 recruiting class — redshirt sophomore tight end Spencer Shannon, who was a consensus three-star prospect ranked as the No. 760 player nationally and the No. 36 tight end, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Since arriving in Austin, the 6’7, 252-pounder has improved the fluidity of his route running noticeably, even if a practice observer remains unlikely to mistake Shannon for Gunnar Helm. That’s mostly because Helm set such a high bar with his extraordinary development, but if Shannon can emerge as a serviceable blocker and capable security blanket over the middle for redshirt sophomore quarterback Arch Manning, he’ll be another developmental success story for the Horns given his ranking as a recruit.
Shannon’s blocking ability likely gives him an edge in that facet of the game over sophomore Jordan Washington, who was set back by a broken collarbone during the spring, but drew praise from Sarkisian for his trajectory despite those critical missed reps. Up to 264 pounds, Washington now also has the mass of an attached tight end in addition to the receiving ability of a flex tight end, a unique combination in Jeff Banks’ 2025 position room.
The final offensive player Sarkisian mentioned is redshirt freshman wide receiver Parker Livingstone, a potential or perhaps even probable starter this year after playing 28 snaps last season without recording a catch. Livingstone’s ascent started during spring practice as junior DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Wingo recovered from injuries.
“Parker’s done a great job taking full advantage of his opportunities in the spring running with the first group because of injuries,” wide receivers coach Chris Jackson said at the start of preseason camp.
Those opportunities included working inside in the slot to develop Livingstone’s change-of-direction ability after arriving at Texas as a straight-line wide receiver with high-level vertical speed.
“Can’t say enough about what he’s done,” Sarkisian said.
On defense, sophomore linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith continued to receive praise from his head coach after Sarkisian named the Jasper product one of the team’s top tacklers.
“Ty’Anthony Smith is another very good tackler as well,” Sarkisian said. “Ty’Anthony forcing himself [onto the field]. He’s playing really good. I’m really proud of Ty’Anthony, he’s really grown up, not only on the field, but off the field, and you can see the level of maturity on the field, his intent every day at practice. He’s not the biggest guy, but the physicality that he plays with and the speed he plays with definitely shows up.”
Sophomore defensive tackle Alex January is competing for a starting role this year thanks to his year-over-year development that helped him become one of the team’s standout players in the first scrimmage of preseason camp. If January emerges as a significant contributor this season, as expected, he’ll become the first high school defensive tackle the Longhorns have developed since Byron Murphy in the 2021 recruiting class. Murphy is entering his second season in the NFL.
“From where he was a year ago to where he is today, very, very impressed with him,” Sarkisian said.
Redshirt freshman nickel back Wardell Mack fits into the same category as he competes with freshman Graceson Littleton to start at the Star position. The 6’0, 184-pounder only played one snap on special teams and 25 snaps on defense in 2024, but should be a core special teams player this year after flashing defensively with a diving interception in the end zone against Colorado State that helped preserve the shutout in that blowout win.
“He’s a guy who’s who’s finding his niche, finding his role, has grown into it,” Sarkisian said.
A player in a similar position is sophomore cornerback Kobe Black, who could be the first cornerback off the bench behind Guilbeau and junior Manny Muhammad.
New cornerbacks coach Mark Orphey was effusive about Black’s development during the offseason, from his physical maturation during winter and summer conditioning to his improvement in spring practice. At 6’2, 199-pounder, Black is the prototype for the cornerback position — he has length, twitchiness in short areas, and long speed.
“There will come a time where they will be so grateful that they had to work for it and how much better they are today, not only as players, but as people,” Sarkisian said. “That’s why it’s easy for me to rattle those guys off, because I know the journey that a lot of those guys have been on.”
