Graceson Littleton Named True Freshman All-American, Emerging as a Cornerstone for Texas Defense
The future of Texas football isn’t just promising-it’s wearing No. 29 and already making plays like a seasoned vet.
Freshman defensive back Graceson Littleton has been named a 247Sports True Freshman All-American, a well-earned honor after a debut season that showed exactly why the Longhorns are so high on him. If you watched Texas closely in 2025, this doesn’t come as a surprise. Littleton didn’t just show flashes-he consistently delivered.
He appeared in 11 games this season and made his presence felt all over the field. His stat line jumps off the page: 41 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. It’s how and when he made those plays that tells you what kind of player Texas has on its hands.
Take Week 6 against Florida. In a tough road environment, Littleton was everywhere-racking up eight tackles and forcing a fumble. It was a breakout performance that turned heads and confirmed what the coaching staff had already seen in practice: this guy plays with an edge, and he doesn’t back down from the moment.
And when the lights were brightest, he didn’t blink. In the Red River Rivalry, with momentum hanging in the balance, Littleton came up with a critical interception that helped Texas hold off Oklahoma.
That kind of clutch playmaking from a true freshman? That earns trust fast-and Littleton clearly has it.
What separates Littleton from your average young DB, though, is his versatility. He played 442 snaps at STAR, 51 in the box, 24 at corner, and 22 at free safety.
That’s not just moving around for the sake of it-that’s a player who understands the game well enough to execute at multiple spots. In today’s college football landscape, where offenses are built to create mismatches and stress defenses vertically and horizontally, having a guy like Littleton is a major asset.
And now, with Will Muschamp taking over the defense, Littleton’s value only increases. Muschamp has a long history of building elite defenses around smart, athletic defensive backs who can disguise coverages, fill against the run, and close space in a heartbeat. Littleton fits that mold perfectly.
He didn’t just contribute-he helped anchor the secondary. He finished the season with the third-most tackles among defensive backs and tied for the team lead in interceptions alongside Michael Taaffe. That’s rare air for a freshman, especially one asked to take on so many different roles.
Littleton’s speed is another key part of his game. Whether it’s tracking a deep ball or flying downhill to blow up a screen, he covers ground in a hurry.
Plays that look open for a second? Not with No. 29 in the picture.
He erases space in a way that makes quarterbacks think twice and offensive coordinators adjust their game plans.
Texas isn’t just happy to have him-they’re building around him. Replacing a freshman who logged nearly 500 meaningful snaps would be a nightmare for most programs. Instead, the Longhorns get to enter 2026 with a rising star already in place, and a defensive scheme that’s tailor-made to elevate his game even further.
If Littleton continues on this trajectory, we’re not just talking about a promising young player. We’re talking about someone who could become one of the most impactful defensive backs in the country. And in a program with championship aspirations, that kind of talent makes all the difference.