Texas has plenty of headliners in camp, but a handful of players outside the obvious stars have made some serious noise over the last two weeks.
That matters, because the Longhorns already know what they have at the top of the roster. Arch Manning, Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo, Hollywood Smothers and Trevor Goosby are among the offensive names drawing attention, while Colin Simmons, Rasheem Biles, Bo Mascoe and Jelani McDonald are doing the same on defense.
Those players have mostly looked the part. The bigger camp story has been the guys who have boosted their standing underneath them.
The most eye-catching rise has come from Terry, the five-star who didn’t see much action as a true freshman. This fall, though, he has flashed everywhere along the defensive tackle front.
By the sound of it, he’s been the most impressive player on the roster in camp, not just the best at his position. He has shown up in the pass rush with sacks and forced fumbles, and he has held up against the run too.
He may not be in the starting lineup yet, but he has put himself in line for meaningful snaps when Week 1 arrives.
Another former five-star, Michael Terry III, has also started to find a lane. He barely played for Texas, even when the running back room was thin for the bowl game against Michigan.
This camp has suggested a different future, though, with Terry appearing to settle into a short-yardage role. At 6'3" and 229 pounds, he has been running with real force in practice, and if that continues, his chances are likely to come in 2026.
At linebacker, Juice Cryer has been one of the quieter additions on paper and one of the louder wins in practice. Many around the program expected Ty'Anthony Smith or Rasheem Biles to take over the starting MIKE job.
Instead, Cryer has pushed himself into position to own it. He may not be the flashiest defender on the field, but he brings the kind of run support and communication that holds a defense together.
Nick Townsend has also taken a big step. After reshaping his body in the offseason, he looks more like a full-time tight end, and he has played that way in camp.
He’s emerging as the Horns’ best option at the position, even with Spencer Shannon also earning notice. Townsend, though, seems to be hitting his stride in just his second year with the program.
Then there’s Derek Williams, whose Texas future once looked far less certain. Injuries and inconsistency under the previous defensive scheme had made things difficult, and he had even entered the portal.
But the arrival of Will Muschamp and Blake Gideon changed the picture completely. Through fall camp, Williams has looked like a starter and appears to be thriving in his new role.
Right now, he would be the pick to line up next to Jelani McDonald.
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Shipley had already shared details of the accident and the early stages of his recovery during a May podcast appearance, giving fans a clearer sense of how difficult the road has been. Even with lifelong complications ahead, his presence at DKR added a human note to camp and gave Texas supporters a reason to smile before the season fully ramps up. [Read more 🡒]