Texas Is as DEEP as It’s Been Since 2008 — But One Position Still Worries Us

Summary

Podcast Summary: On Texas Football

Episode: Texas Is as DEEP as It’s Been Since 2008 — But One Position Still Worries Us
Date: August 9, 2026
Host: Jeff Howe
Panel: CJ Vogel, Rod Babers, Jordan Scruggs, Hank South, Bobby Burton

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Episode Overview

This episode of On Texas Football dives into the Texas Longhorns’ 2026 preseason training camp, with panelists offering in-depth observations from two recent open media practice windows. The discussion revolves around the team’s unprecedented depth across most position groups, emerging standouts on both sides of the ball, the importance of recent staff changes, and lingering question marks—especially at safety.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Steve Sarkisian’s Enhanced Oversight & Coaching Delegation

[00:35–02:07]

• CJ Vogel describes how the addition of Will Muschamp to the staff lets Steve Sarkisian act more like a true CEO, walking around practice and overseeing all position groups.
  • “He was able to kind of walk around, watch his coaches coach, watch how hands-on his coaches were with their position groups and treat it like he was a legitimate GM of a program.” (CJ, 00:47)
• More focused coaching at each position group, especially tight ends, with Steve Casula coaching actively and Jeff Banks moving to focus more on special teams.
  • Jordan Scruggs: “Banks having more of a focus on special teams makes the rest of the program better.” (02:34)

2. Offensive Line Looks Improved & Deeper

[03:26–04:51]

• Bobby Burton notes the O-line’s noticeable physical development:
  • “They looked better, they had bigger bodies... Brandon Baker looked a heck of a lot better than he did a year ago.” (03:33)
• Left guard remains the one unsettled spot, but Burton expresses confidence depth and competition will yield a solid answer—projecting a B-grade unit after last year's C-/D+:
  • “They’re gonna find somebody that’s good enough. And that offensive line... I feel really comfortable that they’re going to be in the B range this year.” (04:44)

3. Wide Receiver Room: As Loaded As the SEC

[04:57–07:21]

• Jordan Scruggs highlights how Texas now boasts six SEC-caliber receivers:
  • “Texas has six guys who can legitimately start at the Power 4 level, SEC level, whatever you want to call it.” (04:57)
  • Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo headline the group, but transfers and underclassmen (Emmett Mosley V, Sterling Burkhalter, K.L. Lockett, Jermaine Bishop) all bring unique strengths.
  • Depth allows for fierce competition, raising the standard throughout the room.
• Improved fundamentals in WR play:
  • Many receivers practicing without gloves to focus on technique—emphasizing a reduction in dropped passes.
  • “It really makes these guys focus on the process of the catch rather than... thinking about the move that they’ll make when the ball is secured.” (CJ, 07:06)

4. Interior Defensive Line: Deepest Since 2022

[09:22–11:45]

• Rod Babers gushes over the D-tackle group:
  • “I’m ready to start being really optimistic that this D tackle—specifically the interior D-line position—may go five, six deep. And the last time you were six deep…was 2022.” (09:22)
  • New faces like Justice Terry, Sharma, and Myon Charles are battling for fifth/sixth spots, with proven starters like Hero Kanu and Andrew Fridge leading the way.
  • “That would give you fresher bodies on the field. Fresher bodies, especially big guys like that, are more disruptive.” (10:42)

5. Edge Defenders: Arguably the Healthiest Group

[11:59–14:50]

• Jeff Howe: Texas might have the best group of edge defenders nationally, as even those buried on the depth chart would start elsewhere.
  • “You’ve got a guy that’s about to be a first-round pick in Colin Simmons, a veteran in Colton Vosic... any of the two guys further on the depth chart could go almost anywhere else in the country and anybody would love to take them.” (11:59)
• CJ Vogel and Bobby Burton** agree, but warn about the importance of keeping the group together in the portal era and the risk of losing star disruptors to the NFL:
  • “If they can keep these guys on campus, you’ve got a chance to be in the conversation to have the best group of pass rushers... in the country for the next couple of years.” (12:58)
  • Depth is undeniable, but the “disruptor” label belongs almost exclusively to Colin Simmons for now.

6. The One Lingering Concern: Safety

[16:33–18:33]

• Hank South ties up the episode with the assessment that Texas’ only major unknown lies at safety.
  • “The only position you really look at [with questions]: safety. It’s not even as much as numbers as it is just the unknown...Who’s going to line up next to Jelani McDonald?” (16:59)
• Players in consideration include Kobe Black, Derrick Williams, Jonah Williams, and Jordan Johnson-Rubell, but the right combination hasn’t emerged yet.
• Every other position on the roster features firm two-deep (or more) quality and playable depth—a dramatic improvement from even last year.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• CJ Vogel on coaching and culture:
  “I hope what that turns into is a team that is able to maximize the talent and really the schemes that are set forth right now in practice.” (01:31)
• Jordan Scruggs on special teams:
  “If Texas can go a season without having kind of a blunder like the onside kick in Athens or missed field goals, block punts, coverage busts...That’s a plus.” (02:52)
• Jordan Scruggs on receiver depth:
  “That makes everyone else in the room better” (05:46), referencing how veteran transfers raise expectations.
• Rod Babers with a stats-packed flashback:
  “The last time Texas had six D-tackles that played at least 100 snaps was 2022... you had almost 130 pressures just from the D-tackle room alone that year.” (09:32)
• CJ and Rod on D-tackle nicknames:
  “I just love it when Rod uses the term Jeff Fridge.” —CJ (11:45)
  “That’s the OTF chat, baby.” —Rod (11:53)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:35] Sark’s new CEO role, hands-off approach, assistant coaching dynamics
• [02:07] Tight ends and special teams, role of new staff hires
• [03:26] O-line physical transformation, competition at left guard
• [04:57] Wide receiver group depth, skill breakdown, transfer impact
• [07:21] Technique improvements among WRs (no gloves)
• [09:22] Interior D-line depth, comparison to 2022, player breakdown
• [11:59] Edge rusher room, NFL talent, depth unparalleled nationally
• [14:50] Discussion of “disruptor” concerns post-Colin Simmons
• [16:33] General roster depth, running back, improved readiness, and the lingering safety question

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Conclusion & Overall Takeaway

The 2026 Longhorns appear to have the deepest, most talented roster since the 2008 title-contending team, with legitimate two-deep at nearly every position and several areas—receiver, O-line, edge, and D-tackle—now SEC-ready. The only significant question pertains to figuring out consistent, game-ready playmakers next to Jelani McDonald at safety. Should that spot solidify, Texas will field its most formidable team in over a decade.

The panel’s optimism is nearly unanimous, tempered only by the reality of the transfer portal and NFL draft attrition. As C.J. puts it, the hope is this coaching structure and depth “maximizes the talent and the schemes set forth right now in practice.”

Transcript

[A]

What was our biggest takeaway from the two media open windows for practice this week? We'll talk about it on this latest edition of On Texas Football, brought to you by Price Picks. I'm Jeff Howe, joined by our panel this week. For the On Texas Football sideline debate, it's CJ Vogel, it's Lifetime Longhorn, Rod Babers, Jordan Scruggs, Hank south and Bobby Burton. Guys, we all got to at least one of the two open media windows to start camp. What is our biggest team takeaway from that? Cj, you're closest to me on the screen, so I'll start with you. What was your biggest takeaway from the two open windows we got?

[B]

Yeah, we've heard it all the way throughout the off season, right? Sarkeesian talking about the addition of Will Muschamp allows him to focus more on the offense. Well, we heard on Wednesday after day one of fall camp, Sark's now being able to kind of free roam throughout practice, right? Of course, he still tilted towards that offense, but he said it himself, he was able to kind of walk around, watch his coaches coach, watch how hands on his coaches were with their position groups and treat it like he was a legitimate GM of a program.

[C]

Right.

[B]

A legitimate head coach with oversight over it all. And look, seeing how hands on it was with a lot of these coaches, it reminded me of, you know, you go to a high school class and or you get, you know, older in college and you get more specified. You have about a 20 person class for your labs, your upper, you know, degree classes, courses, whatever it is, rather than a 400 person lecture hall, you get more intimate tutelage and I enjoyed that.

[D]

Right.

[B]

Steve Kasula was a guy that I think Hank and I both mentioned at the tight end position. Seeing Blake Gideon again be hands on with the safeties was something that was very noticeable. And then the energy and the passion of Will Musham and Jabbar Jaluke, it was noticeable across the field. So for me, with Steve Sarkeesian kind of being able to take his foot off the gas with a veteran quarterback, a lot of offensive linemen up on the backfield and just kind of oversee everything, I hope what that turns into is a team that is able to maximize the talent and really the schemes that are set forth right now in practice.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Speaking of maximizing, Jordan, I want to bring you in real quick because you made a really good point. After the second window, we were talking about some of the tight end stuff because I got to watch the tight ends a little bit More in the, the second window. And I said, yeah, it seemed like saw Steve Kasula doing more coaching than Jeff Banks did. And you made a point talking about the new staff hires, new additions and maximizing. You made a great point. If this frees up Jeff Banks to focus more on special teams, that that's a win for this team.

[E]

No doubt. And I mean Steve Kasul is a great tight ends coach as well. The tight ends were never the problem at Michigan. It was quarterback play and the guy steering the ship in the head coach's office. So Casula can end up being a one and done in Austin like a few other analysts have been over the years. But yeah, I definitely agree with that. I think Banks having more of a focus on special teams and makes the rest of the program better. And if Texas can go a season without having kind of a blunder like the onside kick in Athens or you know, miss field goals, block punts, coverage busts like that's a plus. It's always a plus. As Texas fans know very well from Ryan Niblets Roix. Special teams are a huge part of the game. You can't overlook them. And you know, Jeff Banks having more time over there, I wouldn't say that's ever a bad thing.

[A]

Bobby, you, you got around the practice field a little bit. The two windows we were out there. What was your biggest takeaway?

[C]

Mine, to be fair, was pretty just definite almost out of the gate. It was the offensive line. I thought they were in better shape than a year ago. They looked better, they had bigger bodies. I thought Brandon Baker looked a heck of a lot better than he did a year ago. Like, you know, the, I try to explain this like the, the weight that was around his midsection has moved into his upper body in his chest. And so he looks more like a, a developed football player. Melvin Ciani is really a good looking player at right tackle and then Trevor Goosby's a year older. And the other thing I would say, why I'm, I'm positive on this is look, they've got, they've got an issue at left guard that they've circled. And whether that's Jaden Chapman, Dylan Sikorski, a young Jordan Coleman, or the late signee Lawrence Seymour, I don't know who's going to win that job. I feel really confident after work watching the first couple of days of, of practice as well as with Cole Hudson coming back. But they're gonna find somebody that's good enough. And that offensive line, look, if we gave it a D A C minus whatever the grade was for last year that we gave the offensive line from, from, from the 2025 season. I feel really comfortable that they're going to be in the B range this year.

[A]

Jordan, I want to go to you. What was your biggest takeaway from the the open windows.

[E]

You know, this isn't necessarily anything new under Steve Sarkeesian and Austin, but receiver depth. I think Texas has six guys who can legitimately start at the Power 4 level, SEC level, whatever you want to call it. Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo, they're going to get all the buzz, deservedly so. But Emmett Mosley V is, you know, quietly one of the best slot receivers in the country. Had a tremendous freshman year at Stanford. A bit of a slow start in Austin last year, but ended up putting together a pretty solid year and then backing them up. You have two guys who have very clear roles. Sterling Burkhalter, Klocket Sterling Burkhalter. Not many people know that name, but Wake Forest transfer was formerly at North Carolina A and C and brings kind of a veteran presence. One thing I like to bring up with Burkhalter, same graduating class out of high school is Bijan Robinson, who's going into his fourth year in the NFL. That's how long he's been around.

[C]

That can help.

[E]

That makes everyone else in the room better. And then you have Kali K Lockett. Well, I was pleasantly surprised with practice one, practice two, running routes with conviction. He's really pushing for that spot and at this point it would not surprise me if he was to go into the game subbing for Wingo or Coleman before the seventh or 16, seventh or sixth year senior Burkhalter does so I like those guys a lot. And then you have Jermaine Bishop, freshman, five star out of Willis, fourth all time leading receiver in Texas high school football history and and behind them you have a Ryan Niblett, potentially the best return man in college football. Bit of a gadget guy on offense, some running back, some receiver. What is that role going to look like? I'm not sure, but it's so deep and I think when you compare this year's group compared to last year's group, I I don't know how to describe besides saying it's going to be a better product. Last year's team and receiver unit struggle too much with not being able to create separation consistently and when they did, there were drop passes. Not only should they be able to create more separation, I think there's more reliable hands. You know, it's hard to expect Ryan Wingo to be anything but better this upcoming season when it comes to catching the ball. And you know, in practice they're just running routes on air. It's a lot different in front of 100k screaming fans and you know, playing small American defensive backs in the sec. But you know, Texas viewed as having arguably the best receiver in the country. And that's for a reason like this is going to be a dynamic offense. Yes, Arch Manning will spearhead it, but Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo should pick up and have a much more productive season as a receiver unit than last year's group did.

[B]

A lot of these guys aren't wearing gloves either. And we've talked about the last decade or so has been the advancement in glove technology, right? Started with the Odell Beckham catch. You see all these guys with the one handed snags and you know how sticky those gloves are. Well, it's a lot like a professional baseball hitter. You know, he takes the batting gloves off and he really feels if he's making good contact in the box or not. Coach Shipley told us right away he's like, I loved when my receivers didn't wear gloves because then it allowed them to truly feel where the ball is hitting them in the hands. If it's right in the palm, is it in the fingertips, is it, are they looking it all the way in? And so when I watched Jermaine Bishop or Ryan Wingo, Cam Coleman was another one that I watched. It really makes these guys focus on the process of the catch rather than, you know, kind of taking it for granted and thinking about the move that they'll make when the ball is secured. So that's something that I certainly noticed this weekend was there's a lot of emphasis on looking the ball in, corralling it, and then making a move after the reception. And hopefully that tones down some of the drops that we noticed a year ago.

[A]

All right, we'll keep the conversation going here in just a minute, but Bobby, let's take a time out and thank one of our sponsors here at On Texas Football and give a shout out to Laura Baker.

[C]

Absolutely. Laura Baker of Keller Williams is the Austin real estate expert. You can reach out to her at 512-784-0505 or via email [e-mail] she's with the Andy Allen team over at Keller Williams and she has a big open house later today. 8802 Westminster. Glenn, that's 8802 Westminster. Glen. It's just right off of City Park Road. Again, that is Laura Baker and the Keller Williams team over at the Andy Allen Group again. 5127-840504-05512, 784-050-552 to 4 today, open house on Westminster Glenn 8802.

[A]

All right, thank you Bobby Rod, what was your biggest takeaway from the, the practice window you attended?

[D]

Yeah, for me man, I, I'm ready to start being really optimistic that this D tackle, specifically the interior D line position may go five, six deep. And the last time you were six deep and I consider, I look at the, the D tackles for Texas that played at least 100 snaps, right? That means you play significant role in that D tackle rotation. The last time Texas had six players, six D tackles that play, at least 100 snaps was 2022. Think about that D tackle room. You had six players in that detail rotation between Coburn O, Jamal Murphy, Sweat Collins, Broughton. You were the deepest detail room in the country and we didn't even know it. You had almost, I believe it's 100 and almost 130 pressures just from the D tackle room alone that, that year and you didn't have the edge to really combine with that. But I think this year now you're not going to be as disruptive as I think you were in 2022. But, but looking at Justice Terry, guys like Justice Terry and Sharma and Myon Charles, I mean these are potentially guys battling to be the fifth and the sixth D tackles because we already know Hero kanu, you know Jeffridge, who's gonna be, I think an asset for you because last year you had zero players who played at least 100 snaps in the A gap. This is a guy that does se expertise, that's his comfort zone. So he's gonna play right over the ball for you. So you've got that unique player between him and then you got Marad Watson into the mix as well. You know, I just think that you, you may be six deep again there at D tackle and that to me would be significant because that would give you fresher bodies on the field. Fresher bodies on the field, especially big guys like that are more disruptive, especially if they're leaning out like a guy like Andrew Fridge, where here he's down what, 20 something pounds. So bat room specifically because I think Hero Kanu, a guy who put on football pads for the first time of his life in the spring of 2021 is already a multi year starter and the University of Texas shows me that he's on the brink of a breakout season too. I think January is on the brink of one. I think Justice Terry looks like he's a guy in the right situation that also can be a disruptive force for them. So you're putting all these pieces together and I think that room has got me feeling a little bit, you know, giddy about how deep that group can be.

[C]

I just love it when Rod uses the term Jeff Fridge. That's.

[D]

Oh, I love it.

[C]

That is a personal favorite right now.

[D]

I didn't come up with that. That's the chat, though. I'll give them credit. I did not come up with it. That's the OTF chat, baby.

[A]

It's gonna get more seamless as we go on this season and hopefully if there's an appliance store in the greater Austin area, maybe there's an nail. No, my. My takeaway. Rod was kind of on the same lines of yours and I, I just think it needs to be reinforced. How good Texas is at edge right now. I think the edge room is the healthiest position in the program right now because I think you've got a good mix of. You've got a guy that's about to be a first round pick in Colin Simmons. You've got a veteran presence there with Colton Vosic. You've got guys like Lance Jackson, Xena Moslo that have waited their turn. Oh, by the way, Richard Wesley and Jamarin Carlton both physically look like they're ready to go right now. Are they going to get some snapshots? And Smith and Robo continues to evolve and develop and you look at that eight man edge group like any of these guys, any of the two guys further on the depth chart could go almost anywhere else in the country and anybody would love to take them as their starting edge guys and they're gonna be fighting for reps at Texas.

[B]

Bobby.

[A]

My only thought about the edge room is, and I think in the portal area, you have to use this caveat. If they can keep these guys on campus, you've got a chance to be in the conversation to have the best group of pass rushers, best group of edge defenders in the country for the next coup of years.

[C]

Yeah, that's big words. When you take away the best of the best in Colin Simmons. I, I do love though and this straightforward. I think Richie Wesley and Jamari and Carlton are NFL future guys as long as they stay healthy and, you know, keep. Keep on the straight and narrow, all that stuff. And they add to a group that all Were already was pretty deep, you know, Xeno Moslo. And I'll tell you another thing that is a little bit concerning. I think Colin Simmons is definitely gone. I think Xeno Mosley might have. Might be a guy that leaves early, too. I'm just going to put that out there because he looks like he's ready to. To do some damage this year. Then you add Lance Jackson into that groove. Smith and Roguebow, as you mentioned, Colton Vassar, Vasik. I mean, Colton Bossic's healthy and when he plays, he affects the game. Yet he's having a hard time getting snaps right now because they're loaded. But take, if you take Colin Simmons out of that group, you've lost the one guy that I would say is the disruptor. Like, I, I think that's my only, only take about what you say. I do think they're. They've got depth and that I would say this about defensive tackle too. That combines with Rod is take Colin Simmons out of there. And who are your disruptors? I don't know. Unless Justice Terry becomes that guy at defensive tackle. Who are your disruptors if you take out Colin Simmons across the defensive front? That.

[F]

That's a.

[C]

That is a fair question.

[F]

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[A]

Yeah, I think that gets back to one of those X factor guys for Me, Bobby is Brad Spence is going to factor into that role at edge at some point. I think other than Colin Sims, I think he's probably your second best pass rusher, your best pass rusher after Colin Simmons. So that doesn't really fix it for the future because Brad Smith is probably gone after this year. We do live in a five for five world now, and he has grandfathered in, but we'll see where all that goes. We're talking about depth. We're talking about the overall health of this roster, health position, groups. Hank, that you're. You're last up. I think your. Your take kind of ties everything together.

[E]

Yeah, yeah.

[G]

Y' all kind of just teed it up for me. I mean, just general depth. What Jordan said at wide receiver, what Rod said, a defensive line, the Ed room, you know, it's you. You stand there waiting for practice to start in these two media viewing windows and just three buses pull up and it's just three buses full of guys that look like they can all contribute. And I'm not doubting it. I think I feel after what we've heard from Sark at SEC media days and then sing with my own eyes at practice this week, I think I feel a lot better about KJ Lacy and just the quarterback room in general. I think we knew it was talented, but, you know, after last year, you lose a guy like Matthew Caldwell with all that experience, you know, if you needed him, an emergency, I think KJ Lacy can be called upon if needed down the line. I think they're deep at running back. I think they have several guys that can contribute there. Jordan broke down wide receiver, offensive line. I mean, they're. They're stark talked about last year. Kyle Flood talks about they want eight guys that can play. I think they'll have no problem having at least eight guys that are ready to go and play. As they're finding this best five mixture. I think they're in a lot better shape now than they were this time last year at that position. The only position you really look at, safety, and it's not even as much as numbers as it is just the unknown, I think. And who's going to line up next to Jelani McDonald's? We've seen them, you know, try out Kobe Black, you know, then, you know, the groupings they're running drills in was Kobe Black and Jelani McDonald. I was there when they were. They're doing Derrick Williams and Jelani McDonald. Obviously, Jonah Williams is back. Jordan Johnson, Rubell. We don't talk about him. A lot. Is he going to factor into that, you know, equation down the line at some point, too? Derrick Williams, obviously. So that's the only area you could really say, you know, how deep are they there? They have bodies. It's just you don't really know what exactly you have have. But everywhere else across the board, they've got, they've got a pretty solid, pretty solid group this year that, you know, and that's saying a lot. I know we're up to 105 scholarships now. So of course, like, you should have more guys on the team, but in this portal area, they've got pretty solid two deep of guys that can legitimately play and contribute at a high level.

[A]

All right, that's going to do it. For this week's edition of the Sideline Debate, cj, Rod, Jordan, Hank, Bobby, thank you guys for the time, the knowledge, the intel, the expertise. And as always, thank you to Matthew behind the Scenes for producing it. Thank you to Prize Picks and Laura Baker for sponsoring this edition of On Texas Football. If you're not a member [e-mail] now is the time to get over to the site and get signed up. $3 is all it's going to take for new members to get your first three months of access over at ontexas football.com whether it's practice information, whether it's recruiting information, anything going on behind the scenes on the 40 acres. We're talking about it over on Texas Football.com so make sure you get over there. Join the fun. Check out everything we've got going on. Again, new members, $3 for your first three months of access at ontexas football.com make sure that you like this video. Make sure you're subscribed to the on Texas Football YouTube channel and make sure you've got your notification set. That way, anytime we go live or drop a new video, you're not missing any of our Longhorn coverage or breaking news. For C.J. for Rod, for Jordan, for Hank, for Bobby, for Massey, for the entire On Texas Football staff, I'm Jeff How. Thank you so much for watching and listening. And until next time, welcome.