News and Notes from Texas Spring Game

Texas wrapped up the Spring Practice Saturday afternoon inside DKR with the annual Orange-White Spring Game. Despite the gloomy weather, the Longhorns flashed promising talent all over the field ahead of the 2024 season.

• The Orange team was victorious over the White team, 35-34, with freshman Trey Owens finding fellow freshman Ryan Wingo for the game-winning touchdown with under 1 minute to go in the 4th quarter.
• It was the Trey Owens and Arch Manning show, with incumbent starter Quinn Ewers only playing two drives. Steve Sarkisian said that the brief appearance from Ewers was planned. Jake Majors and Kelvin Banks also saw their reps limited. Jahdae Barron, Andrew Mukuba, Barryn Sorrell and Trey Moore did not appear for the Texas defense.
• Manning’s performance certainly drew the headlines. The sophomore completed 19 of 25 passes for 355 yards and 3 touchdowns. His lone interception was on a hail mary to end the game. The New Orleans native looked extremely comfortable from the start, connecting with DeAndre Moore for a 70-yard touchdown on his first pass of the day. Manning also had a long touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond in the 4th quarter.
• Owens finished 14 of 21 for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns. The true freshman did not look out of place and showed good arm talent.
• From a skill position standpoint, Ryan Wingo stole the show. The true freshman hauled in 4 passes for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In a wide receiver group full of talent but lacking in experience, Wingo stood out as much as anyone.
• Defensively, it was the Colton Vasek show for much of the afternoon. The redshirt freshman battled some injuries during his freshman season but looked like someone ready to come on strong in 2024. The former Austin Westlake standpoint had several would-be sacks and notched 3.5 TFL’s on the afternoon.
• Other freshmen who flashed included TE Jordan Washington, CB Kobe Black, and DT Alex January.
• Steve Sarkisian was pretty clear postgame in his desire to add additional bodies to the defensive tackle room. The Longhorns are replacing Byron Murphy and T’Vondre off the 2023 squad. Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton were highlighted and two important returning pieces, but Sarkisian said they need more “big humans”.

The Texas players will now get a little time to catch their breath as the coaches hit the road to recruit in May before offseason workouts begin in June and fall camp kicks off in August. The Longhorns are coming off a 12-2 season that ended with a loss in the College Football Playoff Semifinals to Washington.