On Tuesday, January 20 Spring classes started at UT. Among 50,000 undergrads wandering campus and finding classrooms, there were six new students – Brandon Hodges, Malik Jefferson, Tristan Nickelson, Garrett Thomas, Quincy Vasser, and Connor Williams.
In addition to getting settled in the classroom, that group of six is notable because they are early enrollees for the football program. In other words, those six young men are doing double duty in unfamiliar territory – campus life and the locker room.
After finishing with a 6-7 record, Charlie Strong needs an infusion of talent to help propel his 2015 team forward. With a handful of key 2014 players graduating or moving on in their football career, Strong has multiple holes to plug. Additionally, there is Spring housecleaning underway, as the team is already announcing transfers and departures.
Despite Strong’s need for immediate help, certainly all six of the early enrollees aren’t expected to contribute next Fall. However, some of this Spring’s enrollees fit strategically into holes left on the depth chart.
Between injuries, dismissals, and suspensions, the 2014 offensive line played against a stacked deck. With confirmation that OT Desmond Harrison will not be on the team next Fall, the OL will again be a major concern. It’s no coincidence that four of the six early enrollees are offensive linemen.
Some of the defensive leaders off last year’s team – namely Cedric Reed and Jordan Hicks – will be looking to play professional football this Fall. Those two depth chart holes could be filled by talented newcomers.
On an individual basis, here is how HornSports projects the six early enrollees’ impacts:
East Mississippi Community College
OT was a glaring weakness in 2014. At a minimum Hodges should be penciled in on the two-deep roster at both spots as immediate depth. Ideally, Hodges will blossom under Joe Wickline’s tutelage and assume duties as a starter before Summer practices start.
Hodges is a player that Wickline identified early in the recruiting process. As such, he is expected to provide immediate competition among the tackles. A benefit of having a junior college early enrollee at OT is that Hodges’ presence on the roster should allow some of the younger OL to be redshirted.
Poteet High School
Being one of the top-rated high school football prospects in the state of Texas instantly heaps unsurmountable expectations on a player. Couple that fact with the departure of weakside linebacker Jordan Hicks, and it’s apparent that Jefferson has a tall task set before him. Looking ahead to 2015, there are no obvious starters at any of the linebacker positions. That means Jefferson has an opportunity that begins on the first day of Spring football.
Jefferson is a tremendous talent with the size, speed, and instincts to make an immediate contribution at the college level. After seeing the growth of Hicks and Steve Edmond under the guidance of the new coaching staff, it’s clear that Jefferson will receive excellent instruction.
Navarro Junior College
Everything that was discussed about Brandon Hodges also hold true for Nickelson except one key difference – he isn’t the ready-made prospect that Hodges is. Although Nickelson has a good frame and enough size to compete at the college level, he is of a candidate for a redshirt year when compared to Hodges.
Being a junior college player gives Nickelson the strength that comes naturally with maturity. Nickelson will also benefit from one-on-one matchups against Longhorn defensive linemen, and a six month head start with strength coach Pat Moorer.
Given the options at OT, combined with those advantages, it isn’t too far-fetched to project Nickelson as a contributor in 2015. Where he lands on the sliding scale between a redshirt year and being a starter will be determined by his mental approach.
Many High School
Thomas is a rare prospect in the sense that he is an offensive lineman that has enough size and strength to play in his first year at the college level. Thomas has the same set of advantages that were listed for Nickelson. The key difference for Thomas is which position he plays.
If Thomas shows enough skill, the depth at offensive tackle is thin enough that the Louisiana standout could find immediate playing time. If Thomas is more suited at offensive guard, then his ascension on the depth chart is not guaranteed.
Joe Wickline shuffled players up and down the line last season in an effort to get the five most talented players on the field. If Thomas proves ready, he is a fresh face for the Texas OL coach to add to that rotation.
Navarro Junior College
Like Malik Jefferson, Vasser is physically ready for the rigors of D1 football. Also like Jefferson, Vasser arrives on the 40 Acres at the same time a departing player is leaving a hole on the depth chart.
With Cedric Reed and Malcom Brown taking their talents to Sundays, the Longhorns’ defensive line will spend the Spring seeing how different combinations of players fare. Whether Vance Bedford uses a three or four front in 2015 will be determined by how well Vasser and several others play.
Unlike some of the early enrollees on the offensive line, the team doesn’t need Vasser to make an immediate contribution. At bare minimum, Vasser provides competition at End and another option for Bedford and Chris Rumph, but expectations are that he has the ability to do much more.
Coppell High School
A fourth early enrollee that plays on the offensive line, Williams appears destined for a year on the bench. Even with the advantages of being an Spring enrollee, the Dallas-area blue chipper needs a year in the weight room and at the training table. Despite perilously thin depth along the offensive line, Williams is a prospect that will benefit from the early enrollment of Hodges, Nickelson, and Thomas because those players should allow him time to develop.
