It was not my first time seeing live football, nor was it my first time seeing some of the Texas players play football. I’ve watched a number of them at different Camps, including the Rivals Five-Star Camp in Jacksonville in 2024 and other various Under Armour and Rivals events. Coming to town from Charleston is always a bit of a treat, whether I’m coming to town on a Friday before a game to do an Orangebloods Show out at Texas Beef Traders, or just visit Alex and the OB Team. It’s always fun, but it’s never aligned with a media availability. It almost worked out this spring, but flying standby snake bit me. Much like it did on Tuesday night, in an attempt to make it to Austin in time for Wednesday’s practice, but that’s a long story for another time. Maybe over a cold beer at TCH or Hays City. Thankfully, I was able to get on a standby flight in time to make it in for Thursday’s practice.
As I finally sit here gate side at ATX, just 36 hours after practice, here are 18 of my marinated thoughts from seeing the team in person on July 31st. This team is big… like NFL big – not all of their bodies are matured like that, but the frames are NFL frames. DBs and Receivers with long, long arms and high cut waists, Lineman with bear paws, big heads, and stances that make you triple-take at the off-season work they put in, in the weight room. Everyone knows Arch Manning, Anthony Hill, and Colin Simmons, but this team is so much more than that.
1. Josiah Sharma (90) – Freshman Defensive Tackle
Sharma was one of the couple “whoa” players for me upon showing up to Frank Denius Fields. Weighing in at north of 340 lbs on the program. I was fully expecting a bit of an overweight situation, or one that needed some tightening up. Sharma passed the eye test for me off the jump. He was much cleaner cut through the mid-section than a few of his fellow dancing bears. If Travis Shaw misses any time through camp, dealing with what we can only project as a heat-related issue on Thursday afternoon, the uptick in reps for Sharma could go a long way.
2. Michael Terry (11) – Freshman Wide Receiver
As I walked back north down the field from the Defensive Line group, I saw a few routes take place before what I thought was a #1 jersey. It turned out to be the #11 Michael Terry, who looked like Ryan Wingo, through and through. I tried explaining it on Orangebloods Live on Thursday night. I’ve watched so much Adrian Peterson through my life growing up in Minnesota that the way a player like that turns the corner and gets north and south, It’s not the 2nd gear that he shows off his speed, rather it’s the 3rd and 4th gear that he can truly take off and look alien-like. That’s what I saw in Michael Terry on Thursday afternoon, he is special.
3. Emaree Winston (85) – Freshman Tight End
Heading into practice, the Longhorns were doing some pre-practice walk-through and a player that received a ton of run, granite not all with the first team per se, but he was OFTEN targeted, was Emaree Winston. It just made me think, man they really want to get some work on wax for Winston early in camp and see what they are working with. Like most players, but it popped up 5 or 6 times in an 8 minute team period.
4. No DJ Campbell (52) practicing brings in Connor Robertson to Center.
Starting Center, Cole Hutson bumped over to RG. It’s interesting for RS-Freshman Nate Kibble, who we thought could potentially be viewed as the “next guard up”, but instead, Coach Flood leaned into experience with that move and bumped Hutson back to where he split time with Campbell in 2025. Part of that conversation could also be pointed to RS-Freshman Daniel Cruz. Who, in theory, should step in for Hudson at Center if he bumps over, however, with the veteran Robertson available, he seems to be their 6th man, or 4th interior man.
