Texas Football: Details on the defensive backs and linebackers from Day 1 of 2023 practice

The Texas Longhorns took to the Frank Denius Fields for the first day of preseason practice ahead of the 2023 campaign. Inside Texas had five staff members plus ace photographer Will Gallagher on location to get all the details from the very first day in helmets for Steve Sarkisian‘s Longhorns.

Here are a few notes gleaned from observing the opening few minutes of practice plus skill players in the defensive backfield under the purview of Blake Gideon, Terry Joseph, and Jeff Choate.

As is typical for the Horns after a stretching period and ball security drills, there was a special teams period focusing on punt. Ryan Sanborn was back at punter and delivered good kicks. Right now there are four groups wearing different red, black, green, and blue colored jerseys. That’s to maximize reps for the entire squad. A few of the players who took punt return opportunities under the watchful eye of Chris Jackson were DeAndre Moore, Johntay Cook, Xavier Worthy, Ryan Niblett, and Tre Wisner.

After special teams, the defense went into a pursuit drill. Twelve players were on the field for the purposes of the drill. It delivered a decent look at the depth chart in the backfield. Some of the third-teamers were tough to pick up across the field

S: Jalen Catalon (field) and Michael Taaffe (boundary) – Derek Williams (field) and Jerrin Thompson (boundary)

NB: Jahdae Barron – Austin Jordan – Jaylon Guilbeau – Jelani McDonald

CB: Terrance Brooks and Ryan Watts – Gavin Holmes and Malik Muhammad
Note: Warren Roberson took reps with the cornerbacks

First-team linebackers: MLB Jaylan Ford – WLB David Gbenda – SLB Morice Blackwell

The heat had an immediate effect as there was a defensive player who immediately saw some of the liquids he ingested make a second appearance.

Blake Gideon worked with the safeties, a group that featured Catalon, Taaffe, Williams, Kitan Crawford, BJ Allen Jr, and Larry Turner-Gooden. Turner-Gooden is thick for a player listed at 204 pounds and gave max efforts during his reps in drills.

Terry Joseph worked with the cornerbacks and the nickels during drills. That group featured McDonald as a result of him beginning his career at star, and, as Gerry Hamilton mentioned, Warren Roberson looking right at home with players in that group. Like Gerry also mentioned, Roberson was with the nickel/corner group and was observed taking reps at field corner.

Most of what was shown for defensive backs during the media viewing portion didn’t involve the use of a football. It was footwork, more footwork, and some hand placement drills for the DBs.

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