Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian have completed two full days of fall practice, with camp wrapping up on Thursday afternoon (August 1). The media viewing window for the first day of autumn practice on 31 July was significantly larger than the one granted today.
New additions for Texas football shine on Day 2 of preseason camp
There are still plenty of details and updates to go over after two days of fall practice for the Longhorns, with exactly 30 days until the regular season opener.
Texas practiced in helmets and shorts for the first two days of fall practice this week. This is expected to continue when the Longhorns return to Denius Fields for their third practice of the week on August 2.
It’s still unclear if the Longhorns will have their first fall scrimmage this weekend. However, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sarkisian and the Texas coaching staff decide to give the players a break this weekend after three consecutive days of practice late this week.
Here are three players who stood out for the Longhorns on the second day of preseason camp on August 1.
Tanthony Smithy, LB
True freshman linebacker Tyanthony Smith has been practicing with the third-team defense during the first two days of camp this week. Reports indicate that Smith has performed well in both individual and team defense drills so far.
The area where Smith has particularly stood out is special teams. He’s shown a lot of effort and consistency with the special teams coverage units in practice.
On August 1, Inside Texas reported that Smith made an impressive play as a gunner with the punt coverage unit, tackling senior wide receiver Silas Bolden and potentially preventing a touchdown return.
Running backs coach Tashard Choice was reportedly very enthusiastic about Smith’s play, praising his effort in getting Bolden down before he could return the punt for a touchdown.
Based on reports from fall camp this week and recent summer workouts, Smith is expected to be an impactful player on special teams for Jeff Banks and the Longhorns this fall.
Tre Wisner, RB
It’s hard not to be impressed by the Texas running back room this offseason. Choice and the Longhorns have their backfield in the best shape regarding talent and depth since Sarkisian became head coach four years ago.
The top three running backs in the rotation for practice reps this fall have been solid through the first two days of preseason camp. There’s been a lot of positive feedback about sophomore CJ Baxter Jr.’s performance in the last couple of days. Junior Jaydon Blue has also been a leader for this group, standing out as one of the most vocal players among the skill positions this week.
Perhaps the most pleasant surprise for the Texas running backs in fall practice this week has been the emergence of sophomore Tre Wisner. Wisner not only appears bigger and more athletic than he was as a true freshman last year, but he is also looking more comfortable taking reps out of the backfield in this offense this fall.
Wisner has allegedly looked swift and elusive in the second and third-team offense’s limited contact team drills during the last two days of practice. He also reportedly gave a decent effort when Texas worked on ball security drills with the skill position players during practice on Thursday.
If there was any doubt about Wisner’s ability to secure the third running back place in the backfield rotation heading into the regular season, I believe those worries have been put to rest early in preseason camp.
Silas Bolden, WR
Bolden, a former Oregon State Beavers graduate transfer wide receiver, may be the most impressive Longhorn player on either side of the ball after the first two days of fall practice. Since arriving on campus for summer workouts a few months ago, the super senior has looked far better than expected.
Bolden has even increased his effort and performance on the practice pitch after putting on the Texas practice uniform for the first time yesterday to begin training camp. Bolden performed admirably in the individual and one-on-one receiving drills at practice Tuesday, making many contested catches against the first and second-team Texas defensive backs.
Today in practice, Bolden elevated his status on the depth chart by returning punts for Banks and the Longhorns. According to various practice reports and discussions after the second fall practice, Bolden was the most effective punt returner in special teams drills.
Bolden was reportedly the first-team punt returner today, despite not working with the first or second-team special teams units yesterday.
Other skill players working on punt returns today included sophomore wide receiver Johntay Cook II, junior wide receiver Matthew Golden, and junior wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
In the first couple of days of fall practice this week, Bolden has demonstrated that he will be incredibly difficult to keep off the field consistently on both offense and special teams this fall.