These 8 Texas football players are impressing Steve Sarkisian during spring practice (2025)

Table of Contents

DB Warren Roberson DB Jelani McDonald DLs Hero Kanu and Cole Brevard LB/DE Brad Spence TE Emaree Winston WR Parker Livingstone OT Brandon Baker

Texas football completed its 10th spring practice Monday out of the 15 allotted by the NCAA. Practice No. 9, which took place Saturday, included some scrimmage periods, presenting the Longhorns' coaching staff with a valuable information-gathering opportunity.

So what did Texas learn, and who played well?

Sarkisian limited his list of standouts to newcomers and what he called "developmental players" — guys who have not previously played a high quantity of snaps in important games. There should be plenty of opportunity for new faces, with nearly a dozen former Texas players declaring for the NFL draft.

"Broad scope, big picture, I thought there were some real positives," Sarkisian said when meeting the media on Monday. "I could probably talk about a bunch of guys."

Here are some of the players the coach highlighted:

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DB Warren Roberson

Roberson played 299 snaps for the Longhorns on special teams last season, but played just 26 reps on defense, mostly at corner. Sarkisian touted the 5-foot-10, 201-pound native of Red Oak as a former developmental player who is beginning to "show up" as he enters his redshirt sophomore campaign.

DB Jelani McDonald

Texas fans know what Jelani McDonald can do. He proved to be a force when filling in for the injured Andrew Mukuba last season, parlaying that positive impression into a more prolific role as a reserve down the stretch. McDonald finished his sophomore season with 33 tackles and an interception. He split his time between box safety, free safety and slot corner in 2024, and could now get the chance to settle in as the regular slot corner.

"I thought Jelani McDonald showed some really good things," Sarkisian said. "A guy who's grown into that position, who's moved, moved, moved, and has been a real positive for us on that front."

DLs Hero Kanu and Cole Brevard

The Longhorns brought in three transfers at defensive tackle over the offseason. Sarkisian offered praise for two of them Monday in Kanu and Brevard. Kanu, listed at 6-foot-5, 309 pounds, is a former top-150 recruit who never got much of an opportunity at Ohio State. The 6-foot-3, 352-pound Brevard, comparatively, played over 1,000 snaps in the last three seasons at Purdue.

"Both have been really solid players for us on the defensive front," Sarkisian said, "which has been impressive."

LB/DE Brad Spence

The Longhorns' lone winter transfer addition on defense, Spence registered 54 tackles and 4½ sacks during his sophomore season at Arkansas before making the move to Austin. Sarkisian touted his positional versatility playing a hybrid role as one of the reasons he targeted Spence.

"We're getting the best version of Brad Spence right now," Sarkisian said. "...He's a guy that was a little nicked up when we got him and has had to grow into playing at that spot and playing more football."

TE Emaree Winston

The only true freshman Sarkisian listed among his standouts was Winston, the fourth-lowest-rated player in Texas' 25-man recruiting class by the 247Sports composite rankings. Winston, listed at 6-foot-1, 246 pounds, was a three-star prospect out of Georgia.

"Emaree Winston has been a guy that has shown up and has done really nice things for us at tight end," Sarkisian said. "He showed up the other night."

WR Parker Livingstone

Nobody has generated more buzz this spring than Livingstone, a 6-foot-4 wideout heading into his redshirt freshman year. With DeAndre Moore and Ryan Wingo sidelined due to injuries, Livingstone is taking advantage of the extra reps circumstances have sent his way.

"Parker Livingstone continues to play well for us," Sarkisian said.

OT Brandon Baker

Texas lost both of its starting tackles to the NFL draft. Trevor Goosby looks like a sure thing to fill one of those holes. Could the 6-foot-4, 316-pound Baker fill the other? A five-star signee in the 2024 cycle, Baker played 65 snaps for the Longhorns last season, primarily at right tackle.

"Brandon Baker is a guy who was a developmental player for us," Sarkisian said. "Now, in year two, he's starting to show a lot of consistency as well."

Reach Texas Insider David Eckert via email at deckert@gannett.com.Follow the American-Statesman onFacebookandXfor more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access all of our best contentwiththis tremendous offer.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas football practice breakouts: Who's impressing Steve Sarkisian?