It was a hot, muggy day with a feel-like temperature of roughly 106 degrees on one of the final days of July when the Longhorns took to the field to practice on the Frank Denius Fields green.
Building a solid foundation is the main goal of the first two and a half weeks of training camp on the Forty Acres. Sarkisian and the other coaching staff concentrate on situational drills and scrimmages after concentrating on technique and assessing each player’s skill set.
After the first day of practice, head coach Steve Sarkisian stated, “We have to tap in more to the mental intensity, the mental focus, and the mental toughness that’s needed when fatigue sets in.” And that’s what we’ll be working on during training camp.
Texas summer camp is not for the faint of heart. The heat is just a normal aspect of preseason training for senior players. It’s a test for new rookies.
According to Sarkisian, we encourage the young men who are fresh to the program to comprehend what is required. Naturally, some new guys will be further advanced on a day like today, and other guys will realize, “Dude, I need to catch up on things.”
Despite fighting fatigue, the players demonstrated no signs of slowing down on the second day of camp. Even though some players took a knee during drills, the enthusiasm was contagious, particularly from rookie receiver Jaime Ffrench Jr.
On the second day of camp, the French routes were just as explosive as the first. Before coming to the Forty Acres, the five-star recruit from Jacksonville, Florida, was a highly-touted talent. Ffrench’s raw skill is a great addition to Sarkisian’s receiver room, even though sophomore Ryan Wingo and junior DeAndre Moore Jr. are the greatest contenders for the top two receiver spots.
Kaliq Lockett and Michael Terry III, two other freshmen receivers, also stood themselves, hauling in multiple passes from new quarterback KJ Lacey. Terry’s bulky, 216-pound physique, which does not reduce his speed, is largely responsible for his midrange explosion.
Sarkisian stated, “I believed that Michael Terry was a young player who had his best practice today.” I witnessed an excellent rendition of Michael Terry today. He glanced quickly. He appeared to be physically fit. He appeared robust.
Another five-star, Lockett arrived in Austin ranked as the second-best receiver in the class of 2025 by On3 and 247Sports. Observing his method, it’s easy to understand why. Lockett can easily win the ball from any defensive back in his path because of his strong hands. He excels downfield, using his 6-foot-2 stature to cut away from his safety and explode onto a route.
After the second day of camp, Moore remarked, “Kaliq is a long strider, so he’s really getting up on your toes really quickly.” Kaliq is performing admirably.
Despite his little size in comparison to the larger players on the pitch, Lacey’s skill is indisputable. He is accurate and maintains synchronization with his receivers while executing intricate footwork, even though his throws don’t have the zip of a more seasoned player. Lacey can effortlessly outmaneuver pressure and stay cool in the pocket to throw a pass when facing a defensive line.
Jonah Williams is an outstanding safety on the opposing side of the field. As a five-star from Galveston, Texas, Williams stood out to recruiters and attracted the attention of both coaches and players throughout the offseason. Due to a hamstring injury sustained during his senior baseball season, the safety has been less productive during training camp in an attempt to maintain his health.
Williams is athletic and adaptable, allowing him to move up to plunge headfirst into stopping a back or cover downfield with effectiveness. Above all, Williams is eager to learn.
He is incredibly intelligent. The athleticism is evident. “The ball skills are evident,” Sarkisian remarked. He will be an excellent player for us.
The Longhorns will put on pads for the first time this summer on Tuesday as training camp continues.
Sarkisian claimed that they haven’t become sore yet and that this is the best feeling they will have all year. The bumps, bruises, and other effects will soon begin to manifest. You may now observe how men handle some of that hardship as well.
