The Texas Longhorns are 95 days away from kicking of the 2024 season against the Colorado State Rams on August 31. As the countdown clock gets closer and closer to zero, Inside Texas takes a look at the players wearing Nos. 99-95 to kick off our roster countdown series.
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No. 99 – not worn
Sydir Mitchell switched from No. 99 to No. 90 ahead of the 2024 season
No. 98 – Tiaoalii Savea
Savea was one of the transfer portal additions who arrived at Texas in January after he elected to leave Arizona. Texas is his third school but once again he will be playing for Texas co-defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen.
Savea tallied 22 tackles with 6.0 for loss and 1.5 sacks for Arizona. After the departure of Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat the Longhorns needed to add to the defensive tackle rotation and Savea fit the bill perfectly in the winter. Listed at a comparatively slender 6-foot-4, 293 pounds, Savea will see time along with Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, and transfer additions Jermayne Lole and Bill Norton, but pre-season camp will determine the share of snaps he gets.
No. 97 – Alex January
The addition of January was an important one as players who arrive at 6-foot-5, 324 pounds are not common. However, the old adage about playing time being more difficult to find the closer a player lines up to the ball does hold true.
There are a lot of experienced players ahead of January on the current pecking order but he’s brought a mature mindset and that combined with enrolling early could give him some opportunities on field in some capacity in 2024.
January was ranked as the No. 436 overall option, the No. 40 defensive lineman, and the No. 66 player in Texas according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
On3 ranked January as the No. 25 defensive lineman and the No. 46 player in Texas.
No. 96 – not worn
No. 96 was last worn by Zac Swanson, who transferred to Arizona State in the winter.
No. 95 – Alfred Collins
This is a contract year for Alfred Collins. The heir apparent to Murphy and Sweat along with Broughton, Collins has no other player who could eat into his playing time. That’s typically been the case with his talent, but the player that has eaten into Collins’ playing time in recent years has been Collins himself.
That became a thing of the past last year. Collins subbed in along with Broughton and Trill Carter when Murphy and Sweat needed a break. In his opportunities, Collins logged a Pro Football Focus defensive grade of 79.9 bolstered by a pass-rush grade of 80.6.
Collins has a massive year ahead of him and if he lives up to his potential he could join Sweat and Murphy as early round picks after a strong SEC campaign (and give Kenny Baker a nice feather in his cap on the recruiting trail).
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Collins recorded 22 tackles in 2023 with 2.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks. He also tallied two passes defended in a forced fumble.
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