As official visit season rolls on, the Longhorns are 80 days away from kicking the 2024 season off against the Colorado State Rams. Inside Texas looks at the players wearing Nos. 84-80 to continue our series as the countdown clock gets closer to zero.
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No. 84 – TE Jordan Washington
Woefully underrated coming out of Langham Creek in the Houston area, Washington put together a quality spring and even had a nice public showing in the Orange-White game as a cap to a good first semester in Austin. Receiving ability is not in question for Washington, but there are older players with more experience playing in the trenches in his position group.
There will be opportunity this year for Washington thanks to his athleticism, but how much opportunity there is depends on what he can do blocking alongside an offensive tackle. Washington could get an opportunity on special teams, too.
No. 84 is also worn by walk-on Reece Beauchamp, a product of Austin (Texas) Vandegrift
No. 83 – TE Spencer Shannon
Steve Sarkisian said on April 9 that Shannon was one of the players that had improved during the course of spring. A 6-foot-7, 251-pounder out of Mater Dei, Shannon did not play during the 2023 season. Blocking was seen as one of his better attributes, but play as a receiver was something that needed time to develop. The top two spots in the tight end room are mostly accounted for with Gunnar Helm assuredly at the top and Amari Niblack there battling with him. Can Shannon separate himself from others to become third in the pecking order? Blocking ability others might not have could be what gets him on the field faster than the others.
No. 82 – Not Issued
No. 82 was last worn by Gus Asel, a transfer from Hendrix College, in 2023.
No. 81 – Juan Davis
Davis enters his senior season with one catch and one carry to his name. He’s been a regular on special teams over the past two seasons, something that can be expected to continue as he enters his fourth and final year in 2024. How much he’s able to do this season on standard downs depends on his ability to work as a blocker, though there’s an avenue to playing time in a specialty capacity for Davis, possibly as a wildcat quarterback should Sarkisian choose to go that route with Savion Red in the transfer portal.
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No. 80 – Freddie Dubose
Dubose was a key part of Smithson Valley’s journey to the state finals last season, catching 57 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. A superb track athlete, Dubose will have time this year to work on the finer points of playing receiver in Sarkisian’s system with several talented second-year and transfer portal players ahead of him.
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