Texas Longhorns Football

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 250

HAND: 9⅞"

ARM: 32¾"

WINGSPAN: 79½"

40-YARD DASH: 4.84"

3-CONE: 7.15"

SHUTTLE: 4.4"

VERTICAL: 30"

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POSITIVES

— Well-proportioned NFL-ready build and frame.

— Average route runner with salesman; grass finder in short/intermediate areas of the field.

— Above average athlete, post-catch burst and acceleration are impactful.

— Outstanding ball skills, uses his big frame and catch radius to bring down difficult catches.

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NEGATIVES

— Average long speed and explosiveness, will not put fear in second-level defenders.

— Functional strength at POA in the run game can benefit from improvement.

— Playing through contact by physical man coverage defenders.

— Run blocking techniques need improvement to handle NFL rushers.

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NOTES

— Born Sept. 6, 2002

— 3-Star recruit in 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Appeared in 49 games with 20 starts

— 2024: John Mackey Award semifinalist

— 2023: Honorable mention All-Big 12

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OVERALL

Gunnar Helm has the skill set needed to be an impactful TE2 for a 12-personnel offense.

As a passer catcher, Helm brings functional athleticism and movement skills to the tight end position. His route salesmanship is decent—he uses his body to lean and break in the opposite direction against man coverage. Helm excels against zone defenses and presents a big body in the soft spots of the coverage shell.

His football IQ is evident with his route timing, and he reads the defender's drop depth to determine where to settle in. Helm has strong and reliable hands to pluck the ball out of the air. He's only been charged for two drops in his career.

At the catch point, Helm excels. He does a good job boxing out smaller defenders using his body as an advantage. His ball skills resemble a power forward going up for a rebound. Helm is a red zone weapon and creates advantageous matchups at the catch point.

As a blocker, Helms' frame looks the part and gives ample effort. His technique and functional strength limit his effective effectiveness at the moment. Helm provides defenders with clean shots and access to his chest. Defenders gain control of his pads and dictate the action. He struggles to sustain blocks after making initial contact. Helm is more useful as an on-the-move blocker out in space and sealing backers at the second level.

Gunnar Helm projects as a TE2 for 12-personnel teams. He can play with his hand in the dirt, off the line as an H-back, and flexed out into the slot. He is built like a traditional Y tight end with functional pass-catching abilities but needs to improve his run blocking.

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GRADE: 6.7 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 141

POSITION RANK: TE9

PRO COMPARISON: Dalton Schultz

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 186

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POSITIVES

— Athletic defensive back with good length and twitch. Shows a burst out of breaks and drives on the ball in the air. Covers ground as a deep safety.

— Displays good ball skills to track balls, as well as reading the quarterbacks eyes to get a jump on the ball. Plays with good vision in zone coverage to identify threats.

— Willingness in run support. Triggers quickly to fill running lanes; as well as showing physicality to throw body around.

— Flashes playmaking ability to capitalize on turnovers when he gets his hands on the ball.

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NEGATIVES

— Thin frame, built like a cornerback; which can show up in run game. He often dives at legs, leading to him bouncing off bigger ball-carriers.

— Though he shows aggression and physicality in the run game, he often takes the brunt of collisions in the box and leaks extra yards during tackles.

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NOTES

— Born Dec. 7, 2002

— Born in Harare, Zimbabwe

— 4 Star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Transfer from Clemson

— 2021: ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, 3rd team All-ACC

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OVERALL

Andrew Mukuba is an athletic defensive back with the versatility and instincts to be a playmaker in the secondary. At 6'0" and 186 pounds, he combines good length with impressive twitch and a burst out of breaks, making him an ideal fit as a deep safety or in coverage roles. Mukuba's ball-hawk tendencies and ability to track and react to passes in the air have made him a standout in coverage, while his physicality and willingness in the run game further enhance his value as a prospect.

Mukuba excels as a ball-hawking safety, showing impressive awareness and the ability to read the quarterback's eyes to get a jump on the ball. He demonstrates good range in coverage, effectively covering ground as a deep safety. Mukuba's ball skills are a key strength, allowing him to track and secure interceptions when given the opportunity. His vision and understanding of zone concepts further enhance his playmaking ability. While he thrives in zone coverage, his lean build can occasionally limit his effectiveness against bigger targets, such as tight ends and physical receivers, in contested situations.

Mukuba is a willing and aggressive run defender who triggers quickly to fill running lanes. He does a good job of throwing his body around and making impactful tackles, although his lean frame limits his ability to take on bigger ball-carriers consistently. While he flashes physicality in run support, he often dives at legs, which can lead to missed tackles against larger, more physical opponents. Despite this, his effort and urgency in run defense stand out, as he is unafraid to mix it up and contribute near the line of scrimmage.

Andrew Mukuba projects as a mid-round pick with the potential to develop into a high-level backup or eventual starter in the NFL. His ability to excel as a deep safety and his knack for creating turnovers make him a valuable asset in zone-heavy schemes. While his lean frame may limit his effectiveness against larger ball carriers and physical matchups, his range, ball skills, and instincts give him a high ceiling as a playmaker in the secondary.

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GRADE: 7.0 (High-Level Backup / Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 101

POSITION RANK: S9

PRO COMPARISON: Julian Blackmon

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was noncommittal on Monday while speaking about his future, leaving it up in the air whether he would return to school for his senior season or enter the 2025 NFL draft.

"I'm not sure yet, I'm just trying to win these [College Football Playoff] games," he told reporters. "I haven't thought about anything beyond that."

There have been reports, however, that Ewers will head to the NFL:

Sources say Quinn Ewers still plans to declare for the NFL Draft after this season, paving the way for Arch Manning to take over in 2025. Manning is locked in with Texas and coach Steve Sarkisian, with no plans to transfer. Right now, both are dialed in on Clemson. pic.twitter.com/BYdC5EIgFG

— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) December 13, 2024

The Longhorns won't exactly be in trouble next season if Ewers declares for the NFL draft, given that the highly-touted Arch Manning is waiting in the wings. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning has looked excellent in his cameos this season, throwing for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 67.8 percent of his passes.

There's an argument to be made that even if Ewers returns to school, the Longhorns would be best suited holding a true quarterback competition next season. Manning has waited patiently for two years behind Ewers, but he deserves a shot at the starting gig.

Ewers, of course, hasn't done anything to lose his starting spot, throwing for 2,665 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 66.2 percent of his passes. He's led Texas to a second straight berth in the CFP, with a first-round matchup against Clemson on Dec. 21 at 4 p.m. ET (TNT, HBO Max).

But it's also fair to question if Ewers has improved his draft stock much this season. In the team's pair of losses to Georgia he threw for 569 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, taking 11 sacks and losing two fumbles. Not exactly banner showings against the top opponent he faced, and not exactly the sort of film likely to impress NFL scouts.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. had Ewers ranked fifth among quarterbacks on his latest big board behind Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Miami's Cam Ward, Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Georgia's Carson Beck.

This doesn't appear to be a particularly strong draft class at quarterback, which likely means that Ewers' floor is a second- or third-round pick. But would another season solidify his status as a true first-round talent?

That's hard to say. For now, Ewers is only focused on Clemson. But his decision once the Longhorns' season is over will be of particular interest to those in Austin and NFL circles.

Quinn Ewers could be making his final starts for the Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoff.

According to Anwar Richardson of Rivals, Ewers intends to declare for the 2025 NFL draft at the end of the Longhorns' season. The move would elevate Arch Manning into the starting job for Texas in 2025.

Ewers has one more year of college eligibility remaining. His decision to return to school for the 2024 season was a bit of a surprise given how well he performed for Texas, but he would have been competing for attention in a loaded quarterback class that saw six players go in the top 12 picks.

The 2025 class doesn't look nearly as strong. Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders are currently the only quarterbacks with a first-round grade on the latest top 100 ranking from B/R's NFL scouting department.

Ewers is the fifth-ranked quarterback and No. 51 overall prospect on the list. The 21-year-old has been the Longhorns starter for the past three seasons after transferring from Ohio State. He has thrown for 2,665 yards and a career-high 25 touchdowns in 11 games this season.

Manning has been hyped as a superstar-in-waiting since he was in high school at Isidore Newman in New Orleans. He was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 freshman class and has patiently waited for his opportunity to become the starter in Texas.

An abdominal injury suffered by Ewers early in the season gave Manning an opportunity to start two games. He went 41-of-60 for 583 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions in wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State.

Texas will enter the College Football Playoff as the No. 5 seed and will host ACC champion Clemson in a first-round matchup on Dec. 21.

Perhaps the best part of the new 12-team College Football Playoff for fans is the environments it will create with the first-round games being played on campus.

The players love it too.

"It's going to be awesome," Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers told Bleacher Report. "We've never experienced this and DKR has never experienced this. It's going to be rocking for a playoff game with a lot at stake. I'm just excited to get on that field again."

While Ewers and the Longhorns surely wanted the SEC championship and first-round bye that would have come with a victory over Georgia in the conference title game, landing the No. 5 seed and a first-round game at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium is quite the consolation prize.

Not done yet 🤘#HookEm x #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/CRlkvQzq0h

— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) December 9, 2024

It's not a stretch to suggest Texas has one of the clearest paths to the semifinals of anyone in the field, as it will face 12th-seeded Clemson at home in the first round before a potential showdown against fourth-seeded Arizona State at the Peach Bowl in the quarterfinals.

The Peach Bowl is in Atlanta, which is far from Arizona State's campus and right in the middle of SEC territory. That could give the Longhorns yet another advantage when it comes to the crowd.

But the focus is on Dabo Swinney's Clemson program first.

"They've also been in a ton of big games, and they play really hard for their coach," Ewers said. "They're really well coached and disciplined players. It's also cool I get to play against one of my really good friends from high school who went to Southlake with me. R.J. Mickens, who plays safety for them. It's going to be a cool moment and experience with him for sure."

Mickens is a talented playmaker at the back end of the Tigers' defense, but Ewers joked he might have to "rub it in a little bit" if he beats his friend over the top with a deep ball during the playoff game.

Texas is the better seed and the favorite in the game, but it is Clemson coming in with momentum.

The Tigers wouldn't have even made the CFP without shocking SMU in the ACC Championship Game with a 56-yard field goal from Nolan Hauser as time expired. That stood in stark contrast to the Longhorns, who lost in overtime to Georgia with the SEC title on the line on the same day.

Fortunately for Texas fans, head coach Steve Sarkisian's program has been defined by its ability to bounce back this year.

"We've been through a lot of adversity, and I think the culture that Coach Sark has built thrives on overcoming it," Ewers said. "It's 10 percent what happens and 90 percent how you react to what happened. We truly live by that. Sure, we'll get hit in the mouth a couple times, but we're never going to go away."

Nobody has demonstrated that resiliency inside the program better than Ewers this season.

The signal-caller missed time with an oblique injury, was temporarily benched for Arch Manning during the regular-season loss to Georgia and even had to deal with a false report suggesting he was going to sit out for the season's stretch run to focus on the NFL draft.

What's more, there is constant noise about the quarterback room given Manning's status as the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning and as the No. 1 overall recruit of the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

While the Longhorns occasionally use Manning as a change-of-pace option for running plays, this is Ewers' team going into the playoff after he responded to the Georgia loss by spearheading a five-game winning streak with 13 touchdown passes to just three interceptions during that span.

He led his team to wins over dangerous Vanderbilt, Florida, Arkansas and Kentucky squads, as well as an important road win over rival Texas A&M in the first game between the two schools since 2011.

"I always say that the sign of the true character of a man is in the face of adversity, and that was a lot of adversity for him, a lot of adversity for us as a team coming off last week's game," Sarkisian said of Ewers after the Vanderbilt win following the Georgia loss in October. "I think the way he responded was kind of indicative of how we responded as a team."

As Ewers was responding as a leader on the field, he also partnered with C4 Energy off it and even got to meet and greet with fans who entered the company's sweepstakes in September.

"It's been great," he said of the partnership. "What made me want to work with them is all the sponsorships they've done for athletes around me. Obviously they did one with Bijan [Robinson]. Our core values also align, and their headquarters are also in Austin. It's been awesome working with them."

Ewers said his favorite flavor is strawberry guava while highlighting that "whether I'm going to class or going to the gym to get a workout in, it gives me a boost."

Texas needed that boost for the 2024 season, as it moved from the Big 12 to the SEC as part of a larger conference realignment shift that also included the rival Sooners joining the league.

While the Longhorns didn't have the most challenging schedule by SEC terms since it avoided Alabama, Tennessee, Ole Miss, LSU and Missouri, they still sent a message with a 34-3 blowout win over Oklahoma and defeated Texas A&M.

Those are the types of rivalry games Texas quarterbacks are remembered for, and Ewers made sure it was his team with regional bragging rights in the first year in the new conference.

That's not to say there weren't welcome to the SEC moments considering the Longhorns lost to Georgia twice. But they showed improvement from the 30-15 regular-season loss to the overtime defeat in the SEC Championship Game and surely hope being battle-tested in the SEC will pay dividends against teams from other conferences in the playoff.

"I always wanted to play in the SEC and be a part of it," Ewers said. "We got a taste of that when we went to Bama last year. It was cool to play a full SEC schedule. Man, if you don't show up in the SEC, you're going to get beat. And I think this year was a year that showed that. The Big 12 was fun for sure, but it's not the same as the SEC. In the SEC, it's all about football."

Now he will look to deliver his new conference a national championship in the first year of the 12-team CFP field.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian believes his team still remains a strong contender for a national championship.

The Longhorns fell 22-19 to Georgia in the SEC Championship, failing to secure an auto-bid into the College Football Playoff. This was Texas' second loss of the season with both coming against the Bulldogs.

The loss won't eliminate Texas from the 12-team field for the Playoff but it does signal that the Longhorns will have to play an extra game. Following the loss, Sarkisian acknowledged that the loss "stings" but that his team is good enough to win a national title.

"This stings," Sarkisian said, per the Associated Press. "But we get a chance to regroup in a couple weeks and get into the College Football Playoff and go compete for a national championship. I think we're plenty good enough to go win that."

Georgia saw starting quarterback Carson Beck suffer an injury right before halftime and he only played a single snap in overtime to help the Bulldogs secure the win, handing off the ball to running back Trevor Etienne for the game-winning touchdown. Backup Gunner Stockton played the entire third and fourth quarters and kept the offense afloat, but he wasn't necessarily a major threat.

Texas had a prime opportunity to claim the victory and held Georgia to just 277 total yards. However, three turnovers, 11 penalties and two missed field goals held the team back and ultimately allowed Georgia to steal the victory.

The Longhorns will need to beat some opponents at Georgia's level in the playoff and will have to limit the struggles from Saturday. If they do that, Sarkisian's hopes of a title do appear to be possible.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was not impressed with the refereeing in the first half of Saturday's SEC championship game against Georgia.

"Hopefully, they call them for holding one of these times too," Sarkisian said after the Longhorns committed eight penalties through two quarters.

Steve Sarkisian didn't mince his words 😳 pic.twitter.com/6Z9GjOhr80

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 7, 2024

The 80 penalty yards forced Texas to settle for two field goals and no touchdowns in the first half. The Longhorns entered the break with a three-point advantage.

Three of the Longhorns' calls were for holding penalties, while Georgia was assessed two total penalties over the two quarters.

The calls led directly to multiple missed scoring opportunities for the Longhorns, who out-gained the Bulldogs 260-54 but were only able to muster six points in the first half.

Texas kicker Bert Auburn missed a 42-yard field goal in the final minutes of the second quarter after the Longhorns were moved back by a false start penalty.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck was then picked off on two straight passes during the Bulldogs' final possession of the first half.

Both plays were called back for penalties, one on pass interference and another for a jump offsides. The Bulldogs proceeded to start the third quarter by marching down the field and orchestrating a touchdown drive.

This isn't the first time a Texas-Georgia game has been highlighted by controversial penalties this season. The SEC fined Texas $250,000 after fans threw trash on the field in response to a pass interference penalty that was ultimately rescinded called against the Longhorns during an Oct. 19 loss to Georgia.

Both Georgia, sitting at 10-2 this season, and Texas, which enters the game with an 11-1 record, are likely to qualify for the College Football Playoff regardless of Saturday's result.

A win would still provide a boost to either team's national championship hopes by granting them a first-round bye and an automatic trip to the quarterfinals of the inaugural 12-team CFP.

Defensive lineman Justus Terry committed to play his college football at the University of Texas on Friday, according to On3.com's Hayes Fawcett.

BREAKING: Five-Star Plus+ DL Justus Terry has Committed to Texas!

The 6’5 275 DL from Manchester, GA chose the Longhorns over Georgia, Auburn, & Alabama

Ranked as the No. 2 DL in the ‘25 Class (per On3)https://t.co/8kwvYtKOYt pic.twitter.com/6TvnXJVGOF

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) December 6, 2024

Terry, who is from Manchester, Georgia, chose the Longhorns over other top contenders in Georgia, Alabama and Auburn.

The 6'5", 275-pound Terry is rated as a 5-star prospect by 247Sports, as well as the No. 10 overall recruit and No. 2 defensive lineman in the class of 2025.

Terry originally committed to Georgia in January 2023 before de-committing from Georgia and committing to USC in March 2024.

However, the commitment to USC was short-lived, as he de-committed back in June and subsequently made visits to Texas, Alabama and Auburn.

Given the advantage Georgia has in terms of proximity, On3.com's Keegan Pope characterized Terry's decision to join Texas as "a bit of a recruiting shocker."

The 247Sports director of scouting, Andrew Ivins, projected Terry as a future first-round pick in the NFL draft earlier this year, and compared him to Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

Carter was a key figure on back-to-back national championship teams at Georgia before the Eagles took him ninth overall in the 2023 NFL draft.

He has continued to be a force at the NFL level as well, finishing second in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting last season after recording six sacks. Through 12 games this season, Carter has 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

After securing Terry, 247Sports ranks Texas' 2025 college football recruiting class as the best in the nation ahead of Alabama, Oregon, Georgia and Ohio State.

Texas had just one 10-win season from 2010 to 2022, but head coach Steve Sarkisian has the Longhorns back in the mix as national title contenders.

They reached the College Football Playoff last season and will do so again this season, plus they will face Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday.

Regardless of the result of that game, Texas already scored a pivotal win over the Bulldogs by landing Terry.

An investigation into a bottle-throwing incident during the Oct. 19 college football game between Texas and Georgia yielded no culprits.

According to the Associated Press, the University of Texas launched an investigation after fans threw bottles and other debris onto the field during Georgia's 30-15 win at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, but the school was unable to identify those responsible for the chaotic scene.

The SEC fined the University of Texas $250,000 for the incident and demanded an investigation in order to determine the offenders so they could be banned for the remainder of the season, but Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte told SEC commissioner Greg Sankey in a Nov. 7 report that the identities of the perpetrators could not be ascertained.

The catalyst behind the chaotic scene in Austin was a pass interference call against the Longhorns while they were trailing the Bulldogs 23-8.

That penalty would have negated an interception by Texas' defense, but while game was stopped due to debris being thrown onto the field, the officials huddled and changed the call, meaning it would be Texas football.

The Longhorns took advantage of the situation by shrinking the deficit to 23-15 on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Jaydon Blue late in the third quarter, but Georgia put the game away with a one-yard touchdown run by Trevor Etienne in the fourth.

In the report Del Conte submitted to Sankey, he wrote that the university "reviewed all available video and other sources of information." However, he added: "Despite our best effort, we have not been able to identify the individuals at issue. We will take action if new identifying information comes to light."

As part of the report, Del Conte told Sankey that the University of Texas "added additional security cameras and personnel to watch the student section, updated its sportsmanship and fan code of conduct policies, and created digital messaging to encourage good behavior," in hopes of preventing similar situations in the future.

Del Conte's report provided few details regarding the investigation, and there was no explanation why Texas was unable to identify any of the culprits.

While the report was filed in early November, the AP only got hold of it this week. However, there is no indication that any new developments have materialized since the report was sent to Sankey.

At the time of the Georgia vs. Texas game, the Longhorns were the No. 1 team in the nation, while the Bulldogs were No. 5.

That proved to be the only loss for the Longhorns, who are now 11-1 and ranked No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are 10-2 and ranked No. 5.

On Saturday, Georgia and Texas will meet in a rematch in the SEC Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The winner of the game will win the SEC and earn an automatic berth and first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. The loser will still almost certainly reach the CFP, but they will have to play a first-round game.