Holy smokes, did you catch that Texas opener? The Longhorns just laid down an absolute beatdown on the Texas State Bobcats, stomping them 59-7 right there in their own house. What’s even wilder is how many new faces were out there. Nearly half of their whopping 27 first-year players actually hit the field! Out of those 12 freshmen who saw playing time this past weekend, only four officially popped off with meaningful stats. But let me tell you, wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. and cornerback Samari Matthews are already flashing some serious, undeniable potential that should have the whole league taking notes.
Bishop Jr. Is Already a Hands-Man
Bishop Jr. wasn’t just playing, he was straight-up *shining* with breakout potential all afternoon. This first-year hands-man snatched two catches for 25 yards. We’re talking 12.5 yards per catch, with a long of 18 yards, and he did all that in just 10 offensive snaps! He’s already earned himself a co-backup role in the slot, which is massive for a true freshman. He even played 10 snaps on kickoff coverage. Yeah, he had one drop on three targets, but the fact he’s getting targets alongside established guys like Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman, who just transferred in, tells you everything about the confidence they have in him. That kind of early impact from a freshman WR? That’s not just promising, that’s electric for the future of that offense.
Matthews Brings Disruption, Cooper’s Injury Is a Real Gut Punch
On the defensive side, Samari Matthews is making an instant, strong first impression as a freshman to watch. In his 10 snaps on defense, he racked up two total tackles, one solo and one assist. But this is where it gets crazy: he grabbed a *half sack* and a *half tackle for loss*! That’s insane production and shows he’s already a disruptive force, especially for a backup corner behind sophomore Kade Phillips. The kid even got in on three snaps for kickoff coverage. Now, not all the freshman news was pure hype. Running back Derrek Cooper, another first-year, had a couple of carries for six yards in three snaps before leaving the game with an ankle injury. The Florida product is now stuck in a boot for the “foreseeable future,” a real kick in the gut for him and the team’s early season depth. Even with that setback, other first-years like linebacker Kosi Okpala, cornerback John Meredith, edge Jamarion Carlton, and edge Richard Wesley also chipped in with tackles and defensive stops, showing this freshman class runs deep.
What Bishop Jr. and Matthews showed this weekend isn’t just a one-off performance; it’s a statement. These guys are already carving out meaningful roles and making big plays, proving they’re not intimidated by the bright lights. For a team that just hung nearly 60 points on their rival, having freshmen like this step up and contribute significantly, right at the start of the season, sets an incredible tone for the squad. It screams serious depth, fierce competition, and a whole lot of talent coming up. Keep these names locked in, because if this first game is any indication, they’re just getting started on what could be a monster season for the Longhorns.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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