Since Alfred Collins joined Texas football in 2020 as a gangly, raw-boned defensive tackle from nearby Cedar Creek High School, he’s had an up-close view of how his former teammates at the position have developed into NFL players.
Moro Ojomo began his collegiate career with a redshirt in 2018 and became a seventh-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Keondre Coburn became a 2023 sixth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs after five seasons at Texas. T’Vondre Sweat didn’t start a game in his first three of five seasons with the Longhorns but was the Outland Trophy winner and a second-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2024. Byron Murphy II started just two games in his first two seasons with the Longhorns before earning All-American honors and a first-round selection from the Seattle Seahawks after last season.
Now a fifth-year senior and a likely starter for the first time alongside Vernon Broughton, is Collins ready to continue that recent trend?
“It’s finally my time so I’m ready to show everybody what I got,” Collins said after a Texas practice in late July. “Sit back and watch; that’s all I’m going to say.”
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Cedar Creek product expects NFL future
Collins, a thoughtful, introspective athlete who has earned multiple Academic All-Big honors during his career, doesn’t say much. But he hopes to speak loudly with his play this season — both for a Texas defense trying to replace Murphy and Sweat as well as for his own professional hopes.
“It’s just locking in and being focused on the craft at hand,” Collins said. “I want to follow in (Murphy and Sweat’s) footsteps. I want to show everybody we could make some noise as well.”
Collins, the son of former Texas women’s basketball player Benita Pollard, has grown from a lanky young athlete who once weighed a future in basketball into a 6-foot-5, 320-pound physical freak. He’s shown off his athleticism — think of a leaping interception against Colorado in the 2020 Alamo Bowl or his interception return for a score in this past spring’s Orange White Game — plenty in the past.
But Collins, who has 87 total tackles and 6½ sacks in 48 career games entering this season, wants more than splash plays. He wants to fill gaps in the run game, occupy blockers, disrupt passing lanes and collapse the pocket; thing that may not show up on highlight reels, but certainly show up on game film.
And they’ll help Texas overcome the loss of Murphy and Sweat, who anchored the nation’s No. 3 run defense last season.
“It’s tough to replace those two dudes, but how do you do it? Coach your tail off,” Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski said. “The guys whose opportunity arises, they’ve got to keep working to get better. The two guys who are coming back, Vernon (Broughton) and AC, played a lot of football, and they’ve gotten better. Very encouraged, and I think our depth’s going to be good. How productive are they going to be compared to what those two guys brought last year? We’ll find out.”
Taking leadership for revamped DT spot
So far, Collins’ teammates have found out plenty through the first two weeks of summer workouts.
“(Collins) is a very good player and he’s been flashing throughout his years, but, obviously, he wants to be that down in and down out and be a consistent playmaker,” said senior Barryn Sorrell, who enters his third season as a starter at defensive end. “And I think he’s going be able to do that. That’s what we’ll see from him.”
Center Jake Majors has gone up against Collins since the two arrived on campus as part of the Longhorns’ 2020 class. He says Collins “has stepped up big with Byron and T-Sweat leaving,” but his greatest impact may be a new willingness to speak up, especially with lots of new faces in the tackle room.
“The most progress in his game? I would say it’s just being an excellent leader,” Majors said. “He’s done a great job just setting the example for the D-line setting the standard and just being vocal when things aren’t up to that standard.
“And on the field on play, I love going into office because he tests me every day. I believe he’ll play at the next level. So, it’s just fun to go against the guy who has that potential.”
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How does the tackle rotation look for the Texas defense?
Vernon Broughton, 6-4, 305-pound senior: After appearing in 40 games over his first four years with the Longhorns, the Houston native looks ready for a debut as a full-time starter.
Aaron Bryant, 6-2, 305-pound sophomore: The third-year player from Mississippi is starting to blossom after a strong spring; his quick feet and quick hands could earn him steady snaps in the rotation.
Jaray Bledsoe, 6-4, 290-pound sophomore: Now in his third year with the Longhorns, the athletic playmaker from tiny Marlin, Texas, has made big strides as a quick disruptor.
Alfred Collins, 6-5, 320-pound senior: The fifth-year veteran has seen lots of action since arriving from nearby Bastrop County, and he looks poised to star in his first season as a full-time starter.
Alex January, 6-5, 315-pound freshman: True freshmen rarely get consistent snaps at Texas, but January looks like an overlooked recruiting gem after starring at prep powerhouse Duncanville.
Jermayne Lole, 6-3, 325-pound senior: A graduate transfer who arrived in June, the former Arizona State and Louisville player brings a veteran presence with 33 career starts in 42 career games.
Sydir Mitchell, 6-6, 350-pound redshirt freshman: The massive youngster may be a year away from becoming a regular part of the rotation, but his size could factor in short-yardage situations.
Bill Norton, 6-6, 335-pound senior: The hulking graduate transfer from Arizona, who has also played at Georgia, started 12 games for a rugged Arizona defense a year ago and looks like a crucial piece of the rotation.
Tiaoalii Savea, 6-4, 295-pound senior: The versatile transfer who has also played on the edge at UCLA and Arizona had 22 tackles and six tackles for loss in 12 games for Arizona last season.
