The Longhorns stepped out on the green of the Frank Denius Fields to train on one of the last days of July — a hot, humid day with a feels-like temperature of about 106 degrees.
The first two and a half weeks of training camp on the Forty Acres are all about laying a good foundation. Sarkisian and the rest of the coaching staff focus on technique and observe the skillset of each player before working on situational drills and scrimmages.
“As practice goes on, fatigue sets in, and that’s where we’ve got to tap in more to the mental intensity, the mental focus, the mental toughness that’s needed when fatigue sets in,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said after the first day. “And that’s something that training camp is for, that we’ll work on.”
Summer camp in Texas is not for the weak. For older players, the heat is just a regular part of preseason work. For incoming rookies, it’s a test.
“We push those young guys that are new to the program to understand what it takes,” Sarkisian said. “And naturally, (on) a day like today, a couple of new guys are going to maybe be further along, and other guys are realizing, ‘Man, I need to catch up on things.’”
The second day of camp showed a team that, despite battling exhaustion, showed no signs of slowing down. Some players took knees in between drills, but the energy was infectious as ever, especially with rookie receiver Jaime Ffrench Jr.
Ffrench’s routes were as explosive on the second day of camp as they were the day before. The five-star out of Jacksonville, Florida, was a highly-touted prospect before his arrival on the Forty Acres. Although junior DeAndre Moore Jr. and sophomore Ryan Wingo are the best candidates for the top two receiver slots, Ffrench’s raw talent is a valuable addition to Sarkisian’s receiver room.
Fellow freshman receivers Michael Terry III and Kaliq Lockett also showed out, catching several passes from incoming quarterback KJ Lacey. Terry explodes across the midrange, due in large part to his bulked, 216-pound frame that does not detract from his speed.
“I thought a guy who had his best practice today for a young player was Michael Terry,” Sarkisian said. “Today, I saw a really good version of Michael Terry. He looked fast. He looked physical. He looked strong.”
Lockett, another five-star, came to Austin as both 247Sports and On3’s second-best receiver in the class of 2025. Watching his technique, it’s not difficult to see why. Lockett has good hands and no trouble winning the ball from any defensive back on his trail. He is especially good downfield, utilizing his 6-foot-2 frame to explode into a route and cut away from his safety.
“Kaliq (is a) long strider, so he’s really getting up on your toes really quick,” Moore said after the second day of camp. “Kaliq is doing a really great job.”
Lacey looked small in stature next to the bigger guys on the field, but his talent is undeniable. Although his passes lack the zip of a more experienced player, he is accurate and remains in sync with his receivers while engaging in tricky footwork. When put against a defensive line, Lacey easily outmaneuvers pressure while remaining cool in the pocket to deliver a pass.
On the other side of the field, safety Jonah Williams is a star. Williams stuck out to recruiters as a five-star from Galveston, Texas, and caught the eye of coaches and players alike through the offseason. A hamstring injury from his senior baseball season brought the safety down, so his productivity during training camp has been limited in an effort to keep himself healthy.
Athletic and flexible, Williams can effectively cover downfield or move up to dive headfirst into stopping a back. Most of all, Williams wants to learn.
“He’s very smart. We see the athleticism. We see the ball skills,” Sarkisian said. “He’s going to be a really good player for us.”
Training camp continues, with the Longhorns donning pads for the first time this summer on Tuesday.
“They haven’t gotten sore yet, and this is as good as they’re going to feel all year,” Sarkisian said. “And so now the bumps and bruises and things are going to start to kick in. And now you see how guys respond to some of that adversity, too.”
