Two Texas Longhorns players have declared for the NFL Draft just days after the team’s Sugar Bowl loss to Washington.

Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II shared a post on social media to announce that he was leaving for the draft.

Murphy is a junior from Desoto, Texas. He had five sacks and 29 total tackles this season, including three tacckles against Washington.

In addition to Murphy, running back Jonathon Brooks is expected to enter the draft.

Brooks had 1,139 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns this season. He also had 25 catches for 286 yards and a touchdown in 10 games before suffering a season-ending torn ACL injury.

Many draft scouts reportedly had Brooks rated as the top running back prospect prior to his injury.

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Texas Longhorns Lose Starting Safety To The Transfer Portal

The Texas Longhorns had a season to remember despite the loss in the College Football Playoff. They hung with the Washington Huskies but some questionable play calls at the end of the game caused the team to come up short. Now, they are dealing with losses to the transfer portal. Starting safety Jerrin Thompson announced he is entering the transfer portal.

Thompson has been with the program for four years but decided it was time for a change of scenery. The safety had 38 tackles, seven passes defended, and three interceptions this season. It isn’t necessarily a surprise that the upperclassman is entering the portal. Derek Williams and Michael Taaffe, who are freshmen in the program, started to get more playing time this season. Thompson is hoping to get a firm starting role with a program.

2024 looks great for the Longhorns. Quinn Ewers is coming back to lead the offense. The recruiting class coming in looks promising. The only reason for regression would be their move to the SEC. They have games against Georgia, Oklahoma, Florida, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. This is on top of a week two matchup against the Michigan Wolverines at the Big House. It isn’t going to be easy but Texas showed that they can hang with the elite programs in 2023.

Can the Texas Longhorns make it back to the College Football Playoff next year? It isn’t going to be easy but head coach Steve Sarkisian has this team playing very well.