Aug 174 min read

Potential Breakout Players for Texas Schools This Season

As the college football season approaches, many fans might wonder about which players to watch this season. Each conference is filled with superstars already known to most fans that will highlight preseason award nominations and consideration. But what about those whose names are still relatively unknown?

Here is one potential breakout player for each Texas school this football season.

Baylor Breakout Player

TE Michael Trigg

A former top 150 recruit and Under Armour All-American, Trigg's collegiate career has yet to take flight. He has spent his first three seasons between USC and Ole Miss but only caught 28 passes for a little more than 300 yards.

Drake Dabney showed how successful a tight end can be at Baylor, and Trigg will get a chance to prove himself as the successor.

Houston Breakout Player

RB Parker Jenkins

Jenkins started eight games for Houston as a freshman last season and ran for 464 yards on 99 carries. New head coach Willie Fritz has mentioned him as a player who has stood out this offseason, and he seems to have control of the starting spot after recent events.

That would suggest a bigger workload. More opportunities could mean much bigger numbers.

North Texas Breakout Player

QB Chandler Morris

Injuries derailed Morris's career at TCU as he lost his grip on the starting job two years in a row. Now, he'll get the chance to rebound with a North Texas team that is still building. The Mean Green took a while to figure out their starting quarterback last season, causing more reliance on the running game than head coach Eric Morris would prefer.

With Morris in the fold and more receivers emerging, UNT can run a more dynamic scheme this season, and the biggest benefit could come to the quarterback.

Rice Breakout Player

QB EJ Warner

Rice will turn to Temple transfer EJ Warner at quarterback this season. The son of former Super Bowl champ and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, EJ has more than 6,000 passing yards in his career.

Normally, a player like that would have broken out already, but Temple's lack of success has kept the attention on the younger Warner dormant. Rice's season could go either way as it tries to reload its offense, but a good season would include Warner as a significant difference-maker.

SMU Breakout Player

LB Alex Kilgore

Kilgore had 36 tackles and 4 sacks as a true freshman for SMU's much-improved defense last season.

Even with the myriad of transfers joining the Mustangs as they enter the Atlantic Coast Conference, Kilgore should remain an option to see plenty of playing time, particularly as a pass-rusher.

TCU Breakout Player

QB Josh Hoover

Hoover is in a battle for the starting job. If he gets it, he has the ability to perform well, as he has shown in limited playing time.

As a freshman last season, Hoover started the final six games of the season and became the first Power Conference freshman quarterback to throw for over 400 yards in his debut. He has tremendous potential once he earns the full-time starting role.

Texas Breakout Player

RB Jaydon Blue

Blue, a junior, enters the season as Texas' top running back after preseason injuries to CJ Baxter and Christian Clark.

Blue was the third running back for the Longhorns behind Jonathon Brooks and Baxter last season, and while he had fewer touches, he averaged 6.1 yards per carry. If he can do that again with an increased workload, Texas may have the solution to its problem.

Texas A&M Breakout Player

WR Moose Muhammad III

The departures of Evan Stewart and Ainias Smith leave the Aggies' receiving corps with plenty of question marks. Someone will need to step up as the No. 1 and the No. 2, and Muhammad and Jahdae Walker are the prime candidates.

Muhammad emerged as a capable threat during the 2022 season but has yet to build from it. If he takes that step this year, it will be huge for Texas A&M.

Texas State Breakout Player

WR Beau Sparks

Sparks was an FCS Freshman All-American at Utah Tech last season and caught 74 passes for 723 yards and 7 touchdowns.

He might not see as many targets immediately at Texas State, but he should carve out a role in the receiving corps and prove to be a reliable player.

Texas Tech Breakout Player

TE Mason Tharp

Tharp and fellow tight end Jalin Conyers could form quite the duo for the Red Raiders this season. Conyers emerged as a playmaker at Arizona State, while Tharp is still growing into his own.

The senior has tremendous size at 6-foot-9 and 270 pounds that could make him a great mismatch for opposing defenses. He played well before injury last season and is in a great position to use the growth he showed pre-injury.

UTEP Breakout Player

WR Trey Goodman

Goodman followed head coach Scotty Walden from Austin Peay, where he was an All-Ohio Valley Conference performer at receiver.

That experience and continuity are vital when trying to rebuild a program, so don't be surprised if Goodman emerges as the Miners' No. 1 receiver this season.

UTSA Roadrunners Breakout Player

DB Denver Harris

Harris began his career at Texas A&M and then transferred to LSU. He now transfers to UTSA and figures to take on a starting role at cornerback for the Roadrunners.

As a former five-star prospect who has already played in arguably the toughest conference in the country, it would be no surprise to see Harris flourish this season.