The Texas Longhorns enter the 2025 season with a blend of high expectations and deep talent, positioning themselves the main national title favorite. While much attention focuses on marquee names and quarterback Arch Manning, an under-the-radar freshman defensive lineman named Justus Terry is generating significant buzz behind the scenes. According to Longhorn coaches Terry is so talented that they are actively finding ways to get him on the field early, even amid a crowded and deep defensive front.
Justus Terry’s reputation is skyrocketing in Austin. Despite being a true freshman, the Texas coaching staff is eager to find playing time for him. Edge coach LaAllan Clark noted that the staff is looking at how to maximize Terry’s unique skills by using him situationally, such as featuring him at defensive end in early downs and sliding him inside on third downs to create mismatches.
This kind of versatility and strategic deployment is a strong sign that Terry could be a transformational player on defense as early as his first season, a rarity for freshmen on talent-rich teams like Texas.
This kind of planning draws parallels between Justice Terry and last year’s standout freshman defensive lineman Colin Simmons. Simmons exploded onto the scene in 2024, posting elite grades in overall defense, run defense, and pass rush according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) metrics.
Terry’s coaches and scouts believe he projects similarly, if not better, than Simmons did as a freshman. Considering how good Simmons was, it’s fair to say that Terry will be a day 1 star for the Longhorns.
It’s important to understand the context of this decision. The Longhorns are considered one of the country’s best teams on paper, competing in a brutal schedule that includes early matchups against Ohio State and Florida, as well as the classic rivalry game against Oklahoma. The Longhorns are likely going to make the SEC Championship game and will rely on good seeding for a deep playoff push. Many are calling this Texas team the best team since 2006.
If that’s the case, why would they incur the risk of playing a freshman? No coach in their right mind would hurt their chances to win a national championship just to get a freshman some playing time, right? Certainly not an experienced and smart head coach like Sarkisian right?
Of course not! The conclusion to make isn’t that Texas is incurring additional risk to play Justus Terry. The conclusion is that Texas believes Terry is already so good, that he will actually help their championship chances.
All that being said, Terry’s usage will be situational, to maximize his mismatches without overexposing him to every down pressure. Much like last year’s approach with Simmons, this strategy allows both freshmen to acclimate while maximizing their strengths, helping Texas sustain its defensive production even as veterans graduate or move on to the NFL.
This measured approach also reflects Texas’s broader philosophy of depth and competition, creating opportunities for younger players to step up while maintaining overall team balance.
There’s palpable excitement among Texas fans and analysts about the emergence of Terry. His elite recruiting profile and coaches’ strategic deployment point to a freshman who can be a cornerstone of Texas’s defense for years to come.
If he continues on the current trajectory, Terry will be remembered not just as another freshman contributor, but as a key piece in Texas’s pursuit of its first national title since Vince Young’s legendary Rose Bowl performance.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the SMI College Football Show YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
