By Tony Thomas
Football on the Forty Acres will be played in a new era as the Texas Longhorns begin play in the SEC in the fall after being a founding member of the Big XII (and the old Southwest Conference).
The Longhorns must replace a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, but they will be fun to watch as they have returning talent at the most important position on the field, QB Quinn Ewers. They also return RB CJ Baxter. In addition, there are three playmakers from the transfer portal that will make a significant impact for the Longhorns in 2024.
Edge Rusher Trey Moore
Previous School: UTSA Roadrunners
6’3”, 235 lbs.
A beast on the gridiron, Trey Moore caused offensive coordinators to snap their clipboards in half. He was the angel of death for opponents offensive game plans.
UTSA's Trey Moore knows how to get after the QB — this dude can DO IT ALL 😤pic.twitter.com/rgbyZi71IA
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) July 10, 2023
Moore earned 1st Team All-AAC honors and was named the AAC Edge Defender of the Year. He totaled 45 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks (good enough for #3 nationally) last season. He posted three games with three tackles for loss last season. Moore would have been tops on the Longhorns team with that production.
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When you add Moore with current Longhorn defenders Anthony Hill Jr. and incoming freshman Colin Simmons, it is not hard to fathom that the Longhorns will be talented on the defensive front.
WR Isaiah Bond
Previous School: Alabama Crimson Tide
5’10”, 172 lbs.
His name is Bond, Isaiah Bond. As the 2nd leading receiver for the Crimson Tide, Bond caught 48 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns. Against their arch nemesis Auburn, Bond hauled in five passes for 75 yards and caught the game-winning TD pass from QB Jalen Milroe on 4th and goal from 31 yards out in a 27-24 victory.
OH MY GOODNESS 🤯
JALEN MILROE CONNECTS WITH ISAIAH BOND TO GIVE ALABAMA THE LEAD 🔥
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 25, 2023
Bond’s season-high was seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown in a 26-20 win over Texas A&M. He averaged 25 yards on three catches for 77 yards and a score in a 34-20 win over Tennessee. Bond joins Johntay Cook, Matthew Golden, and Silas Bolden in what will certainly be a very talented WR corps in Austin in 2024.
S Andrew Mukuba
Previous School: Clemson Tigers
6’0”, 195 lbs.
In 2023 for Clemson, Andrew Mukuba recorded 42 tackles, broke up six passes, and was a leader for a Clemson defense that ranked in the Top 30 in the FBS in scoring defense, pass defense, rush defense, and total defense.
Former Austin LBJ star DB Andrew Mukuba (@Andrewmukuba2) hauls in an INT on the first play of the game for Clemson. @LBJSports pic.twitter.com/lXsc7j0iWW
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) September 6, 2022
His 42 tackles were good enough for 3rd best on the team, and he posted three games with six tackles or more. Mukuba’s career numbers total 143 tackles, and he has broken up 16 passes. Mukuba will provide leadership and experience to a young and depleted Longhorns defensive secondary this fall.
