Texas Football: 5 breakout freshmen to watch in 2018

Texas football had one of the best recruiting classes in 2018 and could have a few true freshmen contributing right away.

Four of the top five recruits for the Texas Longhorns in 2018 were defensive backs. They brought in three of the top six safeties and two of the top 10 cornerbacks in the 2018 recruiting class according to 247Sports, which helped to rank Texas’ recruiting class third in the country.

These freshmen will not likely be starting for the Longhorns, at least to start the season. Texas returns most of their starters after having a very young team last season.

There are, however, a few new freshmen that could make a significant for Texas on the field in 2018.

Jordan Pouncey is listed as a backup wide receiver on Ourlads.com, but he has a chance to have a breakout season as a redshirt freshman. Pouncey is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound slot receiver who will compete with Jerrod Heard for the starting job throughout the season according to Jeff Howe of 247Sports.

Pouncey is from Winter Park, Florida, where he played running back, wide receiver, and defense in high school. He is related to Maurice and Mike Pouncey in the NFL.

He has good speed and is a deep threat in the passing game with his jumping ability that he also used in high school track and field. After the catch, he has the ability to make defenders miss and simply outrun them.

After redshirting last season, Pouncey is primed to have a major impact in the passing game for the Longhorns, even if he is not a starter.