The start of preseason camp means that position battles across the landscape of college football begin in earnest. All 13 of the FBS programs inside the state of Texas will be practicing by the end of the week. Sam Houston started last week since the Bearkats begin the 2025 campaign in Week Zero against Conference USA foe Western Kentucky.

Below, we examine the most intriguing non-quarterback position battle for each team heading into the season. 

TEXAS LONGHORNS 

Position battle: Cornerback opposite Malik Muhammad
Contenders: Jaylon Guilbeau, Kobe Black 

The Texas defense is loaded and the secondary should be a strength once again, despite losing Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron to the NFL. He was a former nickel defender, known as the Star position in the Texas defense, who moved to corner in his final season on the Forty Acres. The Horns might pull that same trick with senior Jaylon Guilbeau expected to move to cornerback to compete with former five-star prospect Kobe Black for the spot opposite Malik Muhammad. We suspect that Jelani McDonald stars at Star with Michael Taaffe and Derek Williams Jr. occupying the two deep safety spots. 

TEXAS A&M AGGIES 

Position battle: Cornerback opposite of Will Lee III
Contenders: Julian Humphrey, Dezz Ricks, Tyreek Chappell

The Aggies added a former five-star prospect at cornerback through the transfer portal for the second straight cycle. Last year, it was former Alabama corner Dezz Ricks. This year, it was Georgia export Julian Humphrey. Those two will compete for the starting cornerback spot opposite of Will Lee III. The wild card could be Tyreek Chappell. The experienced senior was moved to nickel, but with the arrival of Jordan Shaw, maybe he’s put back at cornerback if Ricks or Humphrey don’t provide confidence to the defensive staff. 

TCU HORNED FROGS 

Position battle: Cornerback 
Contenders: Channing Canada, Avery Helm, Elijah Jackson, Vernon Glover, Jevon McIver Jr. 

Both cornerback spots are open competition in Fort Worth entering fall camp. Avery Helm and Vernon Glover were expected to start at corner for the Frogs entering 2024 before both suffered major injuries. They’re expected to be back at full health for the 2025 season but that doesn’t mean they’ll start. TCU added Washington transfer Elijah Jackson to the room and brings back Channing Canada and Jevon McIver Jr. Canada started the final five games of 2024 while McIver player in 10 games in his first season on campus. 

BAYLOR BEARS 

Position battle: Free Safety 
Contenders: Tyler Turner, DJ Coleman

The 2025 season for Baylor might hinge on the secondary. The free safety position is one of the open competitions, as are both cornerback spots. Northwestern transfer Devin Turner was expected to slide into the starting role at free safety but he suffered an ACL injury in the spring and will miss the 2025 season. That means Oregon transfer Tyler Turner and junior DJ Coleman will compete for the starting spot in fall camp.  

HOUSTON COUGARS 

Position battle: Strong Safety 
Contenders: Blake Thompson, Jordan Allen, C.J. Douglas

The secondary was supposed to be the strength of the defense in Third Ward but the late transfers of cornerback Jeremiah Wilson and safety A.J. Haulcy created voids. One of those is at strong safety. Kentrell Webb is the likely starter at the other safety spot, but it’ll be a competition between transfers Blake Thompson, Jordan Allen, and C.J. Douglas for the other deep safety position. Cornerback opposite of Latrell McCutchin Sr. is likely JD Rhym. The nickel position is another battle to watch between Wrook Brown and Marc Stampley II. 

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS 

Position battle: LG or RT 
Contenders: Will Jados (guard), Vinny Sciury (guard), Hunter Zambrano (tackle), Jacob Ponton (tackle)

The Red Raiders overhauled the offensive line room through the transfer portal this offseason and two jobs appear open heading into camp. Let’s start with what is known: Howard Sampson will start at left tackle, Sheridan Wilson is the anchor at center, and Davion Carter likely holds down his spot at right guard. That leaves left guard and right tackle. The left guard competition is between Will Jados and Vinny Sciury, who is coming off injury. Right tackle is down to transfer Hunter Zambrano and redshirt freshman Jacob Ponton. Corner is another position battle to watch with Dontae Balfour, Maurion Horn, and Amier Boyd competing for the spot opposite of Brice Pollack. 

SMU MUSTANGS 

Position battle: Running Back 
Contenders: Derrick McFall, T.J. Harden, Chris Johnson Jr. 

Replacing running back Brashard Smith might be the toughest task for the Mustangs as they head into Year 2 as an ACC program. The competition for RB1 is a three-man race between redshirt freshman Derrick McFall and transfers T.J. Harden and Chris Johnson Jr. The staff is high on the upside of McFall, a Tyler native who played in five games for the Ponies last year. Johnson is a speedster from Miami who impressed during the spring. Harden arrived from UCLA in the spring portal window. 

TEXAS STATE BOBCATS 

Position battle: Cornerback 
Contenders: Canden Grogan, Jaden Rios, Trez Moore, Khamari Terrell, Malik Willis

Defensive coordinator Dexter McCoil would be quick to point out that all 11 spots on his defense are open position battles as camp opens, but the one we’re most interested in is at cornerback because of the plethora of new faces. Canden Grogan and Jaden Rios left spring practice as the favorites. Trez Moore played in all 13 games last season and started the bowl game. A few more transfers will also be in the mix. 

UTSA ROADRUNNERS 

Position battle: Cornerback 
Contenders: Kaden Meier, Davin Martin, Armani Rue, Zach Morris, Jakevian Rodgers

The entire UTSA secondary is an open competition without any true experienced starters at safety or cornerback. The safety spot has a few players with playing time under their belts for the Roadrunners, so we’ll focus on the cornerback spot. Kaden Meier and Davin Martin are who we picked to start in the summer magazine but the next couple of weeks will determine the hierarchy at the position. UTSA was 124th in passing defense last year. 

RICE OWLS

Position battle: Defensive Line
Contenders: Michael Daley, Chibby Nwajuaku, Ethan Brougham, Sam Carrell

A few of the defensive line spots for the Owls seem settled. Senior nose tackle Blake Boenisch will continue to anchor the defense in the middle. Fellow senior Elroyal Morris III should start next to him at defensive tackle. The staff seems high on sophomore Joseph Mutombo at one end spot. That leaves the edge rusher position open heading into camp. BYU transfer Michael Daley impressed over spring and the staff added former Texas Tech edge Sam Carrell over the summer. 

NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN

Position battle: Safety 
Contenders: Will Jones, Evan Jackson, Pat Smith-Young

The North Texas defense is starting to take shape despite a new defensive coordinator and a mass of new faces competing for spots. In the secondary, Sam Houston transfers David Fisher and Da’Veawn Armstead are the starters at corner. Quinton Hammonds seems poised to start at nickel. That leaves the two safety spots in the back end of the Mean Green defense. A trio of players – Will Jones, Evan Jackson, and Pat Smith-Young – seem like the three competing for those two spots. 

SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS 

Position battle: Tight End 
Contenders: Rayfield Lotten, Austin Smith 

Most of the Sam Houston starting spots are up for grabs, especially on defense after a mass exodus in the offseason. But we’ll stick to the offensive side of the ball at tight end. Rayfield Lotten is a long, athletic tight end who is transferring in from Mississippi State. Austin Smith was the surprise of the spring and a name that the new staff raved about during our magazine stop. A tight end is a quarterback’s best friend, even in Longo’s Air Raid system. 

UTEP MINERS 

Position battle: Linebacker 
Contenders: Joshua Rudolph, Micah Davey, Garrett Hawkins, Jayden Wilson, Elijah Baldwin, Udoka Ezeani 

UTEP has an abundance of options at linebacker and head coach Scotty Walden & Co. are excited to see who emerges as the core starters for the unit. The Miners brought in a new defensive coordinator in Bobby Daly but expect to play a similar scheme to last season. The Miners hit the portal hard at this spot and feel like the second level will be a strength once again in 2024.