Sugar Bowl tastes sweeter for older Longhorns

AUSTIN – If Roman philosopher Seneca was right when he said, “no man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity,” it explains why the smiles on Texas’ upperclassmen shined so bright ahead of Sugar Bowl week. They’ve walked through fire to reach the mountaintop. 

Eleven players still on the squad, including seven starters from the Big 12 championship game, stuck with the Longhorns despite a coaching change after 2020 and a losing season in 2021. Starting left tackle Christian Jones arrived on the 40 Acres in the 2018 recruiting class. Jordan Whittington, T’Vondre Sweat, and David Gbenda began their Texas careers one year later. Seven more players, including starters Jaylan Ford, Jahdae Barron and Jake Majors, came to Texas as part of the 2020 cycle.