Longhorns training camp nears full pads, coaches poll tabs squad at No. 4

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns aren't quite in full pads yet in training camp, but head coach Steve Sarkisian likes what he sees so far.

Sarkisian said after Monday's practice that the first five days of camp have been competitive and he's "very proud of the team."

"We're getting the guys out of their comfort zones and we're going to learn when we're out of it," Sarkisian said. "Our players have embraced that and I've seen growth and development across the board."

He said the team will have its first practice in full pads Tuesday, and there will be some hitting going on. He said he loves to get into tackling drills when the pads come out for the first time.

A lot of Sarkisian's conversations have been about the team's depth. He said when training camp began that this could be the deepest team he's ever had, and a particular position that has caught his eye has been the defensive front. With game-wreckers T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II in the NFL, there was a bit of a question mark as to who would emerge to not necessarily take their place but have the ability to perform and develop into front-line guys.

He said there's a good mix of returning players and transfers, plus blue-chip prospect Colin Simmons, and the group is shaping up nicely.

"We're a veteran group, ironically," he said. "When you bring in three new players, you'd think we'd be young. We've got five guys that have played a fair amount of football just on the interior."

Coaches around the country respect the Longhorns following their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff last season. The preseason USA Today LBM coaches poll was released Monday with the Longhorns checking in at No. 4, ahead of Alabama at No. 5. Georgia received the top spot, followed by Ohio State and Oregon.

In the video above, Roger Wallace and Billy Gates break down the opening week of Longhorns training camp and what lies ahead for the team on Horns Report.