Since Monday, the Omni Hotel in Dallas has been the center of the Southeastern Conference’s universe.
Football players and coaches from LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina and Vanderbilt kicked off SEC media days on Monday. Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee were featured a day later.
On Wednesday, it’s Texas’ turn in the spotlight. Just two weeks after it officially joined the SEC, Texas will be represented at media days by head coach Steve Sarkisian, quarterback Quinn Ewers, defensive back Jahdae Barron and left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State also will meet with the media.
“It’s going to be exciting just to see new coaches, new players that I kind of know from social media and things like that,” Barron said. “But it’s going to be a cool experience, just to kind of connect with the new conference we’re in.”
Paying homage to a Texas legend
Speaking of things that are new, Barron will wear a new jersey number this season. After four years wearing No. 23, Barron has switched to No. 7.
He originally chose 23 as a way to honor his late friend, Tardrick Fowler, who died in 2020. But a reflective Barron recently said that, “I’ve done a lot in that number to represent him. He’s still with me, no doubt, but it was time to live on my legacy because obviously it’s my last year here in burnt orange and so I want to kind of live it out and do it the right way.”
For Barron, the right way meant to acknowledge a legendary Longhorn. In an offseason video announcing his decision to return to Texas for a fifth season, Barron was greeted by former UT defensive back Michael Huff at the team facility. Barron was then handed a No. 7 jersey by Huff, a two-time All-American and four-year starter who wore that number from 2002-05.
Huff was the first Longhorn to win the Thorpe Award, which has been given…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-texas-db-jahdae-barron-215610515.html
Author : Austin American-Statesman
Publish date : 2024-07-16 21:56:10
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