Since Alfred Collins joined the Texas football program in 2020 as a gangly, raw-boned defensive tackle from nearby Cedar Creek High School, he’s had an up-close view of how his former teammates at the position have developed into NFL players.

Moro Ojomo began his UT career with a redshirt in 2018 and became a seventh-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Keondre Coburn was a 2023 sixth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs after five seasons at Texas. T’Vondre Sweat didn’t start a game in his first three of five seasons at Texas but was the 2023 Outland Trophy winner and a second-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2024. Byron Murphy II started just two games in his first two seasons before earning All-America honors and a first-round selection from the Seattle Seahawks after last season.

Now a fifth-year senior and a likely starter for the first time alongside Vernon Broughton, is Collins ready to continue that recent trend?

“It’s finally my time, so I'm ready to show everybody what I got,” Collins said after a UT practice in late July. “Sit back and watch; that’s all I’m going to say.”

More: Texas football RB CJ Baxter reportedly suffers an injury in practice. What it means for Texas.

Cedar Creek product expects NFL future

Collins, a thoughtful, introspective athlete who has earned multiple Academic All-Big 12 honors, doesn’t say much. But he hopes to speak loudly with his play this season — both for a defense trying to replace Murphy and Sweat as well as for his own professional hopes.

“It’s just locking in and being focused on the craft at hand,” Collins said. “I want to follow in (Murphy and Sweat’s) footsteps. I want to show everybody we could make some noise as well.”

Collins, the son of former Texas women’s basketball player Benita Pollard, has grown from a lanky young athlete who once weighed a future in basketball into a 6-foot-5, 320-pound physical freak. He’s shown off his athleticism plenty in the past — think of that leaping interception against Colorado in the 2020 Alamo Bowl or his interception return for a score in this spring’s Orange-White game.

But Collins, who has 87 tackles and 6½ sacks in 48 career games entering this season, wants more than splash plays. He wants to fill gaps in the running game, occupy blockers, disrupt passing lanes and collapse the pocket; things that may not show up on highlight reels, but certainly show up on game film.

And they’ll help Texas overcome the loss of Murphy and Sweat, who anchored the nation’s No. 3 run defense last season.

“It's tough to replace those two dudes, but how do you do it? Coach your tail off,” Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski said. “The guys whose opportunity arises, they’ve got to keep working to get better. The two guys who are coming back, Vernon and AC, played a lot of football, and they've gotten better. Very encouraged, and I think our depth’s going to be good. How productive are they going to be compared to what those two guys brought last year? We'll find out.”

Taking leadership for revamped DT spot

So far, Collins’ teammates have found out plenty through the first two weeks of summer workouts.

“(Collins) is a very good player and he's been flashing throughout his years, but, obviously, he wants to be that down in and down out and be a consistent playmaker,” said senior Barryn Sorrell, who enters his third season as a starter at defensive end. “And I think he's going be able to do that. That’s what we’ll see from him.”

Center Jake Majors has gone up against Collins since the two arrived on campus as part of Texas’ 2020 recruiting class. He says Collins “has stepped up big with Byron and T-Sweat leaving,” but that his greatest impact may be a new willingness to speak up, especially with lots of new faces in the tackles room.

“The most progress in his game? I would say it’s just being an excellent leader,” Majors said. “He's done a great job just setting the example for the D-line setting the standard and just being vocal when things aren't up to that standard. And on the field of play, I love going into the office because he tests me every day. I believe he'll play at the next level. So, it's just fun to go against the guy who has that potential.”

More: Best of the SEC: How does Texas football DL stack up as we rank all 16 conference teams?

A look at Texas' DTs

Vernon Broughton, sr.: Has played in 40 games his first four years and looks ready for a full-time starting debut.

Aaron Bryant, soph.: Third-year player from Mississippi is starting to blossom; the 6-2, 305-pounder had a strong spring and could find steady snaps in the rotation.

Jaray Bledsoe, soph.: The 6-4, 290-pound athletic playmaker from tiny Marlin has made big strides. He's a quick disruptor.

Alfred Collins, sr.: Fifth-year veteran from Bastrop County looks poised to star in his first season as a full-time starter.

Alex January, fresh.: True freshmen rarely get consistent snaps at Texas, but the 6-5, 315-pounder looks like an overlooked recruiting gem from prep powerhouse Duncanville.

Jermayne Lole, sr.: The 6-3, 325-pound grad transfer brings a veteran presence with 33 career starts in 42 games. at Arizona State and Louisville.

Sydir Mitchell, fresh.: Massive youngster (6-6, 350) redshirted last year and may be a year away from the regular rotation, but maybe his size will factor into short-yardage situations.

Bill Norton, sr.: Hulking (6-6, 335) grad transfer from Arizona also played at Georgia and looks like a crucial piece of the rotation.

Tiaoalii Savea, sr.: Versatile transfer is 6-4 and 295 and has played edge at UCLA and Arizona. He had 22 tackles and 6 TFL in 12 games last year at Arizona.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Alfred Collins: 'Finally my time' to shine at DT for Texas football