The Texas Longhorns have avoided the rat poison of reading all their positive press clippings this offseason.

Well, except for the defensive backs.

Entering the 2024 season, the secondary was viewed as a potential Achilles' Heel for Texas's first SEC season. The group finished 103rd in the nation in pass defense and lost starting cornerbacks Ryan Watts to the NFL and Terrance Brooks to the Transfer Portal. 

Don't be fooled by the 52-0 final score – Colorado State was a test for this Texas pass defense. The Rams finished ninth nationally in 2023 with 306.5 passing yards per game behind returning quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who's 3,433 total yards led the Mountain West Conference, and 1,100-yard receiver Tory Horton. Colorado State's attack was neutralized to 74 total yards and two interceptions as the Longhorns pitched their first season-opening shutout since 2004.

"Proud of our secondary to really minimize explosive plays," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "Those guys have been hearing about themselves all offseason, so for them to come out and kind of shut down that pass game the way that they did was good."

Fifth-year senior Jahdae Barron, an All-Big 12 Second Team selection at the STAR nickel safety spot last season, performed admirably at outside cornerback on Saturday. His 30-yard interception return set up a Texas touchdown. Sarkisian said postgame that Barron's physicality helps free up opposite cornerback Manny Muhammad. Barron was prepared to play STAR, cornerback or safety entering Week One and will rotate through all three positions this year.

But Barron was only freed up to play outside cornerback because of Jaylon Guilbeau's emergence at the STAR position this offseason.

“Jaylon Guilbeau, since spring ball until now, has had a great training camp," Sarkisian said. "We’re very confident with him at that position. Our goal was, ‘How do we find our best five to get on the field?’”

For now, that top five seems to be Muhammad and Barron at the corners, Guilbeau at STAR and Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba one safety spot while Michael Taaffe and Derek Williams Jr. rotate at the other.