Texas defensive lineman Barryn Sorrell has made plenty of memories during his time with the Longhorns. He’ll have another year of positive moments on the horizon in Austin. Sorrell announced Sunday via X, formerly known as Twitter, that he intends to return to Texas for the 2024 season. Sorrell will have one year of eligibility remaining on the Forty Acres. “I look forward to building more memories here while making this team special again,” Sorrell wrote. Beginning his career as a rotational defensive lineman, Sorrell has been through all three stages of the Longhorns’ transformation under Steve Sarkisian. He was a member of the roster that finished 5-7. He helped with the turnaround in 2022 that saw the Horns improve to 8-5.
Sorrell started all 14 games in 2023, recording 37 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He was influential in helping the Horns finish with a top-10 run defense and a Big 12 title for the first time since 2009. In the Longhorns’ 37-31 College Football Playoff semifinal loss in the Sugar Bowl to No. 2 Washington, Sorrell was credited with three tackles and two pressures. With Sorrell back in the fold, the Longhorns retain both of their starting edge rushers. Sophomore and leading sack artist Ethan Burke was always expected back in 2024. The Longhorns also picked up the commitment of UTSA EDGE and AAC Defensive Player of the Year Trey Moore via the portal last month.
Sorrell isn’t the only defensive lineman coming back for another season. He joins Alfred Collins, who opted into his COVID-19 redshirt to play a fifth season. Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat recently announced their intent to enter the NFL Draft in April. The Longhorns will begin the next chapter of their football life as members of the Southeastern Conference starting in 2024. They open the season at Darryl K. Royal-Memorial Stadium against Colorado State on Aug. 31 before traveling to Ann Arbor to face Michigan on Sept. 7.