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Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook for each, from five-star to walk-on.

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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.

Today is 90 days until kickoff. No. 90 will be worn in 2023 by Byron Murphy II, a junior defensive lineman

Byron Murphy season outlook

Murphy may not have a start to his name during his Texas career, but he’s played a starter’s quantity of snaps over the past two years as part of Bo Davis‘ defensive line rotation. Entering his third year as one of the team’s main leadership figures and better defensive players, Murphy is set to start at defensive tackle and be a problem for defenses on a snap-by-snap basis.

A player mature beyond his years, Murphy arrived at Texas with his associate’s degree. Ahead of his third season, Murphy already has his bachelor’s in sports management. He has the respect of his peers as a result.

It’s not just No. 90’s off-field accomplishments that make him beloved in the locker room. Murphy is a disruptive player at the point of attack. He earned a defensive grade of 82.4 last season from Pro Football Focus, one of the better marks on the team.

Without Keondre Coburn or Moro Ojomo on the roster, Murphy and defensive tackle mate T’Vondre Sweat should see their workload increase. How much it increases depends on what happens behind them on the depth chart. That may dampen the duo’s effectiveness some, but Murphy has been one of the team’s more complete defenders and Sweat is projected to have a strong year as well.

Murphy’s wide frame isn’t just effective for run stuffing, either. Steve Sarkisian and Murphy’s teammates spoke recently how many problems the DeSoto grad caused as a pass-rusher during spring drills. Without a dominant EDGE on this year’s roster, Pete Kwiatkowski could dial up opportunities to feature Murphy when trying to get after the quarterback.

Defensive tackle has been a strength of the Longhorns in recent years, and that should continue with Murphy playing alongside Sweat. Plus, Murphy has been deployed as a short-yardage fullback at times and has made several play-opening blocks in the role.

Murphy has the chance to have a massive 2023 and be a problem for opposing offenses (and the occasional opposing defense) that must be accounted for on all three downs.

Murphy has played in 25 games over his three years with the Longhorns with two starts. He earned honorable mention Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2021 was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2022 and is a two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2021, spring 2022).

Murphy has amassed 41 tackles, 19 of them solo in his career, with 6.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks.

Byron Murphy as a recruit

Murphy was ranked as the No. 380 overall prospect, the No. 36 defensive lineman, and the No. 51 player in Texas in the 2021 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.

Notable No. 90: Malcom Brown

Brown earned All-America honors in 2014. In 39 career games, Brown tallied 165 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks. He was selected by the New England Patriots with the 32nd pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

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All-Americans to wear No. 90:

Rodrique Wright, DT, 2004-05

Malcom Brown, DT, 2014

Steve Habel contributed to this post

Arch Manning, famous nephew of two of the NFL’s all-time quarterbacks, Payton and Eli Manning, was graciously welcomed with a standing ovation for his debut in the orange and white on Saturday in Texas’ spring game on Saturday.

Manning, the son of Cooper, completed his first pass in the final minutes of the first quarter to wide receiver Thatcher Milton, to which was well accepted in Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium.

Texas fans and coaches got a first look at the players who may be leading the Longhorns for the 2023 season, and Manning didn’t help his case to be one of them with his play Saturday.

In early March, Longhorn coach Steve Sarkisian openly spoke about the stakes against the prized freshman, explaining he will have to compete against sophomore Quinn Ewers for the quarterback role, who completed 16-for-23 for 195 yards and one touchdown.

He was named the starter by Sarkisian after the game.

But Texas’ other freshman quarterback stole the show Saturday.

Maalik Murphy, a redshirt freshman who was ranked No. 17 overall in the state of California by ESPN, tossed a 79-yard scoring throw to freshman wideout Johntay Cook during the third quarter.

He threw for 165 yards during the game, while Manning — who did have an impressive first-down run — end up with 30 passing yards on 13 pass attempts.

Sarkisian wasn’t ready to announce the rest of his QB pecking order.

“We have another 29 practices to go in fall camp,” he told reporters after. “I think to be fair to all these guys, you know, like Maalik, that was his first spring that he’s ever had. He didn’t get spring a year ago. And of that, he missed the first about five practices before he really was able to go in team drills. So what does that look like moving forward?

“Arch — those are his first 15 practices of his life in college. So sometimes we can rush to judgment on where guys are at.”

Ewers transferred from Ohio State and started 10 games last year for Texas, recording 2,177 yards for 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, and compiling 7.4 passing yards per attempt.

While he was one of the most sought-after recruits at No. 5 overall by ESPN, Manning is adjusting to the college environment and game play but impressing his coach in the process.

“He’s doing well, give him a lot of credit,” Sarkisian told the Longhorn Network prior to Saturday’s game. “It hasn’t been perfect. He’s throwing interceptions like every freshman quarterback would. He’s made misreads. He’s lost his ID twice on campus.

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Santa’s sleigh may not be the only thing seen flying in the skies of Texas. Walmart’s drone delivery service is now available for select customers in the Dallas-area. The new delivery option will be fulfilled from 11 stores, making it easier than ever for customers to grab those last-minute gifts. No assistance from Rudolph needed.

This marks the first time customers in Texas can take advantage of Walmart’s drone delivery, following the retailer’s earlier announcement of plans to expand its DroneUp network to reach four million additional households across 6 states, including Texas. From last minute meal solutions to a package of Christmas cookies, Walmart has successfully executed thousands of same-day drone deliveries to date.

“Drone delivery makes it possible for our customers to shop those last-minute or forgotten items with ease, in a package that’s frankly really cool. Being on the forefront of that innovation at Walmart is something we’re proud of,” said Vik Gopalakrishnan, vice president, innovation & automation, Walmart U.S. “It may seem like a futuristic option, but it’s giving our customers what they’ve always wanted, and that’s time back to focus on what is most important to them.”

Here's how it works:

Customers living within a mile of a participating store can place orders through www.droneupdelivery.com between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. local time. Drones can deliver more than 10,000 eligible Walmart items up to ten pounds, including fragile items like eggs, in as little as 30 minutes. There are no order minimums and the delivery fee is just $3.99. With use of promo code FreeDeliveryTX, customers using drone delivery for the first time will have the delivery fee waived. Once the items are packaged and loaded into the drone, the order is then delivered using a cable that gently lowers the package into the customer’s yard.

Drone delivery is now offered from these stores in Texas:

To celebrate, Walmart and DroneUp joined Piedmont G.L.O.B.A.L. Academy in Southern Dallas this morning to host a hands-on drone flight and delivery demo alongside simulated activities for Advanced via Individual Determination (AVID) students. Walmart presented the school with a donation of $5,000 and graphing calculators for the classroom.

“We are thankful to Walmart and DroneUp for investing in our scholars and providing an enlightening experience,” said Principal Letrice Portley. “This donation will absolutely put these students on the path to success, showcasing the powerful impact community-school partnerships have on the lives of our future leaders, thinkers and innovators.”

In partnership with DroneUp, Walmart will offer drone delivery in five other states in addition to Texas by the end of the year, including: Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Utah and Virginia. In total, there will be 34 stores making drone delivery available in 23 cities nationwide by year end.

“Our mission is to set the gold standard for drone delivery and by partnering with Walmart, bring the incredible benefits that drones offer to local communities, organizations, and businesses,” said Tom Walker, CEO of DroneUp. “Our approach is unique; we practice safety above all else and incorporate state-of-the-art technology. Our strong relationship with the FAA has also been critical to our success as we build an infrastructure that supports growth and great career programs for operators now and in the future.”

DroneUp deliveries are powered by a team of certified pilots operating within FAA guidelines to safely manage flight operations. Deliveries will be made to the safest location of the customer’s home, such as in the front or backyard or driveway. Customers can check if drone delivery is available to their homes by visiting www.droneupdelivery.com.

About Walmart

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 230 million customers and members visit more than 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites under 46 banners in 24 countries. With fiscal year 2022 revenue of $573 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at twitter.com/walmart and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/walmart.

About Walmart in Texas

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. In Texas we serve customers at 593 retail units and online through Walmart Online Grocery and Walmart.com. We are proud to employ 185,009 associates in Texas. Walmart supports local businesses, spending $76.6 billion with Texas suppliers in fiscal year 2021 and supporting 281,400 Texas supplier jobs. Walmart continues to be a leader in employment opportunity, sustainability, and corporate philanthropy. In fiscal year 2021, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation contributed more than $129.2 million in cash and in-kind donations to local nonprofits in Texas. Learn more at corporate.walmart.com.

About DroneUp

DroneUp is an American technology company that combines airspace solutions, software applications, analytics platforms, and a trusted team of industry leaders to help companies operate at scale with drone innovation.

In 2021, DroneUp received a significant investment from the #1 retailer in the world, Walmart, Inc. DroneUp was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

For more information: https://www.droneup.com.

Months after coming close to using third-string redshirt freshman quarterback Charles Wright against the UTSA Roadrunners due to injuries, the Texas Longhorns quarterback position has shuffled once again heading into the Alamo Bowl with freshman Maalik Murphy set to serve as the backup to redshirt freshman starter Quinn Ewers, head coach Steve Sarkisian said on Thursday.

With redshirt sophomore Hudson Card in the NCAA transfer portal and Murphy moving past Wright after recovering from an undisclosed injury that slowed him early in the season, the initial practices featuring increased repetitions for young players will be key for the 6’5, 225-pounder.

“Early on in bowl prep a lot of young guys get a lot of reps,” Sarkisian said. “As many opportunities as we can give them to prepare and to show the growth that they have and Maalik is a great example of that — the idea that now you’re the number two and what do you need to do and how do you need to do it and how do you go about your business? It’s a great opportunity for him.”

A consensus four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class ranked as the No. 179 player nationally and the No. 12 quarterback, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Murphy has already missed significant reps in his career. At Junipero Serra in Gardena, Calif., Murphy didn’t start until playing in a six-game junior season shortened by the pandemic. As a senior, he suffered a collarbone injury before an ankle injury ended his high school career in the state championship game.

After arriving on the Forty Acres as an early enrollee, Murphy was limited during spring practice as a result of the ankle and didn’t participate in the Orange-White game. And then the undisclosed injury kept Murphy from assuming the third-string quarterback role early in the season before eventually surpassing Wright and receiving praise from Sarkisian for his progress.

“I think Maalik Murphy is another guy who’s got a bunch of upside who I’ve seen development in him,” Sarkisian said in November.

Although Murphy isn’t likely to play in the Alamo Bowl unless Ewers suffers an injury, as he did against Alabama in the second game of the season when he was driven into the turf on his left shoulder, Murphy’s growth over the next several weeks will serve as a springboard into the offseason quarterback competition that will also feature 2023 No. 1 recruit Arch Manning.

“So like every year we’ll go into the offseason and wipe the slate clean and let these guys compete and battle and see what it looks like, because that’s what makes us better and ultimately, when other guys are working at their craft that should motivate us to want to continue to improve our game,” Sarkisian said.

“And that would be no different than any other position — we have to give everybody those opportunities or we’re not living up to the idea that we’re a developmental program and if you don’t give guys the opportunity to develop and then show what they’re capable of, then I’m speaking out of both sides of my mouth and that’s not right. I always trying to be upfront and honest with our guys and so competition is at the forefront of our program to go along with the development, and so that position is no different.”

Texas football is hot on the recruiting trail this summer in the 2024 class, landing nearly a dozen commitments in the last few weeks. After Texas’ momentum on the recruiting trail in the 2024 class exploded in the last month or so, head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff are up to 13 commitments.

Sark and the Longhorns staff are still a good way from being done with the 2024 class, as the finishing touches for this group will likely be put in place during the Early Signing Period.

Texas will also likely put some recruits on commitment watch currently pledged to other schools in the 2024 class. Flipping recruits will always be something to watch for the Longhorns on the recruiting trail during the fall.

In this day and age of college football recruiting, high school prospects like to commit before their senior season. That way, they can sign and enroll early during the Early Signing Period to not worry about waiting until the late signing day in February and then enrolling during the summer of the following year.

Biggest flips ever for Texas football recruiting

That is one big reason flips are more abundant than ever in college football recruiting. But flips were a part of recruiting in the sport for a couple of decades. Here’s a look at five of the biggest flips in Longhorns’ recruiting history.

Texas receives a commitment from 2021 Desoto DT Byron Murphy, who decommitted from Baylor earlier this morning. Big pickup for Texas. #HookEm https://t.co/JKmMCexOOO

— HornSports (@HornSports) November 18, 2020

Byron Murphy II, DL

A late addition to the 2021 recruiting class for the Longhorns arrived just before the Early Signing Period, when the former four-star recruit out of DeSoto (TX) High School, defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, flipped from the Baylor Bears. Texas and former defensive line coach Mark Hagen flipped Murphy from Baylor on Nov. 18, 2020.

Murphy has outplayed his recruiting ranking as a low four-star in the 2021 class. He is one of the most productive players for the Longhorns from the 2021 class, and he’s far from done on the Forty Acres.

In just two seasons at Texas, Murphy has played nearly 700 defensive snaps while registering more than 40 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, 31 quarterback pressures, and 28 defensive stops. Murphy’s best is in front of him as he is set to have a huge season this fall.

It’s also worth noting that Murphy was one of the five highest-graded interior defensive linemen in the Big 12 last season as just a sophomore.