AUSTIN, Texas — It was a solid impression from the true freshman.
In his first career game at Texas, defensive lineman Alfred Collins recorded his first career sack.
“I texted him after the game and said, 'You’re quick as a cat and big as a lion,'” said Jon Edwards, his former high school coach at Cedar Creek.
“Told y’all he was going to be a big impact. He proved me right. I’m happy for the young buck,” said junior Joseph Ossai.
“Just to see him get that sack, he’s been doing that all fall camp," said sophomore Keondre Coburn. "To see him do it in the game was amazing.”
Collins, a Bastrop native, becomes the first Longhorn true freshman to have a sack in his first game since 2010.
His coaches and teammates weren't surprised at all.
“Talking to the recruiters when they came in, I told them that Alfred’s upswing is huge," Edwards said.
Speaking of huge, all anyone can talk about is how big Collins is.
In the words of head coach Tom Herman, he's a "freakshow" and has "superstar potential written all over him."
"We call the D-line 'Big Dogs,'" Coburn said. "That’s a Big Dog for real. The fact that he’s so quick for his size. You see him at 6’6". He looks like a dinosaur. Ain’t no way a 6’6” [guy] is doing that."
Collins recorded another tackle in addition to his sack in UT's season-opening win over the University of Texas at El Paso.
The Longhorns return to action Sept. 26 against Texas Tech.