Texas seniors Vernon Broughton and Gavin Holmes each announced Monday that they have declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Broughton and Holmes’ decisions come in the wake of a long list of other starters who declared for the draft following the Longhorns’ elimination from the College Football Playoff, including running back Jaydon Blue, wide receivers Isaiah Bond and Matthew Golden and four starting offensive linemen.
Broughton shared his decision on social media, thanking his family, coaches and teammates for their unwavering support.
“My time here at Texas is a memory I will cherish forever,” Broughton said in his statement. “I’m grateful for the experiences, challenges, and growth that have brought me to this point.”
Broughton, a defensive lineman, was a disruptive force on the Longhorns’ defensive front. At 6 feet, 4 inches and 305 pounds, Broughton combined size, power and quickness to become a versatile pass rusher and run-stopper at the college level.
In his Texas career, Broughton registered 39 solo tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, two batted balls, two forced fumbles, 26 defensive stops and three fumble recoveries, the most notable of which punctuated Texas’ first victory in the Lone Star Showdown in 13 years.
The Houston product is projected to be a fifth-round pick and formed a formidable partnership with fellow senior Alfred Collins on the interior of Texas’ defensive line, replacing 2024 second-round draft pick T’Vondre Sweat. Collins could go as high as the first round, but the Bastrop product has no years of eligibility remaining, making his declaration for the draft all but a formality.
Defensive back Gavin Holmes, also out of eligibility years, took to social media the same day to officially declare for the draft and to express gratitude to his family and both programs he played for.
“Representing two incredible universities; Texas and Wake Forest, has been an honor,” Holmes said. “The lessons I’ve learned and the relationships I’ve built along the way will stay with me forever.”
After playing in all 14 of the Longhorns’ contests in 2023, Holmes featured less in 2024 in the deeper Texas secondary, compiling 14 total tackles in eight games. Before Texas, Holmes was a three-year starter at Wake Forest and recorded two interceptions in that span, including a 32-yard pick-six against Syracuse in his freshman season.
Holmes, projected to go undrafted, will look to impress at the NFL Combine and his pro day to raise his draft stock like former Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy did with his record-breaking 40-yard dash time at the combine.
Losing multiple starters to the NFL Draft is nothing new for Texas, which lost a program-record 11 players to the 2024 NFL Draft. Still, Sarkisian and his staff will have to turn to the recruiting trail and transfer portal if the program is to remain the national championship contender it has been for the past two seasons.
