There’s a freshman on the Texas Longhorns defense who is not only turning heads in fall camp, but pushing for immediate playing time
Freshman Graceson Littleton was a “fast-riser” in 247Sports’ rankings last cycle, per director of scouting Andrew Ivins. After speaking with Ivins after news was flowing out of Texas Longhorns’ fall camp Littleton was already making a name for himself, Ivins said without hesitation, “I’m not surprised”.Littleton – who climbed all the way from a low-to-mid […]
Freshman Graceson Littleton was a “fast-riser” in 247Sports’ rankings last cycle, per director of scouting Andrew Ivins. After speaking with Ivins after news was flowing out of Texas Longhorns’ fall camp Littleton was already making a name for himself, Ivins said without hesitation, “I’m not surprised”.
Littleton – who climbed all the way from a low-to-mid three-star to a four-star and a Top 100 prospect in the final 247Sports rankings in the 2025 class – has already started to impress in just one week in Austin. The 6-foot, 180 pound defensive back from Wiregrass Ranch (Fla.) was seen running with the No. 1 defense last week and has earned praise from several staffers, including secondary coach Keynodo Hudson.
“He’s a sponge, tremendous work ethic, a football junkie, and he wants to be great. I think that’s contagious with the other kids in the room,” Hudson said of Littleton working with All-American Michael Taaffe.
Despite less than ideal size, Graceson Littleton has the intangibles to make an impact in 2025.
“He’s very physical, a strong guy, a weight-room junkie. He plays big. He plays with his hat on fire,” Hudson said. “He’s got little-man syndrome, which I like a lot. I’m probably a guy that’s got that myself, but I love the way he does it, my goodness.”
The athleticism is easy to see when you turn on the tape. And it doesn’t even have to be football. Littleton ran a 10.91 in the 100 meter dash as well as a 50.30 in the 400 meter as a junior. Ivins got to see him a good bit throughout the recruiting cycle and he’s a big fan. But the jump in ranking and on the field at Texas in fall camp was earned.
“Ascending cornerback prospect with the ideal mix of size and speed. Put himself on the national radar spring before senior season, clocking a laser-timed 4.51 effort in the 40-yard dash at an Under Armour Next Camp outside of Orlando,” Ivins said. “Comfortable at this stage in press-man coverage as he fights for leverage and does his best to maintain phase while out on the perimeter. Not a ton of ball production to date (only had one interception as a junior), but is competitive when the football is in the air and will do his best to shade throwing lanes.
“Tries to get off blocks and will use his turbo to get across the field and make tackles in pursuit. Should be viewed as a potential multi-year starter at the Power Four level and a possible all-conference selection if he can keep progressing,” Ivins said. “Likely to find the most success in a defensive scheme that wants to man-up on the outside and get aggressive, but could also always get a look over the top with his range.”
