Forty Acres Insider: April 28

Chris Del Conte head shot 2025

Longhorn Nation,

The Tower glowing Burnt Orange never gets old — because it means WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, my friends! Back-to-back conference titles for Beach Volleyball. Another trophy raised, another statement made: this program isn't just rising … it's stampeding! And the momentum is everywhere. We saw road grit from Baseball and Softball in SEC play. Men's Golf turned in a strong showing at the SEC Championships. Women's Golf's Farah O'Keefe shined on a Major stage, earning low amateur honors at the LPGA's Chevron Championship. And NFL dreams became reality as six Longhorns heard their names called at the NFL Draft. Now all eyes turn forward — and it's go time on the Forty Acres. Beach Volleyball heads to Gulf Shores as the No. 2 seed, locked in on the mission, with a National Championship in its sights. NCAA Tournament Tennis is coming to the Texas Tennis Center. Baseball and Softball return home for marquee SEC matchups. And Track and Field hosts the Texas Invitational at Mike A. Myers Stadium. This is what it looks like when you're in the hunt for another LEARFIELD Directors' Cup — firing on all cylinders in pursuit of excellence across the board. The standard is the standard and isn't slowing down. It's accelerating. And we're so darn glad to have you with us every step of the way — bringing that pride and passion that makes Texas, Texas — means everything. It's a special time to be a Longhorn —let's get those Horns Up!!

tower shining extra bright for your 2026 MPSF Champions🤘✨#HookEm pic.twitter.com/RrJyb8TlK4
— Texas Beach Volleyball (@TexasBeachVB) April 27, 2026

Another week, more hardware, folks — and THE PRIDE AND WINNING TRADITION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IS ON A ROLL! Beach Volleyball's MPSF Championship pushes us to six conference crowns this year — including a league-leading five SEC Titles. Let that sink in! Two different conference titles for our Beach program. Fifteen total conference championships over the last two years. And an incredible 13 SEC Titles in just two seasons in the league — more than any program. They create such an awesome glow and are a beacon to our success shining brightly in the Frank Denius Family University of Texas Athletics Hall of Fame. That latest trophy brings our all-time total to an eye-popping 669 conference championships— including 88 since 2018. That's not just success — that's sustained excellence at the highest level from generations of student-athletes, coaches and staff. There's a whole lot of winning going on around here … and we're nowhere near done!

With @TexasBeachVB claiming the MPSF Title, our Longhorns now sit at 6️⃣ Conference Championships this year — including a league-leading 5 SEC Titles🏆

Over the last 2 years:
1️⃣5️⃣ total Conference Crowns
1️⃣3️⃣ SEC Championships — most in the conference

We're not done yet‼️#HookEm pic.twitter.com/ChJHsdsDIo
— John Bianco (@UT_Bianco) April 24, 2026

ALL THEY DO IS WIN, FOLKS! What Coach Metzger has done — building our No. 2 Beach Volleyball program into a national power in such a short time — is nothing short of remarkable. Think about it … We started this program just four years ago. It's year three under Coach Metzger. Only the second full season of competition. And already two conference tiles, a 2025 NCAA Elite Eight appearance, and now the No. 2 seed in this week's NCAA Tournament. That's the Pride and Winning Tradition of The University of Texas. Last year marked the program's first-ever conference tournament — and title — with the CCSA Championship, followed by a historic inaugural NCAA Tournament win. Last week, they made history again. In year one in a new league, our Horns captured the MPSF Championship — and they did it the hard way. Facing a field that included four of the nation's top-five teams, they took down No. 11 Grand Canyon, 3-0, in round one. Stormed past No. 1 UCLA, 3-1, to earn a spot in the semifinals. Battled past No. 5 USC, 3-2. And finished it off with a thrilling 3-2 championship match win over top-ranked UCLA. Kudos to Katie Hashman and Brecht Piersma who earned the Most Valuable Pair award after going 4-0 at the tourney. Another perfect 4-0 duo, Macey Butler and Karin Zolnercikova, brought home all-tournament honors as well. Texas Fight at its finest. Hardware secured. Again. Now it's on to Gulf Shores and the NCAA Championships. The bracket is set. As the No. 2 seed, we open things up against No. 15 seed Georgia State on Friday (1 p.m. CT/ESPN2). The eyes of the nation will be focused on this event with every match of the tournament televised on ESPN2, leading into Sunday's National Championship match (11:30 a.m. CT) on ESPN. We're on a 13-match win streak and riding that wave — it's time to Hook 'Em and make a run at the Natty!

championship film just dropped🤘🎞️#HookEm pic.twitter.com/gmBzkswHUo
— Texas Beach Volleyball (@TexasBeachVB) April 27, 2026

While Beach Volleyball chases a national title in Alabama, IT'S HOME SWEET HOME FOR OUR MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS squads. The road to the NCAA Championships runs straight through the Texas Tennis Center this weekend. The brackets dropped Monday, and Coach Berque's men earned the No. 2 overall seed. They'll open Friday against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi at 1 p.m. CT, with Princeton and SMU on the other side — setting up a Saturday showdown of the winners at 4 p.m. CT with a Sweet 16 berth on the line. On the women's side, Coach Joffe's squad comes in as the No. 9 overall seed and gets started Saturday against Tarleton State at 1 p.m. CT. Yale and Texas Tech will battle it out, as well, with Saturday's winners squaring off on Sunday at Noon CT for a trip to the Round of 16. It's survive and advance season — so bring the energy and pack the TTC. See you there!

The road to the NCAA Championships runs straight through the Texas Tennis Center for @TexasMTN and @TexasWTN this weekend🤘🏻🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/7XjYvvA4Oe
— John Bianco (@UT_Bianco) April 27, 2026

The CONFERENCE SEASON IS IN THE BOOKS for Coach Fields and our No. 3 Men's Golf squad. Our Horns placed third in stroke play at the SEC Championships, led by Christiaan Maas, who tied for third individually. That performance punched our ticket into match play, where we opened with a win over Mississippi State to reach the semifinals. A strong run to the final four of the SEC Championships sets the stage for what's next — the NCAA postseason. We'll find out our destination for the NCAA Regional Championships (May 18-20) during the NCAA Selection Show on Wednesday, May 6 on Golf Channel.

Before that, Coach Ianello's No. 5 Women's Golf team will learn its postseason path, with the NCAA WOMEN'S GOLF SELECTION SHOW set for Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT on Golf Channel. The NCAA Regional Championships will follow on May 11-13. And a big shoutout to Farah O'Keefe, who took her game to the LPGA Tour at the Chevron Championship in Houston. She came out firing at seven-under par through three rounds, ultimately finishing at even-par and earning low amateur honors against a world-class field. We couldn't be prouder of her and more grateful of who she is, and how she represents our great university! Plenty to build on — now all eyes on regionals and a run at the NCAA Championships. Horns Up!

Farah you did us all proud this week 🤘

tied for low amateur at @Chevron_Golf #HookEm pic.twitter.com/sXLU1CQ87K
— Texas Women's Golf (@TexasWGolf) April 26, 2026

Coach Schloss and No. 4 BASEBALL ABSOLUTELY WON'T BACK DOWN! Another road test, another statement — this time at Vanderbilt. Powered by four home runs — including a two-homer night from Aiden Robbins — our Horns rolled to an 11-4 Friday win as Dylan Volantis stayed perfect at 6-0 on the mound. Saturday went to Vandy, but Texas answered the bell on Sunday. In extras, Temo Beccera drew a bases-loaded walk to push across the go-ahead run, and Sam Cozart shut it down with the final nine outs to lock up the series. That's now six SEC series wins in seven tries — right in the thick of the conference race. Now it's back to the Forty Acres against Sam Houston later tonight (6:30 p.m. CT/SEC Network+) before hosting a top-15 series with Mississippi State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field starting on Friday (6:30 p.m. CT/SEC Network+). Let's pack the yard and bring the energy!

win any way 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/8pSAarWkTE
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) April 26, 2026

It was a SEC SOFTBALL ROAD SWEEP at Kentucky. Coach White and our No. 4 Horns left no doubt, outscoring the Wildcats 29-5 on the weekend to improve to 38-8 on the year. And the icing on the cake was Katie Stewart making history — smashing her 24th bomb of the year and setting a new program single-season record for home runs. Stewie's go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning on Saturday put the Horns up for good in the tightest game, a 6-1 win. And the ace, Teagan Kavan got all three wins to improve her sparkling record to 19-3 on the year. Now we close out the regular season with the No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks in town for a big-time top-10 matchup at Red & Charline McCombs Field. That one starts on Thursday (7 p.m. CT/SEC Network) so get your Burnt Orange and White best ready, get those Horns Up and let's hook our longtime rivals from Fayetteville. Then it's on to the postseason at the SEC Tournament in Lexington next week (May 5-9). Big-time softball. Big-time stakes. Horns Up!

24 home runs and counting 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/cGFJCmXoCJ
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) April 26, 2026

This week an NCAA TITLE is on the line for Beach Volleyball and NCAA TOURNAMENT play begins for Men's and Women's Tennis. Women's Golf will see where they're going for the NCAA Regional Championships on the national scene as well. We've also got critical SEC Baseball and Softball series on campus as both programs hit the stretch run of their seasons. No. 2 Rowing is coming off an epic regular season showdown at No. 1 Stanford, going mano a mano with the defending national champs — highlighted by a decisive win in the premier First Varsity Eight to close the meet. Next up: SEC Championships (May 10, Oak Ridge). Coach Flo and Track and Field host the Texas Invitational on Thursday and Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium — the final tuneup before SEC Championships (May 14-16 at Auburn). All gas, no brakes — Horns Up!

busy week for the Horns 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/4jALryHouV
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) April 28, 2026

It was Another Great NFL Draft Day Weekend for Coach Sark and our Longhorns!
The Draft is where dreams become reality — and once again they did for our Longhorns. Six heard their names called, bringing us to a nation-leading 29 NFL Draft picks over the last three years (tied with Georgia and Ohio State). Leading the way was Anthony Hill Jr., selected in the second round (60th overall) by the Tennessee Titans. A special moment for a special player — and you could feel the excitement everywhere, from his family to the Titans draft room. That now makes 11 Longhorns drafted in the first two rounds over the last three years, trailing only Ohio State (16) and Georgia (12). He was followed by Malik Muhuammad (Fourth Round/124th/Bears), Trey Moore (Fourth Round/130th/Dolphins), Michael Taaffe (Fifth Round/158th/Dolphins), DJ Campbell (Sixth Round/200th/Dolphins), and Jack Endries (Seventh Round/221st/Bengals). From draft-night calls to lifelong dreams realized — this is what it's all about. What Starts Here truly changes the world. And it doesn't stop there — seven more Longhorns signed free agent deals, bringing the total to 13 heading to the NFL with a chance to make their mark at the next level. We've seen this story before. Undrafted doesn't mean overlooked, just ask defensive lineman Poona Ford, now an eight-year vet with the Los Angeles Rams, or Cameron Dicker, who took a winding road to find his home with the Los Angeles Chargers and now is arguably the best kicker in the league. We currently have 12 former undrafted rookie free agents on NFL rosters with six having at least six years in the league. Congrats to all our guys — keep those Horns Up fellas. You Are Longhorns for Life!

Congrats to our 6 Longhorn NFL Draft picks🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/sGmYaFPdbW
— John Bianco (@UT_Bianco) April 26, 2026

Congrats to our 7 rookie free agent signees🤘🏻

Over the years, Texas has had a number of RFA's go on to successful careers in the NFL. Currently, the Horns have 12 on NFL rosters, with 6 in the midst of careers of 6+ years — current longest-tenured is 8-year veteran Poona Ford🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/yTnVHnMEGD
— John Bianco (@UT_Bianco) April 26, 2026

Sam Acho to be inducted into CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame
How about an emphatic Hook' Em for an INCREDIBLE STUDENT-ATHLETE — here's to our guy Sam Acho on his selection for enshrinement into the CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame. A truly deserving honor for a Longhorn Legend who embodies what it means to excel in every arena and our what starts here changes the world motto. Sam completed one of the rarest doubles in college athletics — earning first-team All-American on the field and a first-team Academic All-America recognition in the classroom. As a senior in 2010, he was awarded the National Football Foundation's highest honor for a student-athlete, the William V. Campbell Trophy. His list of accolades is remarkable — including the Wuerffel Trophy, a spot among NCAA's Top VIII Award honorees, and Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year — all reflecting excellence not just in performance, but in leadership, character, and impact. That standard carried into the NFL, where across nine seasons he was twice named his team's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and served as vice president of the NFL Players Association. Today, he continues to make an impact as an author, public speaker, humanitarian and familiar face on ESPN. Sam Acho is a Hall of Famer in every sense — and we couldn't be more excited to celebrate his honor and look forward to his induction in June.

Congrats to @TheSamAcho, the newest member of the CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame! 🤘 pic.twitter.com/dvmJ0uVLdV
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 22, 2026

Derrick Johnson selected for Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame
Talk about another ABSOLUTE HALL OF FAMER, our Longhorn Legend Derrick Johnson earned another one with his selection to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. That makes it a legacy on every level — Texas High School Football Hall of Fame, Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, College Football Hall of Fame, and now the NFL with the Chiefs Hall of Fame (check out these highlights!). We are so incredibly proud of our guy DJ, not just because of the sensational football player he was, but all he's accomplishing after sports and the impact he has on the community. An amazing athlete, outstanding person, and tremendous representative of The University of Texas. What Starts Here, my friend!

Our all-time leading tackler has earned his rightful place in the Chiefs Hall of Fame.

Congratulations, @superdj56! 👏 pic.twitter.com/iNbKSuFoQf
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 23, 2026

Be Sure to Keep your Eyes on LHN
There's more FRESH CONTENT ON LHN you can catch with another awesome episode of Longhorn Life presented by EquipmentShare, this time a day in the life of dual-sport standout Jonah Williams. Check out the latest edition of Texas and Os featuring Torre Becton (Director of Football Performance), Haiden Leffew (Baseball), and Hannah Tate (Soccer). You can also pull up a mic'd up segment with Margueritte Bates and Coach Sark's recent interview with SEC Network. It's all Longhorns, all the time so keep your eyes on LHN!

Jonah Williams' episode of Longhorn Life is streaming NOW on LHN🤘

📲https://t.co/dZPuKsaf6v #HookEm | @EquipmentShare pic.twitter.com/6KPirDxjUE
— LHN (Longhorn Network App) (@LonghornNetwork) April 24, 2026

Hook 'Em Horns,

Chris Del Conte

P.S. — Hugs all around for one heck of a story and a dream come true!

From walk-on to NFL Draft pick 🤘@MichaelTaaffe4 x @MiamiDolphins pic.twitter.com/Jm2jpA4Oz5
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2026

P.S. — Lighting the Tower never gets old. Our SEC Regular Season AND Tournament Champions!

Light the Tower for the SEC regular season and tourney champs 🤘#HookEm | @UTAustin pic.twitter.com/1s7tUtLzOP
— Texas Men's Tennis (@TexasMTN) April 24, 2026

P.S. — Make it three-straight conference Coach of the Year honors for Coach Berque!

Back-to-back @SEC titles ➡️ back-to-back SEC Coach of the Year!

That's also 3️⃣ straight and 5️⃣ total conference coach of the year honors at UT for Coach Berque!#HookEm 🤘🎾 pic.twitter.com/BA5Tdxwxhk
— Texas Men's Tennis (@TexasMTN) April 23, 2026

P.S. — The Eyes of the Nation are upon Texas Softball!

#NCAASoftball is on the rise 📈

This past Sunday's @TexasSoftball-@UGASoftball game averaged 725K viewers

Making it the most-watched regular season softball game since 2015 🥎 pic.twitter.com/cAWQVv8tmw
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 22, 2026

P.S. — Get ready for Volleyball season, the SEC schedule is out!