Alec Enyeart will return to the University of Texas after spending the last year at home to “reset.” Enyeart spent two seasons with the Longhorns and has two years of eligibility remaining.
Enyeart told SwimSwam, “I was struggling a lot to stay healthy my first 2 seasons, and my sophomore year it was impacting me enough to where I knew I needed to step away from UT and reset at home. Once I got home after the conclusion of my sophomore year I was still sick with a serious antibiotic resistant sinus infection that resulted in me having to get surgery to remove the infection and reconstruct my sinuses. All and all I was out of training for about 7 months in 2024, and I began swimming again in September”
“I sat down with Eddie [Reese] and later Bob [Bowman] once he arrived and asked if I could go home with the plan of returning next year…When I made the choice to go home I was not anticipating that I was going to have to get surgery/take real time off so I was prepared for them to possibly cut me loose after all that but they were very supportive of me”
As a freshman, Enyeart earned an invite to 2023 NCAAs. He helped Texas to a 3rd place finish as he was 13th in the 1650 free in a 14:47.13 to score four points.
In his sophomore season, Enyeart finished his season at the 2024 Big 12 Championships. He won the conference title in the 1650 free swimming a 14:58.71. He also was 2nd in the 500 free and 3rd in the 400 IM. He told SwimSwam that he came down with a “nasty flu” during those Big 12 Championships.
His last meet before taking seven months off in 2024 was the Pro Series stop in San Antonio in April. He then made his return to competition in December at a local club meet.
He notably swam to a lifetime best 14:43.03 1650 free this past spring at Columbia Sectionals. That time would have been 16th at 2025 NCAAs.
Enyeart most recently competed at US Summer Nationals and was highlighted by a 7th place finish in the 400 freestyle as he swam a lifetime best 3:48.46 in prelims and a 3:48.96 in finals. He also was 9th in the 1500 free (15:18.97) and 11th in the 800 free (7:58.66).
His return to Texas comes in Bowman’s second season with the Longhorns. The team captured the 2025 NCAA Championship and also won the SEC title in its first season with the conference.
With his 1650 free from March being a time that would have scored at NCAAs, Enyeart returns to a distance group led by Rex Maurer and David Johnston. Maurer was 2nd in the 1650 free (14:25.22) while Johnston was 7th (14:30.48) at 2025 NCAAs.
Glad he’s healthy and back to competing, I’m just wondering how is Texas not over the 22 man roster limit?
Texas will clearly be over 22. They’ve figured something out.
Bob has learned a special way of counting. If they’re actually just finding ways to pay guys to swim for Longhorn Aquatics and then pulling them in down the line if they do well, I’m not sure what the point of the 22-man roster limit would be.
I believe the House vs NCAA settlement includes exceptions to the roster limits for those athletes that were on the roster in 24-25 and those transferred or recruited and promised a roster spot for 25-26. The schools don’t have to grandfather those athletes if they choose not to. Perhaps Texas has chosen to do so. If so, they will still eventually have to get down to the roster limit.
I actually forgot about that. But I heard from someone who used to swim on the team that they’ll be using some other way rather to have more than 22. I could be way off, but it doesn’t seem like Texas will ever have to follow the 22 roster limit.
If you look at who swam at nationals and who is coming in, it’s more than 22. I count 22 swimmers + 5-6 divers. I’m not entirely sure on the divers but the swimmers are all ones who have either signed (the freshmen) or ones that have competed under Longhorn Aquatics recently, as in Nationals.
Super-Senior: Johnston
Seniors: Branon, Haskal, Aurno-Rhees, Enyeart, Kos, Nelson
Juniors: Modglin, Germonprez, Maurer,… Read more »
Bottom line – it will be a “boiler room” and if you want a “win no matter the cost” college experience then Texas is your place but be prepared for some disappointment if you are not going to score points because that is all that matters to Bob…. if you want a team culture and a more memorable scholastic, athletic, total college experience that is not solely defined by championship or bust philosophy – you likely will have a more enjoyable experience at more balanced program that understands that swimming should be secondary even tertiary on the priority list.
I’m gonna be honest, I’m not exactly upset by that.
Maybe they adopt the NFL model of a “roster limit” + a practice squad? NBA “roster” + G league?
This has been suggested with the “pro team” being the club team for the non-roster/backup/developing swimmers. I think it could work eventually.
Do you need to be on a Varsity Roster to receive NIL $$$?
That’s an interesting question. Probably the answer is ‘no’ for 3rd party NIL. For school-paid NIL money, probably.
Love this! Glad to see him back, and back to feeling good.🤘🏻