Texas linebacker Justin Cryer gave a young Longhorns fan something to remember ahead of Saturday’s road game against Missouri. Before kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Cryer was seen tossing a football back and forth with the child before ending the exchange with a high-five.

Texas Football later shared the interaction on social media, and the clip quickly drew praise from fans who appreciated Cryer’s willingness to make time for the young supporter.

CFB Fans React to Justin Cryer’s Pregame Moment With Young Fan

Wearing his burnt-orange warm-up jacket, Cryer was filmed playing catch with the young fan over the brick wall outside Missouri’s visitors’ tunnel. The two exchanged a few passes before Cryer went to the wall for a high-five with the child.

The official Texas Football account shared the clip with the caption:

“Best way to warm up🤘🧃”

The interaction resonated with fans online, several of whom praised Cryer for taking the time to connect with a young supporter. One fan even singled out the linebacker for the way he represents the program.

“Cryer! Man of the People! Really love that this guy represents @TexasFootball,” one user wrote.

Others echoed that sentiment. The “Brandon Walker College Football Show” account described the moment as a reminder of what makes college football special, writing:

“As wholesome as it gets. This is what it’s all about.”

“I love this game,” one fan commented.

Some fans pointed to the lasting impression Cryer may have left on the young supporter.

“20 seconds of his time made lifetime memories for the kid. Well done 28,” said one user.

The moment also prompted one fan to suggest that such interactions were a regular occurrence for Cryer.

“Love Cryer. He does this every game,” the fan noted.

“Love Juice Cryer!!!” another added.

While Cryer’s pregame interaction provided a lighter moment ahead of kickoff, the matchup itself carried significant implications for both programs. Texas and Missouri entered Saturday with identical 6-2 overall records and 3-2 marks in SEC play, leaving little room for error as they looked to strengthen their College Football Playoff cases.

The AP No. 10 Longhorns arrived in Columbia following consecutive wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State. However, their two earlier defeats against Oklahoma and Florida had left them with little margin for error.

With both teams looking to make a statement against a ranked opponent, the matchup at Memorial Stadium represented an important opportunity to improve their playoff standing.

Cryer has also played a decent role in Texas’ defensive efforts this season.

According to PFN’s CFB LB Impact metric, the linebacker ranks 159th among college linebackers entering the Missouri game with a grade of 76.6. He had recorded 46 tackles, including 19 solo stops, two tackles for loss, and one sack across 468 snaps for the Longhorns going into the matchup.