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The Big 12 Conference officially announced when ticket sales will start for the title game in December.
The two teams that finish the regular season with the highest winning percentage in conference games will compete for the Big 12 title on Dec. 19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Continue reading “Big 12 Football: Date for championship game officially announced”
Athlon Sports released their 2020 All-Big 12 team. With four different teams, the Texas Longhorns walked away with 16 total selections.
Athlon Sports has released their 2020 All-Conference teams with the Texas Longhorns have the third-most selections. Oklahoma (18) and Iowa State (17) were the only teams with more than Texas’ 16 selections. Cornerback D’Shawn Jamison was selected three different times by Athlon.
There is absolutely no surprise with Sam Ehlinger leading the charge as the top quarterback in the conference. The senior quarterback will be looking to lead the Longhorns back to the top of the conference and cement his legacy much like Vince Young and Colt McCoy did before him.
Sam Cosmi is viewed as a first round draft pick and fringe top 15 selection. With no question he is the top offensive tackle of the conference and might be the best lineman as well. He will make himself a lot of money with another stellar season in 2020.
Joseph Ossai is listed at linebacker although he will be playing closer to the line of scrimmage at the “Jack” position. Ossai showed just what time of impact he can have in the Valero Alamo Bowl against the Utah Utes. When asked to rush the passer, Ossai can be a disruptive force.
D’Shawn Jamison shows up on the list three different times. Once as a cornerback and twice as a return specialist. Jamison led the team a year ago with three interceptions. He also led the team in kick return and punt return yardage in 2019.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) has ranked Derek Kerstetter as the best returning pass blocker in the power five conferences.
The Texas Longhorns will have a new man at center this season with the loss of Zach Shackelford heading to the NFL. Derek Kerstetter spent his first three seasons at right tackle. He has started 28 games and played in a total of 37. He will now move to the center for his final year on the Forty Acres. The position change couldn’t have come at a worse time due to the pandemic. He hasn’t been able to get time in with Sam Ehlinger as they work on the snap exchanges.
Recently Pro Football Focus released their pass blocking grades for returning offensive lineman with Kerstetter at the top of the list.
#HornsUp đ¤ pic.twitter.com/IujaEeYXIn
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 3, 2020
The Longhorns new center comes in just ahead of Penei Sewell who is viewed as the best offensive lineman in college football and a top five draft lock for the 2021 NFL Draft. Kerstetter could find his way into some NFL Draft conversations Along with Samuel Cosmi, Texas has a solid duo of lineman who could make their way to the NFL through the draft. Cosmi is viewed as a first round draft pick. They hype surrounding Kerstetter isn’t there yet but a strong season could change all of that.
The duo of Kerstetter and Cosmi give the Longhorns the only returning duo in the power five conferences with passing grades of 85 or higher. This duo should give the Longhorns offense confidence to allow Sam Ehlinger to attack defenses in the air with two guys who are the best at protecting the quarterback.
With 95 days until the kickoff of the college football season, we remember the best to wear No. 95 and 96 for Texas.
We are 95 days away from the scheduled kickoff between the Texas Longhorns and South Florida Bulls at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. In continuing our series in the countdown we remember the best Longhorn to wear No. 96.
Countdown to Texas Football: Best to wear number 97 https://t.co/p0WC5eJiiP
— Longhorns Wire (@LonghornsWire) May 31, 2020
Countdown to Texas Football: Greatest 99 and 98 in Longhorns history https://t.co/044j0VljX0
— Longhorns Wire (@LonghornsWire) May 30, 2020
The best player to wear number 96 was Chris Akins. A defensive tackle that played in Austin from 1994-97 under head coach John Mackovic. Akins was named to the All-Big 12 Team in 1996.
Tristan Bennett currently wears No. 96.
Marcus Tubbs was a converted tight end that played the defensive tackle position for the Longhorns defense under Mack Brown. During his collegiate career Tubbs appeared in 48 games, while starting 37. He finished his time on the Forty Acres with 205 combined tackles, 19.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. He would be named first team All-Big 12 in 2003. Tubbs was drafted 23rd overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Tubbs only played in the NFL for a few seasons. He was released in 2008 due to dealing with injuries after spending the entire 2007 season. He finished his NFL career with 60 total tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Marcus Tubbs is currently the Assistant Athletic Director for Football Operations with the University of Houston. He served a similar role with Texas.
No player currently wears No. 95 for the Texas Longhorns.
In a countdown to the 2020 season, we remember the best players in Texas Longhorns history. Who were the best to wear 97?
It is 97 days until college football kicks off the season (at time of publishing). In continuing the series until the season officially gets underway, we look at number 97.
Countdown to Texas Football: Greatest 99 and 98 in Longhorns history https://t.co/044j0VljX0
— Longhorns Wire (@LonghornsWire) May 30, 2020
Okam was a two-sport star in high school out of Lake Highlands before joining the Texas Longhorns. He chose the Longhorns over offers from Florida, Oklahoma and Stanford. He appeared in 48 games over the span of four years with 95 tackles, 45 of which were solo tackles. His freshman season earned him All-American honors from the Sporting News. Yet another member of the 2005-06 BCS National Champions to make the list.
His senior year was the best one from a production standpoint. Okam racked up five sacks, 36 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four passes defended and one forced fumble. He would make his way to the NFL as a fifth round draft choice of the Houston Texans. He finished his collegiate career with two second-team All-Big 12 honors, honorable mention in 2006. He went into coaching after his professional career ended in 2013.
Frank Okam is currently the assistant defensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers. He joined Matt Rhules’ staff after two years with him at Baylor in the same role. Okam was rumored to be in the mix to join the Longhorns in a defensive line assistant coach position before ultimately heading to the NFL.
Frank Okam was the best Longhorn to wear number 97.
Patrick Bayouth currently wears number 97 for the Longhorns.
In a countdown to the 2020 season, we remember the best players in Texas Longhorns history. Who were the best to wear 99 and 98?
College football is set to kickoff the season on September 5th. For the Texas Longhorns they are scheduled to host the South Florida Bulls at Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin. That kickoff is set for 98 days (at time of publishing) from now. In a kickoff series we remember the best players in Texas Longhorns history.
Continue reading “Countdown to Texas Football: Greatest 99 and 98 in Longhorns history”
If you could bring back any former defensive player at Texas for this upcoming season, who would it be?
There have been numerous talented defensive players attend the University of Texas. Continue reading “Texas Roundtable: If you could bring back one defensive player”
Sam Khan Jr of ESPN asks what is the biggest question for the Texas Longhorns in 2020? With a new staff, can they make it work?
ESPN came out with the biggest question for each of their projected top 25 teams in 2020. According to the story, the Texas Longhorns are projected as the number 24 team going into next season. Writer Sam Khan Jr asks the following question.
Will Tom Herman’s massive staff turnover work out? The talent isn’t really much of an issue at Texas; the Longhorns have recruited well since Herman’s arrival. But an 8-5 season was underwhelming, and as a result, Herman fired both coordinators and brought in Mike Yurcich to run the offense and Chris Ash to run the defense, as well as a host of new position coaches. How quickly the staff jells and how well the players take to the new staff will be key as the Longhorns embark on a pivotal 2020 campaign. — Khan
Outside of the 10-4 season in 2018, the entire tenure under head coach Tom Herman has been quite underwhelming. Wiping out most of the staff following the 7-5 regular was necessary for the future of Herman in Texas. Even though he was the first Texas Longhorns head coach to win his first three bowl games, Herman is under immense pressure to win. Â Getting to a bowl may work for other universities but in Texas the aim is much higher.
The jelling period for this staff needs to come quickly as the Longhorns will play the defending National Champions in Baton Rouge for their second game of the season. That game will prove to be gut check time. If the Longhorns want to prove to the world that they are ready to compete with the top teams in college football, a strong showing in a hostile environment will be critical.
With the new staff in play there will be no excuses for Tom Herman and company this year. It is either win the Big 12 conference or the Athletic Director might be going big game hunting this next offseason.
