Tag: Big 12 Football

Texas adds three future football games to its schedule

Texas added three different future home games, scheduling games in 2022, 2023, and 2026. They will face ULM, Wyoming, and Texas State.

Texas added three different future home games on Thursday afternoon, scheduling games in 2022, 2023, and 2026. The Longhorns will face the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) on Sept. 3, 2022, Wyoming on Sept. 16, 2023, and Texas State on Sept. 5, 2026.

With all three at home, these games complete the non-conference schedule for Texas that season. For the big Power 5 opponent games those years, the Longhorns will do a home and home series with Alabama in 2022 and 2023 and will be traveling to Columbus, OH in 2026 to face the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Texas is a combined 7-0 in their history against the teams scheduled, with the most wins coming against Wyoming. A career 5-0 against the Cowboys, their most recent matchup came in 2012 in Austin. Winning that game 37-10, all five wins have come by at least two touchdowns for the Longhorns.

Between Texas State and ULM, Texas is 1-0 against both schools. Playing ULM last time they won in the Big 12 in 2009, it was a blowout 59-20 win in Austin. As for Texas State, it has been since 1930 since the Bobcats and Longhorns have faced each other.

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WATCH: Texas ex Justin Tucker nails 70-yard field goal at Pro Bowl

Former Texas kicker Justin Tucker is casually enjoying his time at the NFL Pro Bowl by drilling 70-yard field goals.

To no surprise, former Texas kicker Justin Tucker was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl at the completion of the 2019 season. The all-star game will take place on Sunday, January 26, in Orlando, Florida.

What may come as a surprise, however, is Tucker casually nailing a 70-yard field goal during Pro Bowl practice this week as if it were a normal occurrence.

Tucker made 28 of 29 field goals and 57 of 59 extra points for the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. This marked his second-highest season percentage of ninety-six percent.

One of the most impressive accolades for the former Longhorn is being selected to five All Pro teams throughout his tenure in the NFL, four of those being First-Team selections.

Kansas and Kansas State players suspended, De Sousa to miss Texas game

KU and KSU had a heated brawl on Tuesday and players faced suspensions. Silvio De Sousa faces 12 games and will miss the game against Texas.

For most of the game on Tuesday night between Kansas and Kansas State, it was a normal game, with the Jayhawks taking care of business. Up 81-59 with the clock expiring, DaJuan Gordon stole the ball from Silvio De Sousa, rushing towards his basket. Attempting to put up a layup, De Sousa viciously blocked hit shot, sending it into the stands.

To this point, everything is fine and the buzzer sounds. That is until De Sousa steps over Gordon, looking down on him while celebrating his block. The Wildcats took exception to that and began a scuffle. From that point on, it was pure chaos. Both benches cleared. Players, coaches, cheerleaders, and security guards were involved, trying to restrain those involved.

You can watch the full sequence here:

Due to these actions, the Big 12 announced suspensions today for both Kansas and Kansas State players. Missing multiple games, De Sousa had the heaviest penalty as he is going to be suspended for 12 games.

Texas is on the schedule for one of the games De Sousa will miss and he will not be playing against the Longhorns. In the first matchup on Saturday, he only played two minutes but picked up three rebounds.

The second-longest suspension will be served by Kansas State’s James Love. He will be out for eight games and he will be eligible to return when the Wildcats play Texas on Feb. 22. Love did not play in the Jan. 11 matchup between the two schools.

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2020 Texas Longhorns Profile: Joseph Ossai

Texas Longhorns linebacker Joseph Ossai is coming off a big 2019 season, can he use that as a launching pad for a big 2020?

The Texas Longhorns linebacker Joseph Ossai is coming off his first year of significant playing time in the middle of the defense. He appeared in 13 games with 90 tackles, 13.5 for a loss and five sacks. Three of which came in their Alamo Bowl victory over Utah where Ossai was named Defensive Most Valuable Player.

Ossai was able to disrupt the Utes offense with his ability to get into the backfield and create havoc. He finished the game with eight tackles, six tackles for loss to go with the sacks. The key in that game was to rush Ossai off the edge to create opportunities for the defense, could that be a plan moving forward for the sophomore linebacker?

Tim Warner/Getty Images

Coming out of Oak Ridge High School in Conroe, Ossai was viewed as a player who could come off the edge as a weakside defensive end. The former four-star player was heavily recruited by schools such as Alabama and Notre Dame but ultimately decided to stay home and play for Texas.

With a need for a pass rush in Austin, Ossai could see more opportunities off the edge. He has a quick first step that allows him to put pressure on the offensive line. Couple the getoff with violent hands, and he is a prime candidate to be Texas next pass rush nightmare. The sky is the limit and with another big season, Ossai could find himself making a decision next season on his future in the NFL.

WATCH: Former Texas WR’s Duvernay, Johnson impress at Senior Bowl

Former Texas receivers Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson have arguably been the two best receivers on the South roster at the Senior Bowl.

Former Texas wide receivers Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay continue to impress NFL scouts and executives at the Senior Bowl this week. After day two of practices, they have surprisingly been the best receivers on the South roster.

At nearly 6-foot-6, Johnson has seemingly been unstoppable. Several scouts have been noticeably impressed with Johnson’s ability to get in and out of his breaks and stacking cornerbacks vertically. Take a peek at a few more highlights from his second day of practices below.

Although much of the hype was centered around Johnson yesterday, Duvernay has quietly had a strong week of practices also. Duvernay is one of the fastest players at the Senior Bowl, and has a thick lower frame that accompanies strong hands to make catches through contact.

Johnson and Duvernay are currently projected to be selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Expect that draft stock to increase significantly if their Senior Bowl week continues down this exciting path.

Jordan Whittington named ESPN’s 2020 breakout player for Texas

ESPN recently named their breakout players for the top college football programs in 2020.

Wide receiver and running back Jordan Whittington was expected to be one of the most exciting players to watch for the Longhorns in 2019. Unfortunately, he was sidelined the majority of his freshman season due to a sports hernia surgery.

There was nothing Whittington couldn’t do throughout his high school playing career at Cuero. His record-setting performance in the 2018 State Championship quickly caught the attention of many.

Whittington compiled 334 rush yards, 43 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. Also recording 11 tackles on defense, Whittington was named the offensive and defensive most valuable player as Cuero defeated Texarkana Pleasant Grove for their first state championship in over 30 years.

Expecting to play wide receiver at Texas, Whittington’s versatility, knowledge, and athletic ability eventually became an option at running back due to the teams lack of depth.

Whittington took full advantage of the position change, soaring up to the No. 2 running back behind Keontay Ingram before suffering an injury. With wide receivers Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay departing to the NFL while five-star running back Bijan Robinson arrives on campus, Whittington may be tasked to play both positions in 2020.

ESPN recently released their college breakout player to watch for in 2020 for each of the top programs. Considering Whittington rarely stepped onto the field in 2019, this accolade speaks volumes of his expectations and abilities.

He’s the prototypical Swiss Army knife type of player that this Texas staff must find a way to use frequently.

Way Too Early 2020 Big 12 Predictions

UT will be expected to be at the top of the Big 12 in 2020. Here are some way too early predictions for how the conference will shake out.

The 2019 Big 12 season ended the same way it did for the past five years, with Oklahoma winning the conference. This year, it was against Baylor in the conference championship game, after facing TCU and Texas in previous seasons. While much might not change at the very top, there should be some shakeup throughout the rest of the Big 12.

Four different coaches will be in their second year at their respective programs, as most teams were in a rebuilding year last season. Baylor will be on the only team with a brand new coach this season, as the other four teams (Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, and West Virginia) will be wanting to take the next step under the coaches. As for experienced coaches, Tom Herman, Matt Campbell, and Gary Patterson will be looking to reach the level Lincoln Riley has been at during his tenure in Norman.

Texas will be expected to compete at the very top of the conference in 2020. The goal is to make the Big 12 championship game at the very least, especially after missing out in 2019. Returning a lot of talent and hiring brand new coordinators, Herman will need to perform in order to have a successful fourth season in Austin.

Here are some way too early predictions for how Texas and the rest of the Big 12 will shake out in the 2020 football season.

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ESPN’s Bowl Game Overreactions: Texas Is Back

ESPN writer David Hale weighs in on if Texas is indeed back or is it just more unfounded hype around Texas’ biggest sports draw in college.

There is nothing like a good overreaction following the Bowl season. ESPN made the proclamation that “Texas is Back”. However, ESPN writer David Hale weighs in on how they aren’t going to be exactly back.

Nobody owns an offseason like Texas, and December set the stage for a glorious 2020 for the Longhorns — at least until games start getting played again. Start with a dominant win over Utah in the Valero Alamo Bowl, just the type of upset victory that gets pundits lathered up for a good offseason narrative. Then quarterback Sam Ehlinger announced a return for 2020. Then rival Oklahoma was utterly embarrassed in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

All the pieces were in place. The Big 12 belonged to Texas in 2020, right? Well, small problems: Texas finished 97th in pass defense, couldn’t run the ball consistently and lost at least four games for the 10th straight year. Number of four-loss seasons for Oklahoma in that stretch? One.

While is it true that Texas does own an offseason, but to say that the bowl game won’t have any bearing on the upcoming season seems a bit off. Yes, Texas has lost four games for the 10th straight season but they seem to be building momentum. The team made changes on offense with a new play caller, basically a new staff on the defensive side of the ball.

With another top ten recruiting class, the Longhorns are poised for “Texas to be back” but lets pump the brakes on using that term. However, the arrow is on an upward trajectory.

Oklahoma has nine commits, signees in final Rivals 250 rankings

Claiming the No. 14 2020 class in the nation, Oklahoma has nine commits and signees inside the Rivals 250.

Claiming the No. 14 2020 class in the nation, Oklahoma has nine commits and signees inside the Rivals 250.

AARON PARKS–NO. 69

The 6-foot-5, 294-pound offensive tackle slid three spots from his No. 66 position due more to others excelling and less about his own digression. Parks is the No. 10 overall tackle in the 2020 class and is the No. 5 prospect from Maryland. Parks signed with the Sooners during the early signing period.

REGGIE GRIMES–NO. 142

Oklahoma’s highest-rated defensive prospect comes in at No. 142. Grimes is a four-star defensive end from Brentwood, Tenn. Grimes chose the Sooners over Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and LSU. Grimes is the fourth-ranked defensive end in the nation. Grimes has yet to sign with the Sooners but is expected to make his verbal commitment official during the late signing period.

ANTON HARRISON–NO. 165

Harrison makes one of the bigger jumps through the rankings in the Rivals 250. Bolting up 45 spots to land at No. 165, Harrison already looks to be in prime shape for Oklahoma. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 332 pounds, the four-star offensive tackle is a block of clay ready to be molded by Bill Bedenbaugh. Harrison signed with the Sooners during the early signing period.

NATE ANDERSON–NO. 169

Adding to Bedenbaugh’s stockpile of linemen is four-star tackle from Frisco, Texas, Nate Anderson. Anderson stands 6-foot-5 and comes in at an agile 260 pounds. Anderson signed with the Sooners in December.

SETH MCGOWAN–NO. 174

The first skill position player for Oklahoma is a running back from Mesquite, Texas. McGowan is a four-star running back and chose the Sooners over Alabama, Baylor, LSU, and Texas. McGowan signed with Oklahoma in December.

BRYSON WASHINGTON–NO. 190

Washington, a four-star safety, jumped up one spot to take over No. 190 int eh Rivals 250. The 6-foot-3 safety is exactly what Alex Grinch wants in his secondary: speed and length. Washington may very well get an early opportunity with the departures of defenders over the past few weeks.

ANDREW RAYM–NO. 227

Oklahoma’s No. 1 in-state prospect stays home. Raym signed with the Sooners back in December and rounds out a fantastic offensive line class constructed by Bedenbaugh. Standing 6-foot-4 and 285 pounds, Raym will be making the move from tackle to guard when he steps on campus.

marvin mims–no. 247

Arguably the greatest high school wide receiver in the history of Texas high school football is making his way to Norman, Okla. Mims holds both the Texas state and national records for most receiving yards in a season and surpassed former Texas Longhorn, Jordan Shipley for career receiving yards in the state of Texas.

JALIN CONYERS–NO. 249

Sneaking into the Rivals 250, moving up one spot is four-star tight end, Jalin Conyers. Conyers comes in at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds making him an immediate red zone target opposite of current Sooner tight end, Austin Stogner. Conyers signed with Oklahoma in December.

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ESPN 300 Final Rankings for 2020: Texas signs four Top 100 players

The Texas Longhorns have signed four of the Top 100 players in the 2020 recruiting class, according to ESPN’s final rankings.

ESPN 300 recently released their final rankings of high school football players in the 2020 recruiting class.

Of these top players in the nation, the Texas Longhorns have signed four within the Top 100. Although ESPN has ranked several players lower than other major recruiting platforms, it’s nevertheless worth noting. For example, running back Bijan Robinson is labeled a five-star prospect by 247Sports composite, but ESPN has him sitting as a four-star athlete.

These are the highest-rated Longhorns who have earned a spot on the final rankings thus far.

No. 21 – Bijan Robinson, running back

No. 34 – Ja’Quinden Jackson, athlete

No. 40 – Hudson Card, quarterback

No. 80 – Vernon Broughton, defensive end

No. 107 – Kitan Crawford, athlete

No. 127 – Jake Majors, offensive lineman

No. 164 – Prince Dorbah, linebacker

No. 180 – Troy Omeire, wide receiver

No. 198 – Xavion Alford, safety

No. 214 – Jaylen Garth, offensive lineman

No. 218 – Logan Parr, offensive lineman

No. 261 – Jerrin Thompson, safety

More players from this list could be added when National Signing Day arrives, as Texas has heavily targeted the No. 52 overall prospect Alfred Collins. Although Collins has not announced his official decision, all signs are pointing to the talented defensive end continuing his playing career with the Longhorns.