Tag: caleb johnson

Transfers that Texas should consider after missing out on Caleb Johnson

Texas should consider pursuing these linebackers after missing out on Caleb Johnson.

Just when the Longhorns thought they had some help coming their away in transfer linebacker Caleb Johnson, the rug was pulled out from under them.

The now former Longhorn and Bruin, as Johnson spent a little time in Austin before transferring to UCLA, decided to take his talents to Miami to play for new coach Mario Cristobal.

While this isn’t the end of the world for Texas as they do have some decent players at linebacker, adding some depth would have helped this group greatly.

The linebackers were average at best last season, as they along with the rest of the defense struggled with physicality and were apart of the reason Texas ranked No. 114 in run defense.

Since the staff is so keen on adding more players from the transfer portal, there are definitely viable options that they should consider to make up for losing out on Johnson.

Here are a few linebackers that the Longhorns should pursue after missing out on their latest transfer portal quest.

Texas transfer LB target Caleb Johnson announces commitment to Miami

Texas misses out on transfer linebacker Caleb Johnson.

The Texas Longhorns will need to look elsewhere for help at the linebacker position after missing on another transfer portal target.  Continue reading “Texas transfer LB target Caleb Johnson announces commitment to Miami”

LOOK: Linebacker transfer Caleb Johnson in a Texas uniform during his visit

Caleb Johnson is back in a Longhorn uniform.

The Texas Longhorns are looking to continue their hot streak in the transfer portal, specifically to add more help on the defensive side of the ball.

They have a prime opportunity to do so with UCLA transfer and former Longhorn, Caleb Johnson. Johnson’s first tenure at Texas after transferring from Fullerton Junior College was extremely brief, playing in just three games before hitting the portal.

Johnson landed back in California at UCLA where he absolutely shined, earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors and racking up 89 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two interceptions.

Texas looks to be in solid shape of landing him, as he was one of the few visitors to grace Austin this week.

Johnson’s recruitment is very much narrowed down already, as he expressed that he is only interested in two schools, with the two schools being Miami and of course Texas.

Adding more depth at the linebacker position is something the staff certainly seems to be interested in, but they just haven’t been able to capitalize on landing one from the transfer portal yet.

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Bears 2021 ILB review: Roquan Smith continues to shine

We’re taking a look at how the Bears inside linebackers fared in 2021.

The Chicago Bears wrapped another disappointing season that resulted in the firings of general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy. With the offseason in full swing, it provides an opportunity for the new regime in GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus to look back at went right, what went wrong and how to improve in 2022.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2021 Bears and grading every player. Next up is inside linebacker, the position group that boasts arguably the team’s best player in Roquan Smith.

PREVIOUS POSITION REVIEWS: QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, DL, OLB

Top available college football transfer portal defensive ends

Top available college football transfer portal defensive ends #GoBucks

The Ohio State Buckeyes were rough on defense last season despite being a recruiting juggernaut. However, it is entirely possible that newly hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is going to want more help on the defensive line. With the lack of pass rush that we witnessed last season, adding some decent help on the edge is not the worst idea.

The inception of the transfer portal has created a bit of a free agency period in college football. It has created a brand new world — some good, some bad — that we won’t get into right now.

Instead, here are the top five defensive ends left in the portal during the 2021 offseason of college football.

Bears activate LB Caleb Johnson from the reserve/COVID-19 list

The Bears have activated Caleb Johnson from the COVID list. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come.

There’s finally some good news in regards to the reserve/COVID-19 list as the Chicago Bears have activated linebacker Caleb Johnson from the list, the team announced Thursday.

Johnson, who dealt with a knee injury in the weeks prior, landed on the list ahead of last week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The hope is this is a sign of good things to come for the Bears, who lead the league with the number of players on the COVID list. Outside linebacker Robert Quinn, tight end Jimmy Graham and right tackle Elijah Wilkinson, along with wide receivers coach Mike Furrey, remain sidelined.

With the possibility the Bears could be without outside linebacker Khalil Mack, who’s been battling a foot injury since Week 3, the hope is Quinn will be removed from the COVID list before Sunday’s game.

There were also concerns on the offensive line, where starting right tackle Germain Ifedi has been sidelined with a knee injury. Wilkinson was his backup. But Wilkinson landed on the list ahead of last week’s game, which led Chicago to turn to Lachavious Simmons, who struggled and was benched for Alex Bars.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, and he’s been away from Halas Hall since. He’s been watching practice from an iPad, and his status for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers remains in doubt.

If Nagy isn’t cleared to return, it’ll be special teams coordinator Chris Tabor serving as the acting head coach in Nagy’s absence.

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Bears place Elijah Wilkinson, Caleb Johnson on reserve/COVID-19 list

The Bears have an NFL-high four players on the reserve/COVID-19 list after Elijah Wilkinson and Caleb Johnson landed on the list Sunday.

The reserve/COVID-19 list is getting crowded for the Chicago Bears as they placed right tackle Elijah Wilkinson and linebacker Caleb Johnson on the list ahead of today’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Chicago has flexed Arlington Hambright from the practice squad to the active roster in place of Wilkinson, who was already filling in for an injured Germain Ifedi, who’s on injured reserve.

With Wilkinson out, look for either Lachavious Simmons or Alex Bars to start at right tackle against one of the NFL’s best defensive fronts.

The Bears have an NFL-high four players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, according to Brad Biggs, which doesn’t include wide receivers coach Mike Furrey, who remains sidelined.

Running back Damien Williams was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday, and he’s expected to play against the Bucs.

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Latest Bears injury updates on Justin Fields, Germain Ifedi and more

While Matt Nagy didn’t provide any Bears injury updates on Monday, here’s the latest about Justin Fields, Germain Ifedi and others.

The Chicago Bears pulled off an impressive 20-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, where all three phases played a key role in the upset to bring the Bears to 3-2 on the season.

But Chicago didn’t escape without some injuries, including rookie quarterback Justin Fields, whose toughness was on display throughout the entire game.

While Matt Nagy didn’t provide any injury updates on Monday, which has been consistent this season, here’s the latest about injuries to several Bears players from Sunday’s win against the Raiders.