Tag: Chris Brown

Big 12 Conference: 2021 NFL Draft announcement tracker

As the season comes to an end, we track which Big 12 Conference players have declared for the NFL Draft.

With the 2020 regular season winding down for the Big 12 Conference, announcements are being made by players deciding to enter into the 2021 NFL Draft. The Texas Longhorns aren’t the only school in the conference to have their players forego their remaining eligibility.

Players such as Sam Ehlinger have yet to make that decision and likely won’t until after the bowl game. Ehlinger and many other seniors have the option to return for another season due to the NCAA freezing eligibility this year due to the pandemic.

Many of those seniors who are invited, will meet in Mobile, Alabama for this year’s senior bowl. Ehlinger and teammate Ta’Quon Graham have both accepted their invites to participate in the week-long process. They will meet with prospective teams, practice under the instruction of an NFL staff, and participate in the game on the Saturday following.

Last season the Longhorns saw Collin Johnson, Devin Duvernay, and Brandon Jones all selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Below is a list of the Big 12 Conference’s players who have already declared for the NFL Draft.

One Texas Longhorn heading to the NFL, another plans to return

With the Texas football regular season coming to a sudden close, many players are beginning to announce their future plans.

With the regular season coming to an abrupt end, players are beginning to announce their future plans. Continue reading “One Texas Longhorn heading to the NFL, another plans to return”

Texas Longhorns vs. Iowa State: Three key defensive players

Breaking down the three defensive players who will be key on Friday for Texas.

Texas will need a strong defensive performance on Friday to slow down a powerful Iowa State offense. Continue reading “Texas Longhorns vs. Iowa State: Three key defensive players”

Texas Longhorns vs West Virginia: Game grades from the 17-13 win

Following the Texas Longhorns win over the West Virginia Mountaineers, we are handing out grades in the virtual report card.

It has been more than 48 hours since the Texas Longhorns defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers. So why are we still discussing this game? Frankly on a bye week you can let things marinate a little bit before pointing the game firmly behind you. With the Longhorns not set to play again until next Saturday in Lawrence, Kansas we take one final look back as we hand out game grades.

The Quarterback

Grade: C+

Sam Ehlinger didn’t look his best in this game against West Virginia. Let’s be fair he has looked inconsistent at best. Ever since the game against Texas Christian, it hasn’t looked like the first two games of the year. During that first stretch Ehlinger threw for 10 touchdowns while completing 71.2% of his passes. He was looking like a Heisman Trophy candidate. Since then, Ehlinger has completed less than 50% of his passes twice. Against TCU and then on Saturday against WVU.

He has throw for 12 touchdowns and four interceptions over those five games. His completion rate has dropped to 53.7% over that five game stretch with an average of 229.2 yards per game. Before this run, he averaged 344 yards and five touchdown passes per game. Sure UTEP and Texas Tech aren’t exactly doomsday defenses but the fact remains, Ehlinger is struggling.

Against WVU he did complete less than 50% but Ehlinger did have two touchdown passes. Plus he didn’t turn the ball over. The passing game struggled when they asked the senior to throw 20+ yards down the field. He threw incompletions on three consecutive attempts. The wide receivers didn’t exactly help him.

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Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma State: Key defensive players

The Texas Longhorns defense is being tasked with stopping one of the best trios in college football. Who needs to step up for Texas?

When the Texas Longhorns decided to move on from Todd Orlando, many thought that this would make a massive improvement on the defensive front. Present company included on that thought. However, they are still waiting on the Chris Ash to make the level of impact that many expected.

It could be that some of the issues stem from the fractured football program that defines the state of the Texas Longhorns. Former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has raved about him, he has improved the defense everywhere he has been a defensive coordinator. The Longhorns need more from that side of the ball and it all starts on Saturday.

Against the No. 6 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys, this defense will be tested. They have an up and coming young quarterback in Spencer Sanders. Not to mention the backfield duo of Chuba Hubbard and LD Brown, plus the dynamic playmaker in Tylan Wallace. Safe to say this defense will be tested.

Here are the three defensive keys for the Longhorns to try and upset the Cowboys on Saturday afternoon in Stillwater.

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Texas Longhorns vs Baylor Bears: First quarter recap

Early on in UT’s matchup against Baylor, it has been a defensive battle. Baylor has a 3-0 lead with a late field goal to get on the board.

Early on in Texas’ Big 12 matchup against Baylor, it has been a defensive showdown. The Bears have a 3-0 lead with a late field goal to get on the board first.

Despite leading the Big 12 in passing yards coming into the day, Sam Ehlinger has not been given the opportunity to throw the ball. He is 1-2 with -1 yards. On the ground, the quarterback has two carries for five yards.

After going three and out on their first drive, the Longhorns were able to pick up one first down before punting for the second time. As the quarter expired, Keaontay Ingram picked up the second first down of the night.

Defensively, missed opportunities have been the story. Starting strong safety Chris Brown dropped an interception on Baylor’s opening drive. Missed tackles continue to be an issue for defensive coordinator Chris Ash as well.

Mike Yurcich is going to have to trust Ehlinger if Texas wants to turn their offensive fortune around. The senior quarterback is the leader on and off the field and needs to be given the opportunity to throw the ball downfield.

First-quarter stats

Texas offense: 27 total yards

Keaontay Ingram: Six carries for 25 yards

Kelvontay Dixon: First career reception

Charlie Brewer: Nine of 12 with 71 yards

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Tom Herman provides injury update going into bye week

Tom Herman held his weekly Monday press conference after the loss to OU. The head coach provided an injury update before Texas’ bye week.

Head coach Tom Herman held his weekly Monday press conference after the Red River Shootout loss to Oklahoma. The head coach provided an injury update before the Longhorns’ bye week.

Starting on the offensive side of the ball with Roschon Johnson. The sophomore running back is dealing with a shoulder sprain suffered against TCU. Herman says Johnson is “day-to-day” and should be in practice when the team starts preparing for Baylor.

Moving to the wideout position, Jake Smith reaggravated his hamstring injury in warmups before Saturday’s matchup. He is expected back by the end of the week.

Smith missed the first two games of the season against UTEP and Texas Tech with a hamstring injury. The wide receiver returned against TCU, having six receptions for 49 yards and one touchdown.

Texas’ secondary has taken a major hit after Oklahoma, losing three starters.

Caden Sterns had been dealing with turf toe going into Saturday and was participating in warmups. However, Herman and the staff did not “feel comfortable” sending him out there after not being able to push off as well as they would have liked.

Opposite of Sterns at strong safety is supposed to be Chris Brown. The senior is currently dealing with a shoulder sprain and will be in a sling. He will be out this week.

Lastly, cornerback Josh Thompson suffered a sprained ankle in the Red River Shootout loss. He is also expected to be out during the bye week but should be able to go next week.

Herman said the bye week “comes at an opportune time” for the Longhorns. Having to deal with five banged-up starters in never ideal. However, having nearly two weeks to recover will help Texas get back to full strength.

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Texas Longhorns Football: Three reasons for the win over Texas Tech

It was tighter than expected but UT found a way in the Big 12 opener. Here are three reasons UT was able to get a victory over Texas Tech: 

Saturday’s win against Texas Tech was nervy, shocking, and an emotional rollercoaster throughout. Up by as much as 10 points with under one minute left in the third quarter, Texas somehow found itself down by 15 with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

One improbable comeback later and the Longhorns found itself with a 1-0 conference record for the fourth consecutive season. Tom Herman became the first Texas coach to accomplish the feat since John Mackovic did it from 1992-1995 in the Southwest Conference.

A lot had to go right for Texas to pull a win out of their hat, requiring some clutch plays coming from both the offense and defense. Even Cameron Dicker’s magical right foot had to get involved.

It was tighter than expected but the Longhorns found a way in its conference opener. Here are three reasons Texas was able to get a victory over Texas Tech on Saturday:

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Texas Longhorns snap counts and PFF grades

Which Texas Longhorns players played the most snaps on Saturday? Plus a look at the top five PFF grades on both sides of the ball.

The Texas Longhorns on Saturday played a very messy game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. While their was some jubilation for pulling out a win over a conference foe after being down 15 point late, there is a lot that this team needs to clean up, especially on the defensive side of the ball. On offense, the team did well. They put 56 points in a game after putting up 59 in their opener.

Sam Ehlinger led the way 331 total yards and six touchdowns in this game. Not only was he the top performer when the team really needed him, he opened up the season with 11 total touchdowns and 10 passing in just two games. While it is just two games in, he is throwing for a higher completion percentage and yards per attempt than he has at any point in his career. With the victory now behind everyone, we look at the snap counts and grades from Pro Football Focus.

Offensive Snap Counts

Ehlinger 93 Jones 93 Ingram 46 Money 22
Cosmi 93 Brewer 75 Wiley 36 Woodared 19
Angilau 93 Moore 64 Johnson 36 Robinson 11
Kerstetter 93 Schooler 52 Black 29 Epps 1
Okafor 93 Eagles 50 Washington 29

 

Top Five PFF Grades on Offense

Player Grade
Christian Jones 78.9
Sam Ehlinger 77.2
Brenden Schooler 74.1
Roschon Johnson 68.9
Brennan Eagles 68.8

Defensive Snap Counts

Overshown 79 Thompson 59 Coburn 46 Jones 26
Ossai 71 Jamison 56 Ojomo 45 Cook 16
Mitchell 70 Foster 49 Green 43 Bush 13
Adimora 63 Graham 49 Collins 30 Adeoye 9
Sterns 60 Brown 49 Sweat 28 Leitao 9

Top Five PFF Grades on Defense

Player Grade
Chris Adimora 84
Ta’Quon Graham 71.9
Chris Brown 70.4
Keondre Coburn 68.8
Alfred Collins 68.7

 

Texas vs Texas Tech: 3rd Quarter recap

The third quarter recap between the Texas Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders. Tech takes the lead 42-38.

The second half didn’t start off very well for the Texas Longhorns. After forcing a three and out, D’Shawn Jamison muffed a punt that gave the Red Raiders a touchdown. Tech came within three. The Tech offense couldn’t do much on their next possession.

After forcing another three and out from the Texas defense, the Red Raiders set to punt it away deep in their own territory. The Texas special teams unit returned the favor of a blocked punt. Texas defensive back Tyler Owens broke through and blocked the Austin McNamara punt. The late arrival to the 2020 recruiting class JahDae Barron picks it up and scores from a yard out.

The Red Raiders offense starting driving down the field after the touchdown. The drive broke down and Trey Wolff attempted a 46-yard field goal that went wide right. That set up Texas in good field position. The Longhorns offense however went backwards on the following series and ended up punting the ball away.

As the third quarter starting winding down, T.J. Vasher started to heat up for the Red Raiders offense. He scored on a catch and run on third down where the Longhorns couldn’t wrap up. The yards after the catch has been costing the defense on Saturday afternoon.

On third down, Sam Ehlinger throws his first pick on the season. The Red Raiders on the very last play of the quarter answered with a touchdown to take the lead. 42-38.

Stats through the third quarter:

Ehlinger- 17/26, 148 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Ehlinger- 8 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD

Schooler- 6 rec, 30 yards, 1 TD

Moore- 2 rec, 42 yards, 1 TD