decade – Syndication Server

The Athletic takes a look at Florida Gators, SEC dominance in recruiting

Over the past decade the SEC has dominated recruiting but the Gators have been very hit-or-miss with their carousel of head coaches.

It is no secret that the Southeastern Conference has been a perennial powerhouse over the past decade-plus, winning 10 of 14 national championships between four teams: the LSU Tigers, Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers and — most distantly — the Florida Gators.

Ari Wasserman and Max Olson at The Athletic took a look at the SEC from top-to-bottom, assessing each school’s recruiting record over the past 10 years. The Georgia Bulldogs lead the way in the East Division, who can be expected to be among the top-5 classes year in and year out. The Gators trail their cross-border rivals by a small but appreciable margin, with reasonable expectations landing the program in the top-10 recruiting nationally on a yearly basis.

Here is a look at the aggregate data and the authors’ explanation.

Reasonable expectations: Top-10 classes

The data: Dating to 2002, Florida has had only two classes ranked lower than 10th nationally in seasons in which there was not a coaching transition, and both occurred under Jim McElwain’s watch — No. 12 in 2016 and No. 11 in 2017. Those rankings aren’t horrible, but they are below what should be expected at a school with so many built-in advantages.

Will Muschamp didn’t win a lot of games in Gainesville, but he stockpiled the roster with elite talent. His two full recruiting classes, in 2012 and 2013, ranked third nationally and included a total of five five-star prospects and seven other players ranked in the top 100. McElwain’s two full classes, on the other hand, had no five-stars and a total of five top-100 players. Dan Mullen is restoring order and will sign a third consecutive top-10 class in 2021.

The outlook: Florida, for all of its advantages, is proof that no program is immune to mediocre (or bad) coaching. Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer won at a high level, but Ron Zook, Muschamp and McElwain failed to meet high expectations. Mullen appears to be the right coach at the right time. He has the program recruiting at a consistent top-10 level once again, and that could get even better if the Gators start competing for championships, which they are close to doing. Florida has no ceiling.

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Texas is ranked among college football’s Top 25 programs this decade

Although Texas has lacked consistency, they’re still ranked a Top 25 college football program of the past decade.

Each college football season is comprised of several small goals that ultimately lead to the biggest stage. Continue reading “Texas is ranked among college football’s Top 25 programs this decade”

Former Longhorn Jordan Hicks lends a helping hand

Former Texas Longhorn and Super Bowl winning linebacker Jordan Hicks has teamed up with a local pet shelter to help out.

Current Texas Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger isn’t the only Longhorn who is trying to step up during this time of quarantine to help out those in need. Former Longhorns linebacker and current Arizona Cardinal Jordan Hicks has stepped up to assist with a local pet shelter to help find homes and ways to help out our four-legged friends.

My wife & I have partnered with @austinpetsalive to get animals into homes during this wild time. We will be giving every adopter a care package that includes a crate, pet food, treats, a leash, a toy, litter for cats, and a gift card. Find your forever friend now! – Jordan Hicks via his twitter account

According to a recent report from 247 Sports, new pet owners will be sent home with a care package that includes a crate, toys, food and a leash. With the guidelines set to keep people at home and to comply with social distancing, getting a new pet is a way to keep your mind off of the pandemic. Not to mention that these pets deserve a loving home.

Hicks spent five seasons roaming the field at Darrell K. Royal-Memorial Stadium amassing 5.5 sacks, 248 total tackles, 135 solo tackles and two interceptions for the Longhorns defense. Last season in Arizona, Hicks totaled 150 combined tackles, seven quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks and three interceptions. His 150 tackles is the fourth-most in a single season in Cardinals history.

Top Five Football Moments Of The Decade

While it may have been a rough decade for the Longhorns, there still was some good moments. Here are the top five moments of the decade.

While it may have been a rough decade for the Longhorns as far as the win column goes, there still was some good moments for Texas. Picking up wins against Oklahoma, top 10 opponents, in some bowl games, and ending a rivalry on a high note, even during the lowest time of the program’s history, they have produced some magic.

Having three coaches since 2010, Mack Brown, Charlie Strong, and Tom Herman have each been in charge for at least three years. Brown was fired after the 2013 season, marking the end of a 15 year period for Texas. Strong got three years from 2014-2016, but all three seasons ended in seven losses. Tom Herman has returned Texas to a bowl game in all three years in charge, but still has some work to do.

Texas has had a mix of success and failure throughout the 2010s, but the moments have no doubt made fans believe they can return to the level they should be at. Here are the top five moments of the decade for the Longhorns:

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Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Special Teams

Texas has been excellent on special teams the past few years. In both facets of the kicking game, the Longhorns have had reliable players.

All three phases of the game are important and in the past few years, Texas has been excellent on special teams. In both facets of the kicking game, the Longhorns have had reliable players who will step up when they are needed. Placekicker Cameron Dicker has been clutch in his two seasons in Austin and punter Michael Dickson was one of the best in the country.

Hitting two game-winning field goals this season alone, Dicker has been a key clutch player for Tom Herman’s squad. This season, he did it against Kansas and Kansas State, stealing two wins for the Longhorns. Dicker has been automatic from the point after, making all but two career attempts. Making above 70% of his career field goals, if Dicker is trotting out, you are more than likely going to end up with three points.

When the offense stalled and required a punt, Texas had one of the best punters in the country. Michael Dickson won the Ray Guy Award in 2017, given to the nation’s best punter. After his three years in Austin, Dickson was the first special teams player taken in the NFL Draft, selected in the fifth round. Averaging just over 45 yards per punt, Dickson constantly switched the field for the Longhorns.

Then there is Justin Tucker, who both punted and was the placekicker to the Longhorns in 2010 and 2011. Now one of the best kickers in NFL history, Tucker was amazing for Texas during his time in Austin. Never missing a point after attempt, he was just as automatic when kicking field goals too. When it was time to punt, he was able to bomb the ball 40 yards downfield.

Here are your Longhorns special teams players of the decade:

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Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Safety

Continuing the tradition of DBU at Texas, we look at the best players at Safety to play for the Longhorns throughout the decade.

Continuing the tradition of DBU at Texas, we look at the best players at Safety to play for the Longhorns throughout the decade. Having a great tradition of producing stars at this position, it takes a lot to be considered a great Longhorn play at Safety. Complimenting the great cornerbacks throughout the decade, both of these players were outstanding at Texas.

Dylan Haines and DeShon Elliot both played for former Head Coach Charlie Strong. Elliot played for one season with Herman, but Strong recruited him to the program. While they have two different paths, the two played together for two years in 2015 and 2016.

Not seeing the field until 2014, Haines came into the program in 2012 as a walkon. Redshirting his freshman year, he was on the scout team in 2013 and was awarded the ‘scout team player of the week’ before the Red River Shootout. Getting a scholarship in 2014, Haines quickly became an impact player. Securing 13 career interceptions, that ranks tied for the fifth-most in program history.

Elliot is one of the top players at the position in the history of Texas. Really becoming a key player in his junior season, he ended the year with 63 total tackles, six interceptions, and nine passes defended. Add in three forced fumbles and all he did was create turnovers. Drafted in the sixth round by the Ravens, Elliot is the best safety Texas has seen this decade.

Here are your Longhorn Safties of the Decade:

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Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Cornerbacks

While there has been debate over who DBU is, Texas makes a strong case. Diggs and Boyd are two of the bost CBs to ever come out of Texas.

While there has been a long debate over who ‘Defensive Back University’ or DBU is, the Longhorns make a strong case when bringing up these two names at the cornerback position. Both crucial members on their current NFL teams, Quandre Diggs and Kris Boyd are two of the best cornerbacks to come out of Texas.

While they never played on the same field, what Diggs and Boyd do share in common is that they both had two different head coaches during their time in Austin. Diggs was there for the final years of Mack Brown while playing under Charlie Strong for one season. Boyd got two years of Strong and the first two years of Tom Herman.

On the field, Diggs played amazing in his first two seasons, getting All-Big 12 honors and even being named the Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2011. His best season came in 2011, when he had four interceptions, while also being involved in 13 pass breakups. His 11 career interceptions rank him at No. 10 in career interceptions in a Longhorn uniform.

Coming in the season after Diggs was drafted, Boyd found more success under Tom Herman than he did with Charlie Strong. Even though he was not a huge interception machine, Boyd covered No. 1 receivers really well. His final two seasons saw him receiving All-Big 12 honors and got him drafted in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings.

Here are your Longhorn cornerbacks on the decade:

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Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Linebackers

Even though they haven’t been as good as the past, Texas has still had some great LBs to come through the program throughout the 2010s.

Even though the unit has not been as good for the Longhorns as it has in the past, Texas has still had some great linebackers to come through the program this decade. Jordan Hicks, Steve Edmond, and Malik Jefferson all were able to make it to the NFL after their time in Austin.

Hicks and Edmond were on the field together for three years, starting in 2013. Getting a fifth year of eligibility after picking up an ankle injury in the 2013 season, Hicks played amazing in his final year for the Longhorns. Leading the team in tackles with 116, Steve Edmond was the only player to come close to his tackle numbers that season.

Declaring for the NFL after his junior year, Edmond also had a monster 2014 season for Texas. Finishing with four fewer tackles than Hicks, he had 112 on the season. His best career game came against Baylor that season, he had 17 tackles and had two of his 8.5 career sacks that night.

Finally, Malik Jefferson was the best linebacker to play for the Longhorns throughout the decade. Playing in the final two seasons of Charlie Strong and in the first year of Tom Herman, Jefferson was solid throughout his entire career. While he did not have the most total tackles of the three, he had the most solo tackles and was getting All-Big 12 awards throughout his three seasons on the 40 acres.

Here are your Texas linebackers of the decade:

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Texas Longhorns team of the decade: Defensive line

Shifting to defense in the team of the decade, we begin on the LOS. Throughout the 2010s, Texas has produced some monsters on the d-line.

Shifting from offense to defense in the Texas team of the decade, we begin on the line of scrimmage. Throughout the 2010s, the Longhorns have produced some monsters on the defensive line. Producing a few guys good enough to make it into the NFL, all four of these players were recruited by former coaches Mack Brown and Charlie Strong.

The first two players are Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat, who shared the field for three years. Between the two of them, they have a combined 49 sacks. Jeffcoat’s 26 career sacks are good enough for eighth in Longhorn history. The two players benefitted off each other, with 36 of their 49 sacks coming when the two played together.

Poona Ford played defensive tackle for Texas and did not rack up the kind of sacks the other three players got. At 6 foot, 300 pounds, Ford was an aminal for the Longhorns. Taking up space on the defensive line, he was able to make physical plays at the line of scrimmage to stop runners getting behind him.

The most recent of the players is Charles Omenihu, who graduated in 2018. Playing in 48 career games, Omenihu was in the backfield a lot. His best season came in his 2018 senior year when he recorded 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. Currently playing for the Houston Texans, Omenihu was selected in the fifth round. Playing all four years, Omenihu is one of the best defensive players Texas has produced in recent years.

Here are the Longhorn defensive lineman of the decade:

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Texas Longhorns of The Decade: Tight Ends

The TE position has not been a strength of the Longhorns throughout the 2010s. The best TE for Texas this decade has been Andrew Beck.

The tight end position has not been a strength of the Longhorns throughout the decade, only producing one NFL talent in Geoff Swaim. While Swaim has had a solid career, his numbers as a Longhorn are less than impressive. The best tight end to play for the Longhorns in the past few years has been Andrew Beck.

Switching to the position after playing linebacker in high school, Beck became a fan favorite for the Longhorns. Also lining up as a full back, he was an excellent blocker for both quarterback Sam Ehlinger and running backs.

As a pass-catcher, his best season came in his senior year in 2018. After missing 2017 with an injury and redshirting, he was able to haul in 28 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns. He had at least one catch in all 14 games, with his career-high of four catches coming against Kansas State.

Here is the tight end of the decade, Andrew Beck:

Years played: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018

Receiving stats: 39 receptions, 435 receiving yards, 11.2 yards per reception, four touchdowns

Best game: vs Oklahoma State in 2018. Three receptions, 51 yards, 17 yards per reception, one touchdown

STILLWATER, OK – OCTOBER 27: Tight end Andrew Beck #47 of the Texas Longhorns pulls in a catch for a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter on October 27, 2018 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 38-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Best moment: Go ahead touchdown vs Oklahoma State in 2016

Accomplishments: First-team All-Big 12 (2018)

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