Tag: Former Longhorns

Every former Longhorn in the 2023 NBA playoffs

Texas is well-represented in the NBA playoffs.

The University of Texas is well-represented in the 2023 NBA playoffs. Seven former Longhorns are set to participate in postseason play.

The NBA play-in tournament takes place from April 11-14, while the rest of the playoff bracket begins on April 15.

The playoffs consist of four rounds of best-of-seven series. The first round matches the top seed against the eighth seed, the second seed against the seventh seed, the third seed against the sixth seed, and the fourth seed against the fifth seed. The winners of each first-round series advance to the second round, until the two conference champions meet in the NBA Finals.

At least one former Longhorn has played in the NBA finals in 11 out of the last 12 seasons. PJ Tucker most recently earned his first championship as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021.

13-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant is eyeing his third career NBA title, this time as a member of the Phoenix Suns.

Here is a complete look at all seven former Texas Longhorns gearing up to compete in the NBA playoffs.

Week 1 highlights from former Longhorns in the NFL

Former Longhorns balled out in Week 1 of the NFL season.

The 2022 NFL season is officially off and running. Week 1 wrapped up Monday night after an exciting opening slate of games.

Many former Longhorns had successful starts to the new year.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay looks to be one of Lamar Jackson’s favorite targets thus far. Duvernay hauled in two touchdowns in the dominant win over the Jets.

Miami Dolphins safety Brandon Jones was all over the field against the Patriots on Sunday. Jones tallied 11 tackles, one forced fumble and one sack in the victory.

His teammate Connor Williams performed great on the offensive side of the ball as well. Williams graded out as the best offensive player on the field for Miami.

Linebacker Jordan Hicks showed out in his Vikings debut. He picked up a team-high 14 tackles and a sack in Minnesota’s huge win over Green Bay. Hicks helped shut down Aaron Rodgers to just seven points in the ballgame.

Denver Broncos tight end Andrew Beck channeled his best Odell Beckam Jr. impression on Monday Night Football. He made an incredible one-handed snag early in the game against Seattle.

Here is a look at the highlights from the former Longhorns’ impressive starts to the NFL season.

Former Longhorn LB Malik Jefferson signs with the Dallas Cowboys

Former Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson has another opportunity in the NFL. 

Former Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson has another opportunity in the NFL. Continue reading “Former Longhorn LB Malik Jefferson signs with the Dallas Cowboys”

Updated look at every former Texas Longhorn on an NFL roster

There are now 35 former Longhorns on an NFL roster, and a few have found new homes this offseason.

Although Texas did not have a single player selected throughout the 2022 NFL draft, the Longhorns are still well-represented across the league. Continue reading “Updated look at every former Texas Longhorn on an NFL roster”

Each former Longhorn to appear in the Super Bowl over the last five years

17 consecutive seasons that a former Longhorn has appeared in the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl 56 marks 17 consecutive seasons that a former Longhorn as appeared on the big stage. Continue reading “Each former Longhorn to appear in the Super Bowl over the last five years”

Former Longhorn Trey Hopkins to play in the Super Bowl

A former Longhorn has played in the last 17 Super Bowls.

Former Longhorn offensive lineman Trey Hopkins will have his chance at the Lombardi Trophy. Hopkins appearance will make 17 straight seasons a Longhorn is represented in the Super Bowl.

Hopkins played in 37 games for the Longhorns from 2010-2013. He went undrafted in the 2014 NFL draft before finding a home in Cincinnati.

Rookie Joesph Ossai is also on the Bengals roster but has been on the injured reserve after suffering a preseason knee injury.

The Bengals made an improbable postseason run to make the Super Bowl. They won three nail-biter games against Las Vegas, Tennesee and Kansas City. Each game came down to the final play.

Hopkins will look to add his name to a long list of former Longhorns with a Super Bowl ring. Most recently, Alex Okafor won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2019.

The Bengals will take on the Rams on Feb. 13 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

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Two former Longhorns named AP first-team All-Pro

Devin Duvernay and Justin Tucker are getting recognized for their great seasons.

Baltimore Ravens teammates and former Longhorns Devin Duvernay and Justin Tucker have been named to the 2021 AP first-team All-Pro team.

It was the first time Duvernay has made the team while this marks Tucker’s fifth All-Pro appearance.

It took just two seasons for Duvernay to become an All-Pro. Duvernay was voted on as a punt returner after leading the league in yards per return and finished No. 2 in total return yards.

Tucker is widely regarded as the best kicker in the NFL and many consider him the best kicker in league history. He had another fantastic year in 2021. Tucker made a league-best 94.6% of his field goals and was a perfect 32-32 on extra-point attempts. Not to mention Tucker hit an NFL record 66-yard game-winning field goal against the Lions.

Duvernay and Tucker’s special seasons just strengthens Texas’ argument in the “special teams university” debate.

Here is a full list of the 2021 All-Pro selections:

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How Texas football transfers are performing with their new programs

How are the former Longhorns performing this season?

Ever since the new transfer rules were enacted, players have been moving all over the nation in order to receive new opportunities.

While transfers have certainly helped Texas in the past like running back Tre Watson, or even this year’s defensive transfer Ovie Oghoufo, the Longhorns have also lost their fair share of transfers throughout the past couple years.

In many cases, players transfer to get a bigger role than what they currently have, but there is always other reasons beneath the surface that we will not know. Some teams may be upset that a player leaves, although they are likely doing what they think is best for their career.

Since we are at the halfway mark of the 2021 college football season, it felt like a great time to check in on how the former Longhorns are doing at their new homes.

Here is how the former Longhorns are currently performing after choosing to leave the University of Texas.

NBA Playoffs: Two Longhorns set to square off in winner-take-all Game 7

Former Longhorns Kevin Durant and PJ Tucker will face off in a winner-take-all Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Saturday.

There has likely never been a conference semifinal game with more importance than tonight’s Brooklyn Nets vs. Milwaukee Bucks winner-take-all Game 7.

One teams championship hopes end here and legacies are on the line.

The Brooklyn Nets seemed to have the upper hand after Kevin Durant’s game five performance where he scored 49 points and asserted himself as the best player in the world. It was a performance that many thought clinched the series for the Nets, but the Bucks came back in game six with an amazing defensive performance and a dominant game by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Durant will need to show up big again, as the Nets have already ruled out Kyrie Irving and James Harden is clearly not playing like himself as he has only scored 14 points combined in his two games back.

Although P.J. Tucker has had minimal success guarding Kevin Durant, it will be interesting to see if Antetokounmpo will attempt to go star-on-star. This game can absolutely be detrimental to the legacy of Antetokounmpo, who many are starting to doubt can be the best player on a contending team.

Durant and the Nets on the other hand will be ridiculed so harshly if they do not win the championship this season, regardless of injury, people will remember the team having three elite stars, not who was out. Durant may act as if he does not feel pressure in the moment, but he is certainly a player who occasionally lets fans opinions get in his head.

If the Nets are to win, Durant needs to replicate or even exceed his performance in game five.

What an all Texas NFL roster on offense would look like after the 2021 NFL draft

Longhorns Wire compiled an NFL offense based on former Texas Longhorns.

There were five Texas Longhorns selected in the 2021 NFL draft and an additional two were signed as rookie undrafted free agents.

Since the 2015 NFL draft, there have been 21 draft picks to come from the school to play in the league. When you add that on top of former Longhorns that are already in the NFL, there’s enough Texas exes to comprise a depth chart.

As a fun exercise, Longhorns Wire took a stab at what an offense in the NFL would look like if it were composed of only former Texas players.

This includes any active free agents and practice squad players. The end result shows stronger groups at some positions as opposed to others, but outside of a right guard, it’s still enough to roll out an offense in the league.

Here’s what an all Texas NFL offense would look like currently: