Texas among the best NCAA basketball mascots ranked by fans

A survey of nearly 1,500 fans revealed the best mascots in college basketball. Who got the top spot?

A recent survey of nearly 1,500 college basketball fans revealed the best mascots in the sport. Continue reading “Texas among the best NCAA basketball mascots ranked by fans”

Alabama football recruiting: Texas grabs four-star DL from Alabama

Steve Sarkisian and Texas come into Alabama and grab a commitment from four-star DL Justice Finkley.

Yesterday, a talented defensive line prospect from the state of Alabama committed to Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns over Alabama and Colorado.

Justice Finkley, a native of Trussville, Al, is a big-time get for coach Sarkisian over Nick Saban.

Like Griffin McVeigh stated on Longhorn Wire, Finkley was able to visit Texas back in July and was able to meet both head coach Steve Sarkisian and Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski.

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Finkley ranks as the No. 112 overall player and the No. 19 defensive lineman in the country. Finkley ranks as the No. 6 overall player in the state of Alabama.

With Texas moving to the SEC, there should be plenty more recruiting battles on the horizon for these two high-profile programs and Roll Tide Wire will be here to cover them all.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

 

 

How sure is a Texas victory over Iowa State? USA TODAY Sports weighs in

The college football staff for USA TODAY Sports made their picks for this weekend’s games. Who wins the Iowa State-Texas Big 12 matchup?

Just another game right? Well not exactly, this one could be for all the marbles. The Iowa State Cyclones and Texas Longhorns both looking to punch their ticket to the Big 12 Championship. On Friday, the Cyclones could punch their ticket to Arlington. Meanwhile, a Texas victory puts them a step closer, but a victory doesn’t get them in just yet.

The staff at USA TODAY Sports picked 16 games this weekend with the Iowa State-Texas game being among them. This is one of three games that features ranked oppoenents on both sides. The others being Notre Dame-North Carolina and the Iron Bowl with AuburnAlabama. So how do they see this one coming down?

The third game matching ranked opponents has big ramifications in the Big 12. No. 15 Iowa State can all but secure a spot in its first conference title game with a win at No. 21 Texas. The Longhorns also would be in prime position to reach Arlington, Texas, by knocking off the Cyclones.

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Sports

The staff rules 4-2 in favor of the Texas Longhorns in this Big 12 Championship knockout game.

[lawrence-related id=27941,27950,27929,27853]

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Longhorns Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.

Longhorns Legend Earl Campbell delivers gift to Guy Fieri

The Longhorns legendary running back Earl Campbell surprised celebrity chef Guy Fieri with a gift. Of course it was a Longhorn.

It isn’t everyday that you receive a gift delivered by a Texas Longhorns legend, but that is what happened to celebrity chef Guy Fieri. The Mayor of Flavortown received a gift from Earl Campbell on Wednesday. The first ever Heisman Trophy winner in Longhorns history delivered a gift, of course it was a Longhorn.

Campbell played for the Longhorns from 1974 to 1977. During that time he racked up 4,443 yards and 40 touchdowns. He left the school as the all-time leading rusher in both categories. The records stood until another Heisman winning running back came to town in Ricky Williams. Campbell would go on to have a Hall of Fame career in the NFL.

Earl Campbell even signed the Longhorn for Guy, who claimed that the Tyler Rose was his favorite all-time player in a tweet. This comes on the same day as the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose award watch list was released. Despite his fame, that had to be a surreal moment for the celebrity chef.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Texas Longhorns athletics by joining the Longhorns Wire Forum.

NFL Draft: Two Longhorns go in first round of recent mock draft

In the latest mock from the Draft Network, two Longhorns were taking in the first round. So who was selected and how do they fit?

Even though the college football season is less than three weeks away from kicking off, we are in the thick of mock draft season. One of the better outlets, the Draft Network recently released their latest 2021 NFL mock draft. Drae Harris is projecting two Longhorns to be selected in the first 32 draft picks. That would mark the first time since 2007 when Aaron Ross and Michael Griffin were taken in the opening round.

With the 14th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft the Denver Broncos select

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

What Drae Harris says about Samuel Cosmi

The Broncos needed to improve at both tackle positions. Garett Bolles has been largely inconsistent and was plagued with penalties last year—they refused to exercise the fifth-year option on his contract. Ironically, they didn’t address either of the tackle positions in the 2020 NFL Draft. Denver bets on the upside here with Cosmi. He has the athleticism and ideal length for the perimeter. Denver believes it has its franchise quarterback in Drew Lock. Protecting him will be critical so that he can distribute the football to all of their explosive weapons on offense.

With the 24th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft the Philadelphia Eagles select

Image courtesy of Texas Sports

What Drae Harris says about Caden Sterns

Philadelphia lost a leader both in the locker room and on the field in Malcolm Jenkins. Adding Sterns to the mix to replace him would give that defense and that secondary a boost. Sterns is a good athlete who is the latest in the long line of NFL Longhorns to play in the secondary. He has the versatility to play low or high and it will be interesting to see how Philadelphia uses him in sub-packages.

What Longhorns Wire says about the selections

The two selections of Samuel Cosmi and Caden Sterns are the most logical. Both Denver and Philadelphia have needs at those particular positions. The Broncos need to protect their young quarterback, who now has a plethora of weapons at his disposal. Cosmi would likely play left tackle at the next level and protecting your quarterback’s blind side is one of the most important jobs of any player.

For the Eagles, much like Harris stated the loss of Malcolm Jenkins will be felt in the secondary. Not only a leader on the field but an emotional leader. For the Longhorns, Caden Sterns is in that role. He would work his way into the role with the Eagles. Philadelphia needs to sure up the secondary, especially considering the Dallas Cowboys just added Sterns’ old foe in CeeDee Lamb.

Texas Football Recruiting: Three targets make USA TODAY Sports HS All-American Team

USA TODAY Sports released their high school All-American team with three Longhorn hopefuls making the team led by Ja’Tavion Sanders.

In the game of high school football it is king in the Lone Star State. We love our football in the south. USA TODAY Sports has released their high school pre-season All-American. Some of the players named are well known around Texas football recruiting analysts. In fact, two are commits to the Longhorns while one other is a target they are actively pursuing.

First Team

L.J. Johnson: Running Back, Cy-Fair (Cypress, TX)

Johnson is one of the top targets for the Texas Longhorns and he made the first team at running back. Over the last two seasons, he has put up monster production. A former USA TODAY Sports All-American in Bijan Robinson has been heavily involved in getting Johnson to the Forty Acres.

Year Att Yards Avg TDs
2019 206 1,951 9.5 37
2018 164 1,139 6.9 20

*stats courtesy of 247Sports

Ja’Tavion Sanders: Athlete, Ryan (Denton, TX)

Sanders was the first commitment to the 2021 Texas football recruiting class. While listed as an athlete, the five-star recruit is expected to play defensive end for the Longhorns. Sanders plays both ways for Denton-Ryan but most feel is best suited to play the “Jack” role when Joseph Ossai moves on to the NFL.

Year Tackles TFL Sacks
2019 39 20 11
2018 54 23 9.5

Second Team

Quinn Ewers: Quarterback, Southlake Carroll (Southlake, TX)

Ewers became the second recruit from the 2022 class to commit to Texas. The number one quarterback in the class is as close to a can’t miss prospect as they come. He could be a program changing recruit and all eyes will be on the gunslinger over the next two years of high school football.

Year Comp Att Yards TDs
2019 291 402 4,003 45

 

Report: OU leaning towards discontinuing the season, Texas not with them

According to a report from Sports Illustrated, Oklahoma wants to discontinue their fall season. The Texas Longhorns want to move forward.

There has been much said about the two remaining Power Five conferences cancelling their season in hopes of spring football. Some might say it was too early to pull the plug, while others think it was the right call bases on scientific evidence. Now you can add Oklahoma to the schools wanting to punt on the season.

According to a report from Mark Blaudschun of Sports Illustrated, the Sooners want out.

While that was going on on Tuesday, the Big 12 was dealing with a different issue involving Oklahoma, which reportedly is leaning against the sentiment of its brethren who want to continue with the season.

Normally this would result in a stalemate.

Not so much this time because Texas is leading a charge to continue, with or WITHOUT Oklahoma as part of the conference for football this season.

Every sign out of Austin is that the Texas Longhorns want to move forward with the season. Even if Oklahoma pulls the plug such as is suggested, one should expect the Longhorns to push forward with a season. Much like what we have seen with Big Ten and teams discussing a fall schedule, Oklahoma seems discontent with the decision made by the Big 12 Conference.

With just over three weeks remaining before the start of the 2020 season, it seems like a bad time to be having this discussion. It likely should have been brought up during the Big 12 Conference’s Board of Directors meeting. Should Oklahoma opt out of the season while the Big 12 continues, they would lose out on approximately $42 million in TV revenue.

The conference has stated that they were moving forward with preparing for the upcoming season. There hasn’t been an announcement yet that the season would go on as planned as of yet. It will be interesting to see how Texas handles the situation moving forward.

 

Samuel Cosmi named to the USA TODAY Sports Preseason All-American Team

Redshirt junior offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi was named to the USA TODAY Sports preseason All-American team. He was the only Texas Longhorn.

The preseason All-American team is something that many look forward to each and every year. It gives you an idea about the players to watch are. Plus it is often a key indicator to who are the top NFL Draft prospects. No surprise here as USA TODAY Sports named offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi to their second-team.

The redshirt junior is heading into his fourth year at Texas. It is a real possibility that Cosmi could return for another season but all signs indicate that he will likely be NFL bound following the 2020 campaign. Cosmi comes in as the only Texas Longhorn to make the preseason list for USA TODAY Sports.

Joining Cosmi on the second team offense is Oklahoma State’s wide receiver Tylan Wallace. The Big 12 also added three players on the first team offense. Oklahoma State’s running back Chuba Hubbard, Iowa State’s tight end Charlie Kolar and Oklahoma’s center Creed Humphrey.

This season Cosmi is expecting to protect quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s blindside for the final time in 2020. Both could be heading for bigger things in the NFL as they prepare for the draft. Cosmi has been consistently mocked in the first round by many draft analysts.

You can read the full list by Paul Myerburg on the USA TODAY Sports’ preseason All-American team here.

Texas Offers 2021 three-star wide receiver and TCU commit

The Texas Longhorns made an offer to three-star wide receiver and TCU commit Chase Jackson. Jackson is coming off a monster junior year.

The Texas Longhorns are continuing to target receivers on the recruiting trail. The latest is a TCU commit in Chase Jackson of Oklahoma. Jackson had a monster year in 2019 with 1,342 yards and 17 touchdowns for Choctaw High School. Jackson could be a big play wide receiver in this Mike Yurcich offense and a weapon for whoever takes over as quarterback following Sam Ehlinger’s departure.

Continue reading “Texas Offers 2021 three-star wide receiver and TCU commit”

Top 2022 recruits react to Quinn Ewers’ commitment to Texas

The recent commitment of five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers has caused a ripple effect on the recruiting trail.

When you’re one of the most sought-after recruits in the country, it’s important to pay close attention to where other top prospects choose to continue their playing careers. Continue reading “Top 2022 recruits react to Quinn Ewers’ commitment to Texas”