Tag: horns

Texas ranked a top 20 underrated defense by 247Sports

247Sports comprised a list of underrated defenses in the country. They say UT was not one of the worst in the country as it seemed.

Texas’ defense struggled mightily last season, surrendering 27.5 points per game. Injuries did not help the Longhorns, who were also thin across the front seven.

Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando was fired at the end of the season, leaving Tom Herman with his first major hire as head coach. He retained former Rutgers head coach Chris Ash, who had been with the team as an analyst.

247Sports compiled a list of the most underrated defenses in the country, naming the Longhorns. While they do not say Texas has an elite defense, the website says it was not one of the worst in the country as it seems.

Elliott’s take: “Texas’ defense was not good in 2019 by any measure. And the performance resulted in a change in coordinator, as Todd Orlando is out and Chris Ash is in. But was the Texas defense really as bad as its 97th ranking in yards/game allowed suggests? YPP says yes, as the Longhorns finished 98th! But SP+ tells a different story. The reason is clear when perusing the schedule. Texas had to play a standard slate of opposing Big 12 offenses plus a game against LSU, perhaps the most dominant offense in college football history. It did not do a good job against that slate, but in no way should the Texas 2019 defense be regarded as one of the worst in the country. It was simply an average unit.”

The 2020 skinny: Not to make excuses for the Longhorns, but Texas rarely played with a full deck defensively last season. With a plethora of starters back in 2020, this should be Tom Herman’s strongest unit on defense during his tenure.

Returning nine starters is going to be the biggest key for Ash’s defense this season. Stars such as Caden Sterns, Joseph Ossai, and D’Shawn Jamison are waiting to break out in their junior season.

Ossai will be the leader of the defensive line, the unit that will determine the improvement for the defense. Texas’ pass rush only produced 27 sacks, sixth in the Big 12. Five of them came against Utah in the Alamo Bowl, totaling for 18% of their season tally in one game.

With Sam Ehlinger going into his senior year, the Longhorns’ offense is going to be consistent under new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. If Texas wants to finally compete atop the Big 12, Chris Ash must turn the defense around.

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Texas continues to heavily target four-star running back from Cypress

Texas coaches, players have been pushing the hardest for four-star running back LJ Johnson.

Texas is pulling out all the stops to land four-star running back LJ Johnson. Continue reading “Texas continues to heavily target four-star running back from Cypress”

Texas Football: Is Bijan Robinson a breakout candidate in 2020?

Recently 247Sports named Texas running back Bijan Robinson a freshman breakout candidate in 2020. We examine that claim.

There is quite a buzz surrounding the newest running back for the University of Texas. Bijan Robinson was the number one rated running back in the country according to 247Sports Composite rankings. Throughout the 2020 recruiting cycle it seemed back and forth with Zachary Evans (TCU) and Robinson as to who would be the number one back.

Our friends at 247Sports put together a list of freshmen who could be top 50 players by seasons end. Several players on the list have Big 12 ties such as Spencer Rattler (redshirt freshman, Oklahoma) and Evans. Robinson is also on the list.

Sean Logan/The Republic

 

What 247Sports says

Head coach Tom Herman is hyping Texas’ running back depth. And while the Longhorns do return a pair of highly-effective rushers in Keaontay Ingram (5.9 ypc, 853 yards) and Roschon Johnson (5.3 ypc, 649 yards), it’s worth noting Johnson is entering only his second year playing the position and Ingram has already suffered a hamstring injury ahead of fall camp. Robinson, meanwhile, is a potential bell cow.

A ridiculously effective high school ball carrier, Robinson finished his senior season with 2,235 yards and 35 touchdowns while averaging 17.7 yards per carry. Those are video game statistics. The 2020 five-star and No. 1 overall back in the 247Sports Composite arrives with a college-ready frame and big-play potential. Given that the Longhorns have struggled to produce explosive rushing plays under Herman’s direction, ranking 100th (2017), 120th (2018) and 91st (2019) in runs of 20-plus yards, Robinson figures to have an instant role within the offense. Don’t be shocked if he quickly maneuvers his way into the status of Texas’ top back.

Next we give our take on Bijan Robinson

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Chris Del Conte: LSU game will ‘definitely’ be made up

According to Brian Davis of the AAS, AD Chris Del Conte said the Texas-LSU matchup will “definitely” be made up some time in the future.

Both the Big 12 and SEC announced their plans for the 2020 college football season. Unfortunately, it will mean the cancelation of the much anticipated Texas-LSU matchup in Baton Rouge.

The Big 12 announced they will be going to a 9+1 model, allowing one nonconference matchup for each school. However, the nonconference game must be a home game, ruling out the possibility of Texas traveling to LSU.

Even if the Longhorns were allowed to go on the road, the SEC is not allowing nonconference games. The reigning national champions will be playing a 10 game, conference only schedule this season.

According to Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman, athletic director Chris Del Conte said the Texas-LSU matchup will “definitely” be made up some time in the future.

Right now, Texas’ nonconference schedule is booked full until 2027. The Longhorns have future matchups with Arkansas, Alabama, Michigan, and Ohio State. Even in 2027, Texas will be playing the Wolverines and would be doubling up with Power 5 opponents.

It will be until 2034 until Texas has zero nonconference games scheduled.

If the two were to meet in 2027, LSU would be playing both Texas and Oklahoma. The Tigers are scheduled to travel to Norman that year, the first year of a home and home series. Ed Orgeron’s team has a nonconference game scheduled every year until 2033.

Nearly a decade may go in between the two matchups but Texas and LSU will find a way to meet in Baton Rouge. If the second game was going to be anything like the first, another instant classic would have been instore.

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Big 12 gives update on Texas-Oklahoma, conference championship game

COVID-19 has brought uncertainty to the 2020 CFB season. The Big 12 announced plans and gave updates on UT-OU + Big 12 Championship game.

COVID-19 has brought uncertainty to the 2020 college football season. The Big 12 was the final Power Five conference to announce their plans but did so Monday night. The conference is going to a 9+1 scheduling format, giving the Longhorns the usual Big 12 schedule plus a nonconference game.

There had been concern over the annual Texas-Oklahoma game after the State Fair of Texas announced it was canceled. However, it seems as if the Longhorns and Sooners will still be meeting in Dallas this season.

According to The Athletic, as long as it is safe to host, the historic Cotton Bowl will still be the site of the Red River Shootout. The matchup has been played in Dallas since 1929 and is one of the best events in all of sports.

After reports of a home and home series emerging, The Athletic is reporting those ideas have been shut down and will luckily not be happening.

Multiple sources have also indicated that Oklahoma and Texas still intend to play their rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, provided it’s safe to do so, and likely with limited capacity, despite the cancellation of the State Fair of Texas. Sources said neither side is interested in scheduling a home-and-home arrangement instead.

As for the Big 12 Championship, the conference remains flexible for when the game can be played. It is currently scheduled for Dec. 5 but Bob Bowlsby could delay it by a week to Dec. 12.

Worst case possible, the championship game could not only move dates but also locations. Dec. 19 is still a possible date for the conference championship game but would need to be moved to Globe Life Field.

Texas high school football championships are scheduled for AT&T Stadium Dec. 16-19 and the Dallas Cowboys have a home game on Dec. 20. With no room for a college football game, the Big 12 would move across the street to the Texas Rangers’ brand new indoor stadium.

The Big 12 is expected to be flexible in its approach to its December conference title game, which Bowlsby previously discussed with The Athletic. That game is currently scheduled for Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and could be rescheduled for Dec. 12 if necessary.

If the Big 12’s title game must get pushed to Dec. 19, multiple sources have indicated the title game could move to nearby Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers’ new $1.2 billion ballpark, if there are scheduling conflicts. The UIL Texas high school football championships for class 1A-4A are scheduled for Dec. 16-19 at AT&T Stadium, and the Cowboys are scheduled to host the 49ers on Dec. 20.

Texas is currently scheduled to play Oklahoma in Dallas on Oct. 10. With the Big 12 expected to move the start date of the season back, the Longhorns will be waiting for a new schedule.

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Report: Big 12 Conference to go with a 10-game schedule

Max Olson of the Athletic is reporting that the Big 12 Conference will go with a 10-game schedule. Who Texas plays is a bit tricky.

Following a meeting with all of the athletic directors from across the Big 12 Conference, there was no decision made on the upcoming schedule late last week. Monday was supposed to be the Big 12’s virtual media day but it was cancelled following the schedule announcement by the SEC. According to Max Olson and Nicole Auerbach of the Athletic, the Big 12 will go with a nine plus one schedule.

This should come as no surprise as it was widely speculated that the Big 12 would go with this model. For the Longhorns they have two teams on their nonconference schedule remaining after the Louisiana State game was cancelled. The Longhorns were scheduled to open the season with South Florida on September 5th and Texas-El Paso on September 19th. So which game will they have?

Conventional wisdom leads you to believe they would host UTEP at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in mid September. That is where it gets a bit tricky. UTEP is also scheduled to play Texas Tech in the nonconference portion of the schedule. Texas Tech lost one of their opponents in Arizona when the Pac-12 Conference cancelled all of their nonconference games. That leaves UTEP and Alabama State for the Red Raiders. Alabama State’s season was postponed on July 20th.

So who would play UTEP as the lone game of the nonconference schedule in the Big 12? Well, Tech is closer geographically to El Paso than the Miners are to Austin. They might lean in their favor. The only question is would Texas keep South Florida on the schedule? Much like the state of Texas, Florida is a hotbed for the coronavirus.

Stay tuned to Longhorns Wire as we keep you up to date.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson becomes part owner of XFL

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia, Gerry Cardinale, and RedBird Capital Partners have teamed up to buy the XFL for $15 million. 

The XFL was five weeks through their “rebirth” season before the league was shut down due to COVID-19. One month later, the league’s parent company, Alpha Entertainment LLC, filed for bankruptcy, leaving the XFL without an owner.

Insert Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who is now a minority owner in the league.

Johnson, his business partner Dany Garcia, Gerry Cardinale, and RedBird Capital Partners have teamed up to buy the XFL for $15 million.

“The acquisition of the XFL with my talented partners, Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale, is an investment for me that’s rooted deeply in two things — my passion for the game and my desire to always take care of the fans,” Johnson said.

Four former Longhorns played in the XFL last season, spanning across three different teams.

Defensive end Cedric Reed and guard Patrick Vahe played for the Los Angeles Wildcats, while Kent Perkins was a starting guard for the St. Louis Battlehawks. Wide receiver Jerrod Heard wrapped up former Texas players in the league, playing for the Dallas Renegades.

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Senior Bowl executives look forward to watching Texas QB Sam Ehlinger

Senior Bowl Executive Director Jim Nagy recently expressed his excitement in watching Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger this fall.

Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger is likely to be tabbed a mid-round draft pick, but another impressive season under his belt will only increase his stock. Continue reading “Senior Bowl executives look forward to watching Texas QB Sam Ehlinger”

Locked on Longhorns Podcast: Big 12 plans and Tarik Black

Locked on Longhorns podcast discusses the plans for the upcoming Big 12 college football season, Tarik Black and the Pac 12 labor dispute.

The Locked on Longhorns podcast returns on a Monday. The biggest news of the day is that when the XFL returns there will be a new part owner as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has secured ownership. The Big 12 school presidents are set to meet Monday night to determine the 2020 football schedule. What do think about it? Who do we think the Longhorns will play? The school also released their COVID-19 safety guidelines. We take a moment to highlight the main points. 

Ben Stevens of the Locked on Big 10 podcast joins to discuss Tarik Black. What happened at Michigan? Plus why a change of scenery is probably the best thing for Black’s football career. A receiver wearing zero? I ask Ben what he thinks. 

The Pac-12 finds themselves in a labor dispute as the players join forces in the We Are United campaign. We discuss how this all transpired and what it means for the future of college athletics. With the Board of Governors meeting set for Tuesday, could this being another cog in the wheel leading to Power Five schools leaving the NCAA? 

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Two Longhorns in DraftWire’s latest mock draft

In DraftWire’s latest mock draft, the five-year first-round drought is finally going to end for UT. Plus, another defensive back selected.

Texas has not produced a first-round pick since 2015, when Malcolm Brown went No. 32 overall to the New England Patriots. Since then, Connor Williams is the program’s highest draft selection where he was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round.

In DraftWire’s latest mock draft, the five-year first-round drought is finally going to end for the Longhorns.

Samuel Cosmi is the best NFL prospect Texas has produced in years and it may pay off for the left tackle. DraftWire projects Cosmi to sneak into the top 20, with the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting him at No. 20 overall.

Three other offensive tackles were taken ahead of Cosmi, with all but one inside the top 15. Penei Sewell (No. 4), Walker Little (No. 15), and Alex Leatherwood (No. 18) are currently ahead of the Longhorn of Luke Easterling’s draft board.

Texas’ staff has done an excellent job developing the tackle, as the 247Sports composite only had him as a three-star prospect. In the 2017 recruiting class, he was No. 104 in the country for tackles.

According to PFF, in 1,162 career pass-blocking snaps, Cosmi has only allowed four career sacks. He and Derek Kerrsetter developed as the best tackle duo in the Big 12 last season.

Cosmi was not the only Texas player taken in the three-round mock draft. Safety Caden Sterns was taken No. 55 overall in the second round to the Philadelphia Eagles.

When Sterns is selected, it will be the fourth year in a row where the Longhorns have had a defensive back taken in the draft. DeShon Elliot, Kris Boyd, and Brandon Jones have represented Texas’ secondary in the NFL recently.

Going into his junior season, Sterns has the potential to see his draft stock rise with a solid 2020. After his fantastic freshman season, it seemed as Sterns would live up to his five-star potential and become a first-round draft pick.

If he can stay fully healthy, the safety should be flying around the field and once again be making plays like this.

Texas has had trouble turning their successful recruiting classes and developing them into NFL talent.

Tom Herman’s best-ever recruiting class came in 2018, totaling 19 blue-chip recruits, including two five-stars. It was the No. 3 overall class and ranked about schools like Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma.

Now, these former recruits are draft eligible for the first time and will be looking to turn professional. This will be a key year for Herman, showing he can take a top-five recruiting class and turn multiple players into Day One or early Day Two draft selections.

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