Sarkisian provides Isaiah Bond injury update ahead of College Football Playoff

Steve Sarkisian provides updates on Texas Isaiah Bond ahead of Clemson CFP game.

There is no guarantee that star wide receiver Isaiah Bond will suit up for Texas against Clemson on Saturday afternoon. Addressing the media during his Monday press conference, Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian stated that Bond is still dealing with the lingering effects of an ankle injury sustained in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia.

Bond was completely shut down during the team’s bye week, Sarkisian said, and the focus is now on getting him back to where he can play against the Tigers.

“Any time you have an ankle injury it just takes time,” Sarkisian said. “Isaiah and I had a great meeting last week, and he’s going to do everything in his power to play this week.

The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter in Atlanta when Bond’s ankle was rolled up on, forcing him to exit the field. Sarkisian had indicated on Selection Sunday that Bond would undergo an MRI, though no updates were provided until Monday.

“We’re going to have to monitor that daily as it goes, but I’ll get a bit better gauge coming out of practice today and tomorrow as to kind of where he’s at, and what his availability will look like for Saturday.”

Bond has been a key weapon for the Longhorns’ offense this season. He opened the year with a standout performance against Colorado State, recording a team-high five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown, along with a 25-yard carry.

In Texas’ road win over Michigan, Bond hauled in three catches for 51 yards, including a 33-yard grab on the opening drive. He delivered a breakout performance against UTSA, posting five receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns, marking his first career 100-yard receiving game and multi-touchdown effort.

His versatility continued to shine throughout the season. Bond recorded a 56-yard reception against ULM, a 26-yard rushing touchdown versus Mississippi State, and a 34-yard touchdown catch against Florida. For the season, Bond has contributed in all phases of the offense, accumulating explosive plays both through the air and on the ground.

Three Longhorns players projected to be first-round picks in PFF College mock draft

The Texas Longhorns have multiple players who could hear their names called as NFL teams look for future stars

With the college football regular season winding down, players nationwide will soon start preparing for the NFL draft. The Texas Longhorns have multiple prospects who could hear their names called as teams seek future stars.

In the last mock draft from PFF College, the Longhorns were a popular team: Three players were projected to be first-round picks: Kelvin Banks Jr., Alfred Collins, and Isaiah Bond. Over the last few years, they have been critical to the Longhorns’ success. While Banks has been considered a draft prospect for months, Collins and Bond have had their stock rise over the last few months.

Through 12 games, Bond has been one of the Longhorns’ best wide receivers. He ranks second on the team in receptions with 42 and receiving yards with 510. His ability to get open would be helpful to any team and PFF College sees him as a good fit for the Chargers and Justin Herbert.

Due to another productive season leading the Longhorns’ offense line, it was no surprise to see Banks’ name in the first round. He is one of the best tackles in his class and would be very valuable to any team, including the Seahawks. At the moment, they are projected to have the 20th overall pick and could use it on Banks with free agency looming for Abraham Lucas.

Rounding out the list is Collins, who is playing the best football of his college career. So far this season, he has set career highs in total tackles, solo tackles and pass deflections. The Longhorns star has also shown a talent for pressuring quarterbacks. PFF College sees him as a fit with the Texans, who are projected to have the 22nd overall pick.

While a lot can change leading up to the draft, the Longhorns’ roster is full of talent that will appeal to many NFL teams when they are on the clock.

Isaiah Bond, Andrew Mukuba among Longhorns likely to miss Vanderbilt game via SEC injury report

Texas Longhorns face injury woes as Isaiah Bond and other key players are out or doubtful for their SEC game against Vanderbilt.

Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond is not expected to play this Saturday against Vanderbilt. Bond was initially listed as questionable, but was downgraded to doubtful on Thursday. During Thursday’s press conference, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian remained vague about Bond’s status.

When asked if there was a balance between playing Bond against Vanderbilt or resting him ahead of the Nov. 9 matchup against Florida following a bye week, Sarkisian responded, “You answered the question for me. There’s a fine line in figuring that out.” Sarkisian has never been the type to comment on players injuries or provide any sort of information outside of surface-level information.

Bond isn’t the only Longhorn player likely to sit out this weekend in preparation for the remainder of the regular season, five others will join him.

Safety Andrew Mukuba is also not expected to play. Sarkisian suggested earlier in the week that cornerback Jahdae Barron could move to safety if needed. Mukuba, who had an impressive performance against the Bulldogs with five tackles, an interception, and a quarterback pressure, is expected to miss the game.

Here are the full injury report for Texas:

Texas Longhorns:

CB Derek Williams Jr. – Out
RB CJ Baxter – Out
RB Christian Clark – Out
RB Velton Gardner – Out
DB Andrew Mukuba – Doubtful
WR Isaiah Bond – Doubtful

This is familiar territory for Texas. Quarterback Quinn Ewers was held out of the Mississippi State game in late September to allow more rest before the first bye. He returned fully healthy to start the next two games against Oklahoma and Georgia, though he was briefly swapped out during the Georgia game with sophomore quarterback, Arch Manning.

“We’re in week eight of the season, and everybody’s dealing with something,” Sarkisian said. In my opinion, Sarkisian is just doing what he does best—resting key players to prepare for more important matchups, like the upcoming game against Texas A&M.

Texas will travel to Vanderbilt to defend their 6-1 record (2-1 conference) in their first SEC showdown outside of DKR-TMS. Despite the injuries, ESPN Analytics still favors Texas by 90% on Saturday.

Steelers land offensive gamebreaker in new 2025 NFL mock draft

This new mock draft hits the mark for the Steelers.

If the 2025 NFL draft were today, there’s no doubt the Pittsburgh Steelers would be tempted to target a wide receiver in the first round. Pittsburgh has tried and failed to land a receiver so far this offseason so it only makes sense if nothing happens there will be action at wide receiver in the offseason.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid has a new mock draft out and he took that same approach and gave the Steelers one of our favorite prospects in the entire draft in Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond. Here’s what Reid had to say about the pick:

The Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves at 4-2 and atop the AFC North despite some real problems on the roster. Looking ahead to the end of the season, there are going to be multiple spots

No matter who is under center, Pittsburgh has to find more playmaking beyond George Pickens. The speedy and dynamic Bond has flashed this season after transferring from Alabama. He’s not only capable of winning downfield, but he can also turn underneath plays into big gains. He forces defenses to respect his vertical speed and has four scores this season.

There are several elite receivers in this upcoming draft but Bond is the guy we like the most for the Steelers as a guy who can do a little of everything.

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Longhorns offense getting unexpected boost from Gunnar Helm

While the 2024 campaign is far from over, Helm is putting together the best season of his college career

Over the last few years, Gunnar Helm has been a steady presence in the Longhorns’ offense. In his senior year, the Colorado native has taken his game to a new level and has been a bright spot every week. While the 2024 campaign is far from over, Helm is putting together the best season of his college career.

Through four games, the Longhorns tight end has recorded 11 receptions for a career-high 197 yards. He has also added one touchdown catch to his resume, leaving him one short of matching his total from the 2023 campaign. In an offense full of explosive pieces, Helm has seen his targets increase and taken advantage of his opportunities.

While catching passes from Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers, Helm is averaging a career-high 17.9 yards a catch. That is a decent bump from last year, as he averaged 13.7 yards. The increase has partly been due to speedsters such as Ryan Wingo and Isaiah Bond, who have drawn the focus of defensive coordinators.

With the first month of the season in the books, Helm ranks third on the team in catches and receiving yards. He is one of only three Longhorns players with more than ten receptions. His rise in production has been a welcome sign.

If Helm can keep up his current play, the Longhorns should be able to hold their own in the SEC. They have already shown they can put points on the board quickly while being backed by a very good defense. That combination could lead to a national championship.

Regardless of what this team accomplished, Helm is putting together a season he will never forget.

Longhorns WR Johntay Cook II embracing battle for targets

On a weekly basis, a group that includes Ryan Wingo, Isaiah Bond, Johntay Cook II, and Matthew Golden has put points on the board with ease

Through the first month of the college football season, the Texas Longhorns have been the best team in the nation. While their success is due to a variety of factors, one that stands out is the Texas receiving corps. On a weekly basis, a group that includes Ryan Wingo, Isaiah Bond, Johntay Cook II, and Matthew Golden, has put points on the board with ease.

Through four games, Bond and Wingo have made the biggest impact, combing for 529 receiving yards and five touchdowns. However, Golden and Cook have held their own, averaging over 13 yards a catch and finding the end zone each twice. While they have had to battle for targets, this group has enjoyed the challenge.

“The competition rises, and you just got to bring your A-game every day because (there’s) dudes around you that can make big plays,” Cook told the media on Monday.

Additionally, regardless of who is under center, the offense has thrived. Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning have shown excellent chemistry with this wide-receiving group, which is very different from a year ago. The Longhorns quarterbacks have used the speed of their weapons to their advantage, which Cook has enjoyed being part of.

“I think it just raises the intensity and practice because the (starters) will go and it’s speed speed speed and the (backups) go and it’s speed, speed, speed, speed, sometimes threes will go and it’s speed, speed, speed, speed,” Cook said.” So it’s just a great look for the whole team just having good guys at almost three deep.”

With conference play set to start this weekend, the Longhorns will need the offense to be at its best. That should be no issue, as Cook and his fellow wide receivers have surpassed expectations and frustrated defenses.

Isaiah Bond named honorable mention for Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award

On Tuesday, Bond was named an honorable mention for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Week Award

In the Texas Longhorns Week 3 win, the offense thrived, putting a season-high 56 points on the board. As UTSA struggled to stop Arch Manning, Isaiah Bond showed why he can be a difference maker. On Tuesday, Bond was named an honorable mention for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Player of the Week Award.

Against the Roadrunners’ defense, Bond hauled in five catches for 103 receiving yards. He also found the end zone twice and showed off his blazing speed on a 51-yard touchdown catch. It marked the first time this season Bond had more than 100 receiving yards in a game.

As Bond frustrated the UTSA defense, he also made history. Along with Ryan Wingo, Bond became the first Longhorn to accomplish a 100-yard receiving effort during the 2024 season. The talented freshman also became the first receiving duo to each compile more than 100 yards in a single game since Adonai Mitchell and Ja’Tavion Sanders against Oklahoma State in the 2023 Big 12 Championship.

https://twitter.com/TexasFootball/status/1836421835778367623

When the Longhorns return to action on Saturday against LMU, Bond will have an excellent opportunity to build on his success. Regardless of who is under center, he has been a vocal part of the offense and a scoring machine.

With the season far from over, there should be plenty of more awards on the horizon for Bond.

Isaiah Bond shines in Longhorns blowout win over UTSA

Against UTSA, Bond was a human highlight reel in the Longhorns’ latest blowout win

Entering the 2024 campaign, expectations were high for Isaiah Bond as he started his Longhorns career. After a slow start, he had his first big game of the season on Saturday. Against UTSA, Bond was a human highlight reel in the Longhorns’ latest blowout win.

Against the Roadrunners secondary, Bond hauled in a team-high five catches for 103 receiving yards. He averaged 20.6 yards a catch and found the end zone twice. His impressive performance not only led Texas to a win but also marked the first time this season that Bond recorded more than 100 yards in a game.

https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1835123350999306356

With three games in the books, the Alabama transfer has 13 receptions for 215 yards. He is also tied for the team lead in touchdown catches with three, all of which have come in his last two games. That is the type of impact the Longhorns were expecting him to make when they added him from the transfer portal.

One of the reasons Texas targeted the Georgia native was his speed. On Saturday, he showed that he can break away from defenders with ease and consistently extend plays. That has helped make life easier for Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning this season.

As the season continues, Bond will be a player to watch. He has shown he can be a vocal part of the offense and do damage regardless of who is under center. Saturday provided a glimpse of just how good Bond can be.

Texas-Michigan scouting preview: Big matchups to watch for the 2025 NFL Draft

Texas and Michigan each have many good 2025 NFL Draft prospects, and several will be facing off against one another in Saturday’s big matchup

One of the most anticipated college football matchups of the season will kick off on Saturday afternoon when the Texas Longhorns make their first-ever visit to the state of Michigan to play the host Wolverines in Ann Arbor. All 32 NFL teams are expected to be in attendance to watch the second-ever meeting between the two powerhouse programs, the only prior one coming in the 2005 Rose Bowl.

This one is a scouting bonanza, with several prominent 2025 NFL Draft prospects set to take the field against one another. Texas has 16 players featured on the preseason Senior Bowl watchlist. Michigan touts 14 on the same list.

Some of those top prospects will face off against one another on Saturday. Here’s some of the key draft scouting matchups to watch when Michigan and Texas get it on.

Isaiah Bond vs. Will Johnson

Two potential first-rounders square off on the outside with Bond, an Alabama transfer, coming off an impressive Texas debut. He caught five passes in the Longhorns’ romp over Colorado State, smartly working the middle of the field and showing off nice short-area quickness on the outside. Bond had no trouble getting open last week, though he did have one drop.

Johnson might be the best coverage corner in the country. His size, physicality and ball skills are all elite. Interestingly, Fresno State went at him a little and found some success early on comeback routes. Johnson made them pay with a game-sealing pick-six that showed his anticipation and closing burst, traits that have Johnson almost universally regarded as a top-15 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Bond’s quickness and spritely physicality for a smaller wideout make him a compelling challenge for Johnson.

Quinn Ewers vs. Rod Moore and Makari Page

Ewers is the man throwing the ball to Bond, and he looked very good in the opener. Going into the season, I had concerns about Ewers’ handling pressure and willingness to let it fly with his rifle of a right arm. He didn’t face much pressure, but against the Rams, I thought Ewers saw the field well and showed some chutzpah in staying with his best read.

Moore and Page are a seasoned safety tandem that comfortably works together. Moore is a potential Day 2 pick who considered declaring for the 2024 draft. Page is more of a Day 3 prospect but one with versatility, capable of playing deep coverage or lining up as a slot corner. They’re both smart and sleek in coverage, presenting a difficult test for Ewers as a pocket passer.

Ewers can also run a little, and that puts an onus on the Wolverines safeties to not abandon their responsibilities there, too. The Michigan interior DL tandem of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, both likely first-round picks in 2025, figure to flush Ewers out of the pocket. Ewers will tuck and run, but he does have the arm strength to unleash a deep throw outside the pocket too.

Kelvin Banks vs. Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore

Banks pitched a shutout at left tackle in Texas’ win over Colorado State, but Michigan brings two potential ’25 draftees to the pass rush party. Josaiah Stweart bagged two sacks in Michigan’s win over Fresno State, while Derrick Moore tallied five official QB pressures from PFF’s metrics.

Both Moore and Stewart move around the formation. That means Banks will face different styles and speeds of pass rushers in the game game, a great test for the potential first-rounder. For Moore, it’s an opportunity to show his game is growing by facing off against an accomplished blocker like Banks. Stewart, the better-regarded of the Wolverines prospects, needs to show he can handle Banks’ considerable size in the run game.

It figures to be a great atmosphere and scouting matchup for fans of any team to watch at noon on Saturday.

 

Texas’ Isaiah Bond did the iconic James Bond pose after scoring his first touchdown of the year

Bond. Isaiah Bond.

When we last saw Isaiah Bond, he was creating absolute nightmares for Auburn fans with one of the most epic Iron Bowl moments in Alabama history.

As the 2024 college football season gets under way, Bond is now a member of the Texas Longhorns. Which meant he swapped one Heisman-caliber quarterback in Jalen Milroe for another in Quinn Ewers.

One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is Bond’s ability to make any QB even better.

Watch as he adjusts his helmet mid-route before hauling in the touchdown against Colorado State. Of course, he celebrated in Bond fashion, too, by recreating the secret agent’s iconic pose.

https://twitter.com/TexasFootball/status/1829985885032759348

https://twitter.com/TheDraftRoomNFL/status/1829996292451467381

That’s focus at an elite level. Exactly what we’ve come to expect both from the wideout and the British spy.

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