Tag: Jahdae Barron

Steve Sarkisian sheds light on Texas’ defensive philosophy

For Texas to improve its record, they will need to stop the run.

At Big 12 Media Days on Thursday, Steve Sarkisian revealed what the Texas Longhorns defense will prioritize in 2022. Sarkisian stated, to accomplish all that they want to do, “you’ve got to stop the run first.”

While the statement could be mere platitude and coach-speak, it hinted that the coaching staff is aware of the defense’s root issue.

Stopping the run before anything else is a fundamental goal of many great defenses. Texas saw firsthand the demoralizing effect of getting gashed in the run game last year. For Texas to improve its record, they will need to stop the run.

Adding Ryan Watts to D’Shawn Jamison and Jahdae Barron could increase the coaches’ trust in the Texas secondary and shift their emphasis to stopping the run. The cornerback room could be one of the stronger units on the team this season.

Defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski seemed to play conservatively to prevent deep passes downfield last season. With improved play in the secondary, Kwiatkowski may be more inclined to play more aggressively with his front six.

Top 21 dark horse all-conference candidates for the Big 12 this season

These players will need to be head-and-shoulders above their competition.

The media’s first team all-conference selection is usually predictable. Continue reading “Top 21 dark horse all-conference candidates for the Big 12 this season”

Texas Football: Steve Sarkisian’s culture is trending up

The Texas culture is improving and here’s how.

Culture is a vague term often thrown out when describing the ills of Texas football of late.

The consensus among fans is Texas needed a culture change after moving on from Tom Herman. Prior to Steve Sarkisian, the Texas football program was never completely united. This offseason, it appears Sarkisian’s culture improves every day.

One can point to a few moves that have already improved the culture at Texas. Inarguably, Texas has weeded out some of the negative energy from past regimes. After losing to Iowa State, Bo Davis insisted Texas needed to fix its culture. Players took his impassioned speech to heart. Those who bought in to Sarkisian’s vision stayed. As a result the program is stronger.

Here’s what you can keep an eye on to measure subjective cultural improvements.

Report: Power Five school attempts to poach Texas WR Xavier Worthy

NIL and the transfer portal have the college football world in a frenzy.

NIL and the transfer portal have the college football world in a frenzy. Texas has been right in the center of all the craziness this week.

According to a report by Chris Hummer of 247Sports, Texas superstar wideout Xavier Worthy received a “significant six-figure offer” from an unnamed Power Five program to transfer from Texas.

The Longhorns managed to hold off the reported offer and keep the Freshman All-American in Austin. Worthy shut down the rumors with a tweet of himself and Steve Sarkisian.

Losing a talent like Worthy would be killer for Steve Sarkisian’s offense. He snagged 62 passes for 12 touchdowns and nearly 1000 yards a season ago.

Situations like this will pop up more and more around the sport. Pittsburgh’s 2021 Biletnikoff winner, Jordan Addison, is considering entering the portal with USC as a possible landing spot. Hummer even mentioned Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron is being approached with an offer to transfer schools as well.

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Four Texas Longhorns to look out for this college football season

These Longhorns could be rising stars in 2022.

There is plenty of hype surrounding Texas when it comes to the 2022 college football season, but there are players that may be getting a tad overlooked.

Everyone is well aware of the likes of Quinn Ewers, Bijan Robinson, Xavier Worthy, and DeMarvion Overshown. However, there are a handful of Longhorns that can make an impact that are not getting talked about nearly enough.

Whether these players may have already played a significant role in years past, or are looking to carve out a spot to do so for the first time in 2022, there will certainly be some commonly overlooked names being said this year.

Steve Sarkisian and his staff are now in year two, and not only does that mean the fan base has higher expectations considering the first year went so poorly, but it also means the players on the roster have had consistency for the first time in a couple years. This allows for players to grow in the system and blossom into stars.

Here are a few players that have a great chance of contributing in the 2022 season whether it be as a starter or a role player.

Early position outlook: Texas will have huge battles at DB

There will be new faces all over the defensive backfield

While most of the attention in terms of position battles has been placed on the quarterbacks, offensive line, and even the defensive line there is still one more position group that might have the biggest position battle of them all.

The defensive back group for Texas is one to watch out for, as there will be new faces all over the field after the Longhorns lost Josh Thompson (NFL), Darrion Dunn (graduation), Brenden Schooler (graduation), and B.J. Foster (Sam Houston State). The only two returners they have that started last season are corner D’Shawn Jamison and Anthony Cook who played at the “star” position.

This gives room for players like sophomore Jahdae Barron, sophomore Jerrin Thompson, and sophomore Kitan Crawford. Each has seen some time in their two years and has the opportunity to solidify their roles.

It will not be an easy task to win a starting job, however, as the Longhorns brought in a slew of talented defensive backs. In their 2022 class the staff added four-star Terrance Brooks and four-star Jaylon Guilbeau. Both of them are early enrollees and are looking to fight for time right away.

Texas was also able to add some experience via the transfer portal in Ryan Watts out of Ohio State, who has the versatility to play either corner or safety.

The biggest addition of the offseason may not even be a player, as the Longhorns were able to convince Gary Patterson to cross enemy lines and accept an assistant to the head coach role. Patterson will be able to provide feedback on personnel and strategy.

Texas will need all the help they can get, as the pass defense was average at best last season They ranked as the No. 62 team in terms of passing yards allowed giving up 224 per game, and over 10 yards per completion.

The Longhorns did miss out on multiple transfers that could have added more experience and tangible college production, and it doesn’t seem they will get a chance to add anyone else. These position battles may be one of the most intense on the roster, and right now the only defensive back who realistically has their spot close to solidified is Cook. Every other starting spot in the defensive backfield should be up for grabs.

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Texas’ players with breakout potential for the 2022 season

10 players who have the potential to have big seasons in 2022.

Texas will have many fresh faces in the program next season.

Over 30 recruits and transfers will make up an exciting group of newcomers joining Texas’ roster.

Steve Sarkisian has a good amount of talent to work with between the newcomers on the team and the young players who have been held over from last season.

Despite the 5-7 record, many around the program feel they are knocking on the door for a massive improvement. Texas proved they could compete with any team in the conference last season but struggled to find ways to win in the second half of games.

Finding some breakout players could turn Texas into real competitors in the Big 12 conference. Last season Xavier Worthy and Bijan Robinson established themselves as elite players. Who on the roster could share similar leaps in the 2022 season?

Here are 10 players who could break out into major contributors next year:

Texas Football: Injury update ahead of the Texas Tech matchup

Cornerback Ishmael Ibraheem is out for the season, and two others will miss the Texas Tech game.

Although Texas enjoyed a 58-0 win over Rice in Week 3, one of their young and promising cornerbacks suffered a season-ending injury. Continue reading “Texas Football: Injury update ahead of the Texas Tech matchup”

Steve Sarkisian provides injury report ahead of Rice matchup

Looking for a positive to come out of Arkansas, Texas mostly remained healthy. Only two players are expected to miss Saturday’s game vs Rice.

Looking for a positive to come out of the Arkansas game, Texas mostly remained healthy. Only two players are expected to miss to game against Rice on Saturday.

The first is wide receiver Troy Omeire. The redshirt freshman has yet to play a snap for the Longhorns despite it being his second year on campus. The former four-star is still rehabilitating a knee injury.

“Troy [Omeire] at this point, I would imagine, probably week to week,” Sarkisian said.

Cornerback Jahdae Barron is the second player expected to be out. After getting some snaps against Arkansas, the sophomore will not be back until the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma at the earliest. It’s another knee issue but this time, a sprain.

For some positive news, tight end Jared Wiley will be back in the lineup this weekend. Horns247 was the first to report he was back in practice and expected to play vs the Owls. The head coach confirmed the report on Thursday.

Adding Wiley back into the offense should open up a different dimension for Sarkisian on Saturday. From a blocking and pass game standpoint, using an experienced tight end should help a ton in 12 personnel.

It’s Rice but Texas desperately needs to get back on track. Wiley should be a great weapon for both Casey Thompson and Hudson Card.

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WATCH: New Texas defensive back showcases impressive footwork

Four-star cornerback Jahdae Barron is one of the top recruits in head coach Tom Herman’s 2020 recruiting class.

Texas received a welcomed addition to their 2020 recruiting class when four-star cornerback Jahdae Barron was released from his national letter of intent with Baylor. Continue reading “WATCH: New Texas defensive back showcases impressive footwork”