Tag: Jahleel Billingsley

Which transfer players are the safest bets to contribute in 2022

This transfer class seems different than any group of transfers to Texas in recent memory.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was active in improving the team through the transfer portal in 2022. Adding transfer players is not a new practice, but this class seemed different than any group of transfers in recent memory.

First off, Sarkisian brought in a number of proven players. In fact, nearly every player has contributed significantly to their past team.

In past years, Texas fans bought into the transfer hype for more than one player who showed promise on the field. Tarik Black was lauded for his high school upside and early production, but it never translated to the field at Texas.

Heading into the 2022 season, let’s take a look at which players you can expect to contribute immediately on the Forty Acres, on a scale of 1-10.

The most difficult formations for Texas’ opponents to defend in 2022

Football is a chess match, and Steve Sarkisian is starting with more pieces than most of his opponents this year.

The Texas Longhorns will win games by creating matchup problems in 2022. They have built a team to exploit any opponent’s deficiencies.

Football is a chess match, and Steve Sarkisian is starting with more pieces than most of his opponents this year.

Each of his offensive weapons brings varying abilities to the table. Tarique Milton, Brenen Thompson and Jordan Whittington should rack up yards after catch with their elite speed and quickness. Xavier Worthy, Isaiah Neyor and Agiye Hall are dangerous home-run threats as downfield targets.

At tight end, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jahleel Billingsley have exceptional athleticism and catching ability for their position.

Texas’ four running backs are all difficult to bring down. The group has strength, speed or a combination.

Let’s look at which formations will bring out the best from Texas’ skill positions.

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: Predicting the Longhorns future NFL draft prospects

The 2022 Longhorns have a few potential NFL players.

Despite recent struggles in the NFL Draft, the Texas Longhorns have quite a few players capable of finding a roster spot in the NFL.

At linebacker, DeMarvion Overshown figures to be a player NFL scouts will keep an eye on. A move to the edge could help Overshown play to his strengths as an open field tackler and pass rusher.

On the defensive line, Texas hopes Alfred Collins and T’Vondre Sweat will have breakout seasons worthy of NFL recognition. The two defensive tackles have solid tools for defensive line coach Bo Davis to utilize this season.

D’Shawn Jamison has room to grow at corner, but his knack for the end zone as a kick returner should catch scouts’ eyes.

Those are a just handful of Texas players that could find roster spots in the NFL.

The offensive side is more promising. Here are five players who might be drafted over the next two seasons.

Sam LaPorta ranked No. 8 in On3’s Impact 300 top 10 tight ends for 2022

Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta is once again garnering national acclaim. LaPorta was listed as the No. 8 tight end for 2022 by On3.

Sam LaPorta finds him in the mix as one of the nation’s top tight ends on another preseason list. This time, it’s On3’s Impact 300 top 10 returning tight ends.

The 6-foot-4, 249 pound senior tight end is back in Iowa City after authoring the type of season that Hawkeye fans have become accustomed to at the position. As a result, LaPorta checks in as the No. 8 returning tight end according to On3.

LaPorta had a breakout year as a junior last season, hauling in a career-high 53 passes for the Hawkeyes. He also posted career-highs in yards (670) and touchdowns (3). The Highland (Ill.) native’s junior campaign put him over the 1,000-yard receiving yard mark for his career. LaPorta checks in with an On3 NIL Valuation of $155,000. – On3.

One of the interesting numbers is that final one. As one of the biggest returning stars for the Hawkeyes, a healthy NIL deal from one of the local companies wouldn’t come as any sort of a shock for LaPorta. Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz recently said to expect more news on the NIL front for the Hawkeyes in the coming weeks and month.

As On3 noted, LaPorta is back with Iowa after a career season. He led the Hawkeyes in receiving yards and receptions last season and will be counted upon to deliver every bit of that type of production and more in 2022. The Highland, Ill., native is regarded by multiple outlets as a 2023 NFL draft riser to watch.

Both Athlon Sports and Pro Football Focus have praised LaPorta this offseason. Athlon Sports listed LaPorta as one of its top 10 Big Ten 2023 NFL draft prospects, while PFF’s Michael Renner ranked LaPorta as his No. 5 tight end and the No. 90 overall prospect entering this upcoming college football season.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. actually had the highest preseason draft grade for LaPorta. The longtime draft expert rates LaPorta as the No. 2 tight end on his most recent 2023 NFL draft big board.

Both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele listed LaPorta as a preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection. LaPorta leads a group that also includes redshirt sophomore Luke Lachey and Lafayette transfer Steven Stilianos as the Hawkeyes’ primary tight ends.

The rest of On3’s Impact 300 top 10 returning tight ends list looked like this: Georgia’s Brock Bowers No. 1, Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer No. 2, South Carolina’s Jaheim Bell No. 3, Georgia’s Arik Gilbert No. 4, Texas’ Jahleel Billingsley No. 5, Georgia’s Darnell Washington No. 6, Stanford’s Ben Yurosek No. 7, Louisville’s Marshon Ford No. 9 and Ole Miss’ Michael Trigg No. 10.

[listicle id=4562]

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

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Texas Football: Five positional matchups to look forward to in 2022

Steve Sarkisian is tasked with using his team’s best position groups to create matchup problems for opponents.

Styles make fights. The Texas Longhorns football season will hinge on how well they match up with their scheduled opponents. Continue reading “Texas Football: Five positional matchups to look forward to in 2022”

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is building versatility, not just depth, at wide receiver

The newcomers are all unique in what they bring to the Texas offense.

Texas has been more active at wide receiver than any other position in the transfer portal this offseason. Continue reading “Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is building versatility, not just depth, at wide receiver”

Where Texas’ Jahleel Billingsley lands in On3’s tight end rankings ahead of 2022

The Alabama transfer is expected to thrive in Steve Sarkisian’s offense. Here’s On3’s top 10 tight ends ahead of 2022:

The Longhorns are expected to see dramatic improvement at the tight end position this upcoming season. Continue reading “Where Texas’ Jahleel Billingsley lands in On3’s tight end rankings ahead of 2022”

Five Longhorns landed on 247Sports’ final transfer portal rankings

Here’s where each new Texas player landed on 247Sports’ final top 150 transfer portal rankings.

Several of Texas’ new additions this offseason will be counted on to make immediate contributions this upcoming season. Continue reading “Five Longhorns landed on 247Sports’ final transfer portal rankings”

Alabama TE Cameron Latu a name to watch this season as a key 2023 draft prospect

Cameron Latu is a 2023 draft prospect we all need to keep our eyes on.

In the 2022 NFL draft, only 11 tight ends were drafted overall. However, the 2023 class is maybe the best we have ever seen at the position with multiple guys who can go in the first two days of the draft. Touchdownwire.usatoday broke down the eleven best prospects at the position headed into the season.

Some of the guys on the list are Sam Laporta (Iowa), Arik Gilbert (UGA), and [autotag]Cameron Latu[/autotag] (Alabama). [autotag]Jahleel Billingsley,[/autotag] formerly with the Tide, also made the list with the burnt orange of the Texas Longhorns.

Of all the prospects, Latu remains the most intriguing. Latu was a linebacker commit coming out of high school, and made the switch to tight end in 2019. Latu had a great 2021-2022 season in which he caught 26 passes for 410 yards and eight scores.

Latu’s emergence as a top weapon factored into Billingsley’s decision to head out of Tuscaloosa to find a new home. As a second year starter with a Heisman trophy winner under center, many expect Latu to have a massive breakout year.

With all he has going for him, it isn’t crazy to picture Latu being one of the first couple tight-ends selected in the 2023 NFL draft.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!