2020 Texas Longhorns Spring Battles: The Wide Receivers

The Texas Longhorns spring battles among the wide receivers will be an interesting one to watch. Jake Smith and Brennan Eagles are two keys.

In the ongoing series for the upcoming spring battles, the wide receivers take center stage. The Longhorns will be looking to replace the production they lost with Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay graduating and heading to the NFL in 2020. Our series started with the quarterbacks and the running backs.

Jake Smith

Smith is coming off a solid freshman season. In his first season on the Forty Acres, Smith appeared in nine games and hauled in 25 passes. Of those 25, six were for touchdowns. Smith tied Eagles for the second-most receiving touchdowns in 2019 just behind Duvernay who hauled in nine. Smith is likely first up to take over the slot receiver role left vacated by Duv. The receiver that quarterback Sam Ehlinger called “freaky fast” should be a big weapon in 2020. Smith’s 274 yards receiver was fourth-most on the team.

Brennan Eagles

Much like Smith, Eagles made an impact on the passing game with his six touchdowns. He was forced into the starting lineup due to the injury to Johnson that cost him six games overall in 2019. Brennan finished third on the team with 552 yards receiving but his 16.3 yards per reception was best on the team. Eagles is likely going to be the outside receiver in 2020.

Joshua Moore

Moore seems to be the forgotten man in Austin among the wide receivers group. After serving an indefinite suspension for a gun charge, Moore will be looking to get back into the good graces of Tom Herman and the offensive staff this spring. Moore played in six games as a freshman in 2018 before an injury shortened his season. He caught seven passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

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Malcolm Epps

After registering just one catch as a freshman, Epps had a much larger role at wide receiver in 2019. Epps finished with 20 receptions, 232 yards and two touchdowns. Epps could be playing tight end in 2020 and used as a red zone weapon at times. Until others get acclimated, don’t forget about Epps outside. He can use that 6’5″ frame to his advantage.

Jordan Whittington

Whittington could be fit into a lot of roles in 2020. He appeared in one game before he was shutdown due to injury with two receptions for 17 yards. Jordan could play running back but with the loaded running back room and Bijan Robinson coming in the fall, Whittington might be better suiting to play wide receiver. The Longhorns could use more weapons outside and Whittington is a candidate to make his impact there.

Marcus Washington

Washington appeared in just four games this past season. According to sports-reference.com he is credited with three catches for 33 yards. Washington should be in the mix during the spring as the Longhorns try to figure out who will be catching passes from Ehlinger this fall.

As far as the incoming class, Troy Omeire will be part of the spring camp. He enrolled early after signing with Texas. The four-star wide receiver accounted for 2,452 yards and 31 receiving touchdowns in high school. The Longhorns also added Kelvontay Dixon will join in the fall after signing with Texas. Dixon accounted for 1,223 yards and 20 touchdowns this past season with Carthage (TX).

 

 

2020 Texas Longhorns Profile: Jake Smith

Texas Longhorns will be looking to replace Devin Duvernay in 2020, could Jake Smith be up to the task?

The Texas Longhorns will be looking for a new slot receiver in 2020. Jake Smith has entered the conversation. Smith finished a freshman season as the team’s fourth-leading receiver in yards and second in touchdowns. He tied with Brennan Eagles with six touchdowns. Smith appeared in nine games for the Longhorns.

Jake Smith will likely be first in line to fill the void left by Devin Duvernay. Smith has quickness off the line and in the open field, he can be a handful. Smith can win off the line anywhere on the field, he also has experience as a ball carrier during his high school career. The former Gatorade Player of the Year is a dynamic option for the Longhorns offense.

Off the snap, he shows ability to create separation with quick footwork and his shiftiness. Not someone who is an easy cover for opposing defenders. He can win with underneath routes and attacking defenses up the seams. With his acceleration, Smith is a a player who can take a simple pass underneath and make a house call. He puts pressure on defenses to make plays in the open field.

Smith is as reliable as they come with his ability to come down with the ball in difficult situations. Smith gained valuable experience during the 2019 season and already has a rapport with quarterback Sam Ehlinger. With both being on the same page, expect for Smith to be one of the top two receivers for Texas in 2020.

 

Texas Longhorns: Five Areas To Improve In 2020

The Texas Longhorns finished the year 8-5 but here are five areas to get even better in 2020.

Even with the Texas Longhorns victory over the Utah Utes to cap off a 8-5 campaign, there are plenty of areas where the team can improve upon in 2020. The Longhorns will be looking to get to double digit wins for only the second time since 2009 that ended a run of nine consecutive 10-win seasons under Mack Brown.

Defense Needs To Create Turnovers

For any offense, creating turnovers is their best friend. It gives the offense some advantages in that they deal with short fields and the Longhorns could do well to put pressure on the opposing offense that really can play right into the hands of the defense.

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The Longhorns created 22 turnover opportunities under Todd Orlando and with the recent hire of Chris Ash, Texas needs to continue to create more opportunities for Sam Ehlinger and the offense. D’Shawn Jamison led the team with three picks in 2019.

Chris Ash will be looking to bring some of that 2014 Ohio State magic to the Longhorns defense. That season, the Buckeyes tallied 25 interceptions. Ash has a big opportunity to create a defense that Texas has been missing for the last several years.

Texas Longhorns Duo Leave Austin On A High Note

The wide receiver tandem of Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay finish their Texas Longhorns careers on a high note.

Throughout the 2019 college football season, it was clear that the duo of Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson were a talented duo at wide receiver. Unfortunately for the Texas Longhorns they were both dealing with injuries this year, Johnson lost half of his games during the year but both were in uniform for their 38-10 thrashing of the Utah Utes in San Antonio.

The Longhorns duo will now focus on life after Austin as they will embark on the journey to make a name for themselves in the NFL. The Reese’s Senior Bowl week get’s started on Monday January 20th. There will be a whole week where they will get to work with NFL coaches plus meetings with NFL teams as they prepare for the biggest job interview of the offseason.

The Longhorns will now look to Brennan Eagles and Jake Smith to fill the void left by Johnson and Duvernay after four years on the Forty Acres. The 6’4″ Eagles took on a much larger role in 2019 due to Johnson’s injuries with 32 receptions for 522 yards and six touchdowns. He will look to be the focal point at receiver next season. Freshman Jake Smith who also finished with six receiving touchdowns. The offense looks to be in good hands with the young duo who look to replace 1,945 yards and 12 touchdowns from this offense.