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Longhorns Wire compiled a roundtable discussion to make their case for which Texas player is currently flying under the radar.
It’s time for another Longhorns Wire roundtable discussion. Continue reading “Who is Texas’ most under-the-radar player this season?”
Isaiah Hole of Wolverines Wire part of the USA TODAY SMG weighed in on the addition of Tarik Black to the wide out group at Texas.
There has been plenty of talk surrounding the wide receivers on this roster. That is for good reason. Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay are gone after combining for 1,945 yards and 12 touchdowns. Brennan Eagles and Jake Smith are the leading receivers returning from the 2019 squad. They racked up a combined 796 yards and 12 touchdowns. While that is a good start, the team will need multiple players to step up in 2020.
Joshua Moore is expected to play a larger role in the upcoming season as well as Jordan Whittington provided he can stay healthy. The team also added Tarik Black from Michigan this past offseason via the transfer portal. Black has his own injury issues during his time in Ann Arbor. Trading Big Blue for the Forty Acres could just be one the top rated player from Connecticut needs.
Our brothers at Wolverines Wire recently spoke to us about the addition of Tarik Black to the wide receiver room.
Black showed extraordinary prowess as a true freshman, having the look of a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver in his first few games, but was lost for the season when he broke his foot in Week Three. In camp the next year, he was getting rave reviews, once again, but broke his other foot one week before the season opener. He returned midseason, but wasn’t heavily utilized.
He returned to the field healthy in 2019, but as the offense shifted to a more spread-oriented attack under new offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, Black saw relatively few opportunities. He’s the type of wideout who would best thrive in either a traditional pro-style offense or more of an AIR RAID look. He’s tall, long, and can make contested catches.
Given his tenure at Michigan, a new opportunity will likely serve him better than it did in Ann Arbor. He has the promise of being a first-round-type receiver, but injuries have limited his emergence, and he was thus passed up on the depth chart in Ann Arbor. Getting a new chance in Texas, Black could thrive, especially if the offense is looking to get the ball downfield to a more prototypical X or Z receiver. – Isaiah Hole, Managing Editor of Wolverines Wire
Brennan Eagles will be taking over as X-receiver and UT will be in search of a new Z-receiver. Here is a breakdown of the Z-receiver for UT.
Brennan Eagles played the role of Texas’ Z-receiver last season, playing opposite of Collin Johnson. Now, Eagles will be taking over as the main outside receiver and the X position and the Longhorns will be in search of a new Z-receiver.
It will be full of inexperienced players, from a graduate transfer to a redshirt sophomore with only six games of experience. A freshman could even make an impact in Mike Yurcich’s offense.
Here is a breakdown of the Z-receiver position for Texas in 2020:
The Locked on Longhorns podcast the latest practice notes for Texas and the top 2022 passer with Longhorns ties.
The Locked on Longhorns podcast kicks off with practice notes from 247Sports. We discussed the quarterback competition behind Sam Ehlinger. Casey Thompson is the number two quarterback for the upcoming season but could one of the young guns take the job from him in 2020 season? Does Thompson have an opportunity for the starting role in 2021?
Roschon Johnson was taking first team snaps in the absence of Keaontay Ingram. Is there a chance Johnson might go back to quarterback in 2021? Who will be the starting ‘Z’ receiver role in 2020? The top two candidates are Joshua Moore and Tarik Black. Moore was taking the first team reps.
Sam Ehlinger was named to the Davey O’Brien Award watchlist. With Ehlinger being the FBS active leader in completions, passing yards, touchdowns and total offense since 2018, it is no surprise. Would Ehlinger be the all-time leading passer in school history if he would have started every game since his freshman season?
2022 quarterback Quinn Ewers holds an offer from the University of Texas. The number one quarterback was recently rated as the number one prospect in the 2022 class overall. Can the Longhorns bring him to Austin? Ewers has ties to the Longhorns which could bode well for the team.
One of the changes to the Texas Longhorns, one of the big changes will be the new name for the football field. Most recently named Joe Jamail field, it will now be known as Campbell-Williams Field. It will be named after the only two Longhorns to ever win the Heisman Memorial Trophy, Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. Plus Gunnar Helm set to visit Austin next week.
LonghornsWire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas roster. Today, we will be looking at RS soph. WR Joshua Moore.
Going into the 2020 football season, LonghornsWire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Texas roster.
Over the summer, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Tom Herman this season.
Today, we will be looking at redshirt sophomore wide receiver Joshua Moore.
Height: 6-1 / Weight: 170
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Hometown: Yoakum, Texas
High School: Yoakum
HS ranking (247Sports): Four-star / No. 147 overall / No. 22 position / No. 14 in-state
HS ranking (Rivals): Four-star / No. 150 overall / No. 26 position / No. 14 in-state
Analysis: Coming in as a freshman in 2018, Moore was able to play in six games while having seven catches for 53 yards. Then, he suffered a season-ending injury. With some off the field problems occurring before the 2019 season, he took a redshirt.
Moore picked the Longhorns over Texas A&M and Nebraska out of high school and is ready to gain a starting role. With wide receiver being an open position going into 2020, Moore could become a key proponent for Mike Yurich.
Despite dealing with some off the field problems, the redshirt sophomore will be cleared to play this season. With Brennan Eagles being the main receiver, Moore could become a solid No. 2 in this Texas offense. That is if he beats out newcomer Tarik Black.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]
Texas wide receiver Joshua Moore recently received a deferred adjudication which will allow him to avoid the conviction charge.
Texas wide receiver Joshua Moore is clear proof that oftentimes learning from a mistake can make you a better person.
After being arrested in July 2019 for a misdemeanor weapons charge of unlawfully carrying a gun, head coach Tom Herman announced that Moore would be suspended for the season. Herman takes his programs core values very seriously, which includes no drugs, telling the truth and treating women with respect.
Although he was not allowed to play in any games, the coaches allowed Moore to practice on the scout team every day. According to Horns247, Moore was at times the best receiver at practice.
He is now required to undergo counseling and community service, but he took it upon himself to counsel other students on the consequences of his past behavior. Moore also underwent and passed several drug tests amidst the suspension.
Moore recently received a deferred adjudication which will allow him to avoid the conviction charge and compete for a starting role in offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s offense in 2020. If Moore’s record is squeaky clean over the next year, the offense will be dismissed.
As a true freshman at Texas in 2018, Moore recorded seven receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. His potential appeared promising in the short stint he was able to participate.
With fellow wide receiver Brennan Eagles expected to play as the X receiver after Collin Johnson’s departure to the NFL, Moore has a legitimate chance to claim the starting spot as the Z receiver.
24 weeks until the 2019 season means it's time to unveil our #24 top play of the 2018 #Texas #Longhorns #CFB season!
#24: Joshua Moore lays out to haul in his first career TD on a great throw from Sam Ehlinger against USC. #HookEm pic.twitter.com/JcXha2h7ip
— Fire Tom Herman Podcast (@TheFTHPodcast) March 16, 2019
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.
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).
