Tag: Longhorns

Texas Ex Bijan Robinson Credits Kirk Cousins for Growth, Eyes Texas SEC Championship Run

Bijan Robinson has a good feeling the Longhorns will take an SEC title in their first year. Plus, who he credits for his NFL success.

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is making waves in his rookie season, posting 632 rushing yards and 303 receiving yards across nine games. The former Texas Longhorn is on a Pro Bowl-caliber path, attributing much of his early NFL success to the leadership of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.

In an interview with On3, Robinson highlighted Cousins’ impact on his growth and development. “He’s a veteran in the league, so he’s had a lot of experience,” Robinson said. “To have a guy that’s seen a lot of different looks, seeing a lot of different schemes and that knows what to anticipate and what’s to come. And that’s been the biggest difference for me.” Robinson noted that Cousins has not only guided him in gameplay but also instilled leadership qualities. “(Kirk) teaching me how to be a leader and showing me the steps and how to be the best player possible is definitely been something that I haven’t had before. But man, I mean he’s definitely been great for this offense and hopefully we continue to keep on putting up awesome numbers and great games like how we want to.”

Though dedicated to helping the Falcons succeed, Robinson hasn’t lost sight of his roots with the Texas Longhorns. Confident in his alma mater’s chances, he believes Texas can make a historic run and win the SEC title in December. “When you play at Texas, every single game is going to be a championship game,” Robinson remarked.

“Every single opponent is going to treat us like that, the fans, the atmosphere, it’s going to be sold out, it’s going to be just a bunch of hate coming our way. But I believe if we just continue to just lock in and if they just do what they’re supposed to do from week to weekend, know that every single opponent is going to bring their very best to try to beat us, I think we’ll be just fine. And I think we will win the SEC and then with this new playoff system, hopefully, we can win the championship as well.”

With Cousins guiding Robinson in Atlanta and his continued support for Texas, both Falcons and Longhorns fans have plenty to cheer for this season. The only fans who might have mixed feelings? Dallas Cowboys fans.

Villarreal Named SEC Freshman of the Year, Three Longhorns Honored on All-SEC Teams

The Texas Longhorns made a strong SEC debut with Lexi Missimo, Mia Justus, and Amalia Villarreal earning All-SEC honors.

The Texas Longhorns made an impressive entrance into the SEC this season, led by exceptional performances from Lexi Missimo, Mia Justus, and Amalia Villarreal. In recognition of their outstanding play, Villarreal was named SEC Freshman of the Year, and Missimo and Justus received All-SEC Team honors, representing Texas on the First, Second, and Third Teams.

Lexi Missimo’s remarkable consistency on the field earned her a spot on the All-SEC First Team, making her the first Texas player to achieve this honor. Already a three-time All-Big 12 First Team honoree, Missimo’s 2024 season included a league-leading 33 points from 12 goals and nine assists. Her contributions were crucial in Texas’ conference matches, where she either scored or assisted in nearly every game. With this achievement, she joins an elite group of Texas soccer players with four first-team all-conference honors, alongside Longhorn legends Kasey Moore and Kelly Wilson.

Goalkeeper Mia Justus continued her streak of success, earning all-conference recognition in her third different conference. Justus recorded 10 shutouts this season, playing a vital role in Texas’ defense. Her efforts included crucial clean sheets against top SEC teams like Texas A&M and Georgia. In a standout match against Arkansas, she set a personal best with 10 saves, showcasing her reliability and defensive skills.

Freshman sensation Amalia Villarreal capped her debut season with the SEC Freshman of the Year award. The Michigan native quickly made her presence felt, leading all SEC freshmen with 14 points from five goals and four assists. Known for her energy and skill, Villarreal delivered standout performances against teams like LSU and Texas A&M, where she scored and assisted in each match, making a strong case for her Freshman of the Year title.

Texas (13-3-2, 6-3-1 SEC) enters the SEC Tournament as the third seed, set to play on Tuesday, Nov. 5, against the winner of Auburn and LSU. The match will take place at the Brosnaham Soccer Complex in Pensacola, Fla., at 2 p.m. CT.

Texas DB Michael Taaffe earns 1st SEC Weekly Honor as Co-Defensive Player of the Week

Texas DB Michael Taaffe Earns SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for Standout Performance Against Vanderbilt.

Texas junior defensive back Michael Taaffe has been named the Southeastern Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday, marking the first conference weekly honor of his career.

The Austin native made his presence felt in Texas’ 27-24 victory at No. 25 Vanderbilt, forcing two turnovers and tallying six tackles. Taaffe intercepted a pass at the beginning of the second quarter, halting a Vanderbilt drive at the Texas 22-yard line and returning it nine yards. Later in the same quarter, he forced the first fumble of his career at the 43-yard line, stopping another Commodores’ drive with just one minute left in the half.

Leading a Texas defense that limited Vanderbilt to 269 total yards—155 passing and 114 rushing—Taaffe and the Longhorns held the Commodores to a maximum drive length of 43 yards until their final possession. Two of Vanderbilt’s three touchdowns were the result of Texas turnovers deep in their own territory.

Through this season, Taaffe ranks third on the team with 39 tackles and is tied for second in pass breakups with four. Texas leads the nation in total defense (241.3 yards per game), ranks second in scoring defense (11.5 points per game) and pass efficiency defense (90.77), and sits third in passing yards allowed (135.8).

A former walk-on and fourth-year player for the Longhorns, Taaffe has appeared in 35 games with 18 starts, amassing 113 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions, and a blocked punt.

Following a bye this week, Taaffe and the Longhorns will return to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to face the Florida Gators on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m., with broadcast coverage on ABC or ESPN.

Texas Longhorns add much-needed RB depth with grad transfer Velton Gardner

After losing two running backs for the season in fall camp, the Texas Longhorns add depth with grad transfer Velton Gardner.

The Longhorns have been looking for answers at running back since losing starter CJ Baxter and freshman Christian Clark early in fall camp. Texas coaches have openly discussed position changes for a few players. 

Now, it looks like a late addition from the transfer portal will provide the Horns with much needed depth. 

Late Wednesday night, former Kansas and SMU RB Velton Gardner announced his commitment to the Longhorns. Gardner is a graduate transfer. 

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Gardner gives the Texas running back room some much-needed depth. Gardner joins Jaydon Blue, Jerrick Gibson and Tre Wisner at the position. 

The 3-star recruit out of Skyline in Dallas started his college career with the Jayhawks. Gardner spent three seasons in Kansas before switching to SMU for two seasons. Now he’s a Longhorn. Gardner has 229 career rushing attempts for 1,024 yards in his career.

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Texas at Michigan named biggest non-conference game of 2024 by USA TODAY Sports

USA Today declares Texas Longhorns at Michigan Wolverines ‘the biggest non-conference game’ of 2024 in new Top 10 list.

As a new member of the SEC, the Texas Longhorns will have a lot of big conference games this year. The Horns will take on old rival No. 16 Oklahoma and host No. 1 Georgia in October. Texas will host Florida and renew rivalries with Arkansas and Texas A&M in November. 

But before the Longhorns even start their SEC schedule, they must first travel to Ann Arbor for a huge matchup vs. Michigan. Texas fans have had the game circled on the calendar for years. The anticipation has only increased with the Wolverines as defending national champion and the game coinciding with the year Texas joins the SEC. 

Now, in a new list of the Top 10 best non-conference games of the year, USA TODAY Sports, has declared Texas at Michigan the biggest of the year. The two programs last met in the 2005 Rose Bowl. 

Texas played in arguably the biggest non-conference game last year, when the Longhorns beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Texas carried that momentum all the way to the college football playoff. 

Non-conference games might lose a little impact with the playoff expanding to 12 teams. There will definitely be more wiggle room. But that also should make big, early season non-conference games more prevalent. 

USA Today says the impact of the Texas-Michigan game could be far reaching. 

September 7: Texas Longhorns at Michigan Wolverines

This is the biggest non-conference game of the year. Even if Michigan takes a step back as expected, the defending national champions could upend the early playoff chase by handing Texas a road loss. The fallout from a Michigan win would impact the perception of the SEC and Big Ten, a big deal given that both leagues will have multiple teams in the mix for at-large playoff bids. While the loser wouldn’t be eliminated from the mix by any means, the winner will have a huge tiebreaker to show the selection committee in early December.

Six of the Top 10 non-conference games involve SEC teams:

August 31: Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs (in Atlanta)

August 31: Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Texas A&M Aggies

September 1: USC Trojans vs. LSU Tigers (in Las Vegas)

September 7: Texas Longhorns at Michigan Wolverines

September 7: Tennessee Volunteers at NC State Wolfpack

September 14: Alabama Crimson Tide at Wisconsin Badgers

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Does ESPN’s preseason All-American list disrespect the Texas Longhorns?

The Texas Longhorns have a grand total of one player on ESPN’s preseason All-American list.

ESPN has released its 2024 college football All-American team. How many Longhorns are on the list?

Texas was a college football semi-finalist last season. Texas has a Heisman Trophy candidate at QB. Texas is even picked by some in the national media to win the SEC and the national title. 

The 4th ranked Longhorns should be well represented, right?

Nope.

The Longhorns have a grand total of one player on the list – OT Kelvin Banks Jr. is a first-team All-American on the ESPN list. He’s the only Longhorn on the first team. There are zero Longhorns on the second team. 

Of Banks, ESPN says, “Both tackles on our All-America team have been starters since they were true freshmen. The 6-4, 320-pound Banks has started 27 straight games and been a fixture at left tackle for the Longhorns since the day he stepped on campus. He allowed just one sack in 550 pass-blocking situations last season and earned AFCA second-team All-America honors. Banks won’t have to wait long to hear his name called in the 2025 NFL draft.”

ESPN may be right on the money. Some of the Longhorns studs from 2023 have gone to the NFL. Byron Murphy, Xavier Worthy, T’Vondre Sweat, Jonathan Brooks and Adonai Mitchell would all be considered for the All-American team if they were still playing for Texas. Many of their positions have been filled by underclassmen or transfers. 

That said, you can make a good argument that QB Quinn Ewers should be second team All-American instead of Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. It’s a close call. Similarly, PK Bert Auburn could be the second team kicker, but he was beaten out by Andres Borregales of Miami. Another close call. 

Once again, Texas players will have to prove to the national media that they are All-Americans. Longhorns like RB Jaydon Blue, WR Silas Bolden, DE Ethan Burke, LB Anthony Hill and DB Jahdae Barron could all be postseason All-Americans if their seasons, and Texas’ season, go as Longhorns fans hope. 

ESPN Preseason All-Americans by the Numbers: 

Georgia: 3 First Team | 1 Second Team

Alabama: 3 First Team | 1 Second Team

Michigan: 3 First Team | 0 Second Team

LSU: 2 First Team | 1 Second Team

Ohio State: 1 First Team | 4 Second Team

Oklahoma: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team

Oregon: 0 First Team | 2 Second Team 

Texas A&M: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Tennessee: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Notre Dame: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Clemson: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Trey Luerssen on Twitter @TreyLuerssen.

Longhorns linebacker earns spot on Butkus Award watch list

Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Dick Butkus Award

After a breakout freshman season, Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Dick Butkus Award. The award is given to the top linebacker in college football.

In his first year with the Longhorns, Hill played in all 14 games recording 66 total tackles including 40 solo tackles. He also recorded eight tackles for a loss and added five sacks to his resume which was tied for fourth-most by a Longhorn freshman.

As Hill was a bright spot defensively for Texas, he also etched himself into the record books. His eight tackles for a loss were the eighth-most for a freshman in program history and sixth-most for a true freshman.

What stood out the most about Hill’s play was his ability to take his game to another level against some of the best teams in the country. Against No.3 Alabama, the Longhorns linebacker recorded six tackles and two sacks. Due to his play, Hill earned Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week and 247Sports True Freshman of the Week honors.

Additionally, the Billy Ryan High School product was selected to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and earned preseason second-team All-SEC praise on defense. Hill will be critical to the Longhorns’ success as they chase a national championship.

The winner of the Dick Butkus Award will be revealed on Dec.10. If Hill can continue to build on his stellar freshman season, then he could hear his name called and add more hardware to his trophy case.

PHOTOS: Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers through the years

Take a look back at Junior Texas Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers college career.

Quinn Ewers enters the 2024 season as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy and is expected to lead the Texas Longhorns back to the College Football Playoffs.

As a junior at Southlake Carroll, Ewers was the top-ranked player in the country for the 2022 recruiting class. That summer, Ewers committed to the University of Texas.

But the Texas native made the unusual choice to skip his senior season in high school. Instead, he decommitted from Texas and enrolled at Ohio State to profit off his Name, Image and Likeness. Texas law prevented high schoolers in the state from making money in endorsements.

Ewers enrolled at Ohio State in August 2021 and joined the team for fall camp. Ewers made his debut for the Buckeyes on November 20, 2021 against the Michigan State, taking two snaps at the end of the game in the Buckeyes’ win. He played in only one game.

After the season was over, Ewers decided to transfer to his original school of choice, Texas, and was named the Longhorns starter going into the 2022 season.

Ewers played 10 games in an up and down 2022 season. Texas finished 6-4, with the QB throwing for 2,177 yards and 15 TDs.

2023 would be a watershed year for the sophomore. Ewers played in 12 games, amassing 3,479 yards and 22 TDs. Texas won the Big 12 Championship game in its final year in the conference. Ewers set the record for most passing yards in a Big 12 Championship game and was named MVP. The Longhorns went to the College Football Playoff semi-final, ultimately losing to Washington 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl. 

Ewers will once again lead the Horns as a junior in what is expected to be his final year on the 40 Acres.

Texas Longhorns RB Christian Clark out for 2024 season with torn Achilles

Texas has announced freshman RB Christian Clark suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Clark will undergo surgery and miss the 2024 season.

The injury report is back for Texas running back Christian Clark, and it isn’t good. The freshman RB suffered a torn Achilles tendon. In a statement released on Tuesday, school officials said Clark will undergo surgery and miss the 2024 season.

Clark is the second Longhorn RB to suffer a season-ending injury in as many weeks. Last week, starter CJ Baxter tore both his lateral cruciate ligament  and posterior cruciate ligament.

The two serious injuries have cut the Longhorns’ running back depth almost in half. The Texas coaching staff is considering moving players from other positions to bolster the running back room.

Even before Clark’s injury, Steve Sarkisian said: “We’re looking at some different options, and I think we’re looking at it creatively, whether it’s a couple of guys on the offensive side of the ball, a potential player on the defensive side of the ball, or two, for that matter. … So we’re kind of taking it day by day again. We’ve got plenty of time. We’re just trying to get a sense and a feel of how, not only will they play on offense at the runner, but how does that impact us at other positions if we take a player.”

Three names have emerged as possible candidates to move to running back: wide receiver Ryan Niblett,  linebacker Derion Gullette and safety Jelani McDonald.

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Down 2 running backs, Texas considers position changes to bolster RB corps

With injuries to CJ Baxter and now Christian Clark, Texas is considering position changes to add depth to running back corps.

Last week, the Longhorns lost starting running back CJ Baxter to a season ending knee injury. This week, it’s Christian Clark. The freshman RB suffered what has been described as “a serious lower leg injury” during Monday’s practice.  

Late Tuesday, University of Texas officials announced Clark suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the 2024 season.

Before Clark’s injury even happened, the Longhorns coaching staff were considering other options at running back. “We’re looking at some different options, and I think we’re looking at it creatively, whether it’s a couple of guys on the offensive side of the ball, a potential player on the defensive side of the ball, or two, for that matter,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. ” … So we’re kind of taking it day by day again. We’ve got plenty of time. We’re just trying to get a sense and a feel of how, not only will they play on offense at the runner, but how does that impact us at other positions if we take a player.”

Clark wasn’t expected to be the primary replacement for Baxter. That duty will fall to junior Jaydon Blue. Blue was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list last week, which is handed out annually to the nation’s most versatile player.

Texas has also brought in two running backs in each of the last two recruiting classes. Behind Blue, Sarkisian can turn to Quintrevion Wisner and Jerrick Gibson. 

But with the loss of Clark, it’s depth at RB that has the Longhorns staff concerned. Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods reports that the coaching staff is considering moving freshman WR Ryan Niblett to running back. 

Niblett is a redshirt freshman from Aldine Eisenhower in Houston. A 2023 All-American Bowl participant, Niblett was ranked No. 77 nationally, No. 12 among wide receivers and No. 16 overall in the state of Texas by Rivals. As a senior at Eisenhower, he caught 55 passes for 1,088 yards and 10 TD with an average of 108.8 receiving yards per game.

Coaches are also considering moving linebacker Derion Gullette to running back. Gullette played some offense in high school and is already taking snaps at RB at Longhorns practice. Texas’ depth at LB makes Gullette possibly more valuable on offense. Gullette could take on the roll of short-yardage power back.

Gullette, another redshirt freshman, went to high school at Teague in Marlin, TX. The former 4-star recruit starred at RB, but was also named first-team 3A All-State as both a WR and punter. 

Another name being considered is safety Jelani McDonald. Out of Connally High School in Waco, McDonald was was a 4-star recruit ranked No. 204 nationally, No. 6 among athletes and No. 35 overall in the state of Texas by Rivals.

Playing on both slides of the ball, he was named the 11-4A Division 2 offensive MVP after running the ball 77 times for 852 yards and nine touchdowns and posting four separate games of 100 yards rushing. 

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Trey Luerssen on Twitter @TreyLuerssen.