Tag: longhorns football

Byron Murphy first Longhorn off board in Mel Kiper’s latest NFL mock draft

Mel Kiper released a two-round mock draft recently.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper released a two-round mock draft Wednesday morning, with defensive tackle Byron Murphy being the first Texas Longhorns football player taken No. 18 to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Kiper cited how Murphy led the Big 12 with 33 quarterback pressures in 2023 and found a home on the inside of the Texas defensive line. Murphy finished with 29 tackles and five sacks during the season.

Four total Longhorns were featured in the list, including receivers Xavier Worthy (No. 23 to the Los Angeles Chargers) and Adonai Mitchell (No. 29 to the Detroit Lions). Worthy registered 1,014 yards on 75 catches, hauling in five touchdowns. Mitchell caught 55 passes for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Running back Jonathon Brooks, who has been making waves across draft coverage, was slotted at No. 56 to the Dallas Cowboys by Kiper.

Alabama vs. Texas to be the inaugural Allstate ‘Crossbar Classic’

From now on, one high-profile contest every season will earn the title of that year’s Crossbar Classic. The first one is Alabama vs. Texas in 2023.

A new annual event highlighting one high-profile game every season is beginning in 2023. The Allstate Crossbar Classic will feature one marquee regular-season matchup every year and it starts with the Week 2 meeting between Alabama and Texas.

The showdown is the second installment of a home-and-home series. In 2022, the game took place in Austin, Texas where the Crimson Tide escaped with a one-point win.

Though the 2023 contest between two of the biggest brands in college football was already highly anticipated, this just adds an extra layer of excitement for fans. Not to mention, there may be some serious College Football Playoff implications depending on the outcome.

The game takes place on Sept. 9, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Roll Tide Wire will notice to follow Alabama football as the 2023 season approaches.

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Texas’ Michael Huff part of the 2024 CFB HOF ballot

Michael Huff has a chance to be enshrined with the best to ever play college football.

During his time as a Longhorn, defensive back Michael Huff was one of the most decorated players in a golden Texas era.

The Irving, Texas native won the program’s first Jim Thorpe Award in 2005, was named a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, a unanimous All-American, and was named the defensive MVP of Texas’ 2006 Rose Bowl win over USC.

His decorated collegiate career has already notched him a spot in the Texas Hall of Honor and has most recently earned him a spot on the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

Joining him are notable names such as Boise State’s Kellen Moore, Marshall’s Randy Moss, Virginia Tech’s Michael Vick, and North Carolina’s Julius Peppers among others.

As a Longhorn, Huff recorded 318 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 44 pass breakups, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. His stellar career led to him being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft with the No. 7 overall pick by the Raiders. After an eight-year professional career, the Texas ex is now back in Austin where he is an assistant director of player development with the Texas football program.

As it stands right now, there are 25 other Longhorns who have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially announced on Dec. 10, 2024, and permanently enshrined at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

2024 Four-star EDGE Danny Okoye sets up Texas official visit

The No. 1 player in Oklahoma sets up his Texas official visit.

Four-star EDGE Danny Okoye is set to take an official visit to Texas in June. The talented Tusla product announced on Twitter we will be in Austin the weekend of June 16-18.

The 247Sports Composite rankings list Okoye as the No. 1 prospect in Oklahoma and a top 150 overall player nationally. He has built a strong offer list with an opportunity to play at close to 30 programs at the next level.

Okoye narrowed down his recruitment to 10 schools earlier this week. Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M all made the cut.

Okoye spoke with On3 Sports about what he is looking for from coaches recruiting him.

“So, I like a coach who knows what he wants from me and can give me a task to execute without me having to go in there and wonder what I have to do to make an impact.”

Texas has a chance to build some early momentum in Okyoe’s recruitment with his summer visit. The Longhorns staff would love to add the high-upside pass rusher to its 2024 signing class.

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Texas Football: Four Longhorns earn top 100 NIL valuation

Longhorn athletes are in a great position to thrive using NIL to their advantage.

Name, Image and Likeness has changed the landscape of college athletics over the past few seasons. Continue reading “Texas Football: Four Longhorns earn top 100 NIL valuation”

Texas football’s secret weapon is in the secondary

Jalen Catalon is ready to make his mark as a Longhorn.

Steve Sarkisian and Texas’ staff once again utilized the transfer portal to their advantage this offseason. The Longhorns added a handful of players expected to make a substantial impact on the team this fall.

Amongst the newcomers from the portal is former Arkansas Razorback Jalen Catalon.

The former All-American had gone a bit under the radar after a couple of injury-riddled seasons in 2021 and 2022. Catalon also missed spring practice with the Longhorns as he works to recover from a shoulder injury.

247Sports reports that Catalon’s recovery is progressing well and he is “looking forward to a big year.”

At his best, Catalon is one of the best defensive backs in college football. He is excellent in run support from his safety position, along with having a nose for being around the ball.

Catlaon pairs up with Jerrin Thompson to make up an impressive safety duo in the back end of the Texas defense. The Longhorns feel confident in what they have in the secondary with a strong mix of experience and depth.

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Steve Sarkisian speaks on past QB development, confident in Quinn Ewers

“I’ve seen it in years and years of playing in our system, and I love what Quinn can bring.”

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has made his career off of developing quarterbacks. His resume of sending quarterbacks for the NFL is quite impressive.

Sarkisian spearheaded the 2000s USC dynasty as the offensive coordinator for Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez. He then sent Jake Locker to the pros during his first head coaching job at Washington.

More recently, during his stint at Alabama, Sark called plays for first-rounders Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones, helping him land the Texas gig.

Entering year three as the Longhorns head man, Sarkisian is tasked with adding another name to his quarterback list.

Former five-star Quinn Ewers has all the arm talent in the world. An up-and-down redshirt freshman campaign showed glimpses of greatness but was riddled with inconsistency.

Ewers and Sarkisian have a critical offseason in front of them. The development of the Longhorns starter will be the key to a successful season in 2023.

Sarkisian spoke about his impressive quarterback track record and Quinn Ewers during his Texas Exes Texas Fight Tour.

Texas Football: 2023 Longhorns boast consistency in key roles

Texas returns their head coach, both coordinators and starting quarterback.

Consistency has been a missing piece for the Texas football program since the days of Mack Brown dominating the Big 12 Conference.

A revolving door of head coaches, coordinators and quarterback play has made it difficult for the Longhorns to gain any traction towards competing at an elite level.

A major reason for optimism about Texas entering the 2023 season is the return of head coach Steve Sarkisian, offensive coordinator Kyle Flood, defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and quarterback Quinn Ewers. Arguably the four most important roles inside a college program.

Texas is one of only 28 FBS teams and five Big 12 schools bringing back the core four this upcoming year.

The Longhorns now have the benefit of playing in the same system, under the same play-caller on both sides of the ball for three consecutive seasons. Players get the advantage of not being forced to learn a new playbook and can focus on development.

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