Tag: longhorns football

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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WATCH: Texas freshman Cedric Baxter and Anthony Hill putting in offseason work

Baxter and Hill are both stars in the making for Texas.

Texas signed a historic 2023 recruiting class this past offseason. Continue reading “WATCH: Texas freshman Cedric Baxter and Anthony Hill putting in offseason work”

On3 Sports ranks the top 10 QB units in college football for 2023

The quarterback rankings are headlined by USC, LSU and Texas. 

Week 0 of the 2023 college football season is just over 100 days away, but the excitement and anticipation for the new campaign are already building.

With spring ball wrapping up from programs all over the country, we can now get a feel for where teams stand from a roster standpoint. But, most importantly, we got a better look at the quarterback situations for some of the top schools in the sport.

On3 Sports put together a list of the top 10 quarterback units in college football for the 2023 season. The rankings are headlined by USC, LSU and Texas.

An important note to remember is the rankings factor in the entire quarterback room as a whole, rather than just a high-profile starter. This takes into account how each program is set to handle injuries and a glimpse of the future of the position.

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Here is a complete look at On3 Sports’ 10 best quarterback position groups entering 2023.

Barry Sanders commends Texas RB Bijan Robinson ahead of NFL Draft

Barry Sanders wants to see Bijan Robinson as a Detriot Lion.

Running back Bijan Robinson enjoyed a storied college career as a Texas Longhorn. Robinson set numerous records, won a plethora of awards and compiled a long list of highlight plays during his three seasons.

The Longhorn superstar is expected to go in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.

When asked about who he modeled his game after during an interview on Good Morning Football, Robinson stated he looks up to Detriot Lions legend Barry Sanders.

Sanders took notice of Robinson’s comments and left him some words of encouragement via Twitter.

“I shouldn’t say where I would love to see him go,” Sanders said, with a winky face emoji. “He is a very talented prospect, and I am always honored when a someone has found inspiration in what I did.  Good luck @Bijan5Robinson, and maybe we will see you in #Detroit.”

It is safe to say Sanders would love to see Robinson in Dertiot blue and gray next season. The Lions hold the No. 6 and No. 18 overall picks in the NFL Draft.

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Texas lands commitment from standout Minnesota DL transfer Trill Carter

Minnesota defensive line transfer Trill Carter is taking his talents to Texas.

Minnesota defensive line transfer Trill Carter is taking his talents to Texas. Carter announced his commitment to the Longhorns on Monday after taking visits to Arkansas, Ohio State and Illinois.

Carter joins the Longhorns with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

A two-year starter at Minnesota, Carter tallied 55 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2022.

Carter adds another critical piece to Texas’ defensive front. He joins Byron Murphy, T’Vondre Sweat and Alfred Collins on the interior defensive line. The quality of depth allows Texas to rotate snaps, keeping everyone fresh.

Texas has utilized the transfer portal to make serious roster upgrades this offseason. The Longhorns have added wide receiver AD Michell, defensive back Jalen Catalon and cornerback Gavin Holmes from the portal thus far.

Carter is going to have a substantial role in the Longhorns’ defense in 2023. He is an excellent run-stopper and a difficult matchup for opposing offensive lines.

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WATCH: Texas WR AD Mitchell snags one-handed touchdown from Quinn Ewers

It is easy to see Mitchell is a welcomed addition to Texas’ wide receiver unit.

Texas wide receiver AD Mitchell made his presence known in the Longhorns’ Orange-White spring game on Saturday.

The Georgia transfer made a handful of plays in the game, including a highlight-reel touchdown catch in the second quarter. Mitchell went way up in the air to snag a Quinn Ewers pass with one hand for the score. The touchdown put his team up 21-3 before the half.

It is easy to see Mitchell is a welcomed addition to Texas’ wide receiver unit. His ability to stretch the field opens up the opportunity for Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington and JT Sanders to thrive. Mitchell immediately raises the ceiling of the Longhorn offensive attack.

Team White took down Team Orange 21-10 to win the spring game. Texas next takes the field against Rice to kick off the 2023 campaign.

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Arch Manning, Cedric Baxter and others sign autographs ahead of spring game

The freshman duo of Manning and Baxter are two players Texas fans are eager to see take the field. 

Texas quarterback Arch Manning and running back Cedric Baxter were among the Longhorns signing autographs ahead of the Orange-White spring game on Saturday.

The freshman duo of Manning and Baxter are two players Texas fans are eager to see take the field.

Manning is competing well with Quinn Ewers and Maailk Murphy in spring ball. Steve Sarkisian has praised Manning for his work ethic and efforts thus far.

“But what he does have, that I think is somewhere in the Manning DNA, this guy loves football. He works at football. We practice in the morning, that evening he wants to already be up here watching every one of his plays. He works at his craft. He wants to be great. There’s no doubt about it. And I think that’s why he came here.”

Baxter is quickly turning heads in the running back room. The five-star’s talent is catching the eye of his teammates and coaches, so much so he is earning some first-team reps. Baxter is a prime candidate to have an early impact in the Longhorns backfield in 2023.

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Five Longhorns to watch in Saturday’s spring game

Here are five Longhorns to keep an eye on in the spring game on Saturday.

Texas’ annual Orange-White spring game is set for Saturday afternoon at DKR. Fans will get their first glimpse at the 2023 Longhorns before the season opener against Rice in the fall.

It will be Texas’ 15th and final practice of a crucial spring in year three for the Steve Sarkisian era. Players have the chance to show off the strides they have taken to the public in a game-like environment.

Expectations are high for the Longhorns following an improved 2022 campaign. Texas is seen by many as the favorite in the Big 12 Conference and a potential College Football Playoff contender next season.

Texas returns a bulk of its production from a season ago with a talented group of newcomers arriving.

Aside from some of the proven commodities like Jaylan Ford and Xavier Worthy, here are five Longhorns to keep an eye on in the spring game on Saturday. These players could play a major role in Texas’s success this season.

Texas HC Steve Sarkisian dishes on how Nick Saban revived his career

Nick Saban gave Steve Sarkisian a chance when he needed it most.

Steve Sarkisian’s coaching career was in significant jeopardy after getting fired from USC back in 2015. Sarkisian dealt with struggles on and off the football field, most notably an alcohol issue that impacted his work life.

Looking to get back into the game of football, Sarkisian fielded little interest from any college or professional programs. Sarkisian was ready to take a job in TV before Nick Saban came calling.

The legendary Alabama head coach gave Sarkisian an opportunity in an analyst role. A low-paying analyst role was a major step down compared to his prestigious head coaching job at USC, but it was Sarkisian’s best chance to rebuild his career.

Sarkisian took the role with Alabama for the 2016 season, where he quickly earned the trust of Saban.

Former Alabama offensive coordinator and now Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin left the Tide for the FAU job ahead of the CFP national championship game. Saban chose to promote Sarkisian to call plays in the most important game of the year.

Sarkisian had a quick stint in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons before returning to Alabama as the offensive coordinator in 2020.

Alabama won the 2020 national title anchored by a historic offensive attack led by Sarkisian, leading to Texas hiring Sarkisian as its head coach following the season.

Sarkisian went into detail about his relationship with Saban on “The Pivot” podcast. He credits Saban with “saving his coaching career.”

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Texas Football: Injury report ahead of Orange-White spring game

DJ Campbell and Jalen Catalon are out for Saturday’s spring game.

Texas’ annual Orange-White spring game is set to take place this Saturday. It will be the first opportunity to see the Longhorns on the field until they kick off the 2023 season in the fall.

Steve Sarkisian announced in his media session on Tuesday DJ Campbell and Jalen Catalon will not participate in Saturday’s contest.

Campbell is a second-year offensive lineman who appeared in seven games throughout his freshman season. The former five-star is battling for a starting spot in Texas’ offensive line. Sarkisian highlighted Campbell as a player standing out throughout the spring.

Catalon is a highly touted defensive back transfer from Arkansas. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2020 and has since been hindered by injuries. Texas expects Catalon to play a significant role in the secondary this season.

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