Malcolm Epps – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Tom Herman Announces Position Changes for the 2020 Season

Tom Herman announced position changes for the 2020 season. Significant on both offense and defense, they will impact UT big time next year.

In his first time talking to the media since wrapping up the 2020 recruiting class and completing his coaching staff, Tom Herman spoke about both sides of the ball. When asked about players moving positions, Herman named seven different players that will be in new spots next season.

On the defensive side of the ball, there are a few changes starting with Anthony Cook. The junior will be the nickel corner, coming in to give the defense five defensive backs. In 18 career games for the Longhorns, he has made five starts, with his best moment coming in this year’s Red River Shootout, causing a fumble from Jalen Hurts.

The biggest jump will be former defensive back DeMarvion Overshown moving to the linebacker position. Listed at 6 feet 4 inches and 210 pounds, Overshown has the size to play the position. Herman said he is “excited” about the switch.

Alamo Bowl MVP Joseph Ossai will be moving to the jack position with Byron Vaughns, primarily rushing the passer. That was a huge problem for Texas last season, being in the bottom half of the Big 12 in sacks. Ossai proved against Utah how disruptive in the backfield he can be, totaling three sacks and six tackles for loss. Vaughns, who will be a redshirt sophomore, only played in six games last season, securing 12 tackles.

Flipping over to offense, there are some significant changes that have the chance to make the Longhorn offense even better than it was last season. Beginning with former five-star prospect Jordan Whittington, he will be playing slot receiver, a move that has been anticipated. His athletic ability gives him the option to play anywhere on the field, but a loaded running back room makes it too difficult to get him touches.

Part of the reason the backfield will be so crowded next season will be because former third-string quarterback Roschon Johnson will be sticking to running back going forward. Making the move last season after the position was thin, he played at a high level. Rushing for 649 yards and seven touchdowns, Johnson will now be competing with junior Keaontay Ingram and true freshman Bijan Robinson for snaps.

Another significant move for the offense is Malcolm Epps moving to tight end. It was a position that produced nearly nothing last season, with Cade Brewer having 11 catches for 159 yards. While Brewer will be returning in 2020, he will now have another body competing for his spot. Epps is a huge 6 feet 5 inches that has the chance to be a big target for Ehlinger next season.

Each change will bring a dynamic change to both sides of the ball for Texas next season. With new offensive coordinator Mike Yurich and new defensive coordinator Chris Ash, it will be their responsibility to make sure the players produce. If they can, the Longhorns will be one of the best teams in the Big 12 next season.

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2020 Texas Longhorns Spring Battles: The Tight Ends

Cade Brewer will lead the 2020 Texas Longhorns at tight end heading into the spring but who could be on the horizon?

The tight end position hasn’t been one that has been used much in Austin over the past several years but his year under Mike Yurcich could be different. In the past, Yurcich has used them on offense to help spread out a defense. For the Longhorns there are several to keep an eye on this spring as they battle it out for playing time.

Previous Spring Battle Articles

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Cade Brewer:

Brewer comes into 2020 as the incumbent starter, he required ankle surgery during the 2019 campaign. Brewer would appear in seven games with 11 receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown. With so much uncertainty surrounding the wide receiver position in 2020, Brewer could be in for a big senior campaign in 2020.

Malcolm Epps:

For the Longhorns, Epps could make an impact in multiple spots on offense. Epps was recruited as a tight end but made the switch to wide receiver last season. With Yurcich’s affinity for multiple tight end usage on offense he could find himself back at his original position in some capacity for the Longhorns.

Reese Leitao:

Leitao found his way into two games during the 2019 season, mostly due to the injury to Brewer. Much like Epps, Leitao could work his way onto the field in 2020. Brewer will be a season in 2020 and the Longhorns need to have some development into the next tight end in Austin.

Jared Wiley:

Wiley is a young tight end who signed as part of the 2019 recruiting class as an early signee. The 6’6″ tight end caught one pass against Texas Tech in 2019 for 15 yards. He will likely battle it out with Leitao and Brayden Liebrock for backup duties to Brewer in 2020.

Brayden Liebrock:

Liebrock should be the dark horse of the entire group. He has all the makings of a great tight end at the University of Texas. The four-star prospect was named to the USA Today All-American second team and participated in the Under Armour All-American game. He appeared in the Rice and Texas Tech games but did not register a reception. Liebrock is the one player outside of Epps who could really give opposing defenses fits in coverage and the tight end to watch this spring.

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.

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: Malcolm Epps Profile

The Texas Longhorns will need players to step up in 2020, Malcolm Epps could be one of those players.

In 2019, Malcolm Epps was used in the wide receiver role mostly due to needing depth at the position with injuries to Collin Johnson that elevated Brannon Eagles into a starting role for half of the season. Another reason this factored in was the fact that Cade Brewer was starting at tight end. Epps was a hybrid tight end-wide receiver that has become such a craze in the NFL.

Standing 6’6″, Epps is a huge target that the Longhorns could use in 2020 especially in the red zone. With his height and long arms, it gives quarterback Sam Ehlinger a big target next season. His catch radius is huge and he will catch passes outside of that huge frame.

Epps can line up in the slot to create mismatches, he still needs to work on his blocking to be an inline tight end. Given that he played basketball allows him to fall on that experience to block out defenders on contested catches. With a player his size and catching ability, all you need to do is throw it up and let Epps go get it. Not many defenders will have the length to contend with him down the field.

Tight end isn’t really a position that has provided much of a presence in the passing game over the years for Texas but that could all change in the upcoming season. Not only because of Epps and Brewer but new play caller Mike Yurcich likes to get the tight ends involved in the passing game. He used multiple tight ends this past season at Ohio State.