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Johntay Cook made the list of five-star players as the No. 24 overall player in the nation.
The Texas Longhorns have a star-studded class. Look no further than Rivals’ latest recruiting rankings update. Continue reading “Texas signees make appearances in Rivals’ five-star update”
Looking at where Big 12 teams rank at the close of the transfer portal.
The picture is getting clearer for each team as the transfer portal entry window has closed. While many teams will see big additions throughout the offseason, they each will have more certainty about who will return.
Texas received good news yesterday as Georgia wide receiver AD Mitchell entered the transfer portal. While it might not be the done deal many forecast, there’s confidence that the Longhorns can pull off the recruiting win. Our colleague CJ Mumme detailed teams that could be in contention for the unique player.
TCU has made its own splash replacing elite offensive play caller Garrett Riley with Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. In addition, TCU brought over three highly regarded Alabama players, JoJo Earle, Trey Sanders and Tommy Brockermeyer. Despite their additions, the Frogs still have plenty of holes to fill.
Oklahoma has had a strong portal period bringing in the likes of former Top 100 recruit Dasan McCullough, Oklahoma State DT Trace Ford and elite pass catcher Austin Stogner.
Here’s a look at where I see each team for 2023 given recent developments.
Texas might consider bringing this elite player in from the transfer portal.
LSU linebacker Demario Tolan has entered the transfer portal. The four-star talent and No. 23 linebacker in the 2022 On3 consensus recruiting rankings is looking for a change of scenery after a year in Baton Rouge.
Tolan attended Dr. Phillips High School in Florida, the school where Texas found elite offensive lineman Payton Kirkland. It’s uncertain if they have a strong relationship, but familiarity could bode well for Texas should they pursue a commitment.
On3 had the following to say about the Florida native in high school. Highly instinctive linebacker.
Sees the game quickly and plays faster than he tests. Skilled with his ability to blitz, play the run and cover. Shows the ability to strike and finish at a high rate. Impressed with his cover skills in the camp setting. Does not have top long speed in the camp setting.
Tolan ranked as the No. 229 overall player in the 2022 On3 consensus. Both Rivals and ESPN considered him a Top 200 talent. Given depth questions following the loss of DeMarvion Overshown and Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey, Texas could use another talented linebacker alongside Jaylan Ford and Anthony Hill.
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Let’s take a look at what could happen for Texas over the next year.
The Texas Longhorns have had their fair share of frustration through ten games in 2022. The team has a record of 6-4, but that’s not really the issue.
Texas isn’t winning and losing like they expected to win or lose. The Longhorns fell to No. 4 TCU 17-10 on Saturday with little to no offensive production. Recent performances leave some wondering whether or not Texas has its answer at quarterback.
In reality, the Longhorns have a chance to improve their win total by three games from last season against beatable opponents. More important than where the program is now is the direction it is headed. There’s plenty of evidence that the program is heading in the right direction.
Let’s take a look at what could happen for Texas over the next year.
The Tennessee Volunteers will look to break a 15-game losing streak against Alabama.
As the season progresses, the set of games for each week become even more consequential. That fact is certainly true this week, as two sets of top ten teams clash for bragging rights.
No. 4 Michigan and No. 10 Penn State face off in a pivotal Big Ten matchup. The game could decide who challenges Ohio State for a spot in the Big Ten title game.
Michigan is the reigning Big Ten champion and representative in the College Football Playoff. Even so, Penn State has the ability to wreak havoc on the road this week.
In the SEC, No. 1 Alabama and No. 8 Tennessee meet in what is perhaps the most storied rivalry in conference history. There haven’t been many stories to tell since Nick Saban took over in Tuscaloosa. The Volunteers have lost 15 straight in the series, but Bryce Young’s injury makes the Crimson Tide vulnerable to upset.
Let’s look at who could emerge from these games with a win.
Oklahoma looks to avoid an 0-4 start in conference at home against Kansas.
Week 7 features multiple high-profile games. Texas will play its part in the weekend with a tough home game against Iowa State. Continue reading “Week 7 Preview: An early look at Texas vs Iowa State and more”
There aren’t five college quarterbacks playing better football than Quinn Ewers.
Quinn Ewers is the real deal. If you can’t tell by now, I don’t know what would convince you.
The redshirt freshman put on a clinic against Brent Venables’ defense on Saturday. The Oklahoma defense has been bad this season, but found itself in better position to make plays against Texas. Ewers simply carved them up.
One 3rd-and-6 throw illustrates how little Oklahoma’s efforts mattered against Ewers. The talented transfer exited the pocket, rolled left and placed a football right over a defender’s outstretched arms to Bijan Robinson near the sideline.
Quinn fit the ball to Bijan just inside the left boundary. It was the type of play you live with as a defensive coordinator. Unfortunately for Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof, it’s the type of play Robinson and Ewers routinely make.
This throw & catch from Ewers to Bijan is one of the most impressive plays of the season.
Two generational talents. pic.twitter.com/wCK4XeoYZd
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_TFB) October 10, 2022
As recently as last week, former Oklahoma linebacker Teddy Lehman and others asserted that Quinn Ewers should sit and allow Hudson Card to play in his place against Oklahoma. We discussed the topic but certainly never came to that conclusion. Respectfully, no hot hand is warm enough to justify sitting a healthy Ewers.
Presently, there aren’t five quarterbacks playing better football than Quinn Ewers. He is the reason Texas is capable of a Big 12 title run. It’s time to give the quarterback his respect.
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Oklahoma messed around and found out.
Texas embarrassed Oklahoma on Saturday. The win unearthed multiple doses of reality for both teams. For Texas, reality tasted much sweeter.
Oklahoma went down quietly for the most part. The Sooners did their best to run out the clock and prevent further damage. The apathetic performance may have done damage control, but it didn’t hide what Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense were able to accomplish.
Texas took what they wanted offensively. The Sooners made Quinn Ewers beat them, and he certainly did. Venables’ defense sold out to stop the run and Ewers made them pay to the tune of four touchdown passes and 289 yards.
Despite the efforts to stop the run, Bijan Robinson still ran for 130 yards and two scores on 22 carries.
Let’s examine what we learned in Texas’ dominant win over Oklahoma.
Texas has all but eliminated Oklahoma from Big 12 contention.
How the mighty have fallen. Continue reading “Horns down the Sooners into the Dallas sod”
Steve Sarkisian is in search of his first Red River Shootout win on Saturday.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is in search of his first Red River Shootout win on Saturday. It is perhaps the greatest regular season spectacle in college sports, but certainly the biggest game of the regular season for both teams.
Earlier this week, Brent Venables downplayed the game indicating it was no more significant than any other game. The veteran defensive mind is probably smarter than that, but the quote was noteworthy.
Sarkisian will certainly take a different approach. Last year, the Longhorns set off first quarter fireworks with 28 points in the first period of the game. Unfortunately for Texas, Pete Kwiatkowski and company had no answer for Caleb Williams or the Oklahoma running game.
This season, Texas will have an opportunity to perform better on both sides of the football. Let’s examine what a win would mean for Steve Sarkisian.
