Locked on Longhorns Podcast: Changing the venue for Oklahoma-Texas?

Locked on Longhorns podcast discusses the possibility of a 10-game schedule and where will the Oklahoma-Texas game be played?

The podcast kicks off discussing Tom Herman’s recent surgery. Add him to the list of Texas Longhorns who were operated on prior to the season. Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman reported the idea of a 10-game schedule that would involve only one non-conference game in 2020. Which game would the Longhorns keep? Plus there is another idea on the table in regards to the Red River Rivalry. Could the game be moved to from Dallas for the next two seasons?

Three more Longhorns were added to award watch lists. Safety Caden Sterns and Linebacker Joseph Ossai were both named to the Bronko Nagurski Award watch list. Which Longhorn is more likely to earn the hardware? Samuel Cosmi was also added to the Outland Trophy watch list. That award is given to the nation’s top lineman. Three other Longhorns have won that particular award. Plus an update on Texas high school football.

Phil Steele’s College Football Magazine is now available. Where do the Longhorns rank in his initial top 25? Who is the biggest shock in the top 10? Longhorns were also mentioned in his four surprise teams of 2020.

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Wisconsin T Cole Van Lanen named to Outland Trophy Watch List

Tuesday afternoon, Cole Van Lanen was named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy that goes to the best interior offensive lineman in college football, adding to the preseason accolades that he has already received.

Said it once… we'll say it again….

O 👏 LINE 👏 U

Proud of our guy @colevanlanen5 repping on the @OutlandTrophy 👀 list pic.twitter.com/s7DQByiAVv

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) July 21, 2020

Going into his third season as a starter for Wisconsin, Cole Van Lanen has become the anchor of the Badger’s offensive line. Van Lanen has played well the last few seasons, but with Tyler Biadasz heading to the Dallas Cowboys, his time to be the next elite Wisconsin offensive lineman has arrived.

In his first year as a starter, Van Lanen played extremely well and was the highest-rated offensive tackle and run blocker by Pro Football Focus. The Green Bay, Wisc. native’s performance was impacted last season with injuries, but going into this season Van Lanen was named a Walter Camp Preseason First Team All-American.

Reppin' #OLineU…

‼️ @colevanlanen5 ‼️#OnWisconsin » #Badgers pic.twitter.com/Wj0dD6pgfo

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) June 12, 2020

The addition of his name to the watch list for the Outland Trophy has continued the increase in expectations for Van Lanen this upcoming season, but if he can have a good and healthy year, Van Lanen will be a day one prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft.

I have recently written an opinion piece about Cole Van Lanen and his disclusion from the PFF positional rankings for the 2021 NFL Draft, as well as discussed his Wisconsin career more in-depth here.

Four Alabama linemen named to 2020 Outland Trophy Watch List

Alabama Football’s Deonte Brown, Landon Dickerson, Alex Leatherwood & LaBryan Ray were all been named to the 2020 Outland Trophy Watch list

Alabama Football’s Deonte Brown, Landon Dickerson, Alex Leatherwood and LaBryan Ray were all been named to the 2020 Outland Trophy Watch list.

Squad reppin' 💪

🗒️ » https://t.co/W641eSi2aO #BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/eGGhDfQA12

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) July 21, 2020

The Outland Trophy is an annual award since 1946 awarded to the top interior lineman in college football.

There are 85 lineman listed on the watch list for this year’s award.

There have been 5 Outland Trophy winners in Alabama Football program history:Chris Samuels in 1999, Andre Smith in 2008, Barrett Jones in 2011, Cam Robinson in 2016 and Quinnen Williams in 2018.

Here’s what Alabama has to say about each 4 of these linemen:

Deonte Brown

“Powerful offensive lineman who secured the starting role at guard last season … has worked in 35 career games with 13 starts, including the final eight games of 2019 … was part of an offensive line that ranked third nationally in sacks per game last season as the unit allowed just .92 sacks per contest … provided time for Alabama’s offense that finished second nationally in scoring, third in passing and sixth in total offense … also opened holes for the Tide’s ground game with UA’s top two backs accounting for 1,665 yards to average an impressive 5.5 yards per rush.”

Landon Dickerson

“Versatile offensive lineman who anchors one of Alabama’s most veteran units … earned a starting job along the Crimson Tide’s offensive line in 2019 … started all 13 games, including four at right guard and nine at center … graded out at nearly 88 percent at the two different positions a season ago … allowed only one sack and four quarterback hurries as a junior … missed just four assignments in 727 snaps for a 99.4 percent success rate in 2019.”

Alex Leatherwood

“Elected to return for his senior season and provides the Crimson Tide with one of the top tackle prospects in the country … has seen time in 35 career games with 28 consecutive starts dating back to 2018 … made the move back to left tackle in 2019 after earning a starting spot at right guard in 2018 … graded out at nearly 89 percent in 2019, allowing just two sacks and three quarterback hurries all season … missed only seven assignments in 752 snaps for a 99.1 percent success rate as a junior.”

LaBryan Ray

“The veteran along the Alabama defensive front … has seen time in 24 career games with four starts, three of which came in 2019 prior to a season-ending injury … registered 53 career tackles with 9.5 for loss (-41 yards) and 4.5 sacks (-34 yards) … also recorded two quarterback hurries, a pair of pass breakups and one forced fumble across his first three seasons with the Crimson Tide … accumulated nine total tackles, including 1.5 for loss (-12 yards) and a sack (-11 yards), as a junior before his season was cut short due to injury.”

The winner of the award will be announced at the 2020 ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.

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Three Ohio State offensive lineman make Outland Trophy preseason watch list

Thayer Munford, Wyatt Davis, and Josh Myers were all named to the Outland Trophy’s 2020 preseason watch list on Tuesday.

The individual preseason notoriety continues to file in for the Ohio State football team. The offensive line is a veteran group this year, and the folks at the Outland Trophy have taken notice.

Thayer Munford, Josh Myers, and Wyatt Davis have all been named to the Outland’s 2020 preseason watch list that was released Tuesday. All three had an opportunity to turn pro after last season but decided to come back for one more run. Hopefully, the novel coronavirus and the management of it all works to their benefit and we get to see these guys shine this fall.

The Outland has been awarded annually to the college football player judged to be the best interior lineman in the country and is awarded by the Football Writers Association of America. As trophies go, it has been around longer than most, with the first one being awarded in 1946.

Count ‘em.@TMunford75 @josh_myers71 @wyattdavis53

All 3️⃣ on the @outlandtrophy preseason 👀 list.#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/g65jtzJgTQ

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) July 21, 2020

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Ohio State has had several winners. Jim Parker took it home in 1956, Jim Stillwagon won it in 1970, John Hicks in 1973, and the latest was Orlando Pace in 1996.

Another winner is long overdue.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

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Countdown to Texas football: Best to wear No. 55

In returning to the countdown to kickoff series, Longhorns Wire remembers the best wear number 55 Connor Williams.

We are 55 days away from the scheduled kickoff of the 2020 college football season. Despite the Big Ten and PAC 12 announcing conference only schedules, the Big 12 remains with a full slate of games for most of their teams. The Longhorns still have South Florida, Louisiana State and Texas-El Paso on the schedule. In continuing the kickoff series, Longhorns Wire looks at the best to wear number 55. Currently Willie Tyler wears the number. He redshirted his sophomore year in 2019 after transferring from Iowa Western Community College.

Connor Williams, Offensive Tackle (2015-17)

Connor Williams played three season for the Texas Longhorns before entering into the 2018 NFL Draft and forfeiting his remaining eligibility. He played and started 28 games during that time. He would start every game at left tackle as a freshman. He would earn Freshman All-American honors from three publications for his play.

In his sophomore season, Williams would be even better. He would start 11 games at left tackle for Texas. He earned consensus first team All-American honors. He became only the fourth sophomore in Longhorns history to earn that honor. The others were Earl Thomas, Hub Bechtol and Russell Erxleben.

As a junior in 2017, Williams found himself on the Maxwell Trophy, Outland Trophy and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watchlists in the preseason. He would be listed on the pre-season All-American team as well as All-Big 12. He would only start five games that year due to injuries. He would declare for the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Dallas area native would get to stay home when the Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round. In two years for the Cowboys, Williams played in 24 games, starting 21. He would be named starter at left guard his rookie year. In his second season, Connor would start 11 games and missed time due to arthroscopic knee surgery. Upon his return he would tear his ACL and be placed on the injured reserve.

Heading into 2020, Williams will once again have to battle for a starting spot with another Connor coming off injury. Williams and McGovern are both vying for starting roles at either center or left guard.

Accomplishments:

2015 Freshman All-American
2016 Consensus All-American
2016 First-team All-Big 12
2018 NFL Draft second round selection
2017 Outland Trophy Semifinalist

Tyler Biadasz goes one for two at the College Football Awards

Wisconsin Badgers center Tyler Biadasz won the Rimington Trophy at the College Football Awards but came up short for the Outland Trophy.

For a kid who originally came to Madison as a lightly-recruited defensive lineman out of tiny Amherst, Wis. (population: 1,035), it’s safe to say things have turned out pretty well for Tyler Biadasz as a Badger.

Fours years after arriving on campus, he now finds himself universally considered one of the top offensive linemen in the nation and a likely first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Nearing the end of his best (and likely final) season as a Badger, Wisconsin’s star center was a finalist for both the Rimington and Outland trophies at yesterday’s College Football Awards in Atlanta, Ga.

He came up short in his pursuit of the Outland Trophy (awarded to the nation’s top interior lineman), with Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell taking home that honor over Biadasz and Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown. However, he didn’t leave empty-handed.

Biadasz was recognized as the nation’s top center when he was awarded the Rimington Trophy on the red carpet before the awards show, coming out on top of fellow finalists Matt Hennessy (Temple) and Creed Humphrey (Oklahoma).

Winner of the @rimingtontrophy … the most outstanding center in college football… the Badger himself.. @TylerBiadasz 🏆 #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/vUi98o3Ira

— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) December 12, 2019

Biadasz is the first player from Wisconsin to receive the trophy since its inception in 2000.

“It’s absolutely an honor to be a part of this,” Biadasz said upon receiving the award, according to the press release from the Rimington Trophy. “To be recognized nationally with an award for your specific position, recognizing the work that you put into your craft, you feel really grateful. This award means a lot to me. Coach (Joe) Rudolph and Coach (Paul) Chryst took a shot on me. I had never played center. Now, to be recognized as the best in the country, that’s really unbelievable to me. I’m very grateful to them for how they’ve affected my life and helped me along the way.”

Biadasz will be officially honored as the award’s recipient at the 20th Annual Rimington Trophy Presentation at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb. on Jan. 18.

Two Georgia football players named semifinalists for prestigious awards

A pair of Georgia football players were named semifinalists for prestigious CFB awards.

Two Georgia Bulldogs have been named semifinalists for a pair of college football’s most prestigious postseason awards.

Andrew Thomas, a junior left tackle, was named one of six semifinalists for the Outland Trophy, which goes to America’s top interior lineman.

Joining Thomas on the list is:

OC Tyler Bidasz (Wisconsin), DT Derrick Brown (Auburn), OT Penei Sewell (Oregon), OG John Simpson (Clemson) and OT Tristan Wirfs (Iowa).

I could definitely see Thomas bringing home the trophy, but Auburn’s Brown poses a tough fight. Currently, Thomas is a top-five pick in almost every NFL mock draft I’ve seen.

On Monday, the list of six will be trimmed to three and the winner will be announced at ESPN’s College Football Awards on December 12th from the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Georgia junior safety J.R. Reed was named a semifinalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given to America’s best defensive player.

Reed is joined by Brown (Auburn), LB Isaiah Simmons (Clemson), DB Antoine Winfield Jr. (Minnesota) and DE Chase Young (Ohio State).

Right now, this trophy is looking like it’s Young’s to lose, despite the fact hew was suspended for a portion of the season. But Reed has been a consistent force in the secondary all season and will go on to a long NFL career.