Tag: Spring Football

WATCH: Texas DT Alfred Collins scores on an Ethan Burke tipped pass

The Texas defense looked much sharper than the offense in the first two drives.

The Texas defense line played like they heard the offseason doubters in the early going of the spring game. They dominated the first two drives.

The early highlight of the spring game came on a tipped pass from Texas edge Ethan Burke. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins caught the pass and took it to the end zone for six points.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers had a poor showing. The plan heading into the day was for Ewers not to play very long. He played like it with a lackadaisical performance. The defense had a hand in his tough day.

The Texas interior defensive line surprisingly had its way in the early part of matchup. What wasn’t a surprise was Burke and Collins stepping up to make plays.

The Texas defense is an underrated part of what the Longhorns bring back for 2024. The highlight play from Collins and Burke is one of many reasons to be excited about the product the team will put on display in the upcoming season.

Orange-White Game: Prepare to see plenty of Texas QB Arch Manning

Arch Manning should see plenty of reps in the spring game.

The Orange-White Game is set to begin on Saturday barring weather disruption. Texas backup quarterback Arch Manning could see plenty of playing time.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is expected to limit how many reps starting quarterback Quinn Ewers is allotted. Ewers has something to prove on the field, but nothing related to whether or not he should be the starter. After a series or two, Arch Manning could see the majority of reps at quarterback.

Fellow reserves Cole Lourd and Trey Owens should get their opportunity to play, but Manning is the player whose reps benefit the team most. Arch is now an injury away from playing after Maalik Murphy transferred to play quarterback at Duke.

Manning has the ability to lead the team, but what he lacks is experience and reps at the college level. Expect to see the signal caller get some semblance of college caliber reps when the Longhorns take the field on Saturday.

What positions should Texas add in the transfer portal?

Where can Texas upgrade or add in the portal?

The Texas Longhorns have one of the five best rosters in college football for the 2024 season. It’s why so many outlets ranked them so highly in preseason. The Longhorns can still improve.

There aren’t many positions where Texas can get much better through the transfer portal. Offensively, I am skeptical there’s a position worth considering an upgrade. The positions worth watching are on the defensive side.

Texas is good at cornerback. Malik Muhammad was billed as the best player on the field recently in spring practices leading into his second college season. Jahdae Barron, Jaylon Guilbeau, Terrance Brooks and Gavin Holmes are all impact players in their own right.

Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba is set to start at safety opposite Michael Taaffe or Derek Williams Jr. All three should be better options than last year’s expected starters Jalen Catalon and Jerrin Thompson.

Edge is perhaps the strength of the defense led by UTSA transfer and 14 sack pass rusher Trey Moore and returning playmakers Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke. If there were any question of depth, five-star freshman Colin Simmons is added to blue chip talents Justice Finkley and Colton Vasek.

Texas will need to add a punter, but the above positions appear settled. That leaves two defensive positions: Defensive tackle and linebacker.

Defensive lineman Alfred Collins and linebackers Anthony Hill and David Gbenda are reliable options. Morice Blackwell is dependable as well at linebacker. Behind those players are questions.

Arizona transfer Tiaoalii Savea was added at defensive tackle in early portal action, but whether or not his game transfers to the SEC will be worth watching. Vernon Broughton II belongs on the field and can make plays, but doesn’t seem to be the right fit at nose tackle barring improvement in run defense and staying rooted in the turf.

Behind the above two players are more questions. Texas would benefit from adding at least one defensive lineman but could add more.

At linebacker, Anthony Hill is primed for a breakout season after putting up 67 total tackles and five sacks in limited time last year. His role is different, so a veteran presence like Gbenda is optimal. The Longhorns can still add another impact player at the position.

Depth matters. Even if Texas is confident in its top three options with Gbenda, Hill and Blackwell, they will need depth at linebacker. Several collisions are on the way at the position and this season against more SEC offensive linemen and running backs. Even after adding Alabama linebacker Kendrick Blackshire, adding another proven player raises the ceiling for the team.

With all the above stated, a winning principle overrides complacency at any position: Always add talent. If Texas can find an upgrade outside of a position of need, it can add those players. Nevertheless, the Longhorns plan of attack should be to first address defensive tackle. They look to be on the way to doing that through the portal.

Bruins commit Weston Port to attend UCLA spring practice

Weston Port is coming to UCLA this weekend.

A flurry of prospective UCLA Bruins will be in attendance for the first week of spring football. Over the weekend, a four-star commit, Weston Port, will be there as well. 

Port, who signed with the Bruins officially in February, could be a secret weapon for potential future Bruins. The linebacker out of San Juan Hills, Port, stayed local and declined offers from Michigan and Georgia earlier this year. 

Given the Bruins frequently tap into the California pipeline, having him in attendance to mingle with prospective California players could help sway their decisions in one way or another. Of course, they make their decisions on a multitude of factors, but having Port in attendance certainly does not hurt the Bruins’ cause. 

The Bruins are going all out for their spring football practices. From social media posts to the new Jordan logo on their practice field, UCLA is drawing attention to themselves in a big way. 

With Port in attendance as well, they are pulling out all the stops to make Westwood as desirable a landing spot as possible for their potential commits. 

Watch Knute Rockne Coaching Spring Football

“necking and drinking…”

Spring football is in the air on college campuses around the United States and Notre Dame is no different.

Some questions for teams will be answered during the spring while transfer portal entries will be made during and immediately following the spring session.

Spring football goes back over a century as teams have been using it to get better for seemingly as long as college football has been played.  That’s no different at Notre Dame where spring football has been a thing since at least the day’s of Knute Rockne.

With that in mind you can watch Rockne firing up the troops to kick off spring practice nearly a century below.

This past Sunday marked the 93rd anniversary of Rockne’s death.

Key quotes from Steve Sarkisian’s media availability on Tuesday

“I feel like the last week, (Ryan Wingo) is really starting to make some plays and you’re starting to see the size, speed, and athleticism.”

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian met with the media on Tuesday following spring practice. Continue reading “Key quotes from Steve Sarkisian’s media availability on Tuesday”

Texas depth, OL noted as reasons for confidence in 2024 squad

Depth is standing out for Texas early on in the spring.

The Texas Longhorns have championship depth this spring. It is one of the more substantive characteristics of the 2024 squad.

Inside Texas’ Eric Nahlin discussed the team’s depth among several other strengths the Longhorns possess in his latest spring update.

The depth shows up most noticeably along the offensive line where Texas has too many starters than starting spots. That’s not the first time we’ve said that about a position group for the team this offseason.

The post-spring portal window could lead to attrition on the roster. The offensive line in particular boasts several players capable of taking a starting role. Even so, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has done well in retaining players the past two offseasons.

Texas might have experience and continuity in spades, but, save for defensive line and linebacker, the team’s depth could extend past the second string across the board. Through the first few spring practices, depth is one of the reasons Sarkisian and company are confident the Longhorns could be even better next season.

CFB analyst believes there could be way more post-spring portal action

Josh Pate can see more post-spring transfer portal shakeup than we’ve seen in early portal action.

The transfer portal has been active this offseason. It could see even more change once spring football is over according to one college football analyst.

247Sports’ Josh Pate shared the following on his Late Kick podcast of what could happen in the portal over the next couple months.

“The post-spring transfer portal cycle coming up may actually be wilder than the December window. There are no rules.”

Pate continued on what the lack of regulation means for the rest of the offseason.

“The impact is going to be enormous. A lot of you are nervous. Frankly, you should be nervous because there are no players who are safe right now.”

What does it mean for Texas? Like every other college football team, the Longhorns will likely have to continue to recruit their own players. Why? Because college football teams tamper. They do so because they can with little to no repercussions.

The above has become the new normal for Texas, and they’ve done a good job fending off teams trying to lure away their top players. Unfortunately, it could mean the Longhorns lose quality depth this offseason. After all, backups can play more and see better NIL opportunities elsewhere.

Despite the difficulties Texas will face in maintaining its roster, its challenges are shared with every other team in college football. The Longhorns will simply need to be one of the best at retaining their players to enter the season with an advantage.

WATCH: Steve Sarkisian praises Texas WR Johntay Cook after practice

Steve Sarkisian was pleased with Texas wide receiver Johntay Cook’s performance on the first day of spring practice.

A potential breakout player for Texas in 2024 is wide receiver Johntay Cook. Continue reading “WATCH: Steve Sarkisian praises Texas WR Johntay Cook after practice”

LOOK: Texas football players, coaches during the first day of spring practice

Here’s a look at the best photos from Texas’ first day of spring practice on Tuesday.

Texas held its first practice of spring ball on Tuesday. Continue reading “LOOK: Texas football players, coaches during the first day of spring practice”