Tag: texas exes

WATCH: Former Longhorn Quandre Diggs picks off former Sooners QB

Former Longhorn and current Seattle Seahawk safety Quandre Diggs picked off former Sooners QB Kyler Murray on Sunday Night Football.

Another former Longhorn was creating opportunities for his offense on Sunday Night Football. Current Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs has made a living in the NFL with being a ball hawk. He continued that on Sunday night. With his team clinging to a three-point lead in the fourth quarter he stuck again.

Former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray was trying to get his team into position to at least tie the game. He overthrew his intended target and Diggs was there to pick up the pieces as he dove for the errant throw. That marked his first interception on the season and his 10th in his career. Late in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks were clinging to a three-point lead as time was winding down.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Longhorns Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.

WATCH: Former Longhorn Poona Ford creates turnover

Former Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Poona Ford creates opportunity for his offense after forcing a fumble by Cardinals receiver.

During Sunday Night Football on NBC, there are plenty of former Longhorns in action for this one. On Arizona’s side you have linebacker Jordan Hicks. For the Seahawks it is punter Michael Dickson and safety Quandre Diggs. Then there is defensive tackle Poona Ford. He can at times be a one man wrecking crew.

The 5-0 Seattle Seahawks are looking to remain perfect against the 3-2 Arizona Cardinals. The Texas ex Ford went for a tackle on Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins when he punched the ball loose and the defense pounced on the ball to give it back to the Seahawks offense. So far in the first half Ford has one tackle and one forced fumble for Seattle.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Longhorns Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.

Former Longhorn Connor Williams says he is focused at guard

Former Texas Longhorn and current Dallas Cowboy Connor Williams met with the media and discussed topics that included him moving positions.

Former Texas Longhorns All-American offensive tackle Connor Williams has been the topic of conversation around the Dallas Cowboys. As it currently sits he is the only original starter from last year’s team on the offensive line set to play this Sunday. Zack Martin is currently in concussion protocol, Tyron Smith and La’el Collins done for the year with season ending surgeries and Travis Frederick retired. Safe to say it has been turmoil for Williams and the guys up front.

Williams was asked about an eerie feeling playing without his line mates of the last two seasons. “Obviously we’d love to have those guys with us,” Connor continued, ” but I mean, at the end of of the day it’s about doing the most you can to help your team. We have the right guys in right now that I feel like we can do our job.”

One big topic has been could Williams move out wide to offensive tackle. The Cowboys have had a revolving door at the position after losing Cameron Erving in the first game of the year, but looks to return this week. Brandon Knight also is dealing with an injury that required surgery.

Connor played left tackle at Texas so he would likely be a candidate to play as the blindside protector for the quarterback. However, when meeting with the media on Thursday that was far from the case.

The idea of moving positions especially on the offensive line isn’t as easy as plug and play. While Williams may possess the positional flexibility, it appears as though he will continue work at the left guard spot he has commanded since entering the NFL.

The offensive line has been an issue for this team through their first six games of the season. If they going to improve with moving guys around, it likely isn’t going to come from moving Williams out to offensive tackle. At least according to him at the moment.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

Download the USA TODAY SportsWire app to follow Longhorns Wire and your other favorite teams in the Apple Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices.

Texas head coach Bill O’Brien explains cancelling Earl Thomas’ workout

Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien met with the media and explained their reasoning for cancelling Earl Thomas’ workout.

On Tuesday, former Texas Longhorns defensive back Earl Thomas was expected to meet with the Houston Texans. However, prior to his workout John McClain stated that the team decided better of it due to the history of the talented safety. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that it was more COVID-19 related as to why they cancelled the workout. Thomas was expected to sign with the Texans before it all changed at the last moment.

During a meeting with the media head coach Bill O’Brien cleared the air on the exact reasoning. Mark Lane of the Texans Wire reports that it was more COVID related than his history with Baltimore. At least that is what BOB said on Wednesday.

“Earl Thomas is a hell of a player,” O’Brien said via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “He’s had a great career. Again, we had a bunch of guys in and we decided to cancel. We’ll see how it goes moving forward. That’s really what it was. It’s not anything other than that and we’ve got a lot of respect for Earl.”

O’Brien went on to mention that the problems that Thomas had in Baltimore were not on their mind when they asked him to visit. Despite the fact that the Texans cancelled his workout as they did state, they still hosted other players including Shea Patterson. So while he claims that it was COVID-19 related and not off the field issues, not sure one can buy that. Especially based on the actions of the team.

For now Earl Thomas will sit and wait for another opportunity to play in the NFL.

Report: Former Longhorn Earl Thomas won’t be joining Houston

After a meeting was announced between the Houston Texans and Earl Thomas, it appears that this isn’t going to happen after all.

On Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Earl Thomas would be meeting with the Houston Texans. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would indeed be signing with the team. They were looking for help on a team that has yet to create a turnover through three games. Then on Tuesday, it was reported that the meeting was on hold per Josina Anderson. Then the fun started.

John McClain reported that the team decided that Earl Thomas wasn’t a good fit for the team. Which begs the question, if so many teams don’t think he is a good fit will Earl Thomas play again? At some point organizations have to weigh if the return on investment is worth the antics and drama that some players can bring.

The latest report from Schefter contradicts the report from McClain. According to his report, the Texans stated they needed to cancel the workout due to COVID-19 concerns.

While the reports are conflicting as to why his meeting was called off, the result is the same. Earl Thomas isn’t going to be signing with Houston. The ideal situation for the former Longhorn could be the Dallas Cowboys. However, the Cowboys front office have been very clear that they won’t be bringing in any defensive backs to try and cure what ails them.

Given how they performed against Thomas’ former team, maybe they should since their coverage was as effective as a wet paper sack.

 

Monday Big 12 Morning Rush: B.J. Foster, Longhorns in the NFL

The Big 12 morning rush on Monday is full of NFL updates from former players. Plus what is going on with B.J. Foster?

The Texas Longhorns on Saturday night weren’t the only ones who had big games this week. After watching the current Longhorns bang out a 56-point victory at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, former Longhorns got their opportunity on Sunday to prove their worth. We take a look at three former Longhorns who had big games and an updated on Texas safety B.J. Foster who allegedly quit on Saturday night. All headlines brought to you by Twitter.

Continue reading “Monday Big 12 Morning Rush: B.J. Foster, Longhorns in the NFL”

WATCH: Former Texas Longhorn scores first touchdown in Rams new stadium

Former Texas Longhorn running back Malcolm Brown scores the first touchdown in the Los Angeles Rams new stadium.

The first Sunday Night Football game of the 2020 season. The Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams meeting in the first week. This opened the Rams and Los Angeles Chargers brand new stadium. A multibillion dollar state of the art stadium. A couple former Texas Longhorns taking part in the game on both sides of this match.

The Rams are rolling with a running back by committee which includes former Longhorn running back Malcolm Brown. Brown joined the Rams after the 2015 NFL Draft where he signed as an undrafted free agent. Brown has spent his entire career with the Rams organization. He became the first player to score in the new home stadium.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Texas Longhorns athletics by joining the Longhorns Wire Forum.

Longhorns in the NFL: Quiet night at Arrowhead Stadium

The NFL returned on Thursday night with two former Texas Longhorns in action. Alex Okafor and Charles Omenihu took the field.

The NFL season kicked off on Thursday night. The defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium in K.C. Two former Texas Longhorns took the field, getting their first taste of live football action in 2020. In a year that has been odd, it had a sense of normalcy. Football returned to our lives.

Charles Omenihu, Houston Texans

Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

Not a whole lot went right for the Houston Texans on Thursday night. The Texans found themselves in a 31-7 hole in the fourth quarter. Early in the game, they were able to generate some pressure on reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes but it didn’t equate to success. Omenihu came close to getting to the quarterback but didn’t generate any stats for the defense.

Alex Okafor, Kansas City

Alex Okafor, Defensive End, Kansas City Chiefs (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

For the Chiefs, Alex Okafor performed a tad better than Omenihu. Okafor was able to get to quarterback Deshaun Watson during this game. He compiled one combined tackle, 0.5 sacks and two quarterback hits. Okafor’s night ended early; he left the game with a hamstring injury. Longhorns Wire will keep you updated on his status for next week.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions.

We have a forum and message board now. Get in on the conversation about Texas Longhorns athletics by joining the Longhorns Wire Forum.

Former Longhorn Jordan Spieth second in the Charles Schwab Classic

Former Texas Longhorn Jordan Spieth is closing in on a win at the Colonial during the Charles Schwab Classic. Currently one shot back.

It has been a long while since the words “Jordan Spieth is within striking distance” were uttered in a PGA event. In fact the former Texas Longhorn hasn’t won any event since he won the 2017 Open Championship on July 23rd of that year. It gave him his third win of the calendar year with the others being the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Travelers Championship. He has been in a drought ever since.

Spieth shot identical 65’s on the first two days of the challenge and following that up on Saturday with a 68. That put him at (-12) under par for the weekend, which is good enough for second behind leader Xander Schauffele. Spieth is currently tied with four other golfers. The number one ranked golfer in the world Rory McIlroy is currently two shots behind Spieth.

Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

If Jordan Spieth can overcome the one shot deficit he faces heading into the final day on the course, he will take home $7.5 million. Not only that but he could walk away with his first win in almost three full years. As of right now, he is looking like the Jordan Spieth of old. Once upon a time many thought would be the next top golfer in the world.

Currently he is the 56th ranked golfer in the world. A win in his home state of Texas in Fort Worth should only increase his ranking. Spieth is trying to find that magic again and now would be a great time to start for the former Longhorn.

Former Texas star Kacy Clemens among those cut in minor league

Three former Longhorns were cut from their Minor League Baseball teams this week.

Uncertainty continues to surround Minor League Baseball. Continue reading “Former Texas star Kacy Clemens among those cut in minor league”