Report: Texas football hires Joe DeCamillis as special assistant to head coach

Texas has found their replacement for Gary Patterson.

Steve Sarkisian went to the NFL ranks to hire a new member of his coaching staff.

247Sports reports Texas is bringing in longtime NFL special teams coach Joe DeCamillis in a special assistant to head coach role. The position was previously held by former TCU head coach Gary Patterson.

DeCamillis has won two super bowls as a special teams coordinator in the NFL. One with the Denver Broncos in 2016 and another with the LA Rams in 2022. His special teams units are consistently among the upper echelon of the NFL.

He is a well-respected coach with 31 years of NFL experience under his belt. DeCamillis will now bring his ideas to the college game for the first time with this Texas staff. The Longhorns coaching staff is locked and loaded for the 2023 season.

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DraftKings sets projected win totals for every Big 12 football team

Texas and Oklahoma lead the way in projected win totals.

Early win total projections are out for the 2023 college football season. The numbers are consistent with what many expect for the upcoming season.

Recently we shared game-by-game predictions for the football program heading into the fall. Texas saw a 10-2 prediction with signature victories over Alabama and Oklahoma and upset losses to TCU and Iowa State. We recently discussed why TCU and Iowa State are likely upsets.

My record predictions slotted Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, TCU and BYU as primary contenders for the Big 12 crown. Kansas State and Oklahoma figure to be around 9 to 11 win teams while Texas Tech, TCU, BYU, Kansas and Baylor stand as wild card picks to win the conference.

Here’s a look at the national view on where Big 12 teams land in conference hierarchy.

Report: Multiple schools reached out to Texas QB Maalik Murphy before transfer deadline

Maalik Murphy is staying loyal to Texas football.

Texas backup quarterback Maalik Murphy shined in the Longhorns’ spring game. The former blue-chip prospect from the 2022 recruiting class showed off his high-level talent, completing 9-of-13 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown.

Murphy’s spring game performance caught the attention of many around the country. 247Sports reports multiple Power Five programs contacted Murphy about a possible transfer before the spring deadline.

“Even before the spring game there were people trying to reach out,” a source close to Murphy said. “All the write-ups you end up seeing, everything is about Arch. You start seeing all that and you kind of forget about Maalik, and where are his opportunities? So, there were a lot of people trying to see if there was a chance to love him up a little bit.”

In the new era of college football with the transfer portal and NIL, holding on to a backup quarterback as talented as Murphy is extremely difficult. However, Steve Sarkisian credits the culture around the Texas program with helping the Longhorns keep Murphy out of the portal.

The importance of having quality depth in the quarterback room can not be overstated.

Hudson Card kept Texas in football games when Quinn Ewers went down with an injury against Alabama. Our friends in Oklahoma failed to find a reliable quarterback behind Dillon Gabriel last season, and the Sooners’ offense looked helpless without him.

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Former Texas DB Anthony Cook signs undrafted free agency deal with Kansas City

The Longhorns have now sent seven players to the NFL this offseason, five draftees and two undrafted free agents. 

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed former Texas defensive back Anthony Cook to an undrafted free agency deal following the 2023 NFL Draft. Continue reading “Former Texas DB Anthony Cook signs undrafted free agency deal with Kansas City”

Texas DB D’Shawn Jamison signs with San Francisco as UDFA

D’Shawn Jamison has signed an undrafted free agency deal with the San Francisco 49ers.

Texas defensive back D’Shawn Jamison has signed an undrafted free agency deal with the San Francisco 49ers. He is the first former Longhorn to sign with an NFL team following the conclusion of the draft.

Jamison is an uber-versatile player who has played all over the Texas secondary before settling in a cornerback his last couple of seasons. He played five years for the Longhorns, appearing in 60 games and making 39 total starts during his college career.

Jamison has great ball skills and change-in-direction ability for a defensive back. He snagged six interceptions and deflected 23 passes for the Texas defense.

One of the more accomplished kick returners in Texas history, Jamison returned two kickoffs and a punt for a touchdown. He has a high upside to continue as a specialist at the NFL level.

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Mike Florio: Bijan Robinson can make the Cowboys a ‘Super Bowl contender’

Bijan Robinson could be the missing piece for the Dallas Cowboys.

Anticipation is building for the 2023 NFL Draft starting this week. Continue reading “Mike Florio: Bijan Robinson can make the Cowboys a ‘Super Bowl contender’”

NFL Draft: Texas RB Bijan Robinson earns high praise from Joel Klatt

“I think he’s very much in the same vein as Christian McCaffrey.”

Texas running back Bijan Robinson is expected off the board in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Continue reading “NFL Draft: Texas RB Bijan Robinson earns high praise from Joel Klatt”

Texas ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s initial Football Power Index

FPI gives Texas a 34% chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff. 

ESPN released its initial 2023 Football Power Index on Tuesday. Continue reading “Texas ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s initial Football Power Index”

Texas lands commitment from standout Minnesota DL transfer Trill Carter

Minnesota defensive line transfer Trill Carter is taking his talents to Texas.

Minnesota defensive line transfer Trill Carter is taking his talents to Texas. Carter announced his commitment to the Longhorns on Monday after taking visits to Arkansas, Ohio State and Illinois.

Carter joins the Longhorns with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

A two-year starter at Minnesota, Carter tallied 55 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2022.

Carter adds another critical piece to Texas’ defensive front. He joins Byron Murphy, T’Vondre Sweat and Alfred Collins on the interior defensive line. The quality of depth allows Texas to rotate snaps, keeping everyone fresh.

Texas has utilized the transfer portal to make serious roster upgrades this offseason. The Longhorns have added wide receiver AD Michell, defensive back Jalen Catalon and cornerback Gavin Holmes from the portal thus far.

Carter is going to have a substantial role in the Longhorns’ defense in 2023. He is an excellent run-stopper and a difficult matchup for opposing offensive lines.

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Texas Football: Quinn Ewers ends quarterback debate with strong spring showing

“I think it’s pretty clear to say that Quinn’s our starting quarterback and we feel very good about that.”

Quinn Ewers looked like an improved quarterback in Texas’s Orange-White spring game on Saturday. Head coach Steve Sarkisian put any question marks surrounding the starting quarterback battle to rest.

“I thought Quinn was really efficient today, I think it’s pretty clear to say that Quinn’s our starting quarterback and we feel very good about that.”

Ewers completed 16 of 23 passes for 195 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers. He hit Xavier Worthy on a 46-yard deep strike to set up a touchdown early on. Ewers later connected with Georgia transfer AD Micthell for a score.

The second-year quarterback was unhappy with the inconsistency of his freshman campaign. Ewers is taking the extra steps to make strides as both a leader and player.

Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning will continue to push Ewers leading up to the season, but Sark feels confident this is Ewers’ team to lead.

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