Tag: Texas Longhorns

Washington Commanders Sam Cosmi ranked a Top 10 OG in the NFL

Former Longhorn Sam Cosmi ranked a Top 10 OG in the NFL by PFF

The Washington Commanders made one of the best selections of the 2021 NFL draft and probably didn’t even realize it at the time as they used their second-round pick, No. 51 overall, on former Texas Longhorns OL Sam Cosmi.

During Cosmi’s four-year collegiate career, he started 34 games for the Longhorns and was named Second-team All-Big 12 in 2019 and First-team All-Big 12 in 2020.

As a rookie, Cosmi started the Commanders’ season opener as a right tackle, but over the course of his career, he’s moved to being an interior guard. Cosmi has missed some time in his professional career due to a couple of different injuries, but when he’s been healthy he has been among the best guards in the league.

Heading into the 2024 season, Pro Football Focus ranks Cosmi as the No. 3 OG in the entire NFL behind only Atlanta’s Chris Lindstrom and Kansas City’s Joe Thuney.

Cosmi is entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, so I would expect Washington to try and extend him before the season begins as they won’t want to risk losing him in free agency next summer.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Texas freshman defender among top first-year impact players

No. 11 should be a key player on this year’s defense.

The Texas Longhorns defense will have a different feel next season without Byron Murphy, T’Vondre Sweat, Jaylan Ford, and Ryan Watts on the squad. Each one was selected in the 2024 NFL draft.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the coaching staff addressed several key spots in recruiting and the transfer portal. However, which newcomer will make an instant impact on Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense?

According to Chris Hummer of CBS Sports and 247Sports, the impact freshman to watch is five-star edge defender Colin Simmons.

“Like Anthony Hill a year ago, there’s going to be a role on the defense for Simmons this fall.” Hummer continued, “Simmons is the type of edge-rushing talent Texas has not had in years (Longhorn hasn’t posted more than six sacks in a season since 2018). Simmons has that type of potential and flashed it this spring. He’ll battle with UTSA transfer Trey Moore for playing time but you can bet Simmons will be springing into attack mode come third downs.”

According to 247Sports 2024 composite rankings, Simmons was the No. 18 overall player and No. 2 edge rusher in the country. The Duncanville product was rated as the No. 5 player in the Lone Star State.

As a team, the Longhorns averaged 2.3 sacks per game and 32 overall. Both were second in the Big 12 behind only the West Virginia Mountaineers. Comparing those numbers to the SEC, Texas would have been No. 7 overall and 10 in sacks per game.

The defense needed to emphasize their pass rush heading into their first season in the SEC. The team added standout freshman Simmons and UTEP edge rusher Trey Moore. Moore set a school record with 14 sacks and 17.5 TFLs.

Edge rusher Ethan Burke led the team with 5.5 sacks returns in 2024. He will be joined at the Jack linebacker spot by Barryn Sorrell, who finished with 4 sacks.

This unit is worth keeping an eye on in the 2024 season that kicks off against the Colorado State Rams in Week 1 before they are tested against the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines in Week 2.

Texas gunslinger Quinn Ewers rated among top draft prospects at quarterback

Texas QB Quinn Ewers expected to be one of the top prospects in 2025 NFL draft

With six of the first 12 picks in the 2024 NFL draft being quarterbacks, there are plenty of new faces at the position in college football this year. A handful of key contenders like the Ohio State Buckeyes, USC Trojans, and LSU Tigers will have new starters this fall so for a school like the Texas Longhorns who return their starting QB, it’s a massive leg up in the first year of the 12-team Playoffs.

Texas QB [autotag]Quinn Ewers[/autotag] will be entering his third full season as a starter and has already proven he is among the best in the country. In 2023, Ewers guided the Longhorns to a Big 12 championship in their final year in the conference and their first-ever CFP berth as he completed.

Ewers was named second-team All-Big 12 last season as he completed 69.0% of his passes for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions. It will be fun to see how Ewers can guide the Longhorns through their transition into the SEC, but I think a 10-win season and CFP berth is reasonable in year one.

Trevor Sikkemea of PFF College projects the top ten QBs for the upcoming draft and Georgia Bulldogs’ Carson Beck and Texas A&M Aggies’ Conner Weigman will be other guys to monitor. However, Ewers has all of the ability and opportunity in the world to become QB1 in the 2025 draft class with a loaded roster and a handful of nationally televised games.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Experts predicting Texas football to land a commitment from four-star OT John Turntine

Texas football being projected to land massive commitment from in-state four-star OT John Turntine

Under head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Texas Longhorns have been near the top of the recruiting trail as they just turned in the No. 6 ranked class in 2024. As we push further into the NIL era of sports, it is an advantage that should continue to help the Longhorns.

Texas currently has the No. 12 ranked recruiting class for the 2025 cycle and is near the top of 2026 as well, but I expect to be pushing for a top-five class both years.

The Longhorns already have their eyes set on Class of 2026 four-star offensive tackle John Turntine. Turntine is the No. 3 ranked OT and No. 17 player overall in the class and it certainly does not hurt that he is a Texas native coming out of Fort Worth.

Florida State, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M will be the stiffest competition in the early parts of his recruitment, however, one Texas recruiting expert predicts that the Longhorns will earn a commitment from the eventual five-star, Turntine.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers ranks as second best passer

Texas’s Quinn Ewers ranked No. 2 QB in the country heading into 2024 season by ESPN CFB expert

With the additions of the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners to the SEC and the expansion to a 12-team College Football Playoff, the 2024 season will be unlike anything we have seen in years past.

With eight more Playoff spots now, teams with two to three losses will be getting into the playoffs and you won’t have to run the table in a loaded SEC to play for a national title.

The move to the SEC could not have come at a better time as the Horns made a CFP appearance for the first time in 2023. Texas will be one of the favorites to compete for an SEC title and national championship in 2024 largely due to quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Six QBs were selected in the top 12 picks of the 2024 NFL draft, so there is a bit of a step down in talent at the position this year. However, for guys like Ewers and Georgia Bulldogs Carson Beck, it’s a great opportunity to become QB1 in the 2025 NFL draft class and potentially win the Heisman Memorial trophy.

Former Alabama quarterback and now ESPN CFB analyst Greg McElroy ranks Ewers as the No. 2 quarterback in the sport heading into the 2024 season behind only Beck. Jalen Milroe of Alabama and Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss were the only other SEC passers on the list.

McElroy said of Ewers, “He looked so much more comfortable last year, and because of the lost weight, I thought he was more athletic. His feet were better. And all of those things helped him to really progress and lead Texas to their first-ever CFP berth.”

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Oklahoma Softball Championship celebration open to the public

Oklahoma to host championship celebration at Love’s Field. Festivities are open to the public.

The Oklahoma Sooners made history with their fourth-consecutive national championship. It is the first time in the history of the sport that a program has won four straight.

Oklahoma did so with an 8-4 win over the No. 1 ranked Texas Longhorns on Thursday evening. It’s the second time in three years that OU won the title in the championship series over their Red River Rivals. In the two-game sweep, the bats came alive, outscoring the Horns 16-7.

It was the most watched Women’s College World Series Finals ever.

To celebrate [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag] and her championship squad, the University of Oklahoma is hosting a celebration at [autotag]Love’s Field[/autotag] Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT, which is open to the public. For those not able to be in attendance, fans can stream the celebration live on SoonerSports.com.

Details for the celebration can be found below from the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department.

From the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department

Fans Invited to Championship Celebration Saturday

NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma softball team invites fans to celebrate the program’s fourth straight and eighth overall national title Saturday, June 8, at 6 p.m. CT at Love’s Field. Gates will open at 5 p.m.

Admission is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserved seating for season ticket holders will be general admission in sections 6-10 with passes accessible later today (Friday) via their ticket account. Public parking will be available in the Lloyd Noble Center lot.

Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with the national championship trophy from 5-6 p.m. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a championship poster.

Programming is set to begin at approximately 6 p.m. and fans will hear from head coach Patty Gasso, members of the team and more. National championship merchandise will be available for purchase from the Sooner Shop and limited concessions will be available. Fans are permitted to bring one clear, empty, plastic water bottle (17 oz. or less) and OU’s clear-bag policy will be in effect for the event.

Fans who can’t be in attendance can watch the celebration via https://soonersports.com/watch/.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma Softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter/X and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.

Seahawks pick Texas QB in Round 1 of this 2025 NFL mock draft

Seahawks pick Texas QB in Round 1 of this 2025 NFL mock draft

The dust has barely begun to settle from the 2024 NFL draft, but it is never too early to start thinking about the 2025 NFL draft!

The Seattle Seahawks did not select a quarterback in this year’s draft, opting to trade for former Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell instead. To some, it may not be enough. By age alone, it is clear Geno Smith is not the long term answer at quarterback, at 24 year old Sam Howell already has two years of NFL mileage on him. The Seahawks could very well be in the market for a quarterback again next year.

This is where the good news/bad news starts to kick in.

Curt Popejoy at Draft Wire is mocking Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers to the Seahawks. As someone who used to live in Austin and fell in love with the Horns, I don’t hate this move. However, Popejoy has Seattle picking him at No. 10 overall.

Personally, I don’t see the Seahawks being bad enough in 2024 to be in the Top 10. This is not coming from just a Seattle blogger, but looking at history. Ever since John Schneider has had the reigns on the Seahawks, the team has picked in the Top 10 only three times:

  • 2010 – John Schneider and Pete Carroll’s first year. The Seahawks were 5-11, and had moved on from former general manager Tim Ruskell in December of 2009.
  • 2022 – the Seahawks had just traded quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos for the No. 9 overall pick. Had they not traded Wilson, or another first round pick to the New York Jets for Jamal Adams, Seattle would have naturally picked No. 10 this year.
  • 2023 – one last first round pick from the Wilson trade.

As you can see, picking in the top 10 is not exactly a normal place for the Seahawks to be in. Only one placing based exclusively on the roster Schneider helped construct, and even then it was mainly because Russell Wilson missed three games.

Meanwhile, recent history suggests the Seahawks won’t be there because, well, this is not a bad team! They were 9-8 last year, barely missing the playoffs by one game. They were 9-8 the year prior as well, and in both seasons Seattle fielded one of the worst defenses in the league.

Now they return almost every starter on offense, made key additions like Byron Murphy II and resigned Leonard Williams, and now have arguably the brightest defensive mind in the game in head coach Mike Macdonald.

Again, who knows. Anything can happen. But it feels more likely Ewers will fall to Seattle, instead of Seattle being in a prime high position to draft him.

More Seahawks Wire stories

Seahawks 90-man roster going into mandatory minicamp

Seahawks win probability for every game on 2024 schedule

99 photos from the Seattle Seahawks 2024 offseason so far

Salary cap space update for all 32 NFL teams after June 1

NFL draft analyst projects one Longhorn defender among underrated prospects

Texas edge Trey Moore receiving high praise from NFL scouts ahead of first year with the Longhorns

After spending the first three years of his collegiate career with the UTSA Roadrunners, edge rusher [autotag]Trey Moore[/autotag] will have a new home in Austin with the Texas Longhorns for the 2024 season.

This past season, Moore set the UTSA single-season sack record with 14 as well as previously setting the single-season tackles for loss record back in 2022 with 18.

Moore led the way for the UTSA defense with 45 total tackles, one forced fumble, one interception and batted down three passes on his way to being named the 2023 American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-AAC.

With the Longhorns, Moore will be the primary pass rusher in Pete Kwiatkowski’s 4-2-5 defense and will have the sole responsibility of just going after the quarterback, which he has clearly proven he can do.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller thinks that Moore will be a massive piece for Steve Sarkisian’s squad next season as he projects (subscription required) him as one of the most under-the-radar players from the upcoming 2025 NFL draft class.

“The 6-3, 235-pound junior has excellent first-step quickness and speed around the corner,” Miller wrote. “That allowed him to post 14 sacks last season after having eight in his first year as a starter in 2022. One AFC scout who covers the state of Texas compared him to 247-pound edge rusher Dallas Turner, who went No. 17 overall to the Vikings in the 2024 draft. Size concerns and a jump in competition are something to watch for Moore, but his burst off the snap is special. He ranked fourth in the FBS in pressure rate last season (19.2%), just behind Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. (20.1%), who my colleague Jordan Reid had at No. 4 overall in his debut 2025 mock draft. With Texas moving to the SEC and facing a road game at Michigan, Moore will have the chance to prove himself early in the season.”

LonghornsWire will continue to monitor Moore’s draft stock throughout the 2024 season.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Former Texas WR Xavier Worthy signs rookie contract with Chiefs

Kansas City Chiefs and former Longhorns WR Xavier Worthy agree to four-year contract deal

Even though he wasn’t selected until No. 28 overall, former Texas Longhorns WR Xavier Worthy may have been the luckiest player who was selected in the 2024 NFL draft.

Of course, everyone wants to be a top-ten pick and to earn as much money as possible, but landing on the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid far exceeds that.

Worthy only spent three years in Austin before turning pro, but he was a huge piece of the offense since his first year on campus. He was named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2021 and two-time first-team All-conference. In 39 career games with Texas, Worthy had 197 receptions for 2,755 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Despite winning back-to-back Super Bowls, the Chiefs have struggled to find much success at receiver since trading away Tyreek Hill. Worthy will draw comparisons to Hill because of their game-changing speed.  It will be exciting to watch how he is used in the Kansas City offense.

Coming off the Super Bowl title the Chiefs were slated to pick No. 32 overall. In one of the more shocking moves of the draft, Kansas City traded with the Buffalo Bills to move up to No. 28. They selected Worthy despite the Bills also being in dire need of pass catchers.

Over two months have passed since the draft ended, but the Chiefs and the NFL 40-yard dash record holder have officially agreed to a four-year contract worth nearly $13.8 million.

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Texas football offers class of 2027 safety Isala Wily-Ava of California

Texas football offers Class of 2027 Safety Isala Wily-Ava

The Texas Longhorns football coaching staff has officially extended an offer to Class of 2027 Safety Isala Wily-Ava out of Bellflower, CA.

Wily-Ava will be one of the country’s most sought-after defensive recruits in a few years, with a massive frame at 6’2 195 pounds. He completed his freshman year with high school powerhouse St. John Bosco in California.

Texas certainly makes for his notable offer with other scholarship offers from California, Utah, Oregon State, and New Mexico. But by the end of his recruiting cycle, he will have received a call from every major university in the country.

It will be interesting to continue to follow Wily-Ava’s high school career as he enters only his sophomore season.

2025 Recruiting Rankings

  1. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (21 commits)
  2. Ohio State Buckeyes (13 commits)
  3. Clemson Tigers (13 commits)
  4. Oklahoma Sooners (15 commits)
  5. USC Trojans (12 commits)
  6. LSU Tigers (11 commits)
  7. Texas A&M Aggies (13 commits)
  8. Alabama Crimson Tide (11 commits)
  9. Auburn Tigers (13 commits)
  10. Georgia Bulldogs (10 commits)
  11. Penn State Nittany Lions (13 commits)
  12. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (18 commits)
  13. Syracuse Orange (19 commits)
  14. Arizona State Sun Devils (17 commits)
  15. Wisconsin Badgers (14 commits)
  16. Texas Longhorns (10 commits)

Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.