Tag: Texas Longhorns

Texas announces date, kickoff time for annual spring game

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte confirms the spring football game will be held on April 25 at 6:30 p.m.

Hosting a spring football game can be beneficial in many ways. For fans, they’re able to get a glimpse of young, talented freshman players for the first time. For the players, they have the opportunity to compete in position battles to help establish their position on the depth chart.

It’s the closest setting to a real game that both fans and players are able to experience. Which running back will win the starting job? How will highly-rated backup quarterback Hudson Card do? Who will seemingly become Texas’ new primary slot receiver?

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte recently confirmed the date and time for the 2020 spring football game, which will again be held under the lights at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

Although construction will be active throughout the south end zone, the fan experience is expected to be eventful. Last year, several autograph opportunities were held for children while Ludacris was the headliner for the Longhorn City Limits postgame concert.

 

Updated Men’s Basketball Standings Halfway Through Conference Play

Following the loss to KU last night, UT is officially halfway through its conference season. Sitting at 4-5, UT is seventh in the standings.

Following the loss to Kansas last night, Texas is officially halfway through its conference season. Sitting at 4-5 in the Big 12 right now, the Longhorns are currently seventh in the standings, only trailing Iowa State, Kansas State, and Oklahoma State.

If the Big 12 tournament was to begin today, Texas would be playing Oklahoma State in the first round. It would be the third time in the Shaka Smart Era that the Longhorns are playing on Wednesday in the conference tournament, ranking in the bottom four after the regular season.

Here is how the Big 12 sits halfway through Texas’ conference season:

  1. Baylor 20-1 (9-0 Big 12)
  2. Kansas 19-3 (8-1 Big 12)
  3. West Virginia 17-4 (5-3 Big 12)
  4. Oklahoma 14-7 (4-4 Big 12)
  5. TCU 13-8 (4-4 Big 12)
  6. Texas Tech 13-8 (4-4 Big 12)
  7. Texas 14-8 (4-5 Big 12)
  8. Iowa State 9-12 (2-6 Big 12)
  9. Kansas State 9-13 (2-7 Big 12)
  10. Oklahoma State 10-11 (0-8 Big 12)

Remaining schedule for the Longhorns

Home: Texas Tech 2/8, No. 1 Baylor 2/10, TCU 2/19, No. 12 West Virginia 2/24, Oklahoma State 3/7

Away: Iowa State 2/15, Kansas State 2/22, Texas Tech 2/29, Oklahoma 3/3

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Late Texas football legend Cedric Benson’s mansion listed at 4.5M

The sudden passing of Longhorn legend Cedric Benson last summer shocked the entire community.

The sudden passing of Longhorn legend Cedric Benson last summer shocked the community and all who knew him. Benson was only 36 years old when he was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident.

It’s clear Benson had a genuine love for the city of Austin, where he purchased a modern hilltop estate in 2007 that overlooks the Pennybacker Bridge, Lake Austin, and the downtown skyline.

Benson was a collegiate All-American at Texas, where he became the second-leading rusher in program history. He also took home the 2004 Doak Walker Award, rewarded to the top running back in college football.

After being selected fourth overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2005 NFL Draft, Benson played seven seasons in the NFL accumulating 6,017 yards and 32 touchdowns.

His gated and private 1.5-acre estate is now listed for sale at 4.5 million dollars. The property offers a guest house, fitness room, modern bathrooms, and a dedicated cold soak tub for after workouts.

The listing pictures show large, open windows with incredible views.

ICYMI: Former Longhorn Nate Boyer featured in Super Bowl commercial

Texas ex Nate Boyer was featured in a Super Bowl commercial courtesy of YouTube.

Former Texas long snapper Nate Boyer appeared in a Super Bowl commercial courtesy of YouTube.

Ahead of the kickoff for Super Bowl LIV, YouTube took viewers behind the scenes of Boyer’s experience with the Texas football program and how he was able to teach himself to become the starting long snapper.

A former United States Army Green Beret, Boyer served for six years including multiple tours overseas before choosing to walk-on at the University of Texas. Prior to joining the Texas football program, Boyer had never played an organized down of football in his life.

Boyer played for the Longhorns from 2010-14, became the starting long snapper for three of those seasons. After a short stint with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015, Boyer turned his focus to making an impact off the field.

Texas Offers 2021 Four-Star Cornerback

The Texas Longhorns have offered 2021 cornerback, Avante Dickerson. He is the top rated prospect in Nebraska and a four-star rated recruit.

With no shortage of talent available in the 2021 recruiting class, the Longhorns have set their eyes on top rated Nebraska product Avante Dickerson. He is a four-star cornerback and the number one rated recruit in the state. Dickerson announced his offer on Twitter.

Dickerson becomes the sixth cornerback to receive an offer from the Longhorns. He is also the third-highest rated cornerback to receive an offer from Texas. According to his 247 profile, he is projected to sign with his home state Cornhuskers per Crystal Ball predictions. The Longhorns are his 15th offer and his third from the Big 12 (Kansas State, Iowa State).

 

Texas Offers 2021 Four-Star Linebacker

The Texas Longhorns have offered Georgia four-star and top 50 prospect Smael Mondon Jr. Monday is the 8th outside linebacker offered by UT.

The Texas Longhorns have been ramping up their offers to the 2021 recruiting class ahead of National Signing Day on Wednesday for the 2020 class. Recently Texas offered 2021 four-star linebacker Smael Mondon Jr out of Georgia.

Mondon is the third-ranked linebacker in the nation and third-ranked prospect in the state of Georgia. The top 50 player nationally is projected to sign with the Georgia Bulldogs according to the Crystal Ball prediction on his 247 profile.

Mondon becomes the eighth outside linebacker offered by Texas for the 2021 class. They have one commit at the position with Derrick Harris Jr out of New Caney, Texas.

 

Texas loses on the road, Kansas sweeps season series

After taking a lead into halftime against KU, it was a poor second half from UT. The main struggles for the UT were on the offensive side.

After taking a lead into halftime against Kansas, it was a poor second half from Texas, dropping another conference game, 69-58. The main struggles for the Longhorns were on the offensive side, as they struggled to shoot, especially from behind the three-point line.

As a team, they were 4-24 from behind the arc, a horrid 16.7%. Matt Coleman led the team in made three-pointers with two, but missed his other five attempts, going 2-7. The rest of the Texas starters went 1-9 from deep, with Andrew Jones’ first-half buzzer-beater being the only three-pointer made off the bench.

The good news about the Longhorns’ effort from the free-throw line is that they made 80% of them. The bad news is that they only attempted 10 shots. Going into tonight’s game, Texas had attempted and made the fewest amount of free-throws in the entire country. It continues to kill them in games as they are not getting enough points from the charity strike to win them games.

As usual for Kansas, it was Devon Dotson and Udoka Azubuike leading the way. Combining for 33 points, they were the two leading scorers for the Jayhawks, shooting 13-20 from the floor. Azubuike also dominated on the glass, recording his ninth double-double of the season, going for 17 points and 12 rebounds.

In the series history between the two schools, Texas has been dominated, losing 21 out of the last 25 matchups. Since hiring Shaka Smart in 2015, Texas is 1-12 against Kansas, with the one win coming last season in Austin.

After being at .500 in Big 12 play for one day, the Longhorns are back to a losing conference record. Sitting at 4-5, they now become one of four teams with a losing record in the conference. A win tonight would have gone a long way with Texas’ slim NCAA Tournament hopes, but day by day, the door is shutting.

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Big 12 Baseball Tournament Moving Location in 2022

Since 1997, the Big 12 baseball tournament has been hosted in OKC in all but three years. Beginning in 2022, it will be at Globe Life Field.

Since the creation of the Big 12 baseball tournament in 1997, it has been hosted in Oklahoma City in all but three years. While it will remain that way until 2021, beginning in the 2022 season, it will be in a new location.

It will now be held in the brand new Globe Life Field, the future home of the Texas Rangers. The ballpark is not officially open, as the first games will be held in late March for the Rangers.

This is not the first time the tournament has been held in Arlington, as the 2002 and 2004 tournament was also held in what was then The Ballpark in Arlington. The Longhorns won the tournament in 2002, winning three games in a row after losing their opener against Texas A&M. Outfielder Dustin Majewski was the tournament MVP for Texas.

The last time it was held outside of Oklahoma City was in 2015 when it was moved to Tulsa. The Longhorns also won the tournament that year, making them champions of two out of the three Big 12 tournaments held outside of Oklahoma City.

Hopefully, that tradition continues as it will be held in the Dallas Fort Worth Area for the foreseeable future, beginning in 2022.

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ESPN Asks What Is The Texas Longhorns Biggest Question in 2020?

Sam Khan Jr of ESPN asks what is the biggest question for the Texas Longhorns in 2020? With a new staff, can they make it work?

ESPN came out with the biggest question for each of their projected top 25 teams in 2020. According to the story, the Texas Longhorns are projected as the number 24 team going into next season. Writer Sam Khan Jr asks the following question.

Will Tom Herman’s massive staff turnover work out? The talent isn’t really much of an issue at Texas; the Longhorns have recruited well since Herman’s arrival. But an 8-5 season was underwhelming, and as a result, Herman fired both coordinators and brought in Mike Yurcich to run the offense and Chris Ash to run the defense, as well as a host of new position coaches. How quickly the staff jells and how well the players take to the new staff will be key as the Longhorns embark on a pivotal 2020 campaign. — Khan

Outside of the 10-4 season in 2018, the entire tenure under head coach Tom Herman has been quite underwhelming. Wiping out most of the staff following the 7-5 regular was necessary for the future of Herman in Texas. Even though he was the first Texas Longhorns head coach to win his first three bowl games, Herman is under immense pressure to win.  Getting to a bowl may work for other universities but in Texas the aim is much higher.

The jelling period for this staff needs to come quickly as the Longhorns will play the defending National Champions in Baton Rouge for their second game of the season. That game will prove to be gut check time. If the Longhorns want to prove to the world that they are ready to compete with the top teams in college football, a strong showing in a hostile environment will be critical.

With the new staff in play there will be no excuses for Tom Herman and company this year. It is either win the Big 12 conference or the Athletic Director might be going big game hunting this next offseason.

2020 NFL Mock Draft: Two Longhorns selected in round three

Former Longhorns Brandon Jones and Collin Johnson are expected to be selected in round three of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Two former Longhorns are widely projected to be selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Although safety Brandon Jones and wide receiver Collin Johnson are the two highest-rated draft prospects out of Texas, wide receiver Devin Duvernay isn’t far behind.

Let’s take an updated look at where NFL Draft Scout’s predict these former Longhorns to land.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller recently released a full seven-round mock draft that has two former Texas players selected within the Top 100.

Brandon Jones – No. 87 overall pick to the Buffalo Bills

Collin Johnson – No. 98 overall pick to the New York Giants

Devin Duvernay – No. 129 overall pick (Round 4) to the Minnesota Vikings

NFL.com’s draft analyst Chad Reuter recently released a three-round mock draft that believes Jones and Johnson will be chosen much earlier.

Brandon Jones – No. 73 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Collin Johnson – No. 75 overall pick to the Indianapolis Colts

Don’t miss rounds three and four of the 2020 NFL Draft, as it appears Texas’ top draft prospects will be taken off the board very close together.