Tag: University of Texas

49ers find new starter to fill weakest position in NFL mock draft

The 49ers once again have a need at OT entering the draft.

The San Francisco 49ers were widely expected to use their first-round pick in the 2024 draft on an offensive tackle, but they forewent that choice and kicked the can down the road on addressing the biggest hole in their roster.

Instead of making an upgrade over right tackle Colton McKivitz, the 49ers picked wide receiver Ricky Pearsall at No. 31 overall. Then they took cornerback Renardo Green in Round 2 before finally selecting offensive lineman Dominick Puni in the third round.

Puni played OT in college, but moved to right guard with the 49ers where he has thrived. San Francisco didn’t do more to address the right tackle position in the draft, leaving McKivitz to duke it out with veterans Chris Hubbard and Brandon Parker in camp. McKivitz won out without any real competition from the two vets.

A new mock draft from Pro Football Focus has the 49ers making the offensive line selection they forewent a year ago. With the No. 17 pick, they select OT Cameron Williams out of the University of Texas:

Things have looked better along the 49ers’ offensive line as of late, but they should still monitor potential upgrades. Williams is just a one-year starter at right tackle for Texas this season, but the 6-foot-5, 335-pounder possesses rare movement skills, balance and length. San Francisco could view him as an upgrade over Colton McKivitz at right tackle.

While Williams may check the boxes for measurables and athleticism, his lack of experience may be a problem for a 49ers team that cares less about ceiling in its offensive lineman and more about their ability to step in and be effective right away.

Williams entered the 2024 season with just one start in his career, and he’s started all eight of Texas’s games this season. He’ll be sitting on something around 14 or 15 career starts by the end of the year.

Perhaps he shows enough in his time as a starter this season to give a team like the 49ers confidence he’s a surefire upgrade at RT. Whether they take an offensive lineman in the first-round remains to be seen, but it’s a relative certainty that OT will be their biggest position of need when the draft begins.

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Falcons RB Bijan Robinson earns sideline praise in game he’s not even playing in

The latest Cowboys’ Sounds from the Sideline video offers a glimpse into the Longhorn Legion as DeMarvion Overshown talks the difficulty in corralling his former teammate. | From @KDDrummondNFL

Anyone familiar with the state of Texas has a deep understanding of what football means to folks in that part of the world. Like Western Pennsylvania and several hotspots in California, the amount of talent from that part of the country is insane. And despite not winning a college football championship in some time, the brotherhood is extended to those who attend the University of Texas.

That was on display at an unexpected time in Week 4, when former UT and current Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown was getting accolades from his teammates for yet another impressive defensive play. Overshown chased down speedy Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson on the left sideline to prevent a touchdown. When asked about it back on the sideline, he credited having to chase down former teammate and current Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson in practice.

It was all captured in the latest Dallas Cowboys Sounds from the Sideline video at the 3:52 mark.

“I used to practice against Bijan every [expletive day. At Texas? So I know… that’s where I learned. Bro when you close, don’t give ’em no time to think about a move.”

Overshown and Robinson were in the same draft class of 2023, but an ACL injury in training camp stole the Cowboys LB’s rookie season. Now that he’s back, he’s displaying an insane amount of closing speed and wrap-up tackling ability Dallas hasn’t had at the position in some time.

He’ll get a chance to show how capable he is in bringing down his former teammate when the Cowboys visit the Falcons in Week 9 on November 3.

 

Chargers sign Cameron Dicker to contract extension

Cameron Dicker is now one of the highest-paid kickers in football.

The Los Angeles Chargers have signed Cameron Dicker to a contract extension in a deal that makes him one of the highest-paid kickers in football.

The deal is for four years, worth $22.004 million and includes $12.5 million guaranteed. He is signed through the 2028 season.

Since coming to Los Angeles in 2022, Dicker has been a key piece for special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken. He has converted 52 of his 55 field goal attempts, seven of which were from 50+ yards, and he has made all his extra points.

Before joining the Bolts, Dicker was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Texas. After a short stint, he bounced around and spent some time with the Ravens and Eagles.

 

Texas at Michigan named biggest non-conference game of 2024 by USA TODAY Sports

USA Today declares Texas Longhorns at Michigan Wolverines ‘the biggest non-conference game’ of 2024 in new Top 10 list.

As a new member of the SEC, the Texas Longhorns will have a lot of big conference games this year. The Horns will take on old rival No. 16 Oklahoma and host No. 1 Georgia in October. Texas will host Florida and renew rivalries with Arkansas and Texas A&M in November. 

But before the Longhorns even start their SEC schedule, they must first travel to Ann Arbor for a huge matchup vs. Michigan. Texas fans have had the game circled on the calendar for years. The anticipation has only increased with the Wolverines as defending national champion and the game coinciding with the year Texas joins the SEC. 

Now, in a new list of the Top 10 best non-conference games of the year, USA TODAY Sports, has declared Texas at Michigan the biggest of the year. The two programs last met in the 2005 Rose Bowl. 

Texas played in arguably the biggest non-conference game last year, when the Longhorns beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Texas carried that momentum all the way to the college football playoff. 

Non-conference games might lose a little impact with the playoff expanding to 12 teams. There will definitely be more wiggle room. But that also should make big, early season non-conference games more prevalent. 

USA Today says the impact of the Texas-Michigan game could be far reaching. 

September 7: Texas Longhorns at Michigan Wolverines

This is the biggest non-conference game of the year. Even if Michigan takes a step back as expected, the defending national champions could upend the early playoff chase by handing Texas a road loss. The fallout from a Michigan win would impact the perception of the SEC and Big Ten, a big deal given that both leagues will have multiple teams in the mix for at-large playoff bids. While the loser wouldn’t be eliminated from the mix by any means, the winner will have a huge tiebreaker to show the selection committee in early December.

Six of the Top 10 non-conference games involve SEC teams:

August 31: Clemson Tigers vs. Georgia Bulldogs (in Atlanta)

August 31: Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Texas A&M Aggies

September 1: USC Trojans vs. LSU Tigers (in Las Vegas)

September 7: Texas Longhorns at Michigan Wolverines

September 7: Tennessee Volunteers at NC State Wolfpack

September 14: Alabama Crimson Tide at Wisconsin Badgers

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 Trey Luerssen on Twitter @TreyLuerssen.

Does ESPN’s preseason All-American list disrespect the Texas Longhorns?

The Texas Longhorns have a grand total of one player on ESPN’s preseason All-American list.

ESPN has released its 2024 college football All-American team. How many Longhorns are on the list?

Texas was a college football semi-finalist last season. Texas has a Heisman Trophy candidate at QB. Texas is even picked by some in the national media to win the SEC and the national title. 

The 4th ranked Longhorns should be well represented, right?

Nope.

The Longhorns have a grand total of one player on the list – OT Kelvin Banks Jr. is a first-team All-American on the ESPN list. He’s the only Longhorn on the first team. There are zero Longhorns on the second team. 

Of Banks, ESPN says, “Both tackles on our All-America team have been starters since they were true freshmen. The 6-4, 320-pound Banks has started 27 straight games and been a fixture at left tackle for the Longhorns since the day he stepped on campus. He allowed just one sack in 550 pass-blocking situations last season and earned AFCA second-team All-America honors. Banks won’t have to wait long to hear his name called in the 2025 NFL draft.”

ESPN may be right on the money. Some of the Longhorns studs from 2023 have gone to the NFL. Byron Murphy, Xavier Worthy, T’Vondre Sweat, Jonathan Brooks and Adonai Mitchell would all be considered for the All-American team if they were still playing for Texas. Many of their positions have been filled by underclassmen or transfers. 

That said, you can make a good argument that QB Quinn Ewers should be second team All-American instead of Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. It’s a close call. Similarly, PK Bert Auburn could be the second team kicker, but he was beaten out by Andres Borregales of Miami. Another close call. 

Once again, Texas players will have to prove to the national media that they are All-Americans. Longhorns like RB Jaydon Blue, WR Silas Bolden, DE Ethan Burke, LB Anthony Hill and DB Jahdae Barron could all be postseason All-Americans if their seasons, and Texas’ season, go as Longhorns fans hope. 

ESPN Preseason All-Americans by the Numbers: 

Georgia: 3 First Team | 1 Second Team

Alabama: 3 First Team | 1 Second Team

Michigan: 3 First Team | 0 Second Team

LSU: 2 First Team | 1 Second Team

Ohio State: 1 First Team | 4 Second Team

Oklahoma: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team

Oregon: 0 First Team | 2 Second Team 

Texas A&M: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Tennessee: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Notre Dame: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

Clemson: 1 First Team | 0 Second Team 

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 Trey Luerssen on Twitter @TreyLuerssen.

Texas Longhorns RB Christian Clark out for 2024 season with torn Achilles

Texas has announced freshman RB Christian Clark suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Clark will undergo surgery and miss the 2024 season.

The injury report is back for Texas running back Christian Clark, and it isn’t good. The freshman RB suffered a torn Achilles tendon. In a statement released on Tuesday, school officials said Clark will undergo surgery and miss the 2024 season.

Clark is the second Longhorn RB to suffer a season-ending injury in as many weeks. Last week, starter CJ Baxter tore both his lateral cruciate ligament  and posterior cruciate ligament.

The two serious injuries have cut the Longhorns’ running back depth almost in half. The Texas coaching staff is considering moving players from other positions to bolster the running back room.

Even before Clark’s injury, Steve Sarkisian said: “We’re looking at some different options, and I think we’re looking at it creatively, whether it’s a couple of guys on the offensive side of the ball, a potential player on the defensive side of the ball, or two, for that matter. … So we’re kind of taking it day by day again. We’ve got plenty of time. We’re just trying to get a sense and a feel of how, not only will they play on offense at the runner, but how does that impact us at other positions if we take a player.”

Three names have emerged as possible candidates to move to running back: wide receiver Ryan Niblett,  linebacker Derion Gullette and safety Jelani McDonald.

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Down 2 running backs, Texas considers position changes to bolster RB corps

With injuries to CJ Baxter and now Christian Clark, Texas is considering position changes to add depth to running back corps.

Last week, the Longhorns lost starting running back CJ Baxter to a season ending knee injury. This week, it’s Christian Clark. The freshman RB suffered what has been described as “a serious lower leg injury” during Monday’s practice.  

Late Tuesday, University of Texas officials announced Clark suffered a torn Achilles and will miss the 2024 season.

Before Clark’s injury even happened, the Longhorns coaching staff were considering other options at running back. “We’re looking at some different options, and I think we’re looking at it creatively, whether it’s a couple of guys on the offensive side of the ball, a potential player on the defensive side of the ball, or two, for that matter,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. ” … So we’re kind of taking it day by day again. We’ve got plenty of time. We’re just trying to get a sense and a feel of how, not only will they play on offense at the runner, but how does that impact us at other positions if we take a player.”

Clark wasn’t expected to be the primary replacement for Baxter. That duty will fall to junior Jaydon Blue. Blue was named to the Paul Hornung Award watch list last week, which is handed out annually to the nation’s most versatile player.

Texas has also brought in two running backs in each of the last two recruiting classes. Behind Blue, Sarkisian can turn to Quintrevion Wisner and Jerrick Gibson. 

But with the loss of Clark, it’s depth at RB that has the Longhorns staff concerned. Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods reports that the coaching staff is considering moving freshman WR Ryan Niblett to running back. 

Niblett is a redshirt freshman from Aldine Eisenhower in Houston. A 2023 All-American Bowl participant, Niblett was ranked No. 77 nationally, No. 12 among wide receivers and No. 16 overall in the state of Texas by Rivals. As a senior at Eisenhower, he caught 55 passes for 1,088 yards and 10 TD with an average of 108.8 receiving yards per game.

Coaches are also considering moving linebacker Derion Gullette to running back. Gullette played some offense in high school and is already taking snaps at RB at Longhorns practice. Texas’ depth at LB makes Gullette possibly more valuable on offense. Gullette could take on the roll of short-yardage power back.

Gullette, another redshirt freshman, went to high school at Teague in Marlin, TX. The former 4-star recruit starred at RB, but was also named first-team 3A All-State as both a WR and punter. 

Another name being considered is safety Jelani McDonald. Out of Connally High School in Waco, McDonald was was a 4-star recruit ranked No. 204 nationally, No. 6 among athletes and No. 35 overall in the state of Texas by Rivals.

Playing on both slides of the ball, he was named the 11-4A Division 2 offensive MVP after running the ball 77 times for 852 yards and nine touchdowns and posting four separate games of 100 yards rushing. 

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 Trey Luerssen on Twitter @TreyLuerssen.

Texas QB Quinn Ewers new ‘face’ of premium apparel company Rhoback

Rhoback has announced Texas QB Quinn Ewers will be the ‘face’ of its new ‘Rhoback U’ line of apparel.

In the new NIL era of college football, student athletes are getting more and more opportunities to join with sponsors and companies for marketing and advertising. 

Being the starting QB at the University of Texas affords some pretty hefty earning power for any player in that position. Throw in Heisman candidate/playoff favorite, and Quinn Ewers is one of the hottest names in the NIL realm. Rhoback has announced Ewers will be the ‘face’ of its new ‘Rhoback U’ line of apparel. The company says, “We can’t wait to showcase Quinn’s talent and personality through our “EARN IT.” campaign this fall.” 

Rhoback is a premium apparel line founded in 2016. The Charlottesville, Virginia-based brand sells activewear “designed to transition from one activity to another.” 

The brand’s name comes from the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog breed. Rhodeisn Ridgebacks are known for being active and typically have a ridge down the middle of its back. Rhoback says they wanted to “create a high-end, fun, and stylish activewear line that was sweat-wicking.” Affluent males are the company’s target consumer. 

Rhoback U is a line of Rhoback clothing designed to highlight college athletics. The company has signed Ewers to an exclusive apparel deal that includes a base fee plus revenue share. On3 reports Ewers’ deal is worth between $100,000 to $150,000 dollars.

“I am incredibly excited to be working with Rhoback as my official apparel sponsor and to become a leading face of their Rhoback U program. It’s exciting to see their presence really take off within the college athletics community. Their products are the most comfortable I have worn, and it’s been such a fun experience being able to create some awesome content with their team. I’m a big fan of their involvement in the Texas community and I’m pumped to be a part of Team Rhoback and Rhoback U this season.” – Quinn Ewers statement

The deal also involves the release of an officially licensed Texas Longhorns collection from Rhoback. Ewers will earn a portion of net sales from new customers who use Ewers specific discount link – HERE!

“We are excited to join Quinn Ewers team as his official apparel sponsor. The Heisman candidate and new face of Rhoback U will lead the program this Fall and help set a new standard for what it means to be a premier collegiate athlete. Quinn’s leadership, demeanor, and love for the game immediately stood out to us. Quinn’s qualities will make a big appearance within our Earn It campaign this Fall and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce them to the Rhoback community. Quinn’s talent and personality will help us showcase new trendsetting content, and we can’t wait to share. Quinn will also help unveil our licensed Texas collection. We are proud to be a part of Quinn’s team as he guides the Rhoback U program to the next level.” – Rhoback statement 

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UPDATE: Another Longhorns RB injures leg, thought to be serious

Last week, the Longhorns lost starting RB CJ Baxter for the season with a knee injury. Now, it looks like another running back is hurt.

Last week, the Longhorns lost starting running back CJ Baxter for the season with a knee injury. This week isn’t starting out any better at Texas practice.

RB Christian Clark was injured at practice on Monday. The severity is unknown, although Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods reports it is believed to be serious.

 

Though the nature of the injury is a mystery, Bobby Burton of OnTexasFootball says, “It does not sound good on its face.”

Clark is a freshman running back out of Arizona. He was slated to be a backup in 2024, but with the injury to Baxter last week, every RB had moved up the depth chart a slot.

https://twitter.com/ontexasfootball/status/1823144013278679125https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkLr41VnTL4

OnTexasFootball’s CJ Vogel wrote, “He came down awkward after leaping for a pass. He needed assistance to get off the field. Again it sounds like a lower body injury. It doesn’t sound great. We don’t know the severity. We do know however Christian Clark was unable to finish practice.”

Burton adds: “I feel like they’re a little bit snake bit at the position. The Longhorns have four scholarship running backs available, including Clark. If Clark were to be out, that would be three. We will see what that means.”

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Texas Longhorns begin season ranked No. 4 in initial AP Poll

The first AP Poll of the season is out and Texas is ranked No. 4 to begin the highly-anticipated 2024 campaign. 

The first AP Poll of the season is out and the Longhorns are ranked No. 4 to begin the highly-anticipated 2024 campaign. This is the first time Texas has debuted in the AP preseason Top 5 since 2009, when the Horns lost in the BCS Championship game against Alabama at the Rose Bowl.  

The top seven teams in the AP Poll mirrors the top seven in the US LBM Coaches Poll released last week.

Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon rank ahead of Texas in the initial poll. The Bulldogs received 46 first place votes, the Buckeyes got 15 first place votes and the Ducks received 1 first place votes. Texas landed zero first place votes.

As the “super conference” era begins, the expanded SEC and Big Ten dominate the rankings with four teams apiece in the Top 10. Only four conferences are represented in the preseason rankings overall. The SEC leads the conference race with nine teams in the Top 25. The Big Ten has six representatives. The Big 12 lands five in the poll, while the ACC has four.

Texas rivals Oklahoma and Texas A&M also made the list at No. 16 and No. 20 respectively.

Five teams from the preseason AP Top 25 are on the Longhorns’ schedule:

9/7 at No. 9 Michigan

10/12 vs. No. 16 Oklahoma (in Dallas)

10/19 vs. No. 1 Georgia

11/20 at No. 20 Texas A&M

Texas finished the 2023 season ranked No. 3 in the AP Poll after losing the College Football Playoff Semifinal vs. Washington. The Longhorns 2024 season begins on 8/31 vs. Colorado State.

A look at the full preseason AP Poll:

Ranking Team Points
1 Georgia Bulldogs 1,532 (46)
2 Ohio State Buckeyes 1,490 (15)
3 Oregon Ducks 1,403 (1)
4 Texas Longhorns 1,386
5 Alabama Crimson Tide 1,260
6 Ole Miss Rebels 1,189
7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1,122
8 Penn State Nittany Lions 1,060
9 Michigan Wolverines 995
10 Florida State Seminoles 971
11 Missouri Tigers 927
12 Utah Utes 887
13 LSU Tigers 804
14 Clemson Tigers 689
15 Tennessee Volunteers 629
16 Oklahoma Sooners 566
17 Oklahoma State Cowboys 538
18 Kansas State Wildcats 526
19 Miami Hurricanes 492
20 Texas A&M Aggies 292
21 Arizona Wildcats 237
22 Kansas Jayhawks 231
23 USC Trojans 172
24 North Carolina State Wolfpack 171
25 Iowa Hawkeyes 140

Others Receiving Votes

Louisville 111, Virginia Tech 77, Boise St. 47, SMU 33, Iowa St. 33, Liberty 32, Washington 23, West Virginia 17, Memphis 16, Nebraska 16, Wisconsin 15, UTSA 6, Tulane 5, Appalachian St. 4, Kentucky 3, Auburn 2, Colorado 1.

 

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 Trey Luerssen on Twitter @TreyLuerssen.