Tag: UT

Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Special Teams

Texas has been excellent on special teams the past few years. In both facets of the kicking game, the Longhorns have had reliable players.

All three phases of the game are important and in the past few years, Texas has been excellent on special teams. In both facets of the kicking game, the Longhorns have had reliable players who will step up when they are needed. Placekicker Cameron Dicker has been clutch in his two seasons in Austin and punter Michael Dickson was one of the best in the country.

Hitting two game-winning field goals this season alone, Dicker has been a key clutch player for Tom Herman’s squad. This season, he did it against Kansas and Kansas State, stealing two wins for the Longhorns. Dicker has been automatic from the point after, making all but two career attempts. Making above 70% of his career field goals, if Dicker is trotting out, you are more than likely going to end up with three points.

When the offense stalled and required a punt, Texas had one of the best punters in the country. Michael Dickson won the Ray Guy Award in 2017, given to the nation’s best punter. After his three years in Austin, Dickson was the first special teams player taken in the NFL Draft, selected in the fifth round. Averaging just over 45 yards per punt, Dickson constantly switched the field for the Longhorns.

Then there is Justin Tucker, who both punted and was the placekicker to the Longhorns in 2010 and 2011. Now one of the best kickers in NFL history, Tucker was amazing for Texas during his time in Austin. Never missing a point after attempt, he was just as automatic when kicking field goals too. When it was time to punt, he was able to bomb the ball 40 yards downfield.

Here are your Longhorns special teams players of the decade:

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Arkansas making a push for 2021 Texas quarterback commit Milroe

Arkansas recently met with 2021 QB Jalen Milroe. Meeting with CB coach Sam Carter, Milroe was “impressed” with Arkansas after speaking.

According to Richard Davenport of WholeHogSports.com, Arkansas recently met with long-time Texas commit and 2021 four-star quarterback Jalen Milroe. Meeting with Hog’s cornerback coach Sam Carter, Milroe was “impressed” with Arkansas after speaking with him.

He was also informed that the Razorbacks would be offering him a scholarship, extending his list of offers. Recently hiring former Georgia offensive line coach Sam Pittman, the rebuild of Arkansas has already begun.

You can read the full story from the Arkansas perspective, here.

Milore had an incredible junior season at Thompson High School in Katy, TX, winning the District 19-6A MVP. Listed as a dual-threat quarterback on 247Sports, Milroe threw for 2,689 yards with 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while also rushing for 378 yards and eight touchdowns. Add in his 4.6 speed and he will be something special if he stays committed to the Longhorns.

Having offers from other big time schools like Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, and Oregon, Milroe is a wanted man. He has been a huge foundation piece for the Longhorns in building the 2021 class. Losing Milroe would be a huge loss for Texas and they must keep him committed.

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Three Gifts Texas Needs On Christmas

Merry Christmas from everyone here at Longhorns Wire! Here are three gifts that could benefit the Longhorns football and basketball team.

Merry Christmas from everyone here at Longhorns Wire!

Texas has had a shaky football season, but still has some work to do. Getting a win against the Utes should be the priority, but the coaching staff still needs to be filled. Fulfilling both of those as soon as possible would be nice, as the Longhorns can get focused on the 2020 season as soon as possible.

Once football season ends, it is officially basketball season. Texas has been doing a decent job so far, but still has some work to do. With conference play beginning at the beginning of January, the Longhorns need to get off to a fast start to keep their NCAA tournament hopes where they are at.

Here are three gifts Texas need this Christmas:

A bowl win against Utah

First and foremost, Texas needs to find a way to get a win against a really good Utah team. Much like the Sugar Bowl last season, the Utes are just off a conference championship loss that would have put them in the College Football Playoff. Not only did they lose to Oregon, but they got dominated. Utah may be excited to be playing in the Alamo Bowl, but it is not where they wanted to be.

Texas is also in a similar position as they were last year as they are in a better bowl game than they deserve. They are also underdogs for the second year in a row, coming in as a touchdown underdog. Off a disappointing 7-5 season, winning on New Year’s Day would be a huge momentum builder going into the 2020 season.

A win against Utah could do what everyone thought the Sugar Bowl win against Georgia was going to do this season. While it may not have Sam Ehlinger saying “We’re back,” it would prove that the Longhorns can still compete with top-quality teams.

An offensive coordinator

The moment Texas took away the offensive coordinator title from Tim Beck, there were some big names connected to the position. Graham Harrell from USC was mentioned, but he has recently signed an extension with the Trojans. Passing game coordinator Joe Brady from LSU was the biggest name connected with the job, but the Tigers have made it clear they want to keep him.

Now, Ohio State’s passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich is the new favorite to get the job. Currently in the middle of a national championship run with the Buckeyes, if the Longhorns are going to hire it, it may not be until the middle of January. Kirk Ciarrocca is listed as the second favorite, but Texas seems to be all in on Yurcich.

Not hiring an offensive coordinator did not fully hurt the Longhorns on National Signing Day, but they did lose some commits before the big day. The sooner Texas is able to hire someone to run the offense, the better.

The basketball team starts Big 12 play out strong

With football season coming to an end, it is nearly basketball season in Austin. Texas’ current record is 9-2, but have been unimpressive at times. Winning games against teams they should be beating so far this season, that has been a positive. When playing against tournament-caliber teams, the Longhorns have been less than impressive.

A good win against Purdue on the road is the best win so far this season but loses against Georgetown and Providence have been brutal. Hosting High Point before opening up Big 12 play, Texas needs to rattle a few wins off to keep their NCAA tournament chances safe.

Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Kansas are the first five games of conference play. The Bears and Jayhawks are currently ranked in the top five in the AP poll and a win against one of those teams would go a long way. As for the other three, they are the type of games the Longhorns need to win. Quality Big 12 opponents that would be good on the resume. If Texas can start conference play, their NCAA tournament resume will start to come together.

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Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Safety

Continuing the tradition of DBU at Texas, we look at the best players at Safety to play for the Longhorns throughout the decade.

Continuing the tradition of DBU at Texas, we look at the best players at Safety to play for the Longhorns throughout the decade. Having a great tradition of producing stars at this position, it takes a lot to be considered a great Longhorn play at Safety. Complimenting the great cornerbacks throughout the decade, both of these players were outstanding at Texas.

Dylan Haines and DeShon Elliot both played for former Head Coach Charlie Strong. Elliot played for one season with Herman, but Strong recruited him to the program. While they have two different paths, the two played together for two years in 2015 and 2016.

Not seeing the field until 2014, Haines came into the program in 2012 as a walkon. Redshirting his freshman year, he was on the scout team in 2013 and was awarded the ‘scout team player of the week’ before the Red River Shootout. Getting a scholarship in 2014, Haines quickly became an impact player. Securing 13 career interceptions, that ranks tied for the fifth-most in program history.

Elliot is one of the top players at the position in the history of Texas. Really becoming a key player in his junior season, he ended the year with 63 total tackles, six interceptions, and nine passes defended. Add in three forced fumbles and all he did was create turnovers. Drafted in the sixth round by the Ravens, Elliot is the best safety Texas has seen this decade.

Here are your Longhorn Safties of the Decade:

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Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Cornerbacks

While there has been debate over who DBU is, Texas makes a strong case. Diggs and Boyd are two of the bost CBs to ever come out of Texas.

While there has been a long debate over who ‘Defensive Back University’ or DBU is, the Longhorns make a strong case when bringing up these two names at the cornerback position. Both crucial members on their current NFL teams, Quandre Diggs and Kris Boyd are two of the best cornerbacks to come out of Texas.

While they never played on the same field, what Diggs and Boyd do share in common is that they both had two different head coaches during their time in Austin. Diggs was there for the final years of Mack Brown while playing under Charlie Strong for one season. Boyd got two years of Strong and the first two years of Tom Herman.

On the field, Diggs played amazing in his first two seasons, getting All-Big 12 honors and even being named the Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2011. His best season came in 2011, when he had four interceptions, while also being involved in 13 pass breakups. His 11 career interceptions rank him at No. 10 in career interceptions in a Longhorn uniform.

Coming in the season after Diggs was drafted, Boyd found more success under Tom Herman than he did with Charlie Strong. Even though he was not a huge interception machine, Boyd covered No. 1 receivers really well. His final two seasons saw him receiving All-Big 12 honors and got him drafted in the seventh round by the Minnesota Vikings.

Here are your Longhorn cornerbacks on the decade:

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Texas Longhorns Team of the Decade: Linebackers

Even though they haven’t been as good as the past, Texas has still had some great LBs to come through the program throughout the 2010s.

Even though the unit has not been as good for the Longhorns as it has in the past, Texas has still had some great linebackers to come through the program this decade. Jordan Hicks, Steve Edmond, and Malik Jefferson all were able to make it to the NFL after their time in Austin.

Hicks and Edmond were on the field together for three years, starting in 2013. Getting a fifth year of eligibility after picking up an ankle injury in the 2013 season, Hicks played amazing in his final year for the Longhorns. Leading the team in tackles with 116, Steve Edmond was the only player to come close to his tackle numbers that season.

Declaring for the NFL after his junior year, Edmond also had a monster 2014 season for Texas. Finishing with four fewer tackles than Hicks, he had 112 on the season. His best career game came against Baylor that season, he had 17 tackles and had two of his 8.5 career sacks that night.

Finally, Malik Jefferson was the best linebacker to play for the Longhorns throughout the decade. Playing in the final two seasons of Charlie Strong and in the first year of Tom Herman, Jefferson was solid throughout his entire career. While he did not have the most total tackles of the three, he had the most solo tackles and was getting All-Big 12 awards throughout his three seasons on the 40 acres.

Here are your Texas linebackers of the decade:

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Happy Birthday to Two Longhorn Legends

Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby shared the field to make one of the best receiving cores in UT history. They also share the same birthday.

Not only did Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby share the field to make up one of the greatest receiving cores in Longhorn history, but they also share the same birthday. Cosby turns 37 years old today, while Shipley turns 32.

The two player’s best season came in 2008 with potential Hall of Fame quarterback Colt McCoy. Cosby led the team in receptions and receiving yards, while Shipley had more touchdowns. Between the two of them, they had a combined 181 receptions, 2,183 receiving yards, and 21 touchdowns in 2008.

One of Shipley’s best moments at Texas came in the 2008 Red River Shootout. Down 11 early in the second quarter, Shipley returned a kick off for a touchdown, giving the Longhorns a spark in the game. Texas went on to win 45-35, securing their third victory over Oklahoma in four years.

After Texas was left out of the Big 12 and National Championship later in the 2008 season, they were set up with Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Losing 21-17 and driving with under 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Cosby came up huge for the Longhorns. Running across the middle of the field from the slot, McCoy found Cosby, who broke free and dove into the end zone to secure another BCS bowl victory for Texas.

Both had short careers in the NFL and are now retired. Both Cosby and Shipley are in the top five in career receptions, career receiving yards and career receiving touchdowns at Texas. Two of the best to ever do it for the Longhorns, we wish both of them a very happy birthday!

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Minnesota’s Kirk Ciarrocca Second Favorite for Offensive Coordinator

It was reported that Mike Yurchich is the favorite for the OC position. Minnesota OC Kirk Ciarrocca could be another possibility for Texas.

Brett McMurphy reported on Sunday that Ohio State’s Mike Yurchich is the leading candidate for the offensive coordinator position. He also reported that current Minnesota offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca could be another possibility for the job.

Currently in this third season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Gophers, the Minnesota offense has progressively gotten better in all three years that Ciarrocca has been there. The Minnesota offense is better than it ever has been, as quarterback Tanner Morgan has already set the Gopher single-season passing yard record with 2,975 yards.

Following Head Coach PJ Fleck from Western Michigan, Ciarrocca has also worked for Rutgers under Greg Schiano as a co-offensive coordinator. If there is one thing he can do, it is turn a stale offense into an explosive one. The Gophers averaged 357 yards per game in 2016, the season before he arrived. In 2019, they are above 400 yards a game, averaging 426 yards per game.

You can watch Ciarrocca and the Minnesota offense on New Year’s Day against Auburn in the Outback Bowl. With the official hiring of the offensive coordinator not expected to be announced until after bowl season, Texas will have the opportunity to weigh all of their options.

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UT News: December 23, 2019

UT News: December 23, 2019

It’s almost Christmas Eve! As Santa is getting ready to bring presents to the Vols fans and spread coal around the rest of the SEC, I hope you are gearing up for the start of a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy the time with your family if you have it!

In the sports world, the big news is that UT men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes collected his 700th win. By now that really isn’t news, but it is worth a big congratulations. From me, sure, but it means a lot more from those involved in a video shared by Volunteer basketball on Twitter.

Rae Burrell led the Lady Vols to an 88-61 win over Portland State over the weekend. She scored a career high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds, missing a double-double by just a hair. They will play again when Howard visits UT on Dec. 29.

That’s all I have for you. Have a safe and happy holiday! And once again, you don’t just have to take my word for it.

 

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Sam Ehlinger Watches His High School Win the State Championship

Last night was the 6A D2 state championship where Austin Westlake took on Denton Guyer. Sam Ehlinger was on the sidelines for the game.

Last night was the 6A Division 2 state championship where Austin Westlake took on Denton Guyer. Taking place at AT&T Stadium, Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger was on the sidelines for the game, cheering on his former school.

Getting as far as the state championship game in 2015, Ehlinger was never able to lead the Chaparrals to a championship. He lost to the 2015 game 21-14 in overtime and lost in the quarterfinals his senior season.

The Chaparrals dominated the entire game, winning 24-0. It was only the second state championship in the school’s history, with the first coming in 1994 when Drew Brees was in charge. Ehlinger was there to congratulate his former head coach after the victory. After the game, Todd Dodge announced he would return to Westlake next season, taking his name out of consideration for any other jobs.

Ehlinger’s focus will now turn to the bowl game on New Year’s Eve. The Longhorns will face off against Utah in the Alamo Bowl at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.

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