(From Anwar)
Steve Sarkisian has two more stops on the Texas Fight Tour, a great Longhorn event by the Texas Exes.
Sarkisian has addressed Longhorn fans in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas so far. He was slated to speak at the Fort Worth Stockyards on Thursday. The final stop on this tour is at J-Bar-M Barbecue on Tuesday in Houston.
I have covered these events throughout the years and it is typically a fun pep rally. Coaches from various sports usually recap the previous season and look ahead to the upcoming year. They talk about improvements that have been made in the offseason. It usually ends with the coaches giving Longhorn fans reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season.
Nothing stood out to me when Sarkisian addressed multiple crowds at this Texas Exes event in the past two years. Sarkisian said everything I would expect a new coach to say. I have always given Sarkisian credit for not crapping on the previous staff. Instead, Sarkisian is always respectful at these events while discussing the construction of a roster he desires. Again, nothing you remember forever.
However, Sarkisian is saying a lot of things that have made my eyes open and left me thinking, “Damn, Sark loves this team.”
Sarkisian has exuded more confidence about this year’s team than any other during his tenure. I have covered every Sarkisian press conference since he was hired. I have a mental Rolodex of every topic Sarkisian has discussed since addressing the media on a Zoom conference call as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Sarkisian believes he finally has a team that can compete for a championship and the third-year coach is not shying away from high expectations this season.
“I think it goes without saying, I really like our football team,” Sarkisian told the audience in San Antonio. “This feels like our team. It looks like our team. They walk like our team. They talk like our team and that's from a multitude of areas.”
Sarkisian proceeded to express the areas of strength on this year’s team.
--- Sarkisian praised the continuity of his staff. Eight members of Sarkisian’s original staff are still with the team.
--- Sarkisian said that continuity led to the defensive improvements Longhorn fans witnessed in year two.
--- Sarkisian said they successfully implemented their culture and players who they inherited bought in.
--- In addition, Sarkisian pointed to his five returning offensive linemen as a strength this season.
Sarkisian proceeded to welcome the expectations for a breakout season.
“Expectations are very high," Sarkisian said. "I didn't come here just to win games and be good. I came here to win a championship and that's why you've come to Texas. You have to build a roster that gives you a chance to go do that, and I think we're doing that. If we’re fortunate enough, we get to be in Houston in January. That's the goal.”
FYI, Sarkisian was referencing the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Houston on January 8, 2024.
Sarkisian was asked what it was like to be in the Big 12 this season knowing the SEC is looking. Once again, Sarkisian did not shy away from the big picture.
“When I took the job, I just had a real vision,” Sarkisian said. “Everybody builds their rosters differently. You have a vision of what you want your team to look like. I believe you win football games up front. You have to be big, you have to be physical, and you have to have the ability to run the football, even when they know you're going to run it. It's why you can run it 22 straight times against Baylor when you couldn’t throw a forward pass and go win the game. You have to have the ability to stop the run. I think that's where it started for us. You have to have speed on the perimeter. You have to be able to play in space and win one-on-one matchups. And inevitably, that's the game in the SEC. They've got really big humans up front, and they're really fast enough on the perimeter. I think we built a roster unknowingly to go do that and compete there at a high level.”
“But quite frankly, again, I'm going to go back to this. I didn't come here just to win the Big 12. That's the goal this year, don't get me wrong. But I always had in mind to win a national championship. And if you're going to win a national championship, you better be prepared to beat Georgia. You better be prepared to beat Alabama. You better be prepared to beat LSU. You better be prepared to beat Clemson. You better prepare to beat Ohio State. They're built that way, too. So, I was already building for it. It's just now that that's what it's going to be week in week out a year from now.”
******
Here are a few noteworthy quotes from Sarkisian’s session with the media before addressing the audience in San Antonio:
Sarkisian on adding Minnesota’s Trill Carter this offseason
“Well, I think it was helpful. We wanted to get some experience at that position. I do think we have some really quality young players that are going to be very good. But the fact we were kind of monitoring the portal … you guys know we don't just go in the portal [and say] if there's a good player, we'll take him. It’s more about fitting a need. We were trying to find a veteran, experienced interior defensive lineman who's a quality player, and I think we were able to do that.”
Sarkisian on not losing key players in the transfer portal
“I think it’s helpful. I mean, at the end of the day, we try to be honest with our players. I think players want to be coached, they want to know where they stand, and then they want to know how you're going to help them improve and develop into the players that they want to become. We try to do that. We try to be honest with them. We try to have those exit meetings at the end of the regular season, those exit meetings after spring football practice, and tell them exactly where they stand, what they need to do to improve, and then how we’re going to help them make that happen. I think the players appreciate it but I do think we've got a tight-knit locker room. We've got a tight-knit building and organization. I think we got everybody kind of pulling the rope in the same direction right now, which is a really good thing.”
Sarkisian’s response when asked how he combats other programs recruiting his players
“I think, one, we have to say to ourselves, it's a reality. That's going to happen. I don't think we can walk around with our heads in the sand and say, hey, we're gonna recruit good players, it's just gonna be great, no one's going to try to come and poach our guys. But, two, I just think that's where your culture kicks in. We've got such a good culture right now that I don't think players really want to leave. There's times when we may have to find creative ways to get them to want to stay, but I don't think we have guys on our team that are thinking, 'I want to get the heck out of here. I don't like the locker room. I don't like my coach. I don't like their system or schemes.' I think that we've got a lot of players that like what we do. They like the environment. They like the culture that we have. They feel like they're improving and getting better. But I definitely am aware of people trying to come after our guys, and that’s okay. We just got to make sure we handle it accordingly.”
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(Suchomel)
With our first update of the Recruiting Board in about three months, we thought we’d take a look at each position, each player that’s on the board. With official visits really kicking into high gear in June, we’ll update this board more regularly and will start to trim the fat as we get a better feel of UT’s interest in each prospect, and vice versa.
QUARTERBACK
Needs – 1
Commitments – 1
Trey Owens – Cy Fair – Texas commitment – When Owens first committed on his birthday, back in January, there was some talk among fans and media members that he might eventually peel off from his pledge. I never got that impression from Owens himself, quite the opposite in face. Since his commitment, he’s been about as solid as you can hope for, attending every possible UT recruiting event and recruiting other players on the Longhorns’ behalf. From my perspective, he’s been the perfect quarterback take in a class immediately following Arch Manning.
RUNNING BACK
Needs – 2
Commitments – 0
Jerrick Gibson - IMG Academy – 70% (UP) – That 70% might be high to some with visits to places like Miami, Georgia and Tennessee on the calendar, but in talking to people close to Gibson I keep hearing that the Longhorns aren’t just the leader, they’re the clear leader. I’m on record as saying I’ll be on commitment watch when he visits UT in late June.
Taylor Tatum – Longview – 30% (DOWN) – Tashard Choice has done a good job of keeping Texas in the mix here and while the Longhorns recently made his top seven, I’d probably put Texas in the lower half of those finalists.
Christian Clark - Phoenix Mountain Pointe – 45% (UP) - In talking to his coach last week, it’s clear that the Longhorns are serious contenders, likely in the top couple of options. Texas has a lot to sell, including recent history with fellow Arizonian Bijan Robinson, but Clark is scheduled to visit USC, Florida State and Georgia (in addition to Texas) so there’s plenty of room for movement in this one.
Derrick McFall - John Tyler – 20% (DOWN) – He did visit UT once this spring but it feels like the Longhorns are going a different direction.
J'Koby Williams – Beckville – 25% (DOWN) – We’ll take this one more seriously if Williams gets up to Austin for a visit.
Jeremy Payne - Missouri City Hightower – 20% (DOWN) – He has a top 12 and Texas is in it, but things have been very quiet of late.
Caden Durham – Duncanville – 25% (UP) – In talking to Durham recently, he likes Texas, but most of the focus seems to be on Oklahoma or possibly LSU.
WIDE RECEIVER
Needs – 4 or 5
Commitments – 0
Micah Hudson - Lake Belton – 50% (UP) – Hudson likes Texas a lot, but Texas Tech (and others) are going to make for formidable opponents. There’s confidence in Lubbock in the Red Raiders’ standing.
Parker Livingstone - Lucas Lovejoy – 55% (UP) – I’ve had Texas as a slight leader in this one for a while and I’m going to stick to that call. Livingstone has a top five and OVs will be critical. This is a player the Texas staff really covets.
Freddie Dubose - Smithson Valley – 45% (UP) – There’s been some ebb and flow in this one but the contact has picked back up with Texas. He’ll take his OV in June and if the staff really pushes for a commitment, I like UT as the favorite.
Gekyle Baker – Brownsboro – 50% - This dude’s pretty much a ghost when it comes to getting recruiting information out of him. But he was at the UT spring game, which I believe has been his only visit this spring.
Bryant Wesco – Midlothian – 25% (DOWN) – Texas is in the race but his family connections to OU might be tough to beat in the end.
Ryan Wingo - St. Louis University – 30% (UP) – This one’s trending up since Wingo will take a Texas OV in June, but some feel he’ll pull a surprise and stay home to play for Mizzou.
TIGHT END
Needs – 2
Commitments – 0
Jordan Washington - Langham Creek – 65% (UP) – A new offer for Texas, Washington will visit UT in June and this one looks good for the Longhorns.
Ryner Swanson - Laguna Beach – 40% (UP) – This one will likely come down to Texas, BYU or Oregon.
Colton Heinrich - Ft. Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons – 30% (UP) – He did visit Texas once but the competition here is going to be tough. Texas needs to get him back in for an official visit and even then they’ll still have to fight.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Needs – 4 or 5
Commitments – 0
Michael Uini - Copperas Cove – 40% (Down) – I would have put this one at over 50 percent following his spring game visit but in talking to Uini, he really is pretty open among a lot of schools and will probably take more than five official visits.
Ory Williams - San Marcos – 60% (DOWN) – I still favor Texas but schools like LSU, Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M are also in play.
Daniel Cruz – Richland – 70% (UP) – He’ll take other visits but this one feels like it’ll be a big upset if Texas doesn’t win out.
DeAndre Carter - Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei – 35% - He’s visited Texas once and UT could get an official visit, but nothing is set up just yet.
Colin Cubberly - Lagranville (NY) Arlington – 35% - I feel like I’m underselling UT’s chances in this one (maybe by quite a bit) after Cubberly was back in Austin last month, his third time to see UT. But I’ve been unable to connect with him to get a clear read on where things stand, so he maintains at 35%.
Blake Ivy - Clear Springs – 30% (DOWN) – Things have been pretty quiet here and while he did visit Texas once this year, there hasn’t been a ton of buzz with him and the Longhorns.
Bennett Warren - Fort Bend Baptist – 35% (UP) – He’s visited UT a couple times and Texas will probably get an official visit, but Oregon made a very strong impression this spring.
Nyier Daniels - Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic – 55% (UP) – He says he’s pretty open, and he may be, but Texas is the only official visit he has on his calendar so far.
Daniel Calhoun - Marietta (GA) Walton – 35% (UP) – I’m having a hard time seeing him not wind up at either Georgia or Alabama, but he and his family really like Texas a lot.
Brandon Baker - Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei – 25% - Let’s see if he gives Texas an official visit.
Makai Saina - Arlington Martin – 40% - A fairly new offer, Texas is squarely in the mix but the competition will be tough, including from A&M.
DEFENSIVE END
Needs – 3 or 4
Commitments – 0
Colin Simmons – Duncanville – 45% (UP) – Texas is trending up in this one but I expect twists and turns, and LSU still might be too tough to beat in the end.
Zina Umeozulu – Allen – 45% (DOWN) - @Cole Patterson thinks Texas leads but I’m not so sure. This one could come down to how happy his brother is and how hard the staff pushes.
Nigel Smith – Melissa – 35% (UP) – Texas helped itself this spring and will get one of his six official visits, but Oklahoma and Ohio State continue to set the pace.
KingJoseph Edwards - Hoscthon (GA) Mill Creek – 35% (DOWN) - He and his mom like Texas quite a bit but we’ll wait until he sets up official visits to get too excited.
Joseph Jonah-Ajonye - Conroe Oak Ridge – 30% (DOWN) – He was intrigued when Texas first offered but most of the buzz has been elsewhere lately, including Oklahoma.
Kamarion Franklin - Lake Cormorant (MS) – 30% - If he takes a Texas official visit, we’ll start paying closer attention to this one.
TJ Lindsey - Bryant (AR) – 35% - He’ll take a Texas official visit so there’s an interest there, but other schools are ahead at this stage.
Melvin Hills - Lafayette Christian Academy – 50% (UP) – I may be underselling UT’s chances on this one. It probably comes down to Georgia or Texas and I’m not sure Georgia will push.
Jordan Ross - Birmingham Westavia Hills – 35% - He’s got a Texas OV set for June but getting him out of the Southeast may be tough.
Noah Carter - Peoria (AZ) Centennial – 30% (UP) – He really liked his visit for the Orange-White game and I get the sense that if Texas pushes (including bringing him in for an official visit) the Longhorns could win out here.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Needs – 2 or 3
Commitments – 0
D'antre Robinson - Orlando Jones – 45% (UP) – This guy had nothing but great things to say about his first visit to the UT campus. He was hoping to come back again this spring and while that didn’t happen, he’ll be in for an official visit in June.
Alex January – Duncanville – 65% - We’ve had Texas as the team to beat in this one for a while so things are holding steady.
Dominick McKinley - Lafayette Acadiana – 35% (UP) – He’s new to the board so things are trending up. He’ll visit Texas in June but the competition here is going to be very tough.
Jayden Jackson - IMG Academy – 35% - We’ve got him on the board because we assume Texas will get an official visit. The Longhorns are in his top five. UT’s chances go up if they can land a couple of his IMG teammates.
LINEBACKER
Needs – 2 or 3
Commitments – 0
Tyanthony Smith – Jasper – 45% (DOWN) – At one point we had UT as the clear leader. That’s no longer the case, with schools like A&M and USC surging. Texas can still win out here if the staff is consistently aggressive in its pursuit.
Justin Williams - Conroe Oak Ridge – 30% - Oregon is still the odds-on favorite but Texas would probably be top three right now.
Dylan Williams - Long Beach Poly – 35% - He’s visited once and loved it. He’ll be back in June for an official visit. Getting him away from the West Coast may be a chore but his interest in Texas is sincere.
Dakyus Brinkley - Katy Seven Lakes – 40% (UP) - He’s not really focusing on the recruiting process right now, which is kind of odd. If Texas works to get him on campus for a visit I expect it will happen and I like the Horns’ chances if they make him a priority.
Montay Weedon - Washington DC St. John's College High – 35% (UP) – He’s new to the board, thus trending up after his spring game visit. Texas should get an official visit out of him as well.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Needs – 4 or 5
Commitments – 1
Hunter Moddon - Clear Lake – Texas commit – Can play on either side of the ball but Texas has been talking to him more about defense.
Kobe Black - Waco Connally – 50% (DOWN) – Part of me thinks I’m underselling UT’s chances here due to a variety of factors, but Black has some heavy hitters after him so the Longhorns are going to have to earn it.
Selman Bridges – Lake Belton - 60% (UP) – He plans on taking things all the way into December but I like Texas’s position right now. Quite a bit, actually.
Jordon Johnson-Rubell - IMG Academy – 55% (UP) – This native Texan has a strong relationship with the UT staff and things are trending well for the Longhorns.
Ka'Davion Dotson – Duncanville – 30% - He likes Texas but things have been pretty quiet here. LSU is the team to beat.
Corian Gipson – Lancaster – 35% (DOWN) – I may be selling UT’s chances a bit short since I’d probably have the Longhorns sitting at No. 2 in this race, but Clemson feels like it has a commanding lead.
Landyn Cleveland - Mansfield Legacy – 40% - He’s committed to Oklahoma State but is still planning to visit Texas in June, so he stays on the board. If Texas pushes for a commitment, I think the Longhorns win out.
Braylon Conley – Atascocita – 30% (DOWN) – Just feels like other players are above him, so his odds go down.
PJ Woodland - Hattiesburg (MS) Oak Grove – 35% - He is visiting Texas in June, but it’s hard to gauge just how strong his interest is.
Myles Davis - Converse Judson – 55% (UP) – This one probably comes down to Texas or Texas A&M and the Longhorns hold the lead right now.
Joshua Lair - Missouri City Marshall – 35% - He’ll take a Texas OV next month but he’s been pretty quiet on a pecking order so it’s hard to accurately gauge where the Longhorns stand.
ATHLETE
Commitments - 0
Aeryn Hampton – Daingerfield – 50% - He’s down to Texas and Bama so 50/50 is a pretty easy call. I do wonder if Bama will continue to push for the long haul.
Terry Bussey - Timpson School – 35% (DOWN) – He likes Texas but the Longhorns are behind other schools, including A&M.
David Kabongo - Trophy Club Byron Nelson – 25% (DOWN) – He’s on the board, but Texas has other targets higher on the wish list.
SPECIALIST
Commitments - 1
Michael Kern - Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – Texas commit – He made a quick commitment shortly after UT offered and he’ll take his first visit to the campus in June.
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(Cole)
Taz Williams grabbed his Texas offer earlier this month, and that was a big one. He already holds much of the nation on his offer sheet - Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State included - but he was waiting on the Longhorns to join the mix.
So when wide receivers coach Chris Jackson revealed to the Red Oak receiver that he had a scholarship offer, it caught his attention. Especially since he had already been on campus multiple times before adding the offer.
“It felt great,” Williams said of adding the Longhorns to his offer sheet. “I’ve been down there multiple times, and I kind of fell in love with it. I’ve just been waiting for them to offer me.”
Williams and Jackson had been in contact leading up to the Longhorns finally deciding to make the move. The four-star pass catcher was told to stay patient, and it paid off for him.
“He told me to keep working. He liked my film and my versatility,” said Williams. “So he told me to keep working and everything would fall into place.”
The four-star has no early standouts right now in his recruitment, but I expect Texas to be a major player for him moving forward. That said, Williams is originally from Pennsylvania, so he’s not afraid to leave the state.
*****
Daylan McCutcheon is another 2025 in-state wide receiver that has recently jumped onto the Longhorns’ radar. McCutcheon was a part of a loaded wide receiver corps at Lucas Lovejoy that featured LSU signee Kyle Parker, SMU signee Jaxson Lavender, and four-star Texas offer Parker Livingstone.
Despite the crowded room, McCutcheon shined. He gets open with ease, is a sound route runner, and is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He has carried the momentum over to the 7-on-7 circuit this offseason, often looking like the best player on the field.
Texas has steadily been making Lovejoy a big priority in the state, offering Parker last cycle and aggressively pursuing Livingstone for 2024. McCutcheon and tight end Bear Tenney both hold offers in the 2025 class. Longhorns legacy Jalen Lott will likely add Texas to his offer sheet sooner than later, too.
*****
Forney running back Javian Osborne is only in the 2026 class, but he is emerging as a top target for Tashard Choice already. Choice offered the rising sophomore back in February, and the two are already building a strong relationship.
“Having a Texas offer is pretty big-time,” said Osborne. “All the legendary backs that have come through there - Bijan Robinson and Ricky Williams. So it means a lot for Texas to offer me.”
Osborne visited the 40 Acres in March, getting an up-close view of the Longhorns’ program and everything that Texas has to offer. Naturally, the visit left a big impression as he continues to learn more about the burnt orange.
“The visit was good. They showed a lot of love,” said Osborne. “Lots of hospitality. Walking around, looking at the stadium and the view, that was pretty cool.”
Osborne is still in the early stages of his recruitment, but Texas is high on his list. Washington is another program he is interested in learning more about.
*****
We’ve talked about Boobie Feaster already on here, but he’s worth bringing up again. Feaster was very impressive at the Rivals Camp last weekend, looking well above his age. It’s difficult to believe that he’s only in eighth grade given the way that he plays and how he carries himself.
Feaster is gearing up for his first varsity freshman season at DeSoto, and he will carry some hefty expectations with him. He already holds double digit offers that could only continue to grow this summer as he camps on different campuses.
Regarding Texas, Feaster is close with Johntay Cook and believes it’s only a matter of time before the Longhorns offer. He said that Cook thinks he could end up being better than the 5-star wideout before it’s all said and done. Definitely a very young underclassman to have on your recruiting radar.
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(Keenan)
Texas basketball commit Chendall Weaver's many talents
Chendall Weaver, a transfer from Texas-Arlington who committed to the Longhorns last Thursday, is a highly athletic guard that can also shoot the three with high efficiency. Playing for the UT-A Mavericks this past season, Weaver put up 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and two assists per game in 29.5 minutes.
As a true freshman, Weaver started 25 of the 32 games he played in, and was a clear leader statistically for his team: he finished third in points per game, second in rebounds per game, and second in assists per game. He's a true all-around guard that possesses game-changing athleticism and has three more years of eligibility.
Without further adieu, let's break down Chendall Weaver's game.
• • • • •
ATHLETICISM/FINISHING.
Chendall Weaver is a very impressive athlete, an explosive leaper at 6'3. Though he didn't have great numbers at the rim in his freshman campaign, he's absolutely demonstrated flashes of ability to score on contested takes inside the paint.
Watch an example below of Weaver's body control. He's trying to complete the Euro-step when he meets his defender mid-air, yet is able to hang in space and get the shot to go, drawing the foul in the process. The ability to complete the three-point play here is very important because his drive made the defense completely collapse, with three Abilene Christian defenders surrounding him upon landing.
This can be very advantageous. The magnetism that comes with a guy who can attack the basket is so important for offensive spacing, allowing for kicks to the weak-side for open shots as well as attempting to finish these tougher plays.
Another example here of Weaver's athleticism on the finish – watch the double-clutch he does after making contact with the defender. He keeps the ball high and his eye on the basket, allowing him to hit the shot upon descending from the initial jump. It takes real skill as well as upper-body control to be able to contort yourself in a manner that allows you to score through the contact in this situation.
He also demonstrates a bit of a double jump when going for the potential miss, which is another indicator of good athleticism.
• • • • •
DISTRIBUTION.
Weaver is a pretty solid passer for his age, with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (2 to 1.2). He shows flashes of elite distribution occasionally, however, like in the examples I"m about to show.
Watch what he does below in this clip. He's beaten his man already on his cut, where he comes from the opposite side to take the pass from the guard on the wing. As soon as he gets the ball, he's looking for a cutter to the rim, which he finds pretty quickly. He delivers it perfectly out of the reach of the defender, leading to an easy basket by the big.
In the following clip, Weaver attacks from the wing after receiving the pass, immediately headed towards the rim, where he's met by two three defenders; this will obviously leave some one open, and in this case, it's UTA's #22. #22 finishes through contact, giving Weaver the assist after an intelligent use of vision after being stuck in an awkward spot on the baseline.
• • • • •
SHOOTING OFF THE CATCH.
Weaver is an excellent shooter off the catch, illustrated by his 40.2% three-point shooting. According to Synergy Sports, he averages 1.21 points per shot when he's assisted, which puts him in the 85th percentile in the country. When guarded on the catch-and-shoot, he averages an extremely impressive 1.43 points per shot, ranking him in the 98th percentile.
Below is a good clip of his shot-making ability when set up in a good spot without having to create his own space. He catches, gathers, and sinks the three from the right wing, like my uncle's political leanings.
He has great mechanics and gets good arc on the shot, which is important considering he's just 6'3. The fact he can elevate over taller defenders and still maintain the shooting stroke's trajectory is really impressive.
Below is another example of his shooting prowess. Here, he just stands on the left wing, like my mom's politics, waiting for the pass. His defender is focused inside on the point guard's threat of driving the rack, and he gives Weaver enough space to easily get a wide-open look.
He hits a quick release off the reception, getting the ball out of his hands before his opponent can close out properly. Three points for the UT-A Mavericks.
• • • • •
TRANSITION PLAY.
Noting his athletic prowess and speed, as well as his finishing ability, you can probably piece together that Chendall Weaver is pretty effective in the fast -break. His distribution in the fast-break leaves a bit to be desired, but that will come in time. He is very capable of taking an opponent's turnover and scoring on the other end.
Watch the play below. His speed is on display here as he takes a tipped pass the other way for two. I know I discussed his athleticism already, but I'm just so surprised that no one was talking about this guy last summer. He's not perfect obviously, and his stats aren't outrageous, but the ability is so obvious to me. I will get to his weaknesses in a bit, but he's absolutely an important piece for this Longhorns program.
In another instance, Weaver shows an incredible ability to finish at the rim, absorbing the contact but still managing to get the bucket in mid-air while drawing a foul in the process. If this Texas defense can reliably force takeaways in live-ball situations, Weaver is absolutely a guy that can help take advantage of opposing miscues.
• • • • •
I've shown you the mechanics present on his catch-and-shoot opportunities; there is no reason he can't translate that to a shot on the move. Of course, it will be more difficult for a guy like Weaver to withstand the brutal physicality that defines the Big XII's basketball personality, as he's not played a tough schedule in college. The highest-ranked team UT-A played last year was LSU, where Weaver scored just six points.
I am however still very excited about this pickup. He doesn't seem like a "warm body to roll out there" as my dad used to say about spare players. Weaver has the potential to be a fantastic lead guard, maybe not completely this season, but as a junior. He will definitely have to iron out the kinks in his game to become a more effective overall piece, but I really like his athleticism, his shooting off the catch, and his distribution.
Some of these faults will be exacerbated in league play, of course, as I mentioned earlier. But I believe in Terry's ability to evaluate talent and know how to build a roster. We will see the end result when the dust settles on the transfer portal in general.
Steve Sarkisian has two more stops on the Texas Fight Tour, a great Longhorn event by the Texas Exes.
Sarkisian has addressed Longhorn fans in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas so far. He was slated to speak at the Fort Worth Stockyards on Thursday. The final stop on this tour is at J-Bar-M Barbecue on Tuesday in Houston.
I have covered these events throughout the years and it is typically a fun pep rally. Coaches from various sports usually recap the previous season and look ahead to the upcoming year. They talk about improvements that have been made in the offseason. It usually ends with the coaches giving Longhorn fans reasons to be optimistic about the upcoming season.
Nothing stood out to me when Sarkisian addressed multiple crowds at this Texas Exes event in the past two years. Sarkisian said everything I would expect a new coach to say. I have always given Sarkisian credit for not crapping on the previous staff. Instead, Sarkisian is always respectful at these events while discussing the construction of a roster he desires. Again, nothing you remember forever.
However, Sarkisian is saying a lot of things that have made my eyes open and left me thinking, “Damn, Sark loves this team.”
Sarkisian has exuded more confidence about this year’s team than any other during his tenure. I have covered every Sarkisian press conference since he was hired. I have a mental Rolodex of every topic Sarkisian has discussed since addressing the media on a Zoom conference call as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Sarkisian believes he finally has a team that can compete for a championship and the third-year coach is not shying away from high expectations this season.
“I think it goes without saying, I really like our football team,” Sarkisian told the audience in San Antonio. “This feels like our team. It looks like our team. They walk like our team. They talk like our team and that's from a multitude of areas.”
Sarkisian proceeded to express the areas of strength on this year’s team.
--- Sarkisian praised the continuity of his staff. Eight members of Sarkisian’s original staff are still with the team.
--- Sarkisian said that continuity led to the defensive improvements Longhorn fans witnessed in year two.
--- Sarkisian said they successfully implemented their culture and players who they inherited bought in.
--- In addition, Sarkisian pointed to his five returning offensive linemen as a strength this season.
Sarkisian proceeded to welcome the expectations for a breakout season.
“Expectations are very high," Sarkisian said. "I didn't come here just to win games and be good. I came here to win a championship and that's why you've come to Texas. You have to build a roster that gives you a chance to go do that, and I think we're doing that. If we’re fortunate enough, we get to be in Houston in January. That's the goal.”
FYI, Sarkisian was referencing the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Houston on January 8, 2024.
Sarkisian was asked what it was like to be in the Big 12 this season knowing the SEC is looking. Once again, Sarkisian did not shy away from the big picture.
“When I took the job, I just had a real vision,” Sarkisian said. “Everybody builds their rosters differently. You have a vision of what you want your team to look like. I believe you win football games up front. You have to be big, you have to be physical, and you have to have the ability to run the football, even when they know you're going to run it. It's why you can run it 22 straight times against Baylor when you couldn’t throw a forward pass and go win the game. You have to have the ability to stop the run. I think that's where it started for us. You have to have speed on the perimeter. You have to be able to play in space and win one-on-one matchups. And inevitably, that's the game in the SEC. They've got really big humans up front, and they're really fast enough on the perimeter. I think we built a roster unknowingly to go do that and compete there at a high level.”
“But quite frankly, again, I'm going to go back to this. I didn't come here just to win the Big 12. That's the goal this year, don't get me wrong. But I always had in mind to win a national championship. And if you're going to win a national championship, you better be prepared to beat Georgia. You better be prepared to beat Alabama. You better be prepared to beat LSU. You better be prepared to beat Clemson. You better prepare to beat Ohio State. They're built that way, too. So, I was already building for it. It's just now that that's what it's going to be week in week out a year from now.”
******
Here are a few noteworthy quotes from Sarkisian’s session with the media before addressing the audience in San Antonio:
Sarkisian on adding Minnesota’s Trill Carter this offseason
“Well, I think it was helpful. We wanted to get some experience at that position. I do think we have some really quality young players that are going to be very good. But the fact we were kind of monitoring the portal … you guys know we don't just go in the portal [and say] if there's a good player, we'll take him. It’s more about fitting a need. We were trying to find a veteran, experienced interior defensive lineman who's a quality player, and I think we were able to do that.”
Sarkisian on not losing key players in the transfer portal
“I think it’s helpful. I mean, at the end of the day, we try to be honest with our players. I think players want to be coached, they want to know where they stand, and then they want to know how you're going to help them improve and develop into the players that they want to become. We try to do that. We try to be honest with them. We try to have those exit meetings at the end of the regular season, those exit meetings after spring football practice, and tell them exactly where they stand, what they need to do to improve, and then how we’re going to help them make that happen. I think the players appreciate it but I do think we've got a tight-knit locker room. We've got a tight-knit building and organization. I think we got everybody kind of pulling the rope in the same direction right now, which is a really good thing.”
Sarkisian’s response when asked how he combats other programs recruiting his players
“I think, one, we have to say to ourselves, it's a reality. That's going to happen. I don't think we can walk around with our heads in the sand and say, hey, we're gonna recruit good players, it's just gonna be great, no one's going to try to come and poach our guys. But, two, I just think that's where your culture kicks in. We've got such a good culture right now that I don't think players really want to leave. There's times when we may have to find creative ways to get them to want to stay, but I don't think we have guys on our team that are thinking, 'I want to get the heck out of here. I don't like the locker room. I don't like my coach. I don't like their system or schemes.' I think that we've got a lot of players that like what we do. They like the environment. They like the culture that we have. They feel like they're improving and getting better. But I definitely am aware of people trying to come after our guys, and that’s okay. We just got to make sure we handle it accordingly.”
******
(Suchomel)
With our first update of the Recruiting Board in about three months, we thought we’d take a look at each position, each player that’s on the board. With official visits really kicking into high gear in June, we’ll update this board more regularly and will start to trim the fat as we get a better feel of UT’s interest in each prospect, and vice versa.
QUARTERBACK
Needs – 1
Commitments – 1
Trey Owens – Cy Fair – Texas commitment – When Owens first committed on his birthday, back in January, there was some talk among fans and media members that he might eventually peel off from his pledge. I never got that impression from Owens himself, quite the opposite in face. Since his commitment, he’s been about as solid as you can hope for, attending every possible UT recruiting event and recruiting other players on the Longhorns’ behalf. From my perspective, he’s been the perfect quarterback take in a class immediately following Arch Manning.
RUNNING BACK
Needs – 2
Commitments – 0
Jerrick Gibson - IMG Academy – 70% (UP) – That 70% might be high to some with visits to places like Miami, Georgia and Tennessee on the calendar, but in talking to people close to Gibson I keep hearing that the Longhorns aren’t just the leader, they’re the clear leader. I’m on record as saying I’ll be on commitment watch when he visits UT in late June.
Taylor Tatum – Longview – 30% (DOWN) – Tashard Choice has done a good job of keeping Texas in the mix here and while the Longhorns recently made his top seven, I’d probably put Texas in the lower half of those finalists.
Christian Clark - Phoenix Mountain Pointe – 45% (UP) - In talking to his coach last week, it’s clear that the Longhorns are serious contenders, likely in the top couple of options. Texas has a lot to sell, including recent history with fellow Arizonian Bijan Robinson, but Clark is scheduled to visit USC, Florida State and Georgia (in addition to Texas) so there’s plenty of room for movement in this one.
Derrick McFall - John Tyler – 20% (DOWN) – He did visit UT once this spring but it feels like the Longhorns are going a different direction.
J'Koby Williams – Beckville – 25% (DOWN) – We’ll take this one more seriously if Williams gets up to Austin for a visit.
Jeremy Payne - Missouri City Hightower – 20% (DOWN) – He has a top 12 and Texas is in it, but things have been very quiet of late.
Caden Durham – Duncanville – 25% (UP) – In talking to Durham recently, he likes Texas, but most of the focus seems to be on Oklahoma or possibly LSU.
WIDE RECEIVER
Needs – 4 or 5
Commitments – 0
Micah Hudson - Lake Belton – 50% (UP) – Hudson likes Texas a lot, but Texas Tech (and others) are going to make for formidable opponents. There’s confidence in Lubbock in the Red Raiders’ standing.
Parker Livingstone - Lucas Lovejoy – 55% (UP) – I’ve had Texas as a slight leader in this one for a while and I’m going to stick to that call. Livingstone has a top five and OVs will be critical. This is a player the Texas staff really covets.
Freddie Dubose - Smithson Valley – 45% (UP) – There’s been some ebb and flow in this one but the contact has picked back up with Texas. He’ll take his OV in June and if the staff really pushes for a commitment, I like UT as the favorite.
Gekyle Baker – Brownsboro – 50% - This dude’s pretty much a ghost when it comes to getting recruiting information out of him. But he was at the UT spring game, which I believe has been his only visit this spring.
Bryant Wesco – Midlothian – 25% (DOWN) – Texas is in the race but his family connections to OU might be tough to beat in the end.
Ryan Wingo - St. Louis University – 30% (UP) – This one’s trending up since Wingo will take a Texas OV in June, but some feel he’ll pull a surprise and stay home to play for Mizzou.
TIGHT END
Needs – 2
Commitments – 0
Jordan Washington - Langham Creek – 65% (UP) – A new offer for Texas, Washington will visit UT in June and this one looks good for the Longhorns.
Ryner Swanson - Laguna Beach – 40% (UP) – This one will likely come down to Texas, BYU or Oregon.
Colton Heinrich - Ft. Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons – 30% (UP) – He did visit Texas once but the competition here is going to be tough. Texas needs to get him back in for an official visit and even then they’ll still have to fight.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Needs – 4 or 5
Commitments – 0
Michael Uini - Copperas Cove – 40% (Down) – I would have put this one at over 50 percent following his spring game visit but in talking to Uini, he really is pretty open among a lot of schools and will probably take more than five official visits.
Ory Williams - San Marcos – 60% (DOWN) – I still favor Texas but schools like LSU, Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M are also in play.
Daniel Cruz – Richland – 70% (UP) – He’ll take other visits but this one feels like it’ll be a big upset if Texas doesn’t win out.
DeAndre Carter - Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei – 35% - He’s visited Texas once and UT could get an official visit, but nothing is set up just yet.
Colin Cubberly - Lagranville (NY) Arlington – 35% - I feel like I’m underselling UT’s chances in this one (maybe by quite a bit) after Cubberly was back in Austin last month, his third time to see UT. But I’ve been unable to connect with him to get a clear read on where things stand, so he maintains at 35%.
Blake Ivy - Clear Springs – 30% (DOWN) – Things have been pretty quiet here and while he did visit Texas once this year, there hasn’t been a ton of buzz with him and the Longhorns.
Bennett Warren - Fort Bend Baptist – 35% (UP) – He’s visited UT a couple times and Texas will probably get an official visit, but Oregon made a very strong impression this spring.
Nyier Daniels - Oradell (NJ) Bergen Catholic – 55% (UP) – He says he’s pretty open, and he may be, but Texas is the only official visit he has on his calendar so far.
Daniel Calhoun - Marietta (GA) Walton – 35% (UP) – I’m having a hard time seeing him not wind up at either Georgia or Alabama, but he and his family really like Texas a lot.
Brandon Baker - Santa Ana (CA) Mater Dei – 25% - Let’s see if he gives Texas an official visit.
Makai Saina - Arlington Martin – 40% - A fairly new offer, Texas is squarely in the mix but the competition will be tough, including from A&M.
DEFENSIVE END
Needs – 3 or 4
Commitments – 0
Colin Simmons – Duncanville – 45% (UP) – Texas is trending up in this one but I expect twists and turns, and LSU still might be too tough to beat in the end.
Zina Umeozulu – Allen – 45% (DOWN) - @Cole Patterson thinks Texas leads but I’m not so sure. This one could come down to how happy his brother is and how hard the staff pushes.
Nigel Smith – Melissa – 35% (UP) – Texas helped itself this spring and will get one of his six official visits, but Oklahoma and Ohio State continue to set the pace.
KingJoseph Edwards - Hoscthon (GA) Mill Creek – 35% (DOWN) - He and his mom like Texas quite a bit but we’ll wait until he sets up official visits to get too excited.
Joseph Jonah-Ajonye - Conroe Oak Ridge – 30% (DOWN) – He was intrigued when Texas first offered but most of the buzz has been elsewhere lately, including Oklahoma.
Kamarion Franklin - Lake Cormorant (MS) – 30% - If he takes a Texas official visit, we’ll start paying closer attention to this one.
TJ Lindsey - Bryant (AR) – 35% - He’ll take a Texas official visit so there’s an interest there, but other schools are ahead at this stage.
Melvin Hills - Lafayette Christian Academy – 50% (UP) – I may be underselling UT’s chances on this one. It probably comes down to Georgia or Texas and I’m not sure Georgia will push.
Jordan Ross - Birmingham Westavia Hills – 35% - He’s got a Texas OV set for June but getting him out of the Southeast may be tough.
Noah Carter - Peoria (AZ) Centennial – 30% (UP) – He really liked his visit for the Orange-White game and I get the sense that if Texas pushes (including bringing him in for an official visit) the Longhorns could win out here.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Needs – 2 or 3
Commitments – 0
D'antre Robinson - Orlando Jones – 45% (UP) – This guy had nothing but great things to say about his first visit to the UT campus. He was hoping to come back again this spring and while that didn’t happen, he’ll be in for an official visit in June.
Alex January – Duncanville – 65% - We’ve had Texas as the team to beat in this one for a while so things are holding steady.
Dominick McKinley - Lafayette Acadiana – 35% (UP) – He’s new to the board so things are trending up. He’ll visit Texas in June but the competition here is going to be very tough.
Jayden Jackson - IMG Academy – 35% - We’ve got him on the board because we assume Texas will get an official visit. The Longhorns are in his top five. UT’s chances go up if they can land a couple of his IMG teammates.
LINEBACKER
Needs – 2 or 3
Commitments – 0
Tyanthony Smith – Jasper – 45% (DOWN) – At one point we had UT as the clear leader. That’s no longer the case, with schools like A&M and USC surging. Texas can still win out here if the staff is consistently aggressive in its pursuit.
Justin Williams - Conroe Oak Ridge – 30% - Oregon is still the odds-on favorite but Texas would probably be top three right now.
Dylan Williams - Long Beach Poly – 35% - He’s visited once and loved it. He’ll be back in June for an official visit. Getting him away from the West Coast may be a chore but his interest in Texas is sincere.
Dakyus Brinkley - Katy Seven Lakes – 40% (UP) - He’s not really focusing on the recruiting process right now, which is kind of odd. If Texas works to get him on campus for a visit I expect it will happen and I like the Horns’ chances if they make him a priority.
Montay Weedon - Washington DC St. John's College High – 35% (UP) – He’s new to the board, thus trending up after his spring game visit. Texas should get an official visit out of him as well.
DEFENSIVE BACK
Needs – 4 or 5
Commitments – 1
Hunter Moddon - Clear Lake – Texas commit – Can play on either side of the ball but Texas has been talking to him more about defense.
Kobe Black - Waco Connally – 50% (DOWN) – Part of me thinks I’m underselling UT’s chances here due to a variety of factors, but Black has some heavy hitters after him so the Longhorns are going to have to earn it.
Selman Bridges – Lake Belton - 60% (UP) – He plans on taking things all the way into December but I like Texas’s position right now. Quite a bit, actually.
Jordon Johnson-Rubell - IMG Academy – 55% (UP) – This native Texan has a strong relationship with the UT staff and things are trending well for the Longhorns.
Ka'Davion Dotson – Duncanville – 30% - He likes Texas but things have been pretty quiet here. LSU is the team to beat.
Corian Gipson – Lancaster – 35% (DOWN) – I may be selling UT’s chances a bit short since I’d probably have the Longhorns sitting at No. 2 in this race, but Clemson feels like it has a commanding lead.
Landyn Cleveland - Mansfield Legacy – 40% - He’s committed to Oklahoma State but is still planning to visit Texas in June, so he stays on the board. If Texas pushes for a commitment, I think the Longhorns win out.
Braylon Conley – Atascocita – 30% (DOWN) – Just feels like other players are above him, so his odds go down.
PJ Woodland - Hattiesburg (MS) Oak Grove – 35% - He is visiting Texas in June, but it’s hard to gauge just how strong his interest is.
Myles Davis - Converse Judson – 55% (UP) – This one probably comes down to Texas or Texas A&M and the Longhorns hold the lead right now.
Joshua Lair - Missouri City Marshall – 35% - He’ll take a Texas OV next month but he’s been pretty quiet on a pecking order so it’s hard to accurately gauge where the Longhorns stand.
ATHLETE
Commitments - 0
Aeryn Hampton – Daingerfield – 50% - He’s down to Texas and Bama so 50/50 is a pretty easy call. I do wonder if Bama will continue to push for the long haul.
Terry Bussey - Timpson School – 35% (DOWN) – He likes Texas but the Longhorns are behind other schools, including A&M.
David Kabongo - Trophy Club Byron Nelson – 25% (DOWN) – He’s on the board, but Texas has other targets higher on the wish list.
SPECIALIST
Commitments - 1
Michael Kern - Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas – Texas commit – He made a quick commitment shortly after UT offered and he’ll take his first visit to the campus in June.
******
(Cole)
Taz Williams grabbed his Texas offer earlier this month, and that was a big one. He already holds much of the nation on his offer sheet - Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State included - but he was waiting on the Longhorns to join the mix.
So when wide receivers coach Chris Jackson revealed to the Red Oak receiver that he had a scholarship offer, it caught his attention. Especially since he had already been on campus multiple times before adding the offer.
“It felt great,” Williams said of adding the Longhorns to his offer sheet. “I’ve been down there multiple times, and I kind of fell in love with it. I’ve just been waiting for them to offer me.”
Williams and Jackson had been in contact leading up to the Longhorns finally deciding to make the move. The four-star pass catcher was told to stay patient, and it paid off for him.
“He told me to keep working. He liked my film and my versatility,” said Williams. “So he told me to keep working and everything would fall into place.”
The four-star has no early standouts right now in his recruitment, but I expect Texas to be a major player for him moving forward. That said, Williams is originally from Pennsylvania, so he’s not afraid to leave the state.
*****
Daylan McCutcheon is another 2025 in-state wide receiver that has recently jumped onto the Longhorns’ radar. McCutcheon was a part of a loaded wide receiver corps at Lucas Lovejoy that featured LSU signee Kyle Parker, SMU signee Jaxson Lavender, and four-star Texas offer Parker Livingstone.
Despite the crowded room, McCutcheon shined. He gets open with ease, is a sound route runner, and is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He has carried the momentum over to the 7-on-7 circuit this offseason, often looking like the best player on the field.
Texas has steadily been making Lovejoy a big priority in the state, offering Parker last cycle and aggressively pursuing Livingstone for 2024. McCutcheon and tight end Bear Tenney both hold offers in the 2025 class. Longhorns legacy Jalen Lott will likely add Texas to his offer sheet sooner than later, too.
*****
Forney running back Javian Osborne is only in the 2026 class, but he is emerging as a top target for Tashard Choice already. Choice offered the rising sophomore back in February, and the two are already building a strong relationship.
“Having a Texas offer is pretty big-time,” said Osborne. “All the legendary backs that have come through there - Bijan Robinson and Ricky Williams. So it means a lot for Texas to offer me.”
Osborne visited the 40 Acres in March, getting an up-close view of the Longhorns’ program and everything that Texas has to offer. Naturally, the visit left a big impression as he continues to learn more about the burnt orange.
“The visit was good. They showed a lot of love,” said Osborne. “Lots of hospitality. Walking around, looking at the stadium and the view, that was pretty cool.”
Osborne is still in the early stages of his recruitment, but Texas is high on his list. Washington is another program he is interested in learning more about.
*****
We’ve talked about Boobie Feaster already on here, but he’s worth bringing up again. Feaster was very impressive at the Rivals Camp last weekend, looking well above his age. It’s difficult to believe that he’s only in eighth grade given the way that he plays and how he carries himself.
Feaster is gearing up for his first varsity freshman season at DeSoto, and he will carry some hefty expectations with him. He already holds double digit offers that could only continue to grow this summer as he camps on different campuses.
Regarding Texas, Feaster is close with Johntay Cook and believes it’s only a matter of time before the Longhorns offer. He said that Cook thinks he could end up being better than the 5-star wideout before it’s all said and done. Definitely a very young underclassman to have on your recruiting radar.
******
(Keenan)
Texas basketball commit Chendall Weaver's many talents
Chendall Weaver, a transfer from Texas-Arlington who committed to the Longhorns last Thursday, is a highly athletic guard that can also shoot the three with high efficiency. Playing for the UT-A Mavericks this past season, Weaver put up 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and two assists per game in 29.5 minutes.
As a true freshman, Weaver started 25 of the 32 games he played in, and was a clear leader statistically for his team: he finished third in points per game, second in rebounds per game, and second in assists per game. He's a true all-around guard that possesses game-changing athleticism and has three more years of eligibility.
Without further adieu, let's break down Chendall Weaver's game.
• • • • •
STRENGTHS.
• • • • •ATHLETICISM/FINISHING.
Chendall Weaver is a very impressive athlete, an explosive leaper at 6'3. Though he didn't have great numbers at the rim in his freshman campaign, he's absolutely demonstrated flashes of ability to score on contested takes inside the paint.
Watch an example below of Weaver's body control. He's trying to complete the Euro-step when he meets his defender mid-air, yet is able to hang in space and get the shot to go, drawing the foul in the process. The ability to complete the three-point play here is very important because his drive made the defense completely collapse, with three Abilene Christian defenders surrounding him upon landing.
This can be very advantageous. The magnetism that comes with a guy who can attack the basket is so important for offensive spacing, allowing for kicks to the weak-side for open shots as well as attempting to finish these tougher plays.
Another example here of Weaver's athleticism on the finish – watch the double-clutch he does after making contact with the defender. He keeps the ball high and his eye on the basket, allowing him to hit the shot upon descending from the initial jump. It takes real skill as well as upper-body control to be able to contort yourself in a manner that allows you to score through the contact in this situation.
He also demonstrates a bit of a double jump when going for the potential miss, which is another indicator of good athleticism.
• • • • •
DISTRIBUTION.
Weaver is a pretty solid passer for his age, with a positive assist-to-turnover ratio (2 to 1.2). He shows flashes of elite distribution occasionally, however, like in the examples I"m about to show.
Watch what he does below in this clip. He's beaten his man already on his cut, where he comes from the opposite side to take the pass from the guard on the wing. As soon as he gets the ball, he's looking for a cutter to the rim, which he finds pretty quickly. He delivers it perfectly out of the reach of the defender, leading to an easy basket by the big.
In the following clip, Weaver attacks from the wing after receiving the pass, immediately headed towards the rim, where he's met by two three defenders; this will obviously leave some one open, and in this case, it's UTA's #22. #22 finishes through contact, giving Weaver the assist after an intelligent use of vision after being stuck in an awkward spot on the baseline.
• • • • •
SHOOTING OFF THE CATCH.
Weaver is an excellent shooter off the catch, illustrated by his 40.2% three-point shooting. According to Synergy Sports, he averages 1.21 points per shot when he's assisted, which puts him in the 85th percentile in the country. When guarded on the catch-and-shoot, he averages an extremely impressive 1.43 points per shot, ranking him in the 98th percentile.
Below is a good clip of his shot-making ability when set up in a good spot without having to create his own space. He catches, gathers, and sinks the three from the right wing, like my uncle's political leanings.
He has great mechanics and gets good arc on the shot, which is important considering he's just 6'3. The fact he can elevate over taller defenders and still maintain the shooting stroke's trajectory is really impressive.
Below is another example of his shooting prowess. Here, he just stands on the left wing, like my mom's politics, waiting for the pass. His defender is focused inside on the point guard's threat of driving the rack, and he gives Weaver enough space to easily get a wide-open look.
He hits a quick release off the reception, getting the ball out of his hands before his opponent can close out properly. Three points for the UT-A Mavericks.
• • • • •
TRANSITION PLAY.
Noting his athletic prowess and speed, as well as his finishing ability, you can probably piece together that Chendall Weaver is pretty effective in the fast -break. His distribution in the fast-break leaves a bit to be desired, but that will come in time. He is very capable of taking an opponent's turnover and scoring on the other end.
Watch the play below. His speed is on display here as he takes a tipped pass the other way for two. I know I discussed his athleticism already, but I'm just so surprised that no one was talking about this guy last summer. He's not perfect obviously, and his stats aren't outrageous, but the ability is so obvious to me. I will get to his weaknesses in a bit, but he's absolutely an important piece for this Longhorns program.
In another instance, Weaver shows an incredible ability to finish at the rim, absorbing the contact but still managing to get the bucket in mid-air while drawing a foul in the process. If this Texas defense can reliably force takeaways in live-ball situations, Weaver is absolutely a guy that can help take advantage of opposing miscues.
• • • • •
WEAKNESSES.
The things that Chendall Weaver needs to work on to get to the next level as a player are: (1) shooting off the dribble, (2) tightening his handle, and (3) becoming more consistent on the defensive side. Working on his handle would be a smart investment of time because that will naturally affect his confidence when shooting the ball off the bounce.I've shown you the mechanics present on his catch-and-shoot opportunities; there is no reason he can't translate that to a shot on the move. Of course, it will be more difficult for a guy like Weaver to withstand the brutal physicality that defines the Big XII's basketball personality, as he's not played a tough schedule in college. The highest-ranked team UT-A played last year was LSU, where Weaver scored just six points.
I am however still very excited about this pickup. He doesn't seem like a "warm body to roll out there" as my dad used to say about spare players. Weaver has the potential to be a fantastic lead guard, maybe not completely this season, but as a junior. He will definitely have to iron out the kinks in his game to become a more effective overall piece, but I really like his athleticism, his shooting off the catch, and his distribution.
Some of these faults will be exacerbated in league play, of course, as I mentioned earlier. But I believe in Terry's ability to evaluate talent and know how to build a roster. We will see the end result when the dust settles on the transfer portal in general.
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