HOUSTON - Texas football coach Tom Herman addressed very small-group media members during a press conference on Friday evening.
Here are the highlights from his media availability:
- Herman said it is not weird at all to back be at Houston for a bowl game. He said it was good to be back and is looking forward to practicing at Houston’s new indoor facility on Saturday.
- Herman said he was very disappointed with having to suspend running back Toneil Carter, receiver Lil’ Jordan Humphrey and tight end Garrett Gray for the bowl game: “Really disappointed, but when you break rules, there are consequences. It stinks that they won’t be able to enjoy this experience with their teammates. We all know the consequences of our actions before we do them, and this is the price you pay."
- Kendall Moore is the only tight end Herman has entering the bowl game, and Texas has only two tailbacks that have played this season. Texas has practiced with two running backs and no tight end. In addition, one running back and one tight end. If Moore cannot play, Herman said they would just go in 10 or 20 personnel.
- Herman said Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson’s turf toe injury makes him very doubtful to play against Missouri. Jefferson made the trip to Houston and wants to play. However, Herman said Jefferson's foot hurts when he walks.
- Elijah Rodriguez will start at left tackle, Reggie Hemphill-Mapps has been cleared, while Dorian Leonard is still not cleared to play.
- Herman said he expects Shane Buechele to start in the Texas Bowl. We reported in our War Room that Buechele was receiving the first-team reps, and it appeared he will start.
- Here is Herman on the decision to play Buechele: “I’ve had some really good, but hard at times, conversations with Sam (Ehlinger) in terms of him turning the ball over. I think when he’s good, or when he’s on, like he was against Oklahoma and Kansas State, it's really, really fun to watch him play. But, he’s got to be more consistent in terms of protecting the football in critical situations. He’s going to play, but I just felt like with the way that game ended, we’ve got a guy in Shane that hasn’t really done anything to lose his status on the team. They’ve both had a really, really good couple of weeks of practice. I’m excited to watch them both play.”
- Herman said he was really proud of Major Applewhite’s first season as a head coach in Houston. He said the program is in good hands with Applewhite.
- Texas will be without left tackle Connor Williams, safety DeShon Elliott, cornerback Holton Hill, running back Chris Warren III, Jefferson, Carter, Humphrey and Gray. Herman said the team will still have fun, and said the Longhorns have improved the past three weeks.
- Herman said the signings after his press conference on Wednesday were huge. He described this defensive back class as “one for the ages.” In addition, Herman said JuCo offensive lineman Mikey Grandy must play right away.
- During a recent practice, Herman said he was encouraged by seeing Rodriguez at left tackle, Patrick Vahe at left guard, Zach Shackelford at center and Derek Kerstetter at right tackle. He has four guys who will be back next year. In addition, Herman said the offensive line should be bigger and stronger. He said Tope Imade has practiced well in the postseason, Denzel Okafor has playing experience, while J.P. Urquidez currently weighs 288 pounds: “I think the future is bright, especially knowing we got Mikey.”
- Herman said Texas will be in the market for a grad transfer offensive lineman, or one that finishes school in May.
- Herman said in order to sign Ayodele Adeoye, the staff had to overcome an article published a day before signing day that said there was unrest and players did not like him: “He’s the best high school middle linebacker I’ve seen in a long, long time. His relationship with Todd Orlando is off the charts. It was the reason that we survived some really powerful late recruiting pushes. Other schools out there sending articles that were written as fact, some things that go on [within] our team. Those coaches jump all over that, run with it in front of different recruits and say, ‘Look, this is fact. This is on the internet. It must be fact.' It took the relationship that Todd (Orlando) has with Dele to combat, and we were fortunate that we did because I think off all the true freshmen, he’s so physically ready already from a physical mature standpoint. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him the lineup quickly.”
- Herman said a lot players drove themselves to Houston. Texas only took two buses from Austin to Houston. The Longhorns will have dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by a meeting with the Houston Police Department to discuss the dos and donts of the city. The players have a 1 a.m. curfew. After the meeting, players are off. Saturday’s practice will be treated like a Tuesday practice. Herman does not expect it to last long.
Here are the highlights from his media availability:
- Herman said it is not weird at all to back be at Houston for a bowl game. He said it was good to be back and is looking forward to practicing at Houston’s new indoor facility on Saturday.
- Herman said he was very disappointed with having to suspend running back Toneil Carter, receiver Lil’ Jordan Humphrey and tight end Garrett Gray for the bowl game: “Really disappointed, but when you break rules, there are consequences. It stinks that they won’t be able to enjoy this experience with their teammates. We all know the consequences of our actions before we do them, and this is the price you pay."
- Kendall Moore is the only tight end Herman has entering the bowl game, and Texas has only two tailbacks that have played this season. Texas has practiced with two running backs and no tight end. In addition, one running back and one tight end. If Moore cannot play, Herman said they would just go in 10 or 20 personnel.
- Herman said Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson’s turf toe injury makes him very doubtful to play against Missouri. Jefferson made the trip to Houston and wants to play. However, Herman said Jefferson's foot hurts when he walks.
- Elijah Rodriguez will start at left tackle, Reggie Hemphill-Mapps has been cleared, while Dorian Leonard is still not cleared to play.
- Herman said he expects Shane Buechele to start in the Texas Bowl. We reported in our War Room that Buechele was receiving the first-team reps, and it appeared he will start.
- Here is Herman on the decision to play Buechele: “I’ve had some really good, but hard at times, conversations with Sam (Ehlinger) in terms of him turning the ball over. I think when he’s good, or when he’s on, like he was against Oklahoma and Kansas State, it's really, really fun to watch him play. But, he’s got to be more consistent in terms of protecting the football in critical situations. He’s going to play, but I just felt like with the way that game ended, we’ve got a guy in Shane that hasn’t really done anything to lose his status on the team. They’ve both had a really, really good couple of weeks of practice. I’m excited to watch them both play.”
- Herman said he was really proud of Major Applewhite’s first season as a head coach in Houston. He said the program is in good hands with Applewhite.
- Texas will be without left tackle Connor Williams, safety DeShon Elliott, cornerback Holton Hill, running back Chris Warren III, Jefferson, Carter, Humphrey and Gray. Herman said the team will still have fun, and said the Longhorns have improved the past three weeks.
- Herman said the signings after his press conference on Wednesday were huge. He described this defensive back class as “one for the ages.” In addition, Herman said JuCo offensive lineman Mikey Grandy must play right away.
- During a recent practice, Herman said he was encouraged by seeing Rodriguez at left tackle, Patrick Vahe at left guard, Zach Shackelford at center and Derek Kerstetter at right tackle. He has four guys who will be back next year. In addition, Herman said the offensive line should be bigger and stronger. He said Tope Imade has practiced well in the postseason, Denzel Okafor has playing experience, while J.P. Urquidez currently weighs 288 pounds: “I think the future is bright, especially knowing we got Mikey.”
- Herman said Texas will be in the market for a grad transfer offensive lineman, or one that finishes school in May.
- Herman said in order to sign Ayodele Adeoye, the staff had to overcome an article published a day before signing day that said there was unrest and players did not like him: “He’s the best high school middle linebacker I’ve seen in a long, long time. His relationship with Todd Orlando is off the charts. It was the reason that we survived some really powerful late recruiting pushes. Other schools out there sending articles that were written as fact, some things that go on [within] our team. Those coaches jump all over that, run with it in front of different recruits and say, ‘Look, this is fact. This is on the internet. It must be fact.' It took the relationship that Todd (Orlando) has with Dele to combat, and we were fortunate that we did because I think off all the true freshmen, he’s so physically ready already from a physical mature standpoint. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him the lineup quickly.”
- Herman said a lot players drove themselves to Houston. Texas only took two buses from Austin to Houston. The Longhorns will have dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by a meeting with the Houston Police Department to discuss the dos and donts of the city. The players have a 1 a.m. curfew. After the meeting, players are off. Saturday’s practice will be treated like a Tuesday practice. Herman does not expect it to last long.
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