Here are a few notes from Texas football practice on Tuesday, the football team's fourth of the spring:
- Practice was closed to the media, but the OB staff was able to catch up with a few sources ...
- It was a full-pads practice in the first one back for the team since before spring break. This was the second time in four practices the team has gone full-pads. It's realistic to expect shorts, shoulder-pads and helmets on Thursday and then possibly the first 'scrimmage' of the spring on Saturday.
- LT Connor Williams was banged up in the last Thursday practice prior to spring break and in asking a few people it seems that Williams is currently not practicing - at least for this week. The setback last Thursday appeared to be lower-leg like a foot or toe - and not overly serious as Williams stayed around his group and wasn't limping around too badly.
- With Williams missing some time, the staff reportedly gave some looks with the ones to Tristan Nickelson (who took the first-unit snaps at LT when Williams exited practice prior to spring break) and also redshirt freshmen OTs Buck Major and Garrett Thomas. During practice, apparently Nickelson was "rolled up on" himself and may miss a little time this week as well (ankle). So -- for the next few practices at least -- it's likely going to be a big spotlight on Major and Thomas defending the QB's blindside - neither of whom have ever been in it.
- It also appears that LB Edwin Freeman, who was also banged up with a foot injury at the last practice before spring break, is also still working his way back. The LBs with the second group Tuesday were reportedly Breckyn Hager and Anthony Wheeler.
- A little more on the LBs, Tim Cole is still the first one out with the starters in position and team drills. It seemed like a ceremonial spring start for Cole at first as the oldest, most experienced player in the room, but he's managed to hold on to the job thus far. With this said, we've heard that Wheeler sometimes works in with the ones, too, and it's very likely Hager does as well.
- This is a staff that is substituting much more than usual on offense, and it seems to have rubbed off even on the defensive side as it tries to match tempo and personnel with the O. If no player steps up dominantly and assumes the clear starting role alongside Malik Jefferson at linebacker, though, 2016 stud Jeffery McCulloch will be all the more interesting to watch this summer as he's the type who can come in and throw a wrench in things.
- Speaking of throwing a wrench in things, that's very likely what freshman safety Brandon Jones will do when he arrives on campus based on reports from practice. From the way it's told by sources, you feel like the two safety positions held by Dylan Haines and Jason Hall are virtually up for grabs. One person today said that Kevin Vaccarro was even getting some run with the first group.
- With all the talk of PJ Locke possibly getting reps at safety, he remains with the first group as the nickel back per a source and had a nice INT during practice today. This would likely mean John Bonney, who started the majority of games at nickel last season, is running with the twos as the unit's fifth DB.
- One person mentioned RS FR Cameron Townsend as "locking guys down" at the sam LB position usually played by Edwin Freeman when the team went to a base 4-3 look. Apparently Townsend is developing nicely as a player in coverage versus TEs and slot guys.
- Longhorns NFL alums Derrick Johnson and Brian Orakpo were at practice Tuesday per a photo tweeted by DC Vance Bedford.
- I asked two people which quarterback stood out as having a good day on Tuesday and both said Jerrod Heard. One said he was "dealing" during 7-on-7 drills and one said he led the unit down the field for a "nice sequence in team (drills)."
- Practice was closed to the media, but the OB staff was able to catch up with a few sources ...
- It was a full-pads practice in the first one back for the team since before spring break. This was the second time in four practices the team has gone full-pads. It's realistic to expect shorts, shoulder-pads and helmets on Thursday and then possibly the first 'scrimmage' of the spring on Saturday.
- LT Connor Williams was banged up in the last Thursday practice prior to spring break and in asking a few people it seems that Williams is currently not practicing - at least for this week. The setback last Thursday appeared to be lower-leg like a foot or toe - and not overly serious as Williams stayed around his group and wasn't limping around too badly.
- With Williams missing some time, the staff reportedly gave some looks with the ones to Tristan Nickelson (who took the first-unit snaps at LT when Williams exited practice prior to spring break) and also redshirt freshmen OTs Buck Major and Garrett Thomas. During practice, apparently Nickelson was "rolled up on" himself and may miss a little time this week as well (ankle). So -- for the next few practices at least -- it's likely going to be a big spotlight on Major and Thomas defending the QB's blindside - neither of whom have ever been in it.
- It also appears that LB Edwin Freeman, who was also banged up with a foot injury at the last practice before spring break, is also still working his way back. The LBs with the second group Tuesday were reportedly Breckyn Hager and Anthony Wheeler.
- A little more on the LBs, Tim Cole is still the first one out with the starters in position and team drills. It seemed like a ceremonial spring start for Cole at first as the oldest, most experienced player in the room, but he's managed to hold on to the job thus far. With this said, we've heard that Wheeler sometimes works in with the ones, too, and it's very likely Hager does as well.
- This is a staff that is substituting much more than usual on offense, and it seems to have rubbed off even on the defensive side as it tries to match tempo and personnel with the O. If no player steps up dominantly and assumes the clear starting role alongside Malik Jefferson at linebacker, though, 2016 stud Jeffery McCulloch will be all the more interesting to watch this summer as he's the type who can come in and throw a wrench in things.
- Speaking of throwing a wrench in things, that's very likely what freshman safety Brandon Jones will do when he arrives on campus based on reports from practice. From the way it's told by sources, you feel like the two safety positions held by Dylan Haines and Jason Hall are virtually up for grabs. One person today said that Kevin Vaccarro was even getting some run with the first group.
- With all the talk of PJ Locke possibly getting reps at safety, he remains with the first group as the nickel back per a source and had a nice INT during practice today. This would likely mean John Bonney, who started the majority of games at nickel last season, is running with the twos as the unit's fifth DB.
- One person mentioned RS FR Cameron Townsend as "locking guys down" at the sam LB position usually played by Edwin Freeman when the team went to a base 4-3 look. Apparently Townsend is developing nicely as a player in coverage versus TEs and slot guys.
- Longhorns NFL alums Derrick Johnson and Brian Orakpo were at practice Tuesday per a photo tweeted by DC Vance Bedford.
- I asked two people which quarterback stood out as having a good day on Tuesday and both said Jerrod Heard. One said he was "dealing" during 7-on-7 drills and one said he led the unit down the field for a "nice sequence in team (drills)."
