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Here are a few notes we've picked up from sources around the team regarding Thursday's closed practice:
- The football team had a closed practice on Thursday that one source close to the program said was "basically a scrimmage." There was a lot of team 11-on-11 work during the full-pads practice and a lot of physical hitting.
- The source said that the team was excited to get a practice inside the stadium. It was cooler and there was a little bit of rain, which reportedly kept the group high-energy. It sounds, all-in-all, like the kind of practice you aim for your team to have as a coach with guys having a good time and being fired up this far into camp.
- As reported Wednesday by Anwar Richardson, there remains a split of first-team QB reps between Tyrone Swoopes and Shane Buechele with Tyrone Swoopes still leading the way. Buechele did have some nice throws though and reportedly continues to improve.
- When asked how the reps underneath Swoopes and Buechele were being split, the source said that Locksley "won't be an option at all," (at least early in the season). He said that Matthew Merrick was getting the majority of the backup reps, but, reiterated that in a pinch the staff would likely move Heard back to QB before throwing Merrick in. Speaking of Jerrod Heard ...
- Texas may just have an answer to Notre Dame HC Brian Kelly saying he might have BOTH of his QBs (Deshon Kizer and Malik Zaire) on the field at the same time versus Texas. Regardless of who lines up as the Longhorns' starting QB versus Notre Dame, remember that Jerrod Heard will likely be on the field with them ... and Heard has a pretty good arm for a wide receiver ...
- On the offensive line - here's a big nugget: freshman Denzel Okafor was taking the snaps at RT Thursday for the injured Tristan Nickelson and one person said he "looks like he fits." Okafor has been one of the biggest stories through the summer and fall camp with the impression he's made on coaches, teammates and media in open sessions.
- The person said that Nickelson had earned the job at RT "outright" prior to spraining his ankle this week, and that it seems like Nickelson would probably get his job back on-the-spot should he be able to return before the opener. However, Okafor has looked very impressive by all reports and it has happened in the past that players can run away with jobs while others are injured. In the end, though, it is beneficial for the program to get a promising freshman such as Okafor such meaningful first-team snaps through fall camp even if he's just keeping the seat warm for Nickelson.
- Another nugget you'll like: RB Chris Warren returned to practice Thursday and participated in full pads. The coaches would not have him dressed out in full pads unless the training staff felt good about his hamstring, so, it's clearly a very positive sign. The Texas RB group appears to be on the mend with both D'Onta Foreman and Warren back in action together for basically the first time this fall.
- Finally, we checked up about freshman FOX DE Erick Fowler: He is at practice, but not working out. As of Thursday, he wasn't even in shoulder pads yet. He just works on the side in shorts, jersey and helmet, but at least he is reportedly out at practice and around the team. I wouldn't expect to hear about him actually working out with the team until next week.
- As for Fowler's jersey number? I was told it's No. 41 for now.
Here are a few notes we've picked up from sources around the team regarding Thursday's closed practice:
- The football team had a closed practice on Thursday that one source close to the program said was "basically a scrimmage." There was a lot of team 11-on-11 work during the full-pads practice and a lot of physical hitting.
- The source said that the team was excited to get a practice inside the stadium. It was cooler and there was a little bit of rain, which reportedly kept the group high-energy. It sounds, all-in-all, like the kind of practice you aim for your team to have as a coach with guys having a good time and being fired up this far into camp.
- As reported Wednesday by Anwar Richardson, there remains a split of first-team QB reps between Tyrone Swoopes and Shane Buechele with Tyrone Swoopes still leading the way. Buechele did have some nice throws though and reportedly continues to improve.
- When asked how the reps underneath Swoopes and Buechele were being split, the source said that Locksley "won't be an option at all," (at least early in the season). He said that Matthew Merrick was getting the majority of the backup reps, but, reiterated that in a pinch the staff would likely move Heard back to QB before throwing Merrick in. Speaking of Jerrod Heard ...
- Texas may just have an answer to Notre Dame HC Brian Kelly saying he might have BOTH of his QBs (Deshon Kizer and Malik Zaire) on the field at the same time versus Texas. Regardless of who lines up as the Longhorns' starting QB versus Notre Dame, remember that Jerrod Heard will likely be on the field with them ... and Heard has a pretty good arm for a wide receiver ...
- On the offensive line - here's a big nugget: freshman Denzel Okafor was taking the snaps at RT Thursday for the injured Tristan Nickelson and one person said he "looks like he fits." Okafor has been one of the biggest stories through the summer and fall camp with the impression he's made on coaches, teammates and media in open sessions.
- The person said that Nickelson had earned the job at RT "outright" prior to spraining his ankle this week, and that it seems like Nickelson would probably get his job back on-the-spot should he be able to return before the opener. However, Okafor has looked very impressive by all reports and it has happened in the past that players can run away with jobs while others are injured. In the end, though, it is beneficial for the program to get a promising freshman such as Okafor such meaningful first-team snaps through fall camp even if he's just keeping the seat warm for Nickelson.
- Another nugget you'll like: RB Chris Warren returned to practice Thursday and participated in full pads. The coaches would not have him dressed out in full pads unless the training staff felt good about his hamstring, so, it's clearly a very positive sign. The Texas RB group appears to be on the mend with both D'Onta Foreman and Warren back in action together for basically the first time this fall.
- Finally, we checked up about freshman FOX DE Erick Fowler: He is at practice, but not working out. As of Thursday, he wasn't even in shoulder pads yet. He just works on the side in shorts, jersey and helmet, but at least he is reportedly out at practice and around the team. I wouldn't expect to hear about him actually working out with the team until next week.
- As for Fowler's jersey number? I was told it's No. 41 for now.
