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Ketch's 10 Thoughts From the Weekend (A huge dose of tasty burnt orange Kool-Aid...)

BUY or SELL: Kyle Porter lives up to the coaches' praise, has a great fall camp and starts against Maryland?

$5.00 in the can dude

Ketch gets busted first.

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Four days ago, I was approached by a listener of Orangebloods Radio who believed Texas was going to win 10 games this year based on things he believed I had said on Monday and Tuesday.

Two days ago, another listener of Orangebloods Radio posted on the Inside the 40 Acres message board that he heard us, "slamming the Horns ... I guess we will be 0-12 listening to this ..."

Perhaps this is an obscure movie reference, but I'm reminded of a scene from the movie Good Morning Vietnam involving the last words said between Adrian Cronauer and Sgt. Major Dickerson.

You guys are in more need of an actual fun football experience as any fan base in history.

Seriously, ask yourself when was the last time you actually had f-u-n at a Texas football game without a cloud of doom hovering over the program? The battering on your football souls has created an edge in the air that only a little fun and smiles can wipe away. Basically, I think a lot of you are acting like you're on crazy pills, but I do understand why.

Therefore, my goal in this week's column is to create a feel-good onslaught of positivity. If, over the course of the next month, you start to get lost in the forest, just come back to this piece and bathe in the optimism.

I call this, "Texas fans might have 99 problems, but optimism about the 2017 season ain't one."

What follows isn't a list of those 99 problems, rather it's a list of 99 reasons to smile about what's ahead for the 2017 Texas Longhorns.

Quarterbacks

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1. The Longhorns have an actual returning starter at the position that doesn't automatically instigate an eye-roll or cringe.
2. You can make a case that the Shane Buechele/Sam Ehlinger pairing provides the Longhorns with the best 1-2 talent punch at the position since 2009.
3. While Buechele is still making forward steps in his progress, he's healthy, more experienced and significantly more comfortable with respect to the demands of his position.
4. If anything happens to Buechele, there's a player in Ehlinger that everyone in the program believes can be the leader on the field for this football team. Unlike previous seasons, the season doesn't automatically go down the tube if there's an injury at the top of the depth chart. When was the last time anyone said that about this program? 2006?
5. From an emergency quarterback perspective, I can't imagine many schools have a better option than Jerrod Heard, who seems more perfectly suited for a Tom Herman offense than anyone on the roster. If the Longhorns had to use Heard in six games this season as a starter, Texas could win those six games.
6. Buechele threw three touchdown passes last year against the Sooners in Dallas. Assuming he's starting, even a little taste and experience in that game should be incredibly valuable going into that game this season.
7. The Texas quarterbacks are working with a "Quarterback Whisperer." There's no way the position isn't better this season, right?

Running backs

8. Chris Warren is talented enough that he was listed as a co-starter last season with the best running back in the country.
9. While Foreman averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season, Warren wasn't far behind with 5.9 yards per carry.
10. Warren doesn't lose yardage when he touches the ball. Over a 62-carry sample size in 2016, Warren lost yardage on a carry only once.
11. Warren was on a 12-game pace a year ago to rush for almost 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns.
12. The coaches love everything about Kyle Porter and while his flashes were limited in 2016, his 4.5 yards per carry represent a nice starting point going into his second season.
13. True freshman Toneil Carter represents one of the best running back talents the program has landed in the last decade and gives the coaches a possible impact talent to inject into the offense as the season goes along.
14. Fellow incoming freshman Daniel Young was one of the most underrated players in the 2017 recruiting class and gives the Longhorns an additional weapon at the position.
15. In fact, if Kirk Johnson can stay healthy, you can make a case that this position is as deep as it has been for most of the last decade.

Wide receivers

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16. Sophomore Collin Johnson might be ready for stardom going into this season and it's not crazy to think he can be a double-digit touchdown threat in the red zone this season.
17. Johnson and Buechele seem to have a little something-something going in terms of quarterback/wide receiver chemistry.
18. Sophomore Devin Duvernay might be ready for stardom going into this season after averaging more than 20 yards per catch as a true freshman.
19. The list of players in the Big 12 that possess Duvernay’s kind of game-changing speed and playmaking can probably be counted on one hand. There aren't a lot of guys in the Big 12 that you can throw a short hitch to at any moment and watch go 80 yards in the blink of an eye at any time, but Duvernay is one of those players.
20. After leading the team in receptions and receiving yards last year, senior Armanti Foreman has been a motivated player all off-season.
21. A strong case can be made that the trio of Johnson/Duvernay/Foreman is the most talented trio of receivers on any team in the Big 12.
22. Jerrod Heard, Dorian Leonard and John Burt would all start at just about any other school in the Big 12.
23. The team goes six-deep with starting caliber wide receivers before you get to redshirt freshman Reggie Hemphill-Mapps, who excelled during the spring and will be in the mix for game reps.
24. Sophomore L.J. Humphrey is the kind of talent that can become a difference-maker if a role can be carved out.
25. This is probably the deepest group of wide receivers that I have ever seen in the program.

Tight ends

26. This position isn't a total disaster and when was the last time anyone said that?
27. Senior transfer Kendall Moore, formally of Syracuse, is a very experienced player who instantly gives the team an option as a starter that simply didn't exist during spring workouts.
28. True freshmen Reese Leitao and Cade Brewer are two more players at the position in August that didn't exist in April, which means the position has seen a serious injection of ability in the last couple of months.
29. Add in senior Andrew Beck and the Texas tight end position has a greater assortment of parts than it has probably had in the last decade.
30. Did I mention that this position is no longer a complete disaster? I feel like it bears repeating.

Offensive line

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31. Going into his third season, Connor Williams is the best offensive lineman the program has produced since Justin Blalock departed in 2006, or possibly since Mike Williams departed in 2001, or possibly Leonard Davis in 2000, or possibly Dan Neil in 1996. Pick one.
32. Williams has officially allowed one sack in his first two seasons of college ball and that one sack occurred on a quarterback scramble.
33. Williams' presence on the field means that Buechele or Ehlinger never have to worry about their blind side. For two young quarterbacks, that seems like a huge deal.
34. Junior Jake McMillan has emerged as the second-best lineman on the team and appears to be a rock for the team at center, which means the two best linemen on the team are slotted into the two most important positions on the line.
35. The last time Texas was as rock solid at both left tackle and center was in 2006 when Tony Hills and Lyle Sendlein locked down the fort at those two positions, respectively.
36. It remains to be seen if he'll emerge as a starter this year, but sophomore Denzel Okafor is viewed as a future standout and many believe the light-switch will flip on this season.
37. There's enough depth up-front that the offensive coaches signed off on Tope Imade moving to the defensive side of the ball.
38. The Longhorns have seven upperclassmen among their offensive line numbers.
39. Young prospects Patrick Hudson, Jean Delance and J.P. Urquidez are grooming behind the scenes and will at the very least provide two-deep depth in their second seasons.
40. Very quietly, there's a lot of optimism about how well this group will play this season.

Defensive Line

41. Malcolm Roach has a chance to be the best player on the team and is a potential Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
42. I'm not sure there's a defensive player in the entire conference you would trade for Roach.
43. Senior Poona Ford has turned into a team leader and one of Tom Herman's favorite players on the roster.
44. The combination of Roach and Ford is probably the best 1-2 punch along the defensive line that any school in the Big 12 can claim.
45. As the third guy on the defensive line, junior Chris Nelson has at times performed like one of the best defensive linemen in the league. Only consistency issues have kept him from reaching his potential at this point, but the increased upside is out there for the taking.
46. Depth has been a concern with this group, but the arrival of JUCO transfer Jamari Chisholm gives the Longhorns potentially more wiggle room than the situation looked like in the spring.
47. Junior Charles Omenihu is another player that appears to be on the verge of coming into his own as a potential impact player up-front.
48. If any of the second-year players on the roster turn the corner, if even a little, the Longhorns might have more depth at the position than they probably get credit for. It's a matter of a guy or two coming along outside of the projected starters.
50. I can make a case that every team in the Big 12 would trade its group of defensive linemen for the group Texas has.

Linebackers

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51. This is the most talented and deepest group of linebackers I have seen in covering the program for the last 23 seasons.
52. There's not a better group of first-team linebackers anywhere in the Big 12.
53. There's not a better group of second-team linebackers in the Big 12.
54. UT's second-string linebacker unit might be the second-best linebacker unit in the Big 12.
55. Junior Malik Jefferson is the highest-rated defensive player in the Big 12 in the eyes of NFL scouts.
56. Jefferson will finally be used by his coaches in a way that takes advantage of all of his skills as an athlete/player.
57. Incoming JUCO transfer Gary Johnson might be the best defensive newcomer in the entire Big 12 for the 2017 season.
58. Senior Naashon Hughes seems to be playing the best football of his career and has emerged as one of Herman's favorite players.
59. The best linebacker on the team might actually be Jeff McCulloch, who isn't yet a starter, but did do something in the spring game that few on the Texas schedule can say, which is to beat Connor Williams for a sack (in the spring game).
60. Junior Edwin Freeman is one of the most productive linebackers in the Big 12 on a play-for-play average.
61. This group is so stacked that 2016 all-Big 12 player Breckyn Hager is going to have a hard time receiving consistent playing time.
62. I'm into my 12th point in the linebacker discussion and I haven't even mentioned last year's leading tackler Anthony Wheeler.
63. True freshman Marquez Bimage looms as a young player to watch.

Defensive backs

64. There's not a team in the Big 12 with more talent in the defensive backfield than Texas.
65. Arguably, the most decorated defensive backs recruiting class in school history (2015) is entering its third season, which is right about the time when players turn the page in terms of consistent results.
66. Among all returning cornerbacks in the Big 12, junior P.J. Locke has the lowest passer rating (48.9) by a mile when targeted. The second closest returning cornerback is OU's Steven Parker (68.5).
67. Basically, the Longhorns have the best nickel-back in the entire Big 12 .... and dare I say ... it's not even close.
68. The trio of Holton Hill, Kris Boyd and Davante Davis all bring size, wild athleticism and experience to the table.
69. Hill has been given a new lease on life under the new staff and the regression from 2016 has been replaced by forward acceleration in 2017.
70. Whichever player doesn't start among Hill, Boyd and Davis would start for every other team in the Big 12.
71. Speaking of third-year players, the light switch seems to be turned on for DeShon Elliott.
72. Sophomore Brandon Jones has all the makings of a future star at safety.
73. We're six players deep into discussions and I haven't even mentioned returning starters John Bonney and Jason Hall. It bears repeating, this is a very deep group of talented players.
74. True freshmen Josh Thompson and Montrell Estelle loom in the background as future possible impact players.

Special teams

75. The Longhorns have one of the best two or three punters in all of college football.
76. Any time the Longhorns have to punt, it simply means the team will have a chance to control field position.
77. Senior Michael Becker returns as the team's kickoff specialist.
78. The presence of Devin Duvernay should provide the Longhorns a home run threat every time he touches the ball on kickoffs.
79. Joshua Rowland looked pretty good in the spring game and gives the Longhorns a chance at a plus-place kicker.
80. An improved roster with as much talent as this program possesses should make for better coverage units in 2017 than was seen last season.

Coaching

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81. Tom Herman is now the head coach, which means the Longhorns will be better planned across the board than they were a season ago.
82. Herman is 22-4 in the last two seasons, the fourth best mark among all coaches at the FBS level.
83. Under Herman’s leadership, Houston was third nationally with seven wins of 21 points or more and had 10 wins by double digits.
84. Herman's teams don't lose to ranked teams, instead they rise to the occasion and beat them.
85. Texas has one of the best running backs coaches in the nation in Stan Drayton. You simply can't do better at this level.
86. All Derek Warehime has done in the last few seasons under Herman is turn chicken-whatever into chicken salad. It doesn't matter what he's had to work with, he turns out a good line.
87. Todd Orlando is one of the best defensive coordinators in all of college football. Few in the industry do a better job with a 3-4 defense.
88. Orlando has never had a defense with as much talent as he'll work with in his first season in Austin.
89. Orlando specifically works with the linebackers, which as I've outlined is the best group of players at that position that I have seen in a quarter-century over covering this team.
90. All Jason Washington has done in the last few seasons is churn out all-conference cornerbacks and NFL prospects. Everything he's touched as a position coach in the last couple of years has turned to gold.
91. Oscar Giles gives the Longhorns one of the most experienced defensive line coaches in the country.
92. The coaching staff is all for one and one for all. Unlike the last seven years, the Texas coaching staff will act at all times as one.
93. Herman will have his team prepared for coin-flips.
94. Herman stresses details, which means it would be quite shocking if the Longhorns remained one of the most penalized teams in the country.
95. Herman and Co. whipped OU's ass a year ago.
96. Alignment. This coaching staff has created it.
97. Accountability. This coaching staff stresses it.
98. Hatred of losing. This coaching staff stresses it.
99. You can absolutely make the case that this is the best coaching staff, from top to bottom, that we've seen in Austin in a decade.

No. 2 – No, Sam, no ...



Just so that we're all clear, there's no such thing as fall camp. The Texas Longhorns participate in an August camp.

Nothing about the month of August is in the fall and if we're being completely honest, we don't really have a fall season in the state of Texas.

New rule starting today - anyone that says "fall camp" is fined $5. Sam is safe for now, but if he says "fall camp" again, he has to put five bucks in the pot.

No. 3 – Fact of the Day ...

In terms of average star ranking per prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, the Longhorns currently rank sixth in the nation among all teams with six or more commitments. Here's a look at how the top 10 shakes out:

1. Ohio State (3.94)
2. Miami (3.89)
3. Alabama (3.86)
4. USC (3.82)
5. Clemson (3.73)
6. Texas (3.71)
7. Penn State (3.65)
8. Nebraska (3.60)
9. Florida (3.60)
10. Notre Dame (3.60)

No. 4 – Mike Farrell says. ..

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In talking with Rivals.com's Mike Farrell this week, I found it interesting that of all the commitments the Longhorns currently have from the Class of 2018, the guy he gushed over more than any other, especially from a raw upside standpoint, was Cibolo Steele safety Caden Sterns.

I came away from the conversation believing that Sterns is a possible Rivals five-star prospect if he impresses this season and in the week of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl workouts.

I'd say it's not out of the realm of possibilities that he finishes as the No. 1 ranked prospect in Texas.

No. 5 – Tweet of the Weekend...


.
No. 6 – It's just my opinion...

You're damn right the Longhorns should take Schertz Clemens wide receiver Tommy Bush if he wants to become a member of the 2018 class.

He's a state top-15 talent and I pretty much believe you never turn away a state top-15 talent.

It's as simple as that. As long as his commitment doesn't change the status of anyone else already committed, you go get him.

No. 7 – Buy or Sell …

BUY or SELL: Texas will have a starting QB named by week 2 of camp?

(Buy) It's just a hunch, but I think Herman will name his starter by August 15. I don't believe he's going to wait until the week of the first game to announce a starter.

BUY or SELL: Having a dominant OL (while still important) doesn't matter as much as it used to? You can win a BIG12 champ with a middle of the road OL as long as the skill players are near the top in the conference.

(Buy) Remember 2008-09? Having an elite of the elite quarterback is much more important than having a dominant offensive line.

BUY or SELL: Texas beats USC and OU this season but loses a game we have no business losing?

(Sell) Texas isn't going to beat USC. In all likelihood.

BUY or SELL: Kyle Porter lives up to the coaches' praise, has a great fall camp and starts against Maryland?

(Sell) Chris Warren is going to be the starter.

BUY or SELL: The Facebook Live feature will be an overwhelming success?

(Buy) I think it's going to be quite popular as a post-game feature and I would imagine others will be inspired to do something similar.

No. 8 – The GOAT is back!

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On Saturday night, those of us that follow the UFC were reminded of what Jon Jones can do when he's back in his sweet spot as the greatest light heavyweight fighter that has ever lived.

Facing a guy that can claim to be the No. 2 light heavyweight fighter of all-time, Jones merely did the following:

a. Provided perhaps the most emphatic finish in a career that has had plenty of them.
b. Became the first person to ever knock Daniel Cormier out.
c. Crushed Cormier's soul to such a degree that he left his opponent uncontrollable crying in the Octagon, the second time in as many fights that he caused Cormier to have an emotional breakdown after the fight.
d. Took the high-road after the fight in a way that was completely unexpected, complete with a kiss on the top of Cormier's head.
e. Dared Brock Lesnar to come out of his steroid suspension and take him on in what might be the highest-grossing pay-per-view in UFC history if the fight ever comes to pass.

Welcome back, Champ. We sorely missed you.

No. 9 – Game of Thrones Review: Season 7, Episode 3...

This portion of the column will be completed after I have a chance to watch the episode after the twins go to bed.

No. 10 – And finally …

T-minus, 33 days and change, folks.
Man that was some Burnt Orange Glasses!
 
This was about the most inspiring review of the team that I have heard in at least a decade. Hook'em
 
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Ok - so roughly 68 of first 80 kool-aid POV's are about returning players and the last 19 orange kool-aid perspectives of the 99 are about coaches.

So if only 12 of the 99 kool-aid data POVs are about new players, you're essentially saying the difference between a sad sack 5 win team that lost to freaking KANSAS and an 8-10 win bowl team this season is coaching.

I can buy that. Another round of orange kool-aid please.
 
Reason 63 - Bimage. Seems like redshirt is likely unless he is a special teams monster. Thoughts?
 
@Ketchum
I love the radio show and got hooked on OB radio by listening to the daily podcast. Over the last few weeks I've been missing it because it hasn't been posted outside of random shows. Is it not going to be posted as a podcast regularly anymore or is there somewhere else to listen to the shows?
 
You used every pack of Kool aid in the pantry for this writeup. The biggest difference is coaching. Strong was horrific.
 
Four days ago, I was approached by a listener of Orangebloods Radio who believed Texas was going to win 10 games this year based on things he believed I had said on Monday and Tuesday.

Two days ago, another listener of Orangebloods Radio posted on the Inside the 40 Acres message board that he heard us, "slamming the Horns ... I guess we will be 0-12 listening to this ..."

Perhaps this is an obscure movie reference, but I'm reminded of a scene from the movie Good Morning Vietnam involving the last words said between Adrian Cronauer and Sgt. Major Dickerson.

You guys are in more need of an actual fun football experience as any fan base in history.

Seriously, ask yourself when was the last time you actually had f-u-n at a Texas football game without a cloud of doom hovering over the program? The battering on your football souls has created an edge in the air that only a little fun and smiles can wipe away. Basically, I think a lot of you are acting like you're on crazy pills, but I do understand why.

Therefore, my goal in this week's column is to create a feel-good onslaught of positivity. If, over the course of the next month, you start to get lost in the forest, just come back to this piece and bathe in the optimism.

I call this, "Texas fans might have 99 problems, but optimism about the 2017 season ain't one."

What follows isn't a list of those 99 problems, rather it's a list of 99 reasons to smile about what's ahead for the 2017 Texas Longhorns.

Quarterbacks

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1. The Longhorns have an actual returning starter at the position that doesn't automatically instigate an eye-roll or cringe.
2. You can make a case that the Shane Buechele/Sam Ehlinger pairing provides the Longhorns with the best 1-2 talent punch at the position since 2009.
3. While Buechele is still making forward steps in his progress, he's healthy, more experienced and significantly more comfortable with respect to the demands of his position.
4. If anything happens to Buechele, there's a player in Ehlinger that everyone in the program believes can be the leader on the field for this football team. Unlike previous seasons, the season doesn't automatically go down the tube if there's an injury at the top of the depth chart. When was the last time anyone said that about this program? 2006?
5. From an emergency quarterback perspective, I can't imagine many schools have a better option than Jerrod Heard, who seems more perfectly suited for a Tom Herman offense than anyone on the roster. If the Longhorns had to use Heard in six games this season as a starter, Texas could win those six games.
6. Buechele threw three touchdown passes last year against the Sooners in Dallas. Assuming he's starting, even a little taste and experience in that game should be incredibly valuable going into that game this season.
7. The Texas quarterbacks are working with a "Quarterback Whisperer." There's no way the position isn't better this season, right?

Running backs

8. Chris Warren is talented enough that he was listed as a co-starter last season with the best running back in the country.
9. While Foreman averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season, Warren wasn't far behind with 5.9 yards per carry.
10. Warren doesn't lose yardage when he touches the ball. Over a 62-carry sample size in 2016, Warren lost yardage on a carry only once.
11. Warren was on a 12-game pace a year ago to rush for almost 1,100 yards and nine touchdowns.
12. The coaches love everything about Kyle Porter and while his flashes were limited in 2016, his 4.5 yards per carry represent a nice starting point going into his second season.
13. True freshman Toneil Carter represents one of the best running back talents the program has landed in the last decade and gives the coaches a possible impact talent to inject into the offense as the season goes along.
14. Fellow incoming freshman Daniel Young was one of the most underrated players in the 2017 recruiting class and gives the Longhorns an additional weapon at the position.
15. In fact, if Kirk Johnson can stay healthy, you can make a case that this position is as deep as it has been for most of the last decade.

Wide receivers

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16. Sophomore Collin Johnson might be ready for stardom going into this season and it's not crazy to think he can be a double-digit touchdown threat in the red zone this season.
17. Johnson and Buechele seem to have a little something-something going in terms of quarterback/wide receiver chemistry.
18. Sophomore Devin Duvernay might be ready for stardom going into this season after averaging more than 20 yards per catch as a true freshman.
19. The list of players in the Big 12 that possess Duvernay’s kind of game-changing speed and playmaking can probably be counted on one hand. There aren't a lot of guys in the Big 12 that you can throw a short hitch to at any moment and watch go 80 yards in the blink of an eye at any time, but Duvernay is one of those players.
20. After leading the team in receptions and receiving yards last year, senior Armanti Foreman has been a motivated player all off-season.
21. A strong case can be made that the trio of Johnson/Duvernay/Foreman is the most talented trio of receivers on any team in the Big 12.
22. Jerrod Heard, Dorian Leonard and John Burt would all start at just about any other school in the Big 12.
23. The team goes six-deep with starting caliber wide receivers before you get to redshirt freshman Reggie Hemphill-Mapps, who excelled during the spring and will be in the mix for game reps.
24. Sophomore L.J. Humphrey is the kind of talent that can become a difference-maker if a role can be carved out.
25. This is probably the deepest group of wide receivers that I have ever seen in the program.

Tight ends

26. This position isn't a total disaster and when was the last time anyone said that?
27. Senior transfer Kendall Moore, formally of Syracuse, is a very experienced player who instantly gives the team an option as a starter that simply didn't exist during spring workouts.
28. True freshmen Reese Leitao and Cade Brewer are two more players at the position in August that didn't exist in April, which means the position has seen a serious injection of ability in the last couple of months.
29. Add in senior Andrew Beck and the Texas tight end position has a greater assortment of parts than it has probably had in the last decade.
30. Did I mention that this position is no longer a complete disaster? I feel like it bears repeating.

Offensive line

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31. Going into his third season, Connor Williams is the best offensive lineman the program has produced since Justin Blalock departed in 2006, or possibly since Mike Williams departed in 2001, or possibly Leonard Davis in 2000, or possibly Dan Neil in 1996. Pick one.
32. Williams has officially allowed one sack in his first two seasons of college ball and that one sack occurred on a quarterback scramble.
33. Williams' presence on the field means that Buechele or Ehlinger never have to worry about their blind side. For two young quarterbacks, that seems like a huge deal.
34. Junior Jake McMillan has emerged as the second-best lineman on the team and appears to be a rock for the team at center, which means the two best linemen on the team are slotted into the two most important positions on the line.
35. The last time Texas was as rock solid at both left tackle and center was in 2006 when Tony Hills and Lyle Sendlein locked down the fort at those two positions, respectively.
36. It remains to be seen if he'll emerge as a starter this year, but sophomore Denzel Okafor is viewed as a future standout and many believe the light-switch will flip on this season.
37. There's enough depth up-front that the offensive coaches signed off on Tope Imade moving to the defensive side of the ball.
38. The Longhorns have seven upperclassmen among their offensive line numbers.
39. Young prospects Patrick Hudson, Jean Delance and J.P. Urquidez are grooming behind the scenes and will at the very least provide two-deep depth in their second seasons.
40. Very quietly, there's a lot of optimism about how well this group will play this season.

Defensive Line

41. Malcolm Roach has a chance to be the best player on the team and is a potential Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
42. I'm not sure there's a defensive player in the entire conference you would trade for Roach.
43. Senior Poona Ford has turned into a team leader and one of Tom Herman's favorite players on the roster.
44. The combination of Roach and Ford is probably the best 1-2 punch along the defensive line that any school in the Big 12 can claim.
45. As the third guy on the defensive line, junior Chris Nelson has at times performed like one of the best defensive linemen in the league. Only consistency issues have kept him from reaching his potential at this point, but the increased upside is out there for the taking.
46. Depth has been a concern with this group, but the arrival of JUCO transfer Jamari Chisholm gives the Longhorns potentially more wiggle room than the situation looked like in the spring.
47. Junior Charles Omenihu is another player that appears to be on the verge of coming into his own as a potential impact player up-front.
48. If any of the second-year players on the roster turn the corner, if even a little, the Longhorns might have more depth at the position than they probably get credit for. It's a matter of a guy or two coming along outside of the projected starters.
50. I can make a case that every team in the Big 12 would trade its group of defensive linemen for the group Texas has.

Linebackers

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51. This is the most talented and deepest group of linebackers I have seen in covering the program for the last 23 seasons.
52. There's not a better group of first-team linebackers anywhere in the Big 12.
53. There's not a better group of second-team linebackers in the Big 12.
54. UT's second-string linebacker unit might be the second-best linebacker unit in the Big 12.
55. Junior Malik Jefferson is the highest-rated defensive player in the Big 12 in the eyes of NFL scouts.
56. Jefferson will finally be used by his coaches in a way that takes advantage of all of his skills as an athlete/player.
57. Incoming JUCO transfer Gary Johnson might be the best defensive newcomer in the entire Big 12 for the 2017 season.
58. Senior Naashon Hughes seems to be playing the best football of his career and has emerged as one of Herman's favorite players.
59. The best linebacker on the team might actually be Jeff McCulloch, who isn't yet a starter, but did do something in the spring game that few on the Texas schedule can say, which is to beat Connor Williams for a sack (in the spring game).
60. Junior Edwin Freeman is one of the most productive linebackers in the Big 12 on a play-for-play average.
61. This group is so stacked that 2016 all-Big 12 player Breckyn Hager is going to have a hard time receiving consistent playing time.
62. I'm into my 12th point in the linebacker discussion and I haven't even mentioned last year's leading tackler Anthony Wheeler.
63. True freshman Marquez Bimage looms as a young player to watch.

Defensive backs

64. There's not a team in the Big 12 with more talent in the defensive backfield than Texas.
65. Arguably, the most decorated defensive backs recruiting class in school history (2015) is entering its third season, which is right about the time when players turn the page in terms of consistent results.
66. Among all returning cornerbacks in the Big 12, junior P.J. Locke has the lowest passer rating (48.9) by a mile when targeted. The second closest returning cornerback is OU's Steven Parker (68.5).
67. Basically, the Longhorns have the best nickel-back in the entire Big 12 .... and dare I say ... it's not even close.
68. The trio of Holton Hill, Kris Boyd and Davante Davis all bring size, wild athleticism and experience to the table.
69. Hill has been given a new lease on life under the new staff and the regression from 2016 has been replaced by forward acceleration in 2017.
70. Whichever player doesn't start among Hill, Boyd and Davis would start for every other team in the Big 12.
71. Speaking of third-year players, the light switch seems to be turned on for DeShon Elliott.
72. Sophomore Brandon Jones has all the makings of a future star at safety.
73. We're six players deep into discussions and I haven't even mentioned returning starters John Bonney and Jason Hall. It bears repeating, this is a very deep group of talented players.
74. True freshmen Josh Thompson and Montrell Estelle loom in the background as future possible impact players.

Special teams

75. The Longhorns have one of the best two or three punters in all of college football.
76. Any time the Longhorns have to punt, it simply means the team will have a chance to control field position.
77. Senior Michael Becker returns as the team's kickoff specialist.
78. The presence of Devin Duvernay should provide the Longhorns a home run threat every time he touches the ball on kickoffs.
79. Joshua Rowland looked pretty good in the spring game and gives the Longhorns a chance at a plus-place kicker.
80. An improved roster with as much talent as this program possesses should make for better coverage units in 2017 than was seen last season.

Coaching

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81. Tom Herman is now the head coach, which means the Longhorns will be better planned across the board than they were a season ago.
82. Herman is 22-4 in the last two seasons, the fourth best mark among all coaches at the FBS level.
83. Under Herman’s leadership, Houston was third nationally with seven wins of 21 points or more and had 10 wins by double digits.
84. Herman's teams don't lose to ranked teams, instead they rise to the occasion and beat them.
85. Texas has one of the best running backs coaches in the nation in Stan Drayton. You simply can't do better at this level.
86. All Derek Warehime has done in the last few seasons under Herman is turn chicken-whatever into chicken salad. It doesn't matter what he's had to work with, he turns out a good line.
87. Todd Orlando is one of the best defensive coordinators in all of college football. Few in the industry do a better job with a 3-4 defense.
88. Orlando has never had a defense with as much talent as he'll work with in his first season in Austin.
89. Orlando specifically works with the linebackers, which as I've outlined is the best group of players at that position that I have seen in a quarter-century over covering this team.
90. All Jason Washington has done in the last few seasons is churn out all-conference cornerbacks and NFL prospects. Everything he's touched as a position coach in the last couple of years has turned to gold.
91. Oscar Giles gives the Longhorns one of the most experienced defensive line coaches in the country.
92. The coaching staff is all for one and one for all. Unlike the last seven years, the Texas coaching staff will act at all times as one.
93. Herman will have his team prepared for coin-flips.
94. Herman stresses details, which means it would be quite shocking if the Longhorns remained one of the most penalized teams in the country.
95. Herman and Co. whipped OU's ass a year ago.
96. Alignment. This coaching staff has created it.
97. Accountability. This coaching staff stresses it.
98. Hatred of losing. This coaching staff stresses it.
99. You can absolutely make the case that this is the best coaching staff, from top to bottom, that we've seen in Austin in a decade.

No. 2 – No, Sam, no ...



Just so that we're all clear, there's no such thing as fall camp. The Texas Longhorns participate in an August camp.

Nothing about the month of August is in the fall and if we're being completely honest, we don't really have a fall season in the state of Texas.

New rule starting today - anyone that says "fall camp" is fined $5. Sam is safe for now, but if he says "fall camp" again, he has to put five bucks in the pot.

No. 3 – Fact of the Day ...

In terms of average star ranking per prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, the Longhorns currently rank sixth in the nation among all teams with six or more commitments. Here's a look at how the top 10 shakes out:

1. Ohio State (3.94)
2. Miami (3.89)
3. Alabama (3.86)
4. USC (3.82)
5. Clemson (3.73)
6. Texas (3.71)
7. Penn State (3.65)
8. Nebraska (3.60)
9. Florida (3.60)
10. Notre Dame (3.60)

No. 4 – Mike Farrell says. ..

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In talking with Rivals.com's Mike Farrell this week, I found it interesting that of all the commitments the Longhorns currently have from the Class of 2018, the guy he gushed over more than any other, especially from a raw upside standpoint, was Cibolo Steele safety Caden Sterns.

I came away from the conversation believing that Sterns is a possible Rivals five-star prospect if he impresses this season and in the week of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl workouts.

I'd say it's not out of the realm of possibilities that he finishes as the No. 1 ranked prospect in Texas.

No. 5 – Tweet of the Weekend...


.
No. 6 – It's just my opinion...

You're damn right the Longhorns should take Schertz Clemens wide receiver Tommy Bush if he wants to become a member of the 2018 class.

He's a state top-15 talent and I pretty much believe you never turn away a state top-15 talent.

It's as simple as that. As long as his commitment doesn't change the status of anyone else already committed, you go get him.

No. 7 – Buy or Sell …

BUY or SELL: Texas will have a starting QB named by week 2 of camp?

(Buy) It's just a hunch, but I think Herman will name his starter by August 15. I don't believe he's going to wait until the week of the first game to announce a starter.

BUY or SELL: Having a dominant OL (while still important) doesn't matter as much as it used to? You can win a BIG12 champ with a middle of the road OL as long as the skill players are near the top in the conference.

(Buy) Remember 2008-09? Having an elite of the elite quarterback is much more important than having a dominant offensive line.

BUY or SELL: Texas beats USC and OU this season but loses a game we have no business losing?

(Sell) Texas isn't going to beat USC. In all likelihood.

BUY or SELL: Kyle Porter lives up to the coaches' praise, has a great fall camp and starts against Maryland?

(Sell) Chris Warren is going to be the starter.

BUY or SELL: The Facebook Live feature will be an overwhelming success?

(Buy) I think it's going to be quite popular as a post-game feature and I would imagine others will be inspired to do something similar.

No. 8 – The GOAT is back!

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On Saturday night, those of us that follow the UFC were reminded of what Jon Jones can do when he's back in his sweet spot as the greatest light heavyweight fighter that has ever lived.

Facing a guy that can claim to be the No. 2 light heavyweight fighter of all-time, Jones merely did the following:

a. Provided perhaps the most emphatic finish in a career that has had plenty of them.
b. Became the first person to ever knock Daniel Cormier out.
c. Crushed Cormier's soul to such a degree that he left his opponent uncontrollable crying in the Octagon, the second time in as many fights that he caused Cormier to have an emotional breakdown after the fight.
d. Took the high-road after the fight in a way that was completely unexpected, complete with a kiss on the top of Cormier's head.
e. Dared Brock Lesnar to come out of his steroid suspension and take him on in what might be the highest-grossing pay-per-view in UFC history if the fight ever comes to pass.

Welcome back, Champ. We sorely missed you.

No. 9 – Game of Thrones Review: Season 7, Episode 3...

This portion of the column will be completed after I have a chance to watch the episode after the twins go to bed.

No. 10 – And finally …

T-minus, 33 days and change, folks.

You and I watched different film from last year for LB. Today, there is a large gap between what was written and reality. That position is going to be a white knuckle ride. Orlando will earn every red cent of his contract trying to figure out how to turn a team weakness into a team strength.
 
I love me some Carter. I think he is the most complete RB on the team, as far as what he can do and how he plays.

But he's still unproven. And Porter, in games, has been nothing but underwhelming so far.

While not as probable, I kinda view the RB position like I do the LBs. I think the question mark lies more with the "who" than anything else, because probability and numbers dictate that we will find at least 1 who will get the job done.

I'm with you in betting on Toneil too. I think Porter is the floor for a functional offense, because I believe Tom and Co. have more than enough playmakers and creativity to make this sucker hum at an optimal level without Ricky Williams in the backfield.

We're gonna find out soon enough, though.
 
Here's the things aboUT Herman, yes he will have us amped for USC, BlowU, TCU, and OK St. Which why I think beating USC and BlowU is very possible.But his track record give us the possibility to lose to some team we have no business losing 2.
It's "track record gives" not "give".
 
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I love me some Carter. I think he is the most complete RB on the team, as far as what he can do and how he plays.

But he's still unproven. And Porter, in games, has been nothing but underwhelming so far.

Certainly correct about Porter last year.
 
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Too many close games the last few years that should have been won by just "good" coaching. Texas should have easily been 9-3 last year. I think 11 is floor with one slip up possible with this staff. Herman is detail oriented and he is passionate about being a Longhorn and WINNING! I'll take a tall glass of Koolaid and where are my burnt orange glasses!
 
To answer your first question...the last time I had fun watching UT football was last season's Notre Dame game. Oh how quickly that euphoria evaporated.

Also, it's called "fall camp" because it gets you ready for the fall season...not because it takes place in the fall.

Hmm . . . what's the spring game getting you ready for?
 
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