ADVERTISEMENT

Ketch's 10 Thoughts From The Weekend

It is interesting to me that we never hear or see any statistics about Orangebloods and it paid subscription base. Any reason why Ketch does not release that data? I assume it must be maid available to possible sponsors, right, so they know what there exposure is?
 
Unpopular opinion....the Beatles are overrated and their music doesn't carry forward as well as other top bands of their generation. Stones. Doors and Eagles all better.
How much Beatles have you listened to? Just curious. Go give revolver, magical mystery tour, and abbey road a full listen and then tell me eagles doors or stones are better!
 
ee0e3a40b744e2eebc3b4d949eaa9055x.jpg

When I last left you before Christmas, the discussion focused on the remaining scholarship numbers with which Steve Sarkisian still has to work going into the 2022 season.

The hard line math says the following:

a. Texas currently has five available scholarships.

b. Texas will need to lose only five more players in the off-season in attrition in order to take 33 incoming players without the 85-man scholarship being an issue if you include the super seniors that have already announced that they will return for an extra season of eligibility. If the NCAA decides in the spring to give 85-man waivers to all super seniors (something that is not at all assured), the Longhorns would need only two more departures to clear the 85-man scholarship limit.

c. If Texas loses anywhere between 6 to 80 players between now and August, it will not impact UT's availability to take more players. The limit Texas can take is 33. Just 33. Not 38, if they lose 10.

Remember the following formula: 25 (normal incoming class size) + 7 (NCAA allowed Portal replacements) + 1 (extra scholarship from the 2021 recruiting year)

As we also mentioned, Steve Sarkisian mentioned on National Signing Day that the Longhorns could take as many as 35 or 36 players in this class. A little more digging allowed us to confirm there's no magic potion with the ability to make that happen, as the only way to get to 35 or 36 is by telling either 2 or 3 of the players that signed on December 15 that the coaches/program needs them to reclassify as 2023 prospects, either as a greyshirt or blueshirt.

For the record, we've checked with all of the names you might think would make for a possible reclassification candidate and up until this point, it doesn't seem like the Texas coaches have had that conversation with anyone, which means that the coaches might be taking a wait and see attitude towards a potential problem that they might not ever have to deal with.

Think of it as glass the coaches only want to break if needed.

With the 2022 Texas Longhorns still having so many needs on paper, my goal in the opening section this week is to prioritize the needs that the program has by inspecting a projected 2022 starting line-up, which will hopefully allow us to prioritize the areas that could potentially use the most improvement.

QB: Quinn Ewers
RB: Bijan Robinson
WR: Xavier Worthy
WR: Jordan Whittington
WR: Marcus Washington
TE: Gunnar Helm or J'Tavion Sanders
LT: Christian Jones or Kelvin Banks
LG: Junior Angilau
C: Jake Majors
RG: Hayden Connor or Neto Umeozulu
RT: Andrej Karic or Cameron Williams

DE: Alfred Collins
NT: Byron Murphy or Keondre Coburn
DT: T'Vondre Sweat
Edge: Jett Bush or Justice Finkley
SLB: Ovie Oghoufo
WLB: DeMarvion Overshown
ILB: Luke Brockermeyer or David Gbenda
CB: Ryan Watts or Jahdae Barron
CB: D'Shawn Jamison or Jahdae Barron
S: Jerrin Thompson
S: J.D. Coffey or Bryan Allen Jr.
Nickel: Anthony Cook

K: Will Stone
P: Issac Pearson

If we break those players into three categories (no-doubt-about-it, solid and questions/concerns), here's how it would break down:

No-Doubt-About-It: RB Robinson, WR Worthy, NT Murphy/Coburn, DT Sweat, SLB Overshown, CB Watts/Barron, CB Jamison/Barron

Solid: WR Whittington, LG Angilau, C Majors, DE Collins, SLB Oghoufo

Questions/Concerns: QB Ewers, WR Washington, TE Helm/Sanders, LT Jones/Banks, RG Connor/Umeozulu, RT Karic/Williams, Edge Bush/Finley, MLB Brockermeyer/Gbenda, S Thompson, S Coffey/Allen Jr., K Stone and P Pearson

From my vantage point, the top 5 positions of need probably look like this...

1. Edge

This is the single most important position on the entire defense, which proved to be haunting because the Longhorns received historically low production from the players that manned this position in 2021. We know that Jeff Bush isn't the answer. That leaves Finkley and a couple of other freshmen like J'Mond Tapp and Ethan Burke to carry a lot of responsibility and it's too much if you ask me. If the coaches can find someone that can improve the team here, it has to be done. Of course, finding pass rush help in the Portal is easier said than done, but we can't close our eyes to the importance of the needed upgrade simply because of its complications regarding answers.

2. Middle linebacker

There's a reason why the Longhorns tried to lure UNLV's Jacoby Windmon in for an official visit before he committed to Michigan State. The Texas defense can't get better at stopping the run unless an upgrade at the anchor of this linebacker unit emerges.

3. Wide Receiver

Marcus Washington is an outstanding blocker and the best on the team at his position at this particular skill, but it's not the primary skill that the starting outside receiver next to Worthy needs to possess.

4. Left tackle

One of the five remaining scholarships is going to be used on Devon Campbell, which means he might represent the improvement that can be made at right guard. But he doesn't project as a left tackle and I'm not sure that Kelvin Banks really does either, which means that it might be Christian Jones or bust at the position in 2022 unless additional help is on the way.

5. Safety

If Ryan Watts sticks at cornerback as he says he plans to, I'm just not sure how much I completely trust what's going to happen at either safety spot. Yes, any number of cornerbacks could be moved to safety, but it might end up being a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Maybe Texas should get a safety.

6. Right tackle

How much do you trust Karic, who has yet to find the light switch, or Williams, who might not even be a college tackle?

7. Kicker/Punter

At some point, Texas will need to either ...

a. Trust and live with the results from Stone and Pearson.
b. Find someone through the walk-on program (see Mack Brown's heyday)
c. Beg Cameron Dicker to return (where is his announcement?)

Pick one of those three because I can't justify using a scholarship on the kickers, unless Stone is a player that will be asked to reclassify, which would translate to swapping a like for a like. Personally, I'm not trading upgrades for any of those positions listed above this one for a kicker/punter.

View attachment 1961

No. 2 - Updated Portal List ...

With the original Top 25 Best Available list ravaged by commitments, it feels like a good time to keep everyone updated to the current availabilities in the Portal before the next wave of arrivals comes following the bowl season.

Before we look at the new Top 25, here's a look at the players from the 12/2 list that signed/committed to schools since entering the portal:

No.1 CB - Elias Ricks (LSU to Alabama)
No.2 OL Miles Frazier (FAU to LSU)
No.3 RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech to Alabama)
No.4 QB Jake Haener (stayed at Fresno State)
No.5 QB Spencer Rattler (OU to South Carolina)
No.7 QB Dillon Gabriel (UCF to UCLA)
No.8 WR Jaden Haselwood (OU to Arkansas)
No 9. LB Jacoby Windmon (UNLV to Michigan State)
No. 11. CB Marcus Banks (Alabama to Mississippi State)
No. 12. TE Austin Stogner (OU to South Carolina)
No. 13. RB - Tiyon Evans (Tennessee to Louisville)
No. 14. LB - Aaron Brule (Mississippi State to Michigan State)
No. 15. QB - Adrian Martinez (Nebraska to Kansas State)
No. 16. LB - Mohamed Sanogo (Ole Miss to Louisville)
No 17. QB - Myles Brennan (returned to LSU)
No 18. WR Theo Wease (returned to Oklahoma)
No 19. OL Corey Gaynor (Miami to UNC)
No 20. OL Paul Tchio (Clemson to Georgia Tech)
No. 21. WR Mycah Pittman (Oregon to Florida State)
No 22. OL Tylan Grable (Jackson State to UCF)
No 28. OL Pierce Quick (Alabama to Georgia Tech)
No 29. OL Kayden Lyles (Wisconsin to Florida State)
No. 30. LB - Khris Bogle (Florida to Michigan State)
No 33. OL Gerald Mincey (Florida to Tennessee)

New Top 25.



1. RB - Zach Evans (TCU) - You guys know all about his story. Reports have Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Ohio State as schools that have already contacted him since he entered the portal.



2. OL Victor Oluwatimi (Virginia) - A Rimington Award Finalist this season, Oluwatimi is wanted by schools all over the nation, with Michigan the front-runner in the minds of many.



3. DE Jared Verse (Albany) - Verse was a first-team All-CAA selection this season after finishing the year with 9.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and 52 total tackles in 11 games. Florida State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Purdue, West Virginia, Colorado and Kansas have all offered.



4. WR - Jacob Cowing (UTEP) - The first-team All-CUSA receiver caught 69 passes for 1,354 yards (No. 7 nationally) and seven touchdowns. He was referenced in the War Room as a player that has Steve Sarkisian's interest.



5. OL - Mason Brooks (Western Kentucky) - A two-time all-conference player at right tackle for the Hilltoppers, who just happens to hail from Cedar Park, Texas. Has more than a dozen power five offers since entering the Portal.



6. S - Iseem Young (Iowa State) - The Big 12 Conference’s co-defensive freshman of the year in 2020, Young finished his career by starting 29 straight games for the Cyclones.



7. LB - Terrence Lewis (Maryland) - A five-star linebacker prospect in 2021, Lewis missed the 2021 season because of an ACL injury in March, but he'll be one of the most coveted players in the Portal.



8. DB Koby Perry (Austin Peay) - The Georgia native was named conference Defensive Player of the Year and first team FCS All-American this year with 85 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 INT and 3 PD.



9. LB - Mohamoud Diabate (Florida) - A Rhodes Scholar candidate for the Gators, Diabate has played in 37 career games and has amassed 70 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during that time.

10. QB Cameron Ward (Incarnate Ward)
11. Tyrese Chambers (FIU
12. WR Jaden Blue (Temple)
13. LB - Branden Jennings Maryland)
14. WR Taj Harris (Syracuse)
15. OL Hunter Nourzad (Cornell)
16. WR Sam Crawford (Tulsa)
17. WR Jakob Herres (VMI)
18. DL Malik Hamm (Lafayette),
19. WR Mitchell Tinsley (Western Kentucky)
20. QB Zack Calzada (Texas A&M)
21. OL Curtis Dunlap (Minnesota)
22. QB Harrison Bailey (Tennessee)
23. WR Deion Smith (LSU)
24. DE Jacob Lichtenstein (USC)
25. WR Jaylen Hall (Western Michigan)

No. 3 - About the tight ends ...

We're going to be talking about this position group throughout the off-season, but it's kind of wild to me that it seems like we've blinked and the Longhorns are suddenly counting on Gunnar Helm, J'Tavion Sanders, Juan Davis and a coming-off-of-injury Brayden Liebrock at the tight end position.

The returning group combined to catch a single pass for zero yards in 2021.

Take a guess ... it was Davis.

Despite the lack of returning production, a case can be made that the foursome listed above represents the most talented foursome of prospects at the tight end position that I've ever seen the Longhorns work with.

Obviously, Sanders will be one of the most-watched players in the program this spring because it felt like the Longhorns wasted a five-star talent in 2021 by not being able to find any kind of a role for the most talented member of the 2021 recruiting class on an offense that needed all the help it could get.

Can Sanders crack through? Can Helm recreate the buzz from the 2021 off-season when people inside the program were raving about him? Can the position live without Sanders, who has exactly the type of talent the defense needs, his preferences be damned? Does this position even matter outside of the needed donkey work in a Sarkisian offense?

No. 4 - Saying the quiet part out loud ...

Someone in burnt orange with a business needs to give Cameron Dicker an NIL deal that makes it more financially viable to wait a year before heading off to the NFL.

No. 5 - Bijan's run to burnt orange immortality ...
No offense intended. But, if you want "olds" to contribute, it'll be something like this...
When I was 14, I Wanna Hold Your Hand/She Loves You. OK, throw in All My Loving or Please please Me.

At 16, we still have pimples but we've grown to love, Good Day Sunshine/ I Feel Fine or anything else before the Maharshi became involved.

The drug stuff at 18. Most of us didn't know how to interpret- but we liked the beat. (Magical Mystery Tour)It was great when they all went solo.

Best song? Early.....I Should've Know Better. During Phi Delt Pledgeship in the trunk of a car going to our "rally"...Come Together. As an adult...Golden Slumbers.

Best Soundtrack? Help, from the movie.
 
Last edited:
No offense intended. But, if you want "olds" to contribute, it'll be something like this...
When I was 14, I Wanna Hold Your Hand/She Loves You. OK, throw in All My Loving or Please please Me.

At 16, we still have pimples but we've grown to love, Good Day Sunshine/ I Feel Fine or anything else before the Mahanarisi became involved.

The drug stuff at 18. Most of us didn't know how to interpret- but we liked the beat. (Magical Mystery Tour)It was great when they all went solo.

Best song? Early.....I Shouldn't Know Better. During Phi Delt Pledgeship in the trunk of a car going to our "rally"...Come Together. As an adult...Golden Slumbers.

Best Soundtrack? Help, from the movie.
Love the Golden slumbers drop. may be one of Paul’s best vocals ever.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oktexan and J Tull
ee0e3a40b744e2eebc3b4d949eaa9055x.jpg

When I last left you before Christmas, the discussion focused on the remaining scholarship numbers with which Steve Sarkisian still has to work going into the 2022 season.

The hard line math says the following:

a. Texas currently has five available scholarships.

b. Texas will need to lose only five more players in the off-season in attrition in order to take 33 incoming players without the 85-man scholarship being an issue if you include the super seniors that have already announced that they will return for an extra season of eligibility. If the NCAA decides in the spring to give 85-man waivers to all super seniors (something that is not at all assured), the Longhorns would need only two more departures to clear the 85-man scholarship limit.

c. If Texas loses anywhere between 6 to 80 players between now and August, it will not impact UT's availability to take more players. The limit Texas can take is 33. Just 33. Not 38, if they lose 10.

Remember the following formula: 25 (normal incoming class size) + 7 (NCAA allowed Portal replacements) + 1 (extra scholarship from the 2021 recruiting year)

As we also mentioned, Steve Sarkisian mentioned on National Signing Day that the Longhorns could take as many as 35 or 36 players in this class. A little more digging allowed us to confirm there's no magic potion with the ability to make that happen, as the only way to get to 35 or 36 is by telling either 2 or 3 of the players that signed on December 15 that the coaches/program needs them to reclassify as 2023 prospects, either as a greyshirt or blueshirt.

For the record, we've checked with all of the names you might think would make for a possible reclassification candidate and up until this point, it doesn't seem like the Texas coaches have had that conversation with anyone, which means that the coaches might be taking a wait and see attitude towards a potential problem that they might not ever have to deal with.

Think of it as glass the coaches only want to break if needed.

With the 2022 Texas Longhorns still having so many needs on paper, my goal in the opening section this week is to prioritize the needs that the program has by inspecting a projected 2022 starting line-up, which will hopefully allow us to prioritize the areas that could potentially use the most improvement.

QB: Quinn Ewers
RB: Bijan Robinson
WR: Xavier Worthy
WR: Jordan Whittington
WR: Marcus Washington
TE: Gunnar Helm or J'Tavion Sanders
LT: Christian Jones or Kelvin Banks
LG: Junior Angilau
C: Jake Majors
RG: Hayden Connor or Neto Umeozulu
RT: Andrej Karic or Cameron Williams

DE: Alfred Collins
NT: Byron Murphy or Keondre Coburn
DT: T'Vondre Sweat
Edge: Jett Bush or Justice Finkley
SLB: Ovie Oghoufo
WLB: DeMarvion Overshown
ILB: Luke Brockermeyer or David Gbenda
CB: Ryan Watts or Jahdae Barron
CB: D'Shawn Jamison or Jahdae Barron
S: Jerrin Thompson
S: J.D. Coffey or Bryan Allen Jr.
Nickel: Anthony Cook

K: Will Stone
P: Issac Pearson

If we break those players into three categories (no-doubt-about-it, solid and questions/concerns), here's how it would break down:

No-Doubt-About-It: RB Robinson, WR Worthy, NT Murphy/Coburn, DT Sweat, SLB Overshown, CB Watts/Barron, CB Jamison/Barron

Solid: WR Whittington, LG Angilau, C Majors, DE Collins, SLB Oghoufo

Questions/Concerns: QB Ewers, WR Washington, TE Helm/Sanders, LT Jones/Banks, RG Connor/Umeozulu, RT Karic/Williams, Edge Bush/Finley, MLB Brockermeyer/Gbenda, S Thompson, S Coffey/Allen Jr., K Stone and P Pearson

From my vantage point, the top 5 positions of need probably look like this...

1. Edge

This is the single most important position on the entire defense, which proved to be haunting because the Longhorns received historically low production from the players that manned this position in 2021. We know that Jeff Bush isn't the answer. That leaves Finkley and a couple of other freshmen like J'Mond Tapp and Ethan Burke to carry a lot of responsibility and it's too much if you ask me. If the coaches can find someone that can improve the team here, it has to be done. Of course, finding pass rush help in the Portal is easier said than done, but we can't close our eyes to the importance of the needed upgrade simply because of its complications regarding answers.

2. Middle linebacker

There's a reason why the Longhorns tried to lure UNLV's Jacoby Windmon in for an official visit before he committed to Michigan State. The Texas defense can't get better at stopping the run unless an upgrade at the anchor of this linebacker unit emerges.

3. Wide Receiver

Marcus Washington is an outstanding blocker and the best on the team at his position at this particular skill, but it's not the primary skill that the starting outside receiver next to Worthy needs to possess.

4. Left tackle

One of the five remaining scholarships is going to be used on Devon Campbell, which means he might represent the improvement that can be made at right guard. But he doesn't project as a left tackle and I'm not sure that Kelvin Banks really does either, which means that it might be Christian Jones or bust at the position in 2022 unless additional help is on the way.

5. Safety

If Ryan Watts sticks at cornerback as he says he plans to, I'm just not sure how much I completely trust what's going to happen at either safety spot. Yes, any number of cornerbacks could be moved to safety, but it might end up being a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Maybe Texas should get a safety.

6. Right tackle

How much do you trust Karic, who has yet to find the light switch, or Williams, who might not even be a college tackle?

7. Kicker/Punter

At some point, Texas will need to either ...

a. Trust and live with the results from Stone and Pearson.
b. Find someone through the walk-on program (see Mack Brown's heyday)
c. Beg Cameron Dicker to return (where is his announcement?)

Pick one of those three because I can't justify using a scholarship on the kickers, unless Stone is a player that will be asked to reclassify, which would translate to swapping a like for a like. Personally, I'm not trading upgrades for any of those positions listed above this one for a kicker/punter.

View attachment 1961

No. 2 - Updated Portal List ...

With the original Top 25 Best Available list ravaged by commitments, it feels like a good time to keep everyone updated to the current availabilities in the Portal before the next wave of arrivals comes following the bowl season.

Before we look at the new Top 25, here's a look at the players from the 12/2 list that signed/committed to schools since entering the portal:

No.1 CB - Elias Ricks (LSU to Alabama)
No.2 OL Miles Frazier (FAU to LSU)
No.3 RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech to Alabama)
No.4 QB Jake Haener (stayed at Fresno State)
No.5 QB Spencer Rattler (OU to South Carolina)
No.7 QB Dillon Gabriel (UCF to UCLA)
No.8 WR Jaden Haselwood (OU to Arkansas)
No 9. LB Jacoby Windmon (UNLV to Michigan State)
No. 11. CB Marcus Banks (Alabama to Mississippi State)
No. 12. TE Austin Stogner (OU to South Carolina)
No. 13. RB - Tiyon Evans (Tennessee to Louisville)
No. 14. LB - Aaron Brule (Mississippi State to Michigan State)
No. 15. QB - Adrian Martinez (Nebraska to Kansas State)
No. 16. LB - Mohamed Sanogo (Ole Miss to Louisville)
No 17. QB - Myles Brennan (returned to LSU)
No 18. WR Theo Wease (returned to Oklahoma)
No 19. OL Corey Gaynor (Miami to UNC)
No 20. OL Paul Tchio (Clemson to Georgia Tech)
No. 21. WR Mycah Pittman (Oregon to Florida State)
No 22. OL Tylan Grable (Jackson State to UCF)
No 28. OL Pierce Quick (Alabama to Georgia Tech)
No 29. OL Kayden Lyles (Wisconsin to Florida State)
No. 30. LB - Khris Bogle (Florida to Michigan State)
No 33. OL Gerald Mincey (Florida to Tennessee)

New Top 25.



1. RB - Zach Evans (TCU) - You guys know all about his story. Reports have Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Ohio State as schools that have already contacted him since he entered the portal.



2. OL Victor Oluwatimi (Virginia) - A Rimington Award Finalist this season, Oluwatimi is wanted by schools all over the nation, with Michigan the front-runner in the minds of many.



3. DE Jared Verse (Albany) - Verse was a first-team All-CAA selection this season after finishing the year with 9.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and 52 total tackles in 11 games. Florida State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Purdue, West Virginia, Colorado and Kansas have all offered.



4. WR - Jacob Cowing (UTEP) - The first-team All-CUSA receiver caught 69 passes for 1,354 yards (No. 7 nationally) and seven touchdowns. He was referenced in the War Room as a player that has Steve Sarkisian's interest.



5. OL - Mason Brooks (Western Kentucky) - A two-time all-conference player at right tackle for the Hilltoppers, who just happens to hail from Cedar Park, Texas. Has more than a dozen power five offers since entering the Portal.



6. S - Iseem Young (Iowa State) - The Big 12 Conference’s co-defensive freshman of the year in 2020, Young finished his career by starting 29 straight games for the Cyclones.



7. LB - Terrence Lewis (Maryland) - A five-star linebacker prospect in 2021, Lewis missed the 2021 season because of an ACL injury in March, but he'll be one of the most coveted players in the Portal.



8. DB Koby Perry (Austin Peay) - The Georgia native was named conference Defensive Player of the Year and first team FCS All-American this year with 85 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 INT and 3 PD.



9. LB - Mohamoud Diabate (Florida) - A Rhodes Scholar candidate for the Gators, Diabate has played in 37 career games and has amassed 70 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during that time.

10. QB Cameron Ward (Incarnate Ward)
11. Tyrese Chambers (FIU
12. WR Jaden Blue (Temple)
13. LB - Branden Jennings Maryland)
14. WR Taj Harris (Syracuse)
15. OL Hunter Nourzad (Cornell)
16. WR Sam Crawford (Tulsa)
17. WR Jakob Herres (VMI)
18. DL Malik Hamm (Lafayette),
19. WR Mitchell Tinsley (Western Kentucky)
20. QB Zack Calzada (Texas A&M)
21. OL Curtis Dunlap (Minnesota)
22. QB Harrison Bailey (Tennessee)
23. WR Deion Smith (LSU)
24. DE Jacob Lichtenstein (USC)
25. WR Jaylen Hall (Western Michigan)

No. 3 - About the tight ends ...

We're going to be talking about this position group throughout the off-season, but it's kind of wild to me that it seems like we've blinked and the Longhorns are suddenly counting on Gunnar Helm, J'Tavion Sanders, Juan Davis and a coming-off-of-injury Brayden Liebrock at the tight end position.

The returning group combined to catch a single pass for zero yards in 2021.

Take a guess ... it was Davis.

Despite the lack of returning production, a case can be made that the foursome listed above represents the most talented foursome of prospects at the tight end position that I've ever seen the Longhorns work with.

Obviously, Sanders will be one of the most-watched players in the program this spring because it felt like the Longhorns wasted a five-star talent in 2021 by not being able to find any kind of a role for the most talented member of the 2021 recruiting class on an offense that needed all the help it could get.

Can Sanders crack through? Can Helm recreate the buzz from the 2021 off-season when people inside the program were raving about him? Can the position live without Sanders, who has exactly the type of talent the defense needs, his preferences be damned? Does this position even matter outside of the needed donkey work in a Sarkisian offense?

No. 4 - Saying the quiet part out loud ...

Someone in burnt orange with a business needs to give Cameron Dicker an NIL deal that makes it more financially viable to wait a year before heading off to the NFL.

No. 5 - Bijan's run to burnt orange immortality ...

Heading into the 2022 season, Texas running back Bijan Robinson will have 1,830 rushing yards under his belt.

The current top-five for UT's all-time rushing list looks like this:

1. Ricky Williams - 6,279
2. Cedric Benson - 5,540
3. Earl Campbell - 4,443
4. Jamaal Charles - 3,328
5. Chris Gilbert - 3,231

A 1,401-yard season will move Robinson into 5th place, while a 1,499-yard season will push him past Charles into 4th place.

That's very doable if he can stay healthy for the entire season. Playing in more than 12 games would go a long way to getting there.

No. 6 – Shout out to Devin Duvernay …

When Quandre Diggs and Justin Tucker were announced to the 2022 Pro Bowl rosters this week, I basically did a shoulder shrug.

Of course, they made the Pro Bowl.

When I saw that former Texas star Devin Duvernay made the Pro Bowl as a return man, I did a serious double-take. I guess I wasn't paying attention too closely, but I didn't know he was leading the entire NFL with a 14.4 yard return on punts coming into the weekend, while also leading the league in total punt return yards.

Go on with your bad self.



No. 7 – BUY or SELL …

BUY-SELL.gif




(Buy) Depending on what the Longhorns do in these last 5+ spots, that number might be closer to 10 than 5.



(Sell) Can I go with Chris Del Conte for hitting his fundraising goals during a pandemic and The Eyes of Texas saga?



(Sell) Is that really a thing? As far as I can see in a search through the message boards, the last time a mod did such a thing was back in the summer of 2020 and it was related to soccer.



(Buy) I don't know what else to say other than I think giving up on the kid is a mistake. He wasn't ready to play in the hottest kitchens as a second-year player, but that hardly makes him unique. People wanted to move Vince Young to wide receiver by the second game of his second season ...



(Sell) I think it's going to happen, but PK will be in charge.



(Sell) I don't think 40 percent is a real number. Card won't start another game for Texas unless Ewers is hurt.



(Buy) Yes, he'll have some struggle-bus moments, just like most quarterbacks who have zero game experience.



(Buy) There's no reason not to.



(Buy) It's the one thing I have to do this month.



(Buy) Yup, but this year's class needs to be the first of many just like it. If the program simply asks the 2022 class to do everything, it'll likely come up short.



(Sell) Bridesmaid.



(Sell) I just think there are too many needs to use what's really two of four available spots because one is saved for Devon Campbell.



(Buy) It's not automatic, but my personal opinion is that it's very possible.



(Sell) This is no time to insert head into sand.



(Buy) I wish I could say otherwise.



(Buy) Yes, if the team can have the mean without the ups and downs.



(Buy) I mean..

dexter-dexter-morgan.gif




(Buy) But, don't we say this every season?



(Buy) No reason to back off at this point.

No. 8 - Scattershooting on the sports weekend ...

... The constant cancelation of bowl games has me seeing a rather ominous cloud hovering near the playoff games.

... Speaking of bowl games... zzzzzzzzzzzz.

... I'm going to lose in the semifinals of my fantasy league because my opponent happened to have Justin Jackson lurking on his bench, just in case Austin Eckler caught COVID for the second time this year, while I left Chase Edmonds on the bench. Oh, and I trusted Matt Stafford ...

... I officially am announcing my retirement from fantasy football.

... Trevon Diggs chased down Everson Walls. I never thought that was possible.

... What the hell got into the Texans? Why did that happen?

... Joe Burrow is some kind of player when he's on. My goodness, he was on against the Ravens.

... Feels like the clock struck midnight on Mac Jones and the Patriots in 2021.

No. 9 - Top 10 The Beatles ...

I'm sure no one will disagree with this undertaking. Before we get to the Top 10, let's break the songs down into tiers.

The John List:

1. Come Together 2. Strawberry Fields Forever 3. Twist and Shout 4. Dear Prudence 5. Yer Blues 6. Across The Universe 7. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 8. I Am The Walrus 9. You've Really Got a Hold On Me 10. Help!

The Paul List: 1. Yesterday 2. Let It Be 3. Eleanor Rigby 4. Hey Jude 5. Here, There and Everywhere 6. Kansas City/ Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey 7. Can't Buy Me Love 8. Why Don't We Do It In The Road? 9. Helter Skelter 10. Two Of Us

The John/Paul List: 1. A Day In The Life 2. I Want To Hold Your Hand 3. In My Life 4. A Hard Day's Night 5. She Loves You 6. She's Leaving Home 7. I Saw Her Standing There 8. I've Got a Feeling 9. Ticket To Ride 10. Love Me Do

The George/Ringo List: 1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 2. Something 3. Roll Over Beethoven 4. I Be Mine 5. With a Little Help From My Friends

Pre-Rubber Soul: 1. Yesterday 2. I Want To Hold Your Hand 3. Twist and Shout 4. A Hard Day's Night 5. I Saw Her Standing There 6. Kansas City/ Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey 7. Roll Over Beethoven 8. Can't Buy Me Love 9. You've Really Got a Hold On Me 10. Help!

Post-Rubber Soul: 1. A Day In The Life 2. Let It Be 3. Come Together 4. Eleanor Rigby 5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 6. In My Life 7. Strawberry Fields Forever 8. Dear Prudence 9. Something 10. Yer Blues

With my notes out of the way, let's get on with the list …

Last five songs out: A Hard Day's Night, Something, Hey Jude, Dear Prudence and Yer Blues

10. In My Life - I don't care who wrote what, I just know that it's next to impossible to leave this song out of a top 10 list.

9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - George Harrison's masterpiece. It's ironic that the band broke up right at the moment when he was truly reaching his creative best.

8. Strawberry Fields Forever - John's most beautiful song in a catalog full of beauties.

7. Twist and Shout - This song's place in Ferris Bueller's Day Off ensured that this song will forever have a place on any list I make.

6. Eleanor Rigby - One of my favorite Paul songs and my vote for the best song on Revolver.

5. I Want To Hold Your Hand - This is the song that changed rock and roll forever and kick-started America's love affair. Yes, the sophistication of the song-writing and sound evolved from this moment on, but there's a beautiful romantic nature to the song 50 years later.

4. Come Together - 100% rock and roll heat for the ages.

3. Let It Be - There are some things in this world that can't be helped and my playing this song at least three times in a row every time I hear it is one of them.

2. Yesterday - Personally, this is one of my favorite songs in existence. It's just a timeless beauty of a record and it foreshadowed the fearlessness that would eventually become a staple of their work.

1. A Day In The Life - It's the perfect selection for the No.1 choice in my mind because it's a true collaboration between John and Paul, and it occurs as the group was reaching its pinnacle in terms of creating the kind of music that transcended what others had ever thought of creating. It's just a masterpiece of a song.

No. 10 - And Finally...

After watching The Power of the Dog on Netflex, I thought I had watched a perfectly fine movie. I'm not sure if I'll ever watch it again.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FAVORITES FOR BEST PICTURE!?!?!?
No offense intended. But, if you want "olds" to contribute, it'll be something like this...
When I was 14, I Wanna Hold Your Hand/She Loves You. OK, throw in All My Loving or Please please Me.

At 16, we still have pimples but we've grown to love, Good Day Sunshine/ I Feel Fine or anything else before the Mahanarisi became involved.

The drug stuff at 18. Most of us didn't know how to interpret- but we liked the beat. (Magical Mystery Tour)It was great when they all went solo.

Best song? Early.....I Shouldn't Know Better. During Phi Delt Pledgeship in the trunk of a car going to our "rally"...Come Together. As an adult...Golden Slumbers.

Best Soundtrack? Help, from the movie.
1. Let it Be
2. You’ve got to Hide Your Love Away
3. Yesterday
4. In My Life
5. I Want to Hold Your Hand
6. Ticket to Ride
7. Michelle
8. Norwegian Wood
9. Penny Lane
10. Chains

You can probably tell that I’m more of an early Beatles guy. I can still remember playing my dads Beatles records when I was a kid. Great memories.
#4 was prolly the best. Just sayin'.
 
  • Like
Reactions: J Tull
Surprised you don't see Banks as a LT. Every other service puts him there (I thought Suchomel did too but could be wrong) and a couple have quotes from college coaches (not named) and a couple of analysts that talk about his unique qualities necessary for LT.

Never know with a HS OL, but I'm hoping others are right and you are wrong...you need to take one for the team here. ;)

10. In My Life - I don't care who wrote what, I just know that it's next to impossible to leave this song out of a top 10 list.
Great take...the only song John and Paul both claimed to write (separately). Read John's entire list in the mid 70's in Rolling Stone interview (where he claimed it). Just saw a quote from Paul claiming it around the same time. John sings lead, though there's lots of harmony, but who knows? Bottom line, one of their best.
 
Last edited:
Chris was hyper quick. He was Jamaal Charles before Jamaal was born.
Chris didn't have Jamaal's straight-line speed (back in '66 or '67 I read that he ran 100 yards in 10.5 seconds), but indeed he was extremely quick and had exceptional balance, and probably vision as well. He also seemed surprisingly strong for a man of 180 pounds. I remember a number of his many long runs--a delight to see in person and, if I could only listen on the radio, to hear and envision.
 
  • Like
Reactions: J Tull
Chris didn't have Jamaal's straight-line speed (back in '66 or '67 I read that he ran 100 yards in 10.5 seconds), but indeed he was extremely quick and had exceptional balance, and probably vision as well. He also seemed surprisingly strong for a man of 180 pounds. I remember a number of his many long runs--a delight to see in person and, if I could only listen on the radio, to hear and envision.
His quicks and balance were truly amazing for the time.
 
How much Beatles have you listened to? Just curious. Go give revolver, magical mystery tour, and abbey road a full listen and then tell me eagles doors or stones are better!
Change out Rubber Soul for Magical Mystery Tour and I'm with you all the way. Beatles were far more creative in the test of time than Stones or Doors, though they were both very good. No one was as creative as the Beatles in their time. They opened music up that had never been before with every album.
 
Change out Rubber Soul for Magical Mystery Tour and I'm with you all the way. Beatles were far more creative in the test of time than Stones or Doors, though they were both very good. No one was as creative as the Beatles in their time. They opened music up that had never been before with every album.
I like those other bands very much as well, but Beatles were just on another level, especially in the amount of time they were together. Rubber soul is great too. Just too many great albums and songs spanning multiple genres over the course of 6 recording years. It’s actually incredible. Seeing Paul write get back in that new documentary just makes me revisit their catalog again.
 
ee0e3a40b744e2eebc3b4d949eaa9055x.jpg

When I last left you before Christmas, the discussion focused on the remaining scholarship numbers with which Steve Sarkisian still has to work going into the 2022 season.

The hard line math says the following:

a. Texas currently has five available scholarships.

b. Texas will need to lose only five more players in the off-season in attrition in order to take 33 incoming players without the 85-man scholarship being an issue if you include the super seniors that have already announced that they will return for an extra season of eligibility. If the NCAA decides in the spring to give 85-man waivers to all super seniors (something that is not at all assured), the Longhorns would need only two more departures to clear the 85-man scholarship limit.

c. If Texas loses anywhere between 6 to 80 players between now and August, it will not impact UT's availability to take more players. The limit Texas can take is 33. Just 33. Not 38, if they lose 10.

Remember the following formula: 25 (normal incoming class size) + 7 (NCAA allowed Portal replacements) + 1 (extra scholarship from the 2021 recruiting year)

As we also mentioned, Steve Sarkisian mentioned on National Signing Day that the Longhorns could take as many as 35 or 36 players in this class. A little more digging allowed us to confirm there's no magic potion with the ability to make that happen, as the only way to get to 35 or 36 is by telling either 2 or 3 of the players that signed on December 15 that the coaches/program needs them to reclassify as 2023 prospects, either as a greyshirt or blueshirt.

For the record, we've checked with all of the names you might think would make for a possible reclassification candidate and up until this point, it doesn't seem like the Texas coaches have had that conversation with anyone, which means that the coaches might be taking a wait and see attitude towards a potential problem that they might not ever have to deal with.

Think of it as glass the coaches only want to break if needed.

With the 2022 Texas Longhorns still having so many needs on paper, my goal in the opening section this week is to prioritize the needs that the program has by inspecting a projected 2022 starting line-up, which will hopefully allow us to prioritize the areas that could potentially use the most improvement.

QB: Quinn Ewers
RB: Bijan Robinson
WR: Xavier Worthy
WR: Jordan Whittington
WR: Marcus Washington
TE: Gunnar Helm or J'Tavion Sanders
LT: Christian Jones or Kelvin Banks
LG: Junior Angilau
C: Jake Majors
RG: Hayden Connor or Neto Umeozulu
RT: Andrej Karic or Cameron Williams

DE: Alfred Collins
NT: Byron Murphy or Keondre Coburn
DT: T'Vondre Sweat
Edge: Jett Bush or Justice Finkley
SLB: Ovie Oghoufo
WLB: DeMarvion Overshown
ILB: Luke Brockermeyer or David Gbenda
CB: Ryan Watts or Jahdae Barron
CB: D'Shawn Jamison or Jahdae Barron
S: Jerrin Thompson
S: J.D. Coffey or Bryan Allen Jr.
Nickel: Anthony Cook

K: Will Stone
P: Issac Pearson

If we break those players into three categories (no-doubt-about-it, solid and questions/concerns), here's how it would break down:

No-Doubt-About-It: RB Robinson, WR Worthy, NT Murphy/Coburn, DT Sweat, SLB Overshown, CB Watts/Barron, CB Jamison/Barron

Solid: WR Whittington, LG Angilau, C Majors, DE Collins, SLB Oghoufo

Questions/Concerns: QB Ewers, WR Washington, TE Helm/Sanders, LT Jones/Banks, RG Connor/Umeozulu, RT Karic/Williams, Edge Bush/Finley, MLB Brockermeyer/Gbenda, S Thompson, S Coffey/Allen Jr., K Stone and P Pearson

From my vantage point, the top 5 positions of need probably look like this...

1. Edge

This is the single most important position on the entire defense, which proved to be haunting because the Longhorns received historically low production from the players that manned this position in 2021. We know that Jeff Bush isn't the answer. That leaves Finkley and a couple of other freshmen like J'Mond Tapp and Ethan Burke to carry a lot of responsibility and it's too much if you ask me. If the coaches can find someone that can improve the team here, it has to be done. Of course, finding pass rush help in the Portal is easier said than done, but we can't close our eyes to the importance of the needed upgrade simply because of its complications regarding answers.

2. Middle linebacker

There's a reason why the Longhorns tried to lure UNLV's Jacoby Windmon in for an official visit before he committed to Michigan State. The Texas defense can't get better at stopping the run unless an upgrade at the anchor of this linebacker unit emerges.

3. Wide Receiver

Marcus Washington is an outstanding blocker and the best on the team at his position at this particular skill, but it's not the primary skill that the starting outside receiver next to Worthy needs to possess.

4. Left tackle

One of the five remaining scholarships is going to be used on Devon Campbell, which means he might represent the improvement that can be made at right guard. But he doesn't project as a left tackle and I'm not sure that Kelvin Banks really does either, which means that it might be Christian Jones or bust at the position in 2022 unless additional help is on the way.

5. Safety

If Ryan Watts sticks at cornerback as he says he plans to, I'm just not sure how much I completely trust what's going to happen at either safety spot. Yes, any number of cornerbacks could be moved to safety, but it might end up being a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Maybe Texas should get a safety.

6. Right tackle

How much do you trust Karic, who has yet to find the light switch, or Williams, who might not even be a college tackle?

7. Kicker/Punter

At some point, Texas will need to either ...

a. Trust and live with the results from Stone and Pearson.
b. Find someone through the walk-on program (see Mack Brown's heyday)
c. Beg Cameron Dicker to return (where is his announcement?)

Pick one of those three because I can't justify using a scholarship on the kickers, unless Stone is a player that will be asked to reclassify, which would translate to swapping a like for a like. Personally, I'm not trading upgrades for any of those positions listed above this one for a kicker/punter.

View attachment 1961

No. 2 - Updated Portal List ...

With the original Top 25 Best Available list ravaged by commitments, it feels like a good time to keep everyone updated to the current availabilities in the Portal before the next wave of arrivals comes following the bowl season.

Before we look at the new Top 25, here's a look at the players from the 12/2 list that signed/committed to schools since entering the portal:

No.1 CB - Elias Ricks (LSU to Alabama)
No.2 OL Miles Frazier (FAU to LSU)
No.3 RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Georgia Tech to Alabama)
No.4 QB Jake Haener (stayed at Fresno State)
No.5 QB Spencer Rattler (OU to South Carolina)
No.7 QB Dillon Gabriel (UCF to UCLA)
No.8 WR Jaden Haselwood (OU to Arkansas)
No 9. LB Jacoby Windmon (UNLV to Michigan State)
No. 11. CB Marcus Banks (Alabama to Mississippi State)
No. 12. TE Austin Stogner (OU to South Carolina)
No. 13. RB - Tiyon Evans (Tennessee to Louisville)
No. 14. LB - Aaron Brule (Mississippi State to Michigan State)
No. 15. QB - Adrian Martinez (Nebraska to Kansas State)
No. 16. LB - Mohamed Sanogo (Ole Miss to Louisville)
No 17. QB - Myles Brennan (returned to LSU)
No 18. WR Theo Wease (returned to Oklahoma)
No 19. OL Corey Gaynor (Miami to UNC)
No 20. OL Paul Tchio (Clemson to Georgia Tech)
No. 21. WR Mycah Pittman (Oregon to Florida State)
No 22. OL Tylan Grable (Jackson State to UCF)
No 28. OL Pierce Quick (Alabama to Georgia Tech)
No 29. OL Kayden Lyles (Wisconsin to Florida State)
No. 30. LB - Khris Bogle (Florida to Michigan State)
No 33. OL Gerald Mincey (Florida to Tennessee)

New Top 25.



1. RB - Zach Evans (TCU) - You guys know all about his story. Reports have Texas A&M, LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Ohio State as schools that have already contacted him since he entered the portal.



2. OL Victor Oluwatimi (Virginia) - A Rimington Award Finalist this season, Oluwatimi is wanted by schools all over the nation, with Michigan the front-runner in the minds of many.



3. DE Jared Verse (Albany) - Verse was a first-team All-CAA selection this season after finishing the year with 9.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and 52 total tackles in 11 games. Florida State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Purdue, West Virginia, Colorado and Kansas have all offered.



4. WR - Jacob Cowing (UTEP) - The first-team All-CUSA receiver caught 69 passes for 1,354 yards (No. 7 nationally) and seven touchdowns. He was referenced in the War Room as a player that has Steve Sarkisian's interest.



5. OL - Mason Brooks (Western Kentucky) - A two-time all-conference player at right tackle for the Hilltoppers, who just happens to hail from Cedar Park, Texas. Has more than a dozen power five offers since entering the Portal.



6. S - Iseem Young (Iowa State) - The Big 12 Conference’s co-defensive freshman of the year in 2020, Young finished his career by starting 29 straight games for the Cyclones.



7. LB - Terrence Lewis (Maryland) - A five-star linebacker prospect in 2021, Lewis missed the 2021 season because of an ACL injury in March, but he'll be one of the most coveted players in the Portal.



8. DB Koby Perry (Austin Peay) - The Georgia native was named conference Defensive Player of the Year and first team FCS All-American this year with 85 tackles, 8 TFL, 2 INT and 3 PD.



9. LB - Mohamoud Diabate (Florida) - A Rhodes Scholar candidate for the Gators, Diabate has played in 37 career games and has amassed 70 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during that time.

10. QB Cameron Ward (Incarnate Ward)
11. Tyrese Chambers (FIU
12. WR Jaden Blue (Temple)
13. LB - Branden Jennings Maryland)
14. WR Taj Harris (Syracuse)
15. OL Hunter Nourzad (Cornell)
16. WR Sam Crawford (Tulsa)
17. WR Jakob Herres (VMI)
18. DL Malik Hamm (Lafayette),
19. WR Mitchell Tinsley (Western Kentucky)
20. QB Zack Calzada (Texas A&M)
21. OL Curtis Dunlap (Minnesota)
22. QB Harrison Bailey (Tennessee)
23. WR Deion Smith (LSU)
24. DE Jacob Lichtenstein (USC)
25. WR Jaylen Hall (Western Michigan)

No. 3 - About the tight ends ...

We're going to be talking about this position group throughout the off-season, but it's kind of wild to me that it seems like we've blinked and the Longhorns are suddenly counting on Gunnar Helm, J'Tavion Sanders, Juan Davis and a coming-off-of-injury Brayden Liebrock at the tight end position.

The returning group combined to catch a single pass for zero yards in 2021.

Take a guess ... it was Davis.

Despite the lack of returning production, a case can be made that the foursome listed above represents the most talented foursome of prospects at the tight end position that I've ever seen the Longhorns work with.

Obviously, Sanders will be one of the most-watched players in the program this spring because it felt like the Longhorns wasted a five-star talent in 2021 by not being able to find any kind of a role for the most talented member of the 2021 recruiting class on an offense that needed all the help it could get.

Can Sanders crack through? Can Helm recreate the buzz from the 2021 off-season when people inside the program were raving about him? Can the position live without Sanders, who has exactly the type of talent the defense needs, his preferences be damned? Does this position even matter outside of the needed donkey work in a Sarkisian offense?

No. 4 - Saying the quiet part out loud ...

Someone in burnt orange with a business needs to give Cameron Dicker an NIL deal that makes it more financially viable to wait a year before heading off to the NFL.

No. 5 - Bijan's run to burnt orange immortality ...

Heading into the 2022 season, Texas running back Bijan Robinson will have 1,830 rushing yards under his belt.

The current top-five for UT's all-time rushing list looks like this:

1. Ricky Williams - 6,279
2. Cedric Benson - 5,540
3. Earl Campbell - 4,443
4. Jamaal Charles - 3,328
5. Chris Gilbert - 3,231

A 1,401-yard season will move Robinson into 5th place, while a 1,499-yard season will push him past Charles into 4th place.

That's very doable if he can stay healthy for the entire season. Playing in more than 12 games would go a long way to getting there.

No. 6 – Shout out to Devin Duvernay …

When Quandre Diggs and Justin Tucker were announced to the 2022 Pro Bowl rosters this week, I basically did a shoulder shrug.

Of course, they made the Pro Bowl.

When I saw that former Texas star Devin Duvernay made the Pro Bowl as a return man, I did a serious double-take. I guess I wasn't paying attention too closely, but I didn't know he was leading the entire NFL with a 14.4 yard return on punts coming into the weekend, while also leading the league in total punt return yards.

Go on with your bad self.



No. 7 – BUY or SELL …

BUY-SELL.gif




(Buy) Depending on what the Longhorns do in these last 5+ spots, that number might be closer to 10 than 5.



(Sell) Can I go with Chris Del Conte for hitting his fundraising goals during a pandemic and The Eyes of Texas saga?



(Sell) Is that really a thing? As far as I can see in a search through the message boards, the last time a mod did such a thing was back in the summer of 2020 and it was related to soccer.



(Buy) I don't know what else to say other than I think giving up on the kid is a mistake. He wasn't ready to play in the hottest kitchens as a second-year player, but that hardly makes him unique. People wanted to move Vince Young to wide receiver by the second game of his second season ...



(Sell) I think it's going to happen, but PK will be in charge.



(Sell) I don't think 40 percent is a real number. Card won't start another game for Texas unless Ewers is hurt.



(Buy) Yes, he'll have some struggle-bus moments, just like most quarterbacks who have zero game experience.



(Buy) There's no reason not to.



(Buy) It's the one thing I have to do this month.



(Buy) Yup, but this year's class needs to be the first of many just like it. If the program simply asks the 2022 class to do everything, it'll likely come up short.



(Sell) Bridesmaid.



(Sell) I just think there are too many needs to use what's really two of four available spots because one is saved for Devon Campbell.



(Buy) It's not automatic, but my personal opinion is that it's very possible.



(Sell) This is no time to insert head into sand.



(Buy) I wish I could say otherwise.



(Buy) Yes, if the team can have the mean without the ups and downs.



(Buy) I mean..

dexter-dexter-morgan.gif




(Buy) But, don't we say this every season?



(Buy) No reason to back off at this point.

No. 8 - Scattershooting on the sports weekend ...

... The constant cancelation of bowl games has me seeing a rather ominous cloud hovering near the playoff games.

... Speaking of bowl games... zzzzzzzzzzzz.

... I'm going to lose in the semifinals of my fantasy league because my opponent happened to have Justin Jackson lurking on his bench, just in case Austin Eckler caught COVID for the second time this year, while I left Chase Edmonds on the bench. Oh, and I trusted Matt Stafford ...

... I officially am announcing my retirement from fantasy football.

... Trevon Diggs chased down Everson Walls. I never thought that was possible.

... What the hell got into the Texans? Why did that happen?

... Joe Burrow is some kind of player when he's on. My goodness, he was on against the Ravens.

... Feels like the clock struck midnight on Mac Jones and the Patriots in 2021.

No. 9 - Top 10 The Beatles ...

I'm sure no one will disagree with this undertaking. Before we get to the Top 10, let's break the songs down into tiers.

The John List:

1. Come Together 2. Strawberry Fields Forever 3. Twist and Shout 4. Dear Prudence 5. Yer Blues 6. Across The Universe 7. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 8. I Am The Walrus 9. You've Really Got a Hold On Me 10. Help!

The Paul List: 1. Yesterday 2. Let It Be 3. Eleanor Rigby 4. Hey Jude 5. Here, There and Everywhere 6. Kansas City/ Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey 7. Can't Buy Me Love 8. Why Don't We Do It In The Road? 9. Helter Skelter 10. Two Of Us

The John/Paul List: 1. A Day In The Life 2. I Want To Hold Your Hand 3. In My Life 4. A Hard Day's Night 5. She Loves You 6. She's Leaving Home 7. I Saw Her Standing There 8. I've Got a Feeling 9. Ticket To Ride 10. Love Me Do

The George/Ringo List: 1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 2. Something 3. Roll Over Beethoven 4. I Be Mine 5. With a Little Help From My Friends

Pre-Rubber Soul: 1. Yesterday 2. I Want To Hold Your Hand 3. Twist and Shout 4. A Hard Day's Night 5. I Saw Her Standing There 6. Kansas City/ Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey 7. Roll Over Beethoven 8. Can't Buy Me Love 9. You've Really Got a Hold On Me 10. Help!

Post-Rubber Soul: 1. A Day In The Life 2. Let It Be 3. Come Together 4. Eleanor Rigby 5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps 6. In My Life 7. Strawberry Fields Forever 8. Dear Prudence 9. Something 10. Yer Blues

With my notes out of the way, let's get on with the list …

Last five songs out: A Hard Day's Night, Something, Hey Jude, Dear Prudence and Yer Blues

10. In My Life - I don't care who wrote what, I just know that it's next to impossible to leave this song out of a top 10 list.

9. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - George Harrison's masterpiece. It's ironic that the band broke up right at the moment when he was truly reaching his creative best.

8. Strawberry Fields Forever - John's most beautiful song in a catalog full of beauties.

7. Twist and Shout - This song's place in Ferris Bueller's Day Off ensured that this song will forever have a place on any list I make.

6. Eleanor Rigby - One of my favorite Paul songs and my vote for the best song on Revolver.

5. I Want To Hold Your Hand - This is the song that changed rock and roll forever and kick-started America's love affair. Yes, the sophistication of the song-writing and sound evolved from this moment on, but there's a beautiful romantic nature to the song 50 years later.

4. Come Together - 100% rock and roll heat for the ages.

3. Let It Be - There are some things in this world that can't be helped and my playing this song at least three times in a row every time I hear it is one of them.

2. Yesterday - Personally, this is one of my favorite songs in existence. It's just a timeless beauty of a record and it foreshadowed the fearlessness that would eventually become a staple of their work.

1. A Day In The Life - It's the perfect selection for the No.1 choice in my mind because it's a true collaboration between John and Paul, and it occurs as the group was reaching its pinnacle in terms of creating the kind of music that transcended what others had ever thought of creating. It's just a masterpiece of a song.

No. 10 - And Finally...

After watching The Power of the Dog on Netflex, I thought I had watched a perfectly fine movie. I'm not sure if I'll ever watch it again.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FAVORITES FOR BEST PICTURE!?!?!?
No Blackbird, really?
 
  • Like
Reactions: J Tull
Great write up on Christmas weekend! Thank you Ketch, and great job on Beatles break down! That’s not easy to do.
 
Your #10 is spot on. I...mean...Power of the Dog was average AT BEST and seemed way overacted by everyone in it.
 
I get it that a Beatles top 10 is ridiculously hard, and nobody will be happy but...Twist and Shout over Hey Jude? WTF. The Beatles didn't even write Twist and Shout. C'mon man!
 
It’s funny that @Ketchum has been doing these Top 10 list for what seems like years and they are based on HIS opinion. Yet so many people attack his list like he was committing some kind of fraud. OMG! He gets more replies and feedback many times on his list than the previous 9 thoughts.

Of all of the list that anyone could compile, I feel that a Top 10 Beatles songs is practically impossible considering the depth of the success they had in such a short time.
They had 20 #1 songs and 23 songs are in the Billboards all time too 500 songs.

According to Billboard Hey Jude is their greatest Hit.

But for me Revolution is my favorite.

You cannot go wrong with any Top 10 Beatles play list. Only a few others bands or artist can say that
 
Last edited:
Mel Tucker (MSU head football coach) grabs 3 highly-rated linebackers from the portal and Texas can’t find 1. Ho-hum… sigh
This…. Unless we think the next crop or round of portal transfers after the bowls is significantly better, it is a shame we can’t get in on most any of these top guys while the likes of MSU can bring them in without effort. A WR, LB, EDGE (2 if Campbell’s doesn’t sign) and an OL would be my preference… I’m really hoping NCAA adjusts current rules in the spring to allow for more to come in. Agree with Ketch’s take on kicker/punter big time.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ketchum
How much Beatles have you listened to? Just curious. Go give revolver, magical mystery tour, and abbey road a full listen and then tell me eagles doors or stones are better!
I've listened to their music off and on for decades. Nice period music. Doesn't hold test of time except for nostalgic purposes.
 
@Ketchum highly recommend the FF retirement. I did this years ago and have never once missed it. The time I get back with the family is invaluable. I only watch my beloved/wretched Chicago Bears and some high profile games if I'm bored. If I want to talk mess to my buddies I just text them now 😀.
I'm the commish, though. People depend on me.
 
It’s funny that @Ketchum has been doing these Top 10 list for what seems like years and they are based on HIS opinion. Yet so many people attack his list like he was committing some kind of fraud. OMG! He gets more replies and feedback many times on his list than the previous 9 thoughts.

Of all of the list that anyone could compile, I feel that a Top 10 Beatles songs is practically impossible considering the depth of the success they had in such a short time.
They had 20 #1 songs and 23 songs are in the Billboards all time too 500 songs.

According to Billboard Hey Jude is their greatest Hit.

But for me Revolution is my favorite.

You cannot go wrong with any Top 10 Beatles play list. Only a few others bands or artist can say that

Any Beatles list of songs is a great list and I'm sure everyone's personal list is different.

For example, the most played Beatles' song on Spotify is "Here Comes the Sun" by George Harrison and it's not even close, played about twice as much as the second most played Beatles' song.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OzarkHorn
Our Defensive ends have got to be better with the new book end DE from westlake.
I know we signed the one kid did we get the MVP on defense Volsek?
Vasek is a Junior.
His father played for UT so we should have an edge there for next year .
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tex51
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT