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(From Anwar)
The biggest question mark heading into the season opener revolves around the offensive line. For once, the questions are not centered around talent. Texas has a talented offensive line. Offensive line coach Herb Hand is confident about his first six guys. Considering Texas does not rotate offensive linemen, and the starting five rarely leaves the field, I was curious about Parker Braun.
I previously reported there was some concern in the building about Braun’s pass-blocking ability because he was rarely asked to protect the quarterback at Georgia Tech. Instead, Braun excelled as a run-blocker, and was forced to learn proper pass-blocking techniques at Texas. As a result, Braun is one of the top six offensive linemen heading into Saturday’s game, but is not a lock to start.
I checked in with my sources this week and asked if Braun will start against Louisiana Tech.
It will depend on the center Zach Shackelford’s health.
According to my sources, if Shackelford is at 100 percent on Saturday, Braun may not play. However, if Shackelford is at 75 percent and cannot play an entire game, then Braun will be in the rotation.
Texas football coach Tom Herman said Shackelford was cleared to play when asked for an injury update after practice on Thursday. However, he did not say if Shackelford was at 100 percent. If you are looking for clues, Shackelford addressed the media on Tuesday, and hurt/injured players usually do not participate in interviews. The media relations staff usually waits until those players are recovered to address reporters. Again, if you are looking for clues, Shackelford’s press conference this week probably means he is pretty healthy.
As a reminder, this is what Hand said about Braun last week.
“It's going pretty good,” Hand said. “He's in a different position than Calvin Anderson was last year because Calvin Anderson came from a similar scheme. We were still a lot of learning in Calvin's part, but schematically, they're very similar as well as from a fundamental standpoint, they did a lot of similar stuff. With Parker it's been wipe the slate clean, young man. Kind of start from square one, if you will. The really good thing is that he's got a lot of experience, game experience. His demeanor, his practice habits, mentality, all that stuff. Physical great finisher, and he’s very enthusiastic to learn. It’s all going good.”
In addition, there is still a possibility Braun could redshirt this season. That option remains on the table.
For now, the possibility of Braun seeing action on Saturday hinges on Shackelford’s health.
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Texas football players and coaches have received constant reminders about their struggles in season openers from media members this week.
Everybody knows what occurred against Maryland the past two seasons. The high expectations for each year received a gut punch after a loss to start each season. Texas did a much better job of recovering last season, finishing with a 10-4 record. However, with the season-opener against Louisiana Tech looming, players and coaches were asked about Maryland this week.
Longhorn fans, this should make you feel better.
According to my sources, everyone in the building senses a confidence that did not previously exist. They are definitely not cocky or overconfident.
Instead, I was told this team has great team chemistry, players enjoy each other, and veterans are playing looser and more aggressively without the fear of making a mistake.
Those sentiments match what was said by the Longhorns this week.
“I feel like the first game of the season is always kind of nerve racking, especially for the younger guys,” Texas senior receiver Collin Johnson said. “Just because it's a change of routine. We go from hitting each other for as long as I can remember back into the spring, summer workouts, all that and all of a sudden, now it's time to play. You know, football, it's not like the NFL, when you have preseason games, kind of feel things out. You just hit each other hit each other, all camp and all offseason, and all of a sudden, it's time to play a game. But I'm really confident in this team, like I said, and you know, we've just got to go out there and honestly play to play, relax, you know, with a chip on our shoulder, of course. But at the end of the day, you got to play relaxed and confident in your abilities. And I feel like this team really knows going to do that. And I'm really confident."
“Well, to me, it's taking the experiences that happened and trying to piece those together,” Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said. “I think our kids are aware of that. But I try not to dwell on too much of that. You could bring up the Sugar Bowl, but it's like, okay, that's great, but that's over with. So, we as a staff, obviously, have really addressed that part. Whether that is the way we go about it two weeks before with the opener, and that's all decided. You're going to see a whole bunch of brand new guys that weren't in that mix beforehand. When we explain to them, they're aware of that, but we don't want to beat it up. To me, every year is going to get a little bit better around here."
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During our latest TicketCity Podcast, Jason Suchomel noted there were not a lot of recruits slated to visit Austin this week. It appears most players are waiting for the LSU game. Clearly, the majority of recruits would prefer to watch Texas vs. LSU in person as opposed to witnessing Louisiana Tech. That LSU game is the hottest ticket in college football. Nobody can blame them.
However, a strategic plan is in place.
I was told Texas vs. LSU will be the biggest unofficial weekend of this season. Right now, nobody knows how many players will show up, but it will be huge. The Longhorn staff is going to take full advantage of being able to get marquee players on campus next weekend.
Yet, the biggest week for official visits will be when Texas faces Oklahoma State on September 21.
According to my sources, that is the weekend we will see many 2020 recruits taking their official visits. The reason that will be a big weekend is Texas does not have a game the following week. That means the staff can spend more time with recruits and their families on Sunday.
Make sure you read Suchomel’s recruiting updates prior to the Oklahoma State weekend.
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As Longhorn fans know, Bevo resides in the south end zone at home games. Everyone is used to seeing their favorite mascot in his familiar spot during Texas games.
However, there is one small issue.
Texas does not have a south end zone right now.
I wanted to know where the heck will Bevo reside on Saturday, and it appears not much has changed.
From what I was told, a pen for Bevo was built since there are no walls surrounding him. However, Bevo will rest comfortably in the southwest corner of the end zone this weekend.
Unless, UGA shows up to record another loss in a rematch.
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Here are some smaller nuggets for you to chew on:
--- I asked my sources if switching defensive back B.J. Foster to running back was ever discussed behind closed doors. The answer to that question was “not at all.” Linebacker David Gbenda and defensive back Montrell Estell were viewed as potential options, but neither was switched.
--- The quality control coaches hired by Herman, such as former North Carolina coach Larry Fedora, will be on the sidelines at home games. However, they will not wear headsets. They can be leaned upon if Herman, or any member of his staff, wants their input.
--- Devin Duvernay and Jake Smith will return kickoffs. Duvernay will be the primary kick returner, while Smith is the off returner. In addition, Smith will field punts that are inside the 20-yard line. Brandon Jones will take punts close to the end zone.
--- I was told Denzel Okafor looked really good in training camp. Okafor improved his footwork, strength and confidence this offseason. One source told me, “You play good and get more confidence. The more confident, the better you play.”
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(From Suchomel)
It took a while, but I was finally able to connect with West Mesquite’s Ty Jordan this week for a quick update.
The speedy running back told me he’ll take his Texas official visit the weekend of September 20, when the Longhorns host Oklahoma State. There’s been speculation lately that Jordan was going to commit before his senior season began, but that’s not going to happen. Jordan did tell me this week that a commitment will happen “in the next few weeks” so fans shouldn’t have to wait too much longer on this one.
The 5-9, 190-pound Jordan plays things pretty close to the vest, but if we’re reading between the lines on this one, the timing of that decision would appear to bode well for the Longhorns. That “few weeks” timeline would put Jordan fresh off the heels of his Texas official visit, and with there being a growing sentiment that Jordan will likely stay closer to home, this one appears to be trending well for the Longhorns. Jordan did take official visits to Tennessee and USC in June, and those two figure to be Texas’ top threats.
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When 2021 linebacker Derrick Harris Jr. committed to Texas earlier this month, it gave the Longhorns a huge head-to-head win over Texas A&M (one of several of late) and a key piece around which Texas can build its defensive recruiting in next year’s class.
The New Caney product has had a few weeks to process his decision and he told OB this week he feels as good as ever about his choice to commit to Texas.
“It was just the way coach Orlando and coach Herman were, how the weekend before when I went down there, they showed me the educational side,” Harris said. “We talked about football and it really felt like home for me. My parent felt like it was a great move for me to do that.”
Harris had visited both Texas and Texas A&M in the weeks prior to his commitment and he said both he and his parents just felt like Texas was a better fit. Joining a rapidly-growing 2021 UT recruiting class also played a part.
“I just wanted to join the class, be part of how the class is becoming great, a top-five class in the nation,” Harris said. “I just wanted to get my recruitment done so I could focus on our team, not have to worry about college coaches texting me, everyone asking where I’m going.”
Harris will be in Austin next weekend for the LSU game. When he told A&M the news that he was going to side with Texas, the Aggie coaches tried to get him to slow things down, but Harris said his mind was already made up.
“They were just like, wait on it. See A&M out,” Harris said. “But I kind of already knew where I wanted to go, so it didn’t really affect me.”
He still has two years of high school ball left to play, but in talking to Harris, he made it quite clear that he’s locked in with his Texas pledge and has no intentions of listening to the sales pitches of other programs.
“I’m done with other schools. I know they’ll come at me, but I’m 100 percent,” Harris said.
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With most high school athletes kicking off their seasons this week – and a huge Texas game against LSU on tap for next weekend – I’m not expecting a huge turnout of recruits to be at Saturday night’s game against Louisiana Tech. I reached out to a number of top 2020 guys this week (committed and uncommitted) and most of the responses I received were that they wouldn’t be in town this weekend, but would be in for the LSU game.
A few notables who have confirmed they’ll be at the Louisiana Tech game …
2021 QB Jalen Milroe – Katy Tompkins (UT commit)
2020 DE Alfred Collins – Bastrop Cedar Creek
2021 OL Jager Burton – Lexington (KY) Frederick Douglas
A few big-name guys who told us late this week that they’ll be at the LSU game include Ja’Quinden Jackson, Savion Byrd (probably), Prince Dorbah, Jerrin Thompson and Derrick Harris. Expect a huge turnout for that game and we’ll compile a list throughout next week.
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When Princely Umanmielen committed to Texas on August 12, he told OB shortly after he made his announcement that he was still planning to take other official visits. A&M and LSU were mentioned as possible stops, but it looks like you can add Oklahoma to the list.
Umanmielen told us this week that he’ll be in Norman the weekend of September 27 when OU takes on Texas Tech. He also has a date set for A&M (October 11) for when the Aggies play Alabama.
Not ideal for Texas, but not a huge surprise since the Manor standout had been telling us he’d still take visits. When Umanmielen first described taking those trips, he said they’d purely be “back-ups” because “you never know” what can happen with a program or its coaching staff. I certainly wouldn’t panic on this one, especially with Texas still having its official visit left, but it’s something we’ll obviously continue to monitor.
Umanmielen has a game Saturday afternoon so he said he probably won’t be able to attend the La Tech game. Look for him to be at the LSU game next weekend, which will give the UT staff to potentially tighten this one up and get him to reconsider those other visits.
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Wide receiver J.J. Hester has been closing in on a decision for a while, and it looks like it will now happen next week.
The Tulsa Booker T. Washington product told me this week that he’d like to have his commitment out of the way in the next few weeks. He’d been talking to his high school principal about setting something up at a pep rally at his school, and on Thursday afternoon he announced on Twitter that he’ll have a final decision next Thursday, September 5.
“It should be before my game. I’m working with my principal right now to set up a date for me to commit. She runs everything, and I want to do it at the pep rally,” Hester said.
Texas has been at or near the top of Hester’s list for several months, but he did tell OB this week that “other teams are close.” Those other teams would be Missouri and Baylor.
With numbers getting tight for Texas after a run of summer commitments, the guess here is that Hester will likely wind up elsewhere due mostly to a numbers crunch. Keep an eye on Missouri.
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A few hoops recruiting notes:
Ighodaro will arrive Friday to begin his official visit to Texas. The talented and skilled forward was being recruited by Luke Yaklich when Yaklich was at Michigan, and he continued recruiting him at Texas. Shaka Smart watched Ighodaro multiple times in the final evaluation periods, and seemingly approved of the interest because the Longhorns definitely think highly of the 6-9 prospect.
Ighodaro has a final four of Marquette, Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Texas, and hasn’t tipped his hand; he doesn’t do many interviews. There has been some chatter about Stanford and Marquette, but the Longhorns are in a position to make a big move with a good visit this weekend.
Hinted earlier this week about a five-star guard in the 2020 class taking an official visit to Texas this weekend, and Bryce Thompson is that guy. Texas, like many top programs, offered Thompson early after a first evaluation period, and the big-time guard made a jump into five-star status. He announced a final seven tonight of Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan State, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas. However, I’ve heard the four standing out the most right now are Kansas, UNC, Oklahoma State and Texas, although in-state OU will likely be in the race until the end.
Where does Texas stand? It sounds like the Longhorns have a shot, but an outside shot right now. Many think Thompson will wind up at Oklahoma State with Cade Cunningham. OSU hired Cunningham’s brother because, well, why do you think it did? Anyway, Oklahoma State is obviously a big player in Cunningham’s recruitment, but I’ve heard recently Cunningham isn’t the lock to OSU many think. North Carolina has emerged as a real threat to sign him away from the Cowboys. And if Cunningham doesn’t go to OSU, it sounds like Thompson wouldn’t either, which could give Texas more of a chance.
All that being said, it’s a bit of a longshot right now, but the chances could increase. Plus, Thompson is the talent a program should always take a chance on.
Rivals.com’s Corey Evans today reported Peavy’s original plans to visit Texas for an official visit the weekend of September 21st are up in the air. After checking around, it sounds like Peavy will take an official visit to Texas, but there could be a scheduling conflict related to John Lucas’s Elite Invitational Camp that same weekend. If Peavy attends that camp, he’d visit Texas another weekend.
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