The entire OB staff got together for a little off-season fun, selecting players from the 2016 Longhorn team in our "off-season player draft."
In Part 2, we present the last four rounds ... the final 20 selections. Look for part two of the draft later this week.
In the exercise, we randomly generated a draft order and used a serpentine draft (last pick of round 1 selects first in round 2). The objective was to field the best team of players who will have an impact on the 2016 Longhorn season.
Ketch - Erick Fowler LB/DE
At this point, I’m just looking for the most talented player left on the board and assuming Fowler gets his academics in order, he’ll be one of the five or six most talented players on the team the moment he shows up on campus. The math suggests that he has about a 65-percent chance of being a future pro.
Jason - DeShon Elliott S
We’re having to take some flyers on inexperienced players at this point. Elliott has a chance to really make his mark if he can be more consistent this year.
Alex - Jeffery McCulloch LB
If we’re drafting for value to the 2016 team, this pick could be categorized as “boom/bust,” but at some point in these exercises, you have to defer to potential and McCulloch arguably has the most of anyone left available. The range of outcomes for McCulloch’s first season at Texas range from backup contributor to all-conference starter.
Anwar - Kris Boyd DB
He looked great great during the spring. I loved Boyd’s tenacity and willingness to compete. Texas will likely rotate several defensive backs, and I believe Boyd will have the opportunity to make plays this year.
Dustin - Bryce Cottrell DE
Ketch sniped Fowler, who I thought would fall to me at the end of the fifth round. So I went with the next best edge-rusher. Cottrell has flashed his entire career, but never consistently put it together. Texas really, really needs him to put it all together this year.
Dustin - Chris Daniels DT/DE
The pick here was going to be one of the freshmen defensive tackles, and I like Daniels’ versatility because it could allow him to line up as a strongside end also. This is where the draft became extremely tough for me.
Anwar - D’Andre Christmas-Giles DT
The moment Dustin took one of the incoming freshman defensive tackles, I had to jump on Christmas-Giles. I loved Christmas-Giles’ film. He will be given every opportunity to succeed this year.
Alex - Chris Nelson DT
Whether fans like it or not, there is no depth along the defensive line and Nelson is one of only three returning players in the unit. An injury to Nelson would force not one, but two freshmen DLs into 35-40% snap-count players.
Jason - Kirk Johnson RB
Based on the things I hear about him behind the scenes, I love this pick. People in the program think Johnson has a chance to really excel in the new offense, so this feels like great value.
Ketch - Brandon Jones S
Again, just give me the most talented player and Jones brings fringe five-star talent to the table and I’m projecting him to be an immediate impact player in the back end of a secondary that doesn’t yet have a single standout.
ROUND 7
Ketch - Edwin Freeman LB
Steal of the draft, right? When he’s healthy, he’s a versatile playmaker on the defense at linebacker. I’m looking up at a lot of the names that were taken ahead of him and they aren’t better players.
Jason - Dylan Haines S
Yeah, he’s everyone’s whipping boy, but he’s a two-year starter who led the team and in interceptions the last two seasons and pass break-ups last season. Tyrone Swoopes was another guy I considered here.
Alex - Jason Hall S
Jason taking Dylan Haines ahead of me made this pick very easy as I was poised to select between one of the team’s two starting safeties and no other “starting” defenders remained. Hall will clearly be pushed for a job in 2016 but he won’t be a complete pushover. His importance to the team will be as stiff competition for younger players, or ultimately as the starter depending on how camp shakes out.
Anwar - Tyrone Swoopes QB
It was the seventh round, guys were flying off the board, and Swoopes was the best option. Look, he’s technically still the No. 1 quarterback. Plus, if Buechele starts, there is a chance Swoopes is a run option at some point this season.
Dustin - Jacorey Warrick WR
Strong likes this receiver so much he sometimes calls him “Peter Warrick.” Kidding. Kind of. Warrick is a player the Texas coaching staff thought would make a noticeable impact last season. I’m betting on him emerging from the pack to get some receiver snaps.
Dustin - Caleb Bluiett TE
During the only Texas open practice I watched, the Longhorns threw to the tight end a ton. I really do think it’s going to be an actual part of the offense. Happy with the value in this pick because a young quarterback that’s smart like Buechele could look to a tight end often. I contemplated Fitzgerald, and was crossing my fingers for Johnson.
Anwar - Michael Dickson P
I know this is thinking outside of the box, but there is only one punter on the team. Field position is always important. I found a starter in the final round.
Alex - Andrew Fitzgerald DE
I think Fitzgerald will come in and push immediately for significant playing time in 2016 even though he’s one of the class’s less-heralded members. Coach Strong said at his signing day PC that Fitzgerald was the group’s “dark horse” and his senior film is beastly.
Jason - Brandon Hodges OL
I’m going to have to keep an eye on Anwar next draft. I thought for sure I’d be able to get Swoopes here, but he took him. Then I thought I’d get Dickson, but he took him. Hodges is a potential starter so he could provide terrific value here if he takes care of business.
Ketch - Denzel Okafor OL
Given the potential disaster at left guard, I’ll use my last draft pick on the player that just might be the best offensive line prospect from the 2016 class. Shackleford went four rounds earlier, but the only difference between him and Okafor is that one arrived on campus early and the other didn’t. Maybe this was actually the steal of the draft.
FINAL RESULTS
Ketchum
Malik Jefferson
Davante Davis
Charles Omenihu
Armanti Foreman
Erick Fowler
Brandon Jones
Edwin Freeman
Denzel Okafor
Jason
Shane Buechele
Collin Johnson
Anthony Wheeler
Poona Ford
DeShon Elliott
Kirk Johnson
Dylan Haines
Brandon Hodges
Alex
D’Onta Foreman
Patrick Vahe
Kent Perkins
P.J. Locke
Jeffrey McCulloch
Chris Nelson
Jason Hall
Andrew Fitzgerald
Anwar
Chris Warren
John Burt
Breckyn Hager
Zach Shackelford
Kris Boyd
D'Andre Christmas-Giles
Tyrone Swoopes
Michael Dickson
Dustin
Connor Williams
Holton Hill
Naashon Hughes
Paul Boyette Jr.
Bryce Cottrell
Chris Daniels
Jacorey Warrick
Caleb Bluiett
In Part 2, we present the last four rounds ... the final 20 selections. Look for part two of the draft later this week.
In the exercise, we randomly generated a draft order and used a serpentine draft (last pick of round 1 selects first in round 2). The objective was to field the best team of players who will have an impact on the 2016 Longhorn season.
ROUND 5
Ketch - Erick Fowler LB/DE
At this point, I’m just looking for the most talented player left on the board and assuming Fowler gets his academics in order, he’ll be one of the five or six most talented players on the team the moment he shows up on campus. The math suggests that he has about a 65-percent chance of being a future pro.
Jason - DeShon Elliott S
We’re having to take some flyers on inexperienced players at this point. Elliott has a chance to really make his mark if he can be more consistent this year.
Alex - Jeffery McCulloch LB
If we’re drafting for value to the 2016 team, this pick could be categorized as “boom/bust,” but at some point in these exercises, you have to defer to potential and McCulloch arguably has the most of anyone left available. The range of outcomes for McCulloch’s first season at Texas range from backup contributor to all-conference starter.
Anwar - Kris Boyd DB
He looked great great during the spring. I loved Boyd’s tenacity and willingness to compete. Texas will likely rotate several defensive backs, and I believe Boyd will have the opportunity to make plays this year.
Dustin - Bryce Cottrell DE
Ketch sniped Fowler, who I thought would fall to me at the end of the fifth round. So I went with the next best edge-rusher. Cottrell has flashed his entire career, but never consistently put it together. Texas really, really needs him to put it all together this year.
ROUND 6
Dustin - Chris Daniels DT/DE
The pick here was going to be one of the freshmen defensive tackles, and I like Daniels’ versatility because it could allow him to line up as a strongside end also. This is where the draft became extremely tough for me.
Anwar - D’Andre Christmas-Giles DT
The moment Dustin took one of the incoming freshman defensive tackles, I had to jump on Christmas-Giles. I loved Christmas-Giles’ film. He will be given every opportunity to succeed this year.
Alex - Chris Nelson DT
Whether fans like it or not, there is no depth along the defensive line and Nelson is one of only three returning players in the unit. An injury to Nelson would force not one, but two freshmen DLs into 35-40% snap-count players.
Jason - Kirk Johnson RB
Based on the things I hear about him behind the scenes, I love this pick. People in the program think Johnson has a chance to really excel in the new offense, so this feels like great value.
Ketch - Brandon Jones S
Again, just give me the most talented player and Jones brings fringe five-star talent to the table and I’m projecting him to be an immediate impact player in the back end of a secondary that doesn’t yet have a single standout.
ROUND 7
Ketch - Edwin Freeman LB
Steal of the draft, right? When he’s healthy, he’s a versatile playmaker on the defense at linebacker. I’m looking up at a lot of the names that were taken ahead of him and they aren’t better players.
Jason - Dylan Haines S
Yeah, he’s everyone’s whipping boy, but he’s a two-year starter who led the team and in interceptions the last two seasons and pass break-ups last season. Tyrone Swoopes was another guy I considered here.
Alex - Jason Hall S
Jason taking Dylan Haines ahead of me made this pick very easy as I was poised to select between one of the team’s two starting safeties and no other “starting” defenders remained. Hall will clearly be pushed for a job in 2016 but he won’t be a complete pushover. His importance to the team will be as stiff competition for younger players, or ultimately as the starter depending on how camp shakes out.
Anwar - Tyrone Swoopes QB
It was the seventh round, guys were flying off the board, and Swoopes was the best option. Look, he’s technically still the No. 1 quarterback. Plus, if Buechele starts, there is a chance Swoopes is a run option at some point this season.
Dustin - Jacorey Warrick WR
Strong likes this receiver so much he sometimes calls him “Peter Warrick.” Kidding. Kind of. Warrick is a player the Texas coaching staff thought would make a noticeable impact last season. I’m betting on him emerging from the pack to get some receiver snaps.
ROUND 8
Dustin - Caleb Bluiett TE
During the only Texas open practice I watched, the Longhorns threw to the tight end a ton. I really do think it’s going to be an actual part of the offense. Happy with the value in this pick because a young quarterback that’s smart like Buechele could look to a tight end often. I contemplated Fitzgerald, and was crossing my fingers for Johnson.
Anwar - Michael Dickson P
I know this is thinking outside of the box, but there is only one punter on the team. Field position is always important. I found a starter in the final round.
Alex - Andrew Fitzgerald DE
I think Fitzgerald will come in and push immediately for significant playing time in 2016 even though he’s one of the class’s less-heralded members. Coach Strong said at his signing day PC that Fitzgerald was the group’s “dark horse” and his senior film is beastly.
Jason - Brandon Hodges OL
I’m going to have to keep an eye on Anwar next draft. I thought for sure I’d be able to get Swoopes here, but he took him. Then I thought I’d get Dickson, but he took him. Hodges is a potential starter so he could provide terrific value here if he takes care of business.
Ketch - Denzel Okafor OL
Given the potential disaster at left guard, I’ll use my last draft pick on the player that just might be the best offensive line prospect from the 2016 class. Shackleford went four rounds earlier, but the only difference between him and Okafor is that one arrived on campus early and the other didn’t. Maybe this was actually the steal of the draft.
FINAL RESULTS
Ketchum
Malik Jefferson
Davante Davis
Charles Omenihu
Armanti Foreman
Erick Fowler
Brandon Jones
Edwin Freeman
Denzel Okafor
Jason
Shane Buechele
Collin Johnson
Anthony Wheeler
Poona Ford
DeShon Elliott
Kirk Johnson
Dylan Haines
Brandon Hodges
Alex
D’Onta Foreman
Patrick Vahe
Kent Perkins
P.J. Locke
Jeffrey McCulloch
Chris Nelson
Jason Hall
Andrew Fitzgerald
Anwar
Chris Warren
John Burt
Breckyn Hager
Zach Shackelford
Kris Boyd
D'Andre Christmas-Giles
Tyrone Swoopes
Michael Dickson
Dustin
Connor Williams
Holton Hill
Naashon Hughes
Paul Boyette Jr.
Bryce Cottrell
Chris Daniels
Jacorey Warrick
Caleb Bluiett
