2018 RECRUITING ISSUE
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Mike Williams is ready for any challenge.
CONTENTS FEATURES
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FOOTBALL
A NEW HERD ARRIVES When National Signing Day came to a close, Texas walked away with eight players, including three of the nation’s top defensive linemen. The newly signed eight will join the other 19 players who signed on Dec. 21, coming together as not only the class of 2018 but also the No. 3 class in the nation. Head coach Tom Herman and his staff hauled in three players carrying five-star rankings from 247Sports, as well as seven of the state’s top 10 players. In our annual Recruiting Issue, we bring you up close and personal with each member of the class, including extended profiles on Caden Sterns, Mike Williams, Keondre Coburn and DeMarvion Overshown.
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FOOTBALL
SPRING AWAKENING National Signing Day has come and gone and now the Texas football staff turns its attention to spring drills and the upcoming annual Orange and White game. The players will put forth their best effort to shine this spring and make their case for playing time this fall. In our preview of the spring game, we take a closer look at each position and the players who will look to stand out.
DEPARTMENTS
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COVER PHOTO: COURTESY ALL AMERICAN BOWL
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ALL PHOTOS IN THIS SPREAD: COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
Matt Coleman
Kerwin Roach II
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LEADING
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FRESHMAN GUARD MATT Coleman posted a career-high 22 points and junior guard Kerwin Roach II poured in 19 as the men’s basketball team upset then-No. 12 Oklahoma 79-74 on Feb. 3. Coleman was 8-of-13 shooting from the field and went 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Roach shot 7-of-11 from the field, while adding four assists and four boards. Junior forward Dylan Osetkowski finished with 15 points, including an 8-of-10 mark from the free-throw line, while freshman forward Mohamed Bamba rounded out the double-digit scoring effort with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. The Texas defense forced 17 Sooner turnovers and held OU to just 3-of-22 (13.6 percent) shooting from beyond the arc, including 10 percent (1-of-10) in the second half. With the win, Texas posted its third consecutive home win against an AP Top 20 opponent.
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ROUNDUP
COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
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POOL POWERHOUSE: Texas capped its first undefeated dual-meet season in 30 years with a 162-105 victory over TCU. The Longhorns ended their campaign at 9-0, their third 9-0 mark in program history. Texas opened the meet with a victory from its 200-yard medley relay, where the quartet of sophomore Claire Adams, juniors Olivia Anderson and Remedy Rule and senior Rebecca Millard took the win at 1:38.37 seconds. Junior Joanna Evans, an Olympian for The Bahamas, gave Texas its second win when she claimed the 200 freestyle in 1:46.44. The Longhorns captured 12 more first-place finishes, including a sweep of the diving events. Junior Meghan O’Brien took the 1-meter diving event and Sofia Rauzi won the 3-meter.
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WEIGHT SOARING AMBITIONS: Lauryn Caldwell reached her goal and broke the school record in the weight throw.
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FTER FLIRTING WITH the school record in the weight throw over a series of meets, senior Lauryn Caldwell finally set the new standard for Texas track & field at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Caldwell registered a throw of 18.84 meters on her first throw of the competition to break the previous record of 18.56 meters held by Jordyn Brown since 2009. After the meet, Caldwell said she was overjoyed to finally have the record and is ready to keep pushing for the Longhorns. “I couldn’t have another week where I was short,” she said after the meet. “I went from five inches short to three inches short. I couldn’t be one inch short this week. I had to get it.” The Longhorns were there to cheer on Caldwell and mobbed her with a group hug when she broke the record. “It meant the world because they usually don’t get to see us throw,” Caldwell said. Associate head coach Ty Sevin said he was excited to see Caldwell break the record. Caldwell was the first female thrower he signed when the program was combined, so it was a special moment. “She threw past the old school record on four of her six throws,” Sevin said. “I’m happy for her. She’s the first thrower we signed on this staff and to see her do it and to see the tears in her eyes when she knew she broke it, I knew it meant a lot to her.” 12 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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THE BEST MILE IN A WHILE FRESHMAN SAM WORLEY wasted little time to put his name atop the record book for Texas track & field. Already one of the best high school runners in U.S. history in the mile, he now ranks No. 1 for the Longhorns after his run at the Husky Classic, where he clocked in at 3:58.04. That time placed him fourth in the seeded section of the mile and was better than Evan Jager, silver medalist in the steeplechase at the Rio Olympic Games. “I’m proud of Sam and the immediate impact he has made on this team,” assistant coach Brad Herbster said. “Breaking the school record in his third indoor race ever, and placing fourth in that field of runners was impressive.” Worley wasn’t the only Longhorn to impress at the Husky Classic. Junior Alex Rogers, a former high school teammate of Worley, shattered his personal best in the mile but also suffered heartbreak. Rogers won his heat of the seeded mile competition with 4:00.00 as his official time, coming up short of the milestone sub-4 mile. Rogers’ time put him in 10th place in the event and moved him to No. 5 on the all-time list at Texas. Both Worley and Rogers will have to see where their times stack up nationally after other meets across the country featured strong distance fields beside the Husky Classic. A sub-4 mile has been needed to qualify for the NCAA Championships the past few years.
Sam Worley Alex Rogers
FROM TOP: COURTESY SUSAN SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS
WORTH THE
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LONE STAR
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FROM TOP: COURTESY MATT HEMPHEL/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS
EGENDARY LONGHORN SAFETY Earl Thomas was selected to play in his sixth Pro Bowl, breaking the Texas school record of five, previously held by Thomas, Earl Campbell, Casey Hampton, Bobby Layne, Bud McFadin and Tommy Nobis. Thomas’ appearance in 2018 marks the 17th straight season a Longhorn has been selected for the game — the longest streak in school history. Twice previously (195260; 1967-75) there have been nine-year stretches in which a Longhorn has appeared. Since 1952, there have been only 11 years in which a former Longhorn wasn’t selected to the Pro Bowl, the last such occurrence being 2001. In his eighth season in the NFL, the 28-year-old Thomas played in and started 14 games for the Seattle Seahawks in 2017. He totaled 88 tackles on the season with two interceptions, including one returned
STAYING AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION: After yet another successful NFL season, Earl Thomas heads into his sixth Pro Bowl — the most by any Texas player.
for a touchdown. He had six pass breakups and a forced fumble. He now has 25 career interceptions and 11 forced fumbles. Thomas returns to the Pro Bowl after being selected for five straight bowls between
2012-16. In 2016, he was on pace for another selection before a season-ending injury. He didn’t play in the 2014 or 2015 games, as the Seahawks participated in the Super Bowl in each of those seasons.
HITTING PRETTY TEXAS ACE: Bianca Turati is ranked No. 1 in the ITA women’s singles rankings.
TEXAS SOPHOMORE BIANCA Turati vaulted from No. 10 to No. 1 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) women’s singles rankings after her seven-match winning streak and clenching a 5-0 dual-match record. She’s the first Longhorn atop the ITA women’s singles rankings since Kelly Pace in 1995. Turati boasts a 17-1 overall singles record through fall and winter competition. Victorious in seven matches, Turati hasn’t dropped a set since Nov. 4, when she sustained her only loss this season to Duke’s ninth-ranked Samantha Harris. Turati holds 10 wins over ITA top-100 opponents, with six of those against top50 foes and two against top-15 opponents. Last November, Turati defeated thenNo. 1 Ena Shibahara of UCLA in straight sets. Turati notched her other top-15 win against Texas Tech’s 13th-ranked Gabriela Talaba in November. RECRUITING 2018 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 13
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THAT’S ALL, FOLKS
YOUNG AND RESTLESS: After one season with the Longhorns, Reggie Hemphill-Mapps decided to transfer out of the program.
Reggie Hemphill-Mapps
TRAILBLAZER TEXAS LANDED ONE of the best recruiting classes in the nation and cornerbacks coach Jason Washington is a big reason why. In fact, his performance on the recruiting trail earned him the title as the 247Sports Big 12 Recruiter of the Year. Washington ran point as the Longhorns reeled in the most talented defensiveback class in the country, signing elite secondary prospects like Anthony Cook, Jalen Green, Caden Sterns and D’shawn Jamison. Before coming to Austin, Washington was the cornerbacks coach at the University of Houston. He joined the Longhorns with Tom Herman in December. 2016. 14 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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ALL PHOTOS IN THIS PAGE: COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
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EDSHIRT FRESHMAN REGGIE Hemphill-Mapps took to Twitter to announce his decision to leave the Longhorns. “Thank you Texas,” he tweeted. “[You] will always be in my heart.” At wide receiver, Hemphill-Mapps shined in his first season with Texas, hauling in 37 catches, trailing only sophomore Collin Johnson. He burst onto the scene on opening day against Maryland, catching seven passes while returning a punt 91 yards for a touchdown. The Longhorns will return three receivers who had at least 20 catches in 2017 following Hemphill-Mapps’ departure.
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COURTESY BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS
HE NFL SCOUTING Combine is the most important event of the scouting process. This year’s NFL Scouting Combine was held Feb. 27-March 5 in Indianapolis, Ind. Of the 326 draft hopefuls invited to this year’s Scouting Combine, Alabama (14) and Ohio State (11) led the way with double-digit invites. There were also 25 prospects representing non-FBS programs who were in attendance at Lucas Oil Stadium. While the goal of the Scouting Combine is to invite the most likely players to be drafted, there are players who slip through the cracks.
This year’s most surprising snub is Texas defensive tackle Poona Ford, who was the 2017 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. Although his measurements (5-foot-11 and 306 pounds) are substandard, he put together a strong senior tape, including solid weeks in Mobile at the Senior Bowl and in St. Petersburg at the East-West Shrine Game. Over the past five years, an average of 35 players who didn’t receive an invite to the Scouting Combine were selected on draft weekend. And on the flipside, an average of 110 prospects who did receive an invitation ended up going undrafted.
FORD TOUGH: Despite not receiving an invitation to the NFL Combine, Poona Ford still has a shot at the draft.
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TEXAS INFINITES
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? JAXON SHIPLEY (FOOTBALL 2011-14)
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EXAS INFINITES IS a co-ed spirit group founded in 2013 by then-sophomore Dan Glushko. Despite the numerous organizations already on campus, Glushko’s mission for Texas Infinites was to create a diverse family on campus and build character through service. Today, Texas Infinites supports and serves the Texas community by upholding the three pillars that form the organization’ foundation: service, social and spirit. Texas Infinites president Peyton Taylor sat down with Horns Illustrated to provide insight into the organization.
PEYTON TAYLOR: The biggest part of our identity is our diversity. We’re a co-ed, diverse group of individuals. We come from different backgrounds, majors and hometowns, but through Texas Infinites we have come together as one family. HI: What do the Texas Infinites mean to you? PT: As I mentioned earlier, Texas Infinites is extremely diverse. To me, this was the single biggest reason I wanted to get involved with the organization. It was so easy to find organizations on campus that were majorspecific or culture-specific. I knew I wanted to be a part of something that included everyone. I joined the organization Fall 2016 and immediately got involved as Tiny Class President. The next semester, I knew I wanted to run for an officer position and thought the place I could make the biggest impact would be as a recruitment chair. As an officer, I got the opportunity to shadow the current president at the time, Max Pourghaed. Max grew the organization in his time as president, and inspired me to run for president after he graduated. HI: How has the organization grown, evolved and changed over that time? PT: Since Spring 2013, the organization has grown immensely. The founders of Texas Infinites were five friends who decided they wanted to start a spirit group. Since then, we have recruited new and bigger classes. The success of Texas Infinites is attributable to strong leadership for the years following the graduation of the founders. We have social, 16 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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service and spirit events going on every day, and each year we strive to raise more money for our philanthropy, get more service hours and positively impact our community.
HI: How did the efforts with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) begin? PT: The founders picked JDRF to be the philanthropy for Texas Infinites because one of our first members had Type I Diabetes and it was an organization she cared deeply about. Since then, we continue to support JDRF every year by raising money through various fundraisers. Last semester we did a profit share, ACL ticket raffle and a petting zoo on campus to raise money. HI: What events are coming up for the group? PT: Some additional social events we have coming up include a roller-skating social, karaoke night and a hike at the Greenbelt. We also have service events including visiting an animal shelter to assist with their operations and also volunteering to help at the Austin Half Marathon. Just knowing that other people see our organization as one of the best on campus has given me a never-ending appreciation for our members.
AFTER MAKING IT to the final round of cuts with the Arizona Cardinals in 2016, only to be release, Jaxon Shipley started looking for a new career path. But when the former wide receiver received a call from an old Texas friend, he decided to spend the 2016 season helping out at the Westlake Football Academy and providing private lessons on the side. During that period is when the idea fully culminated and he made the choice to start his own specialized football training. Shipley Performance, which specializes in wide receiver training,launched in early 2017. Ask any Texas fan and they’ll immediately recognize the Shipley name, whether it’s Jaxon or his brother Jordan, who sits at No. 1 on Texas’ career reception list. Or it might be because of their father, Bob, who retired after 32 years as a football coach. Shipley spent four years with the Longhorns and finished at No. 3 on Texas’ career reception list. After his final season, he spent time training in Dallas before spending the 2015 NFL season with the Cardinals. Despite impressive work during the preseason, he was let go and moved back to Austin. Today, Shipley spends his time helping younger football players develop their skills. Shipley Performance focuses on teaching the technique and knowledge to be an elite wide receiver, according to Shipley. It puts an emphasis on route running, hand-eye coordination and developing the right mindset. Shipley is already prepping his son, Stone, to be the next Shipley great in Texas. For now, though, he’s the best he can be in his new career.
SOTM: COURTESY TEXAS INFINITES, WATN: COURTESY JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS
HORNS ILLUSTRATED: What do the Texas Infinites represent, both now and in the future?
THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TOM HERMAN AND HERB HAND DIG DEEP TO HELP THE TEXAS LINE BECOME A CHAMPIONSHIP-CALIBER GROUP
COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
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OM HERMAN AND Herb Hand have a problem with the Texas offensive line. “We need tackle bodies in our program,” Herman said. With spread offenses becoming more prevalent throughout college football, the need for athletic offensive tackles who have the length, lateral quickness, toughness and strength to defend the growing number of pass rushers might be at an all-time high. The problem is, especially when it comes to a college program like Texas, the demand far outweighs the supply. High-end offensive tackle prospects are worth their weight in gold, which is why it hurt so much for Texas to miss on Walker Little in the 2017 cycle. Unless a school can land an athlete like Little, who attended Episcopal High School in Bellaire, Texas, and was the Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Co-Player of the Year at Stanford, the only other path to having a potential franchise tackle is to sign unproven projects who are big and athletic, which is what Texas did in 2018. First, the Longhorns locked up Reese Moore, a 6-foot-6, 282-pound tight end who looks similar to former Longhorn Connor Williams. Williams started his high school career as a tight end before
blossoming into a legitimate FBS offensive tackle prospect who left the 40 Acres as a consensus All-American and a likely first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Second, Texas landed Christian Jones. The one-time SMU commit out of Houston Cy Woods has the tools, Herman says, to become an answer for the Longhorns down the road. Developing quality tackles isn’t easy, especially when it comes to two prospects making the kind of leaps forward the coaching staff will ask Jones and Moore to make. Jones and Moore are the only two sure-fire prep tackles the Longhorns landed in 2018. With Hand now in charge of the offensive line, it’s worth noting that Jones is the first recruit Hand targeted and landed during his tenure with the Longhorns. While Jones has his best football years ahead of him, Herman’s praise for what Jones brings to the table suggests Hand is off to an encouraging start. “He has literally played two years of high school football,” Herman said about Jones. “Two years of organized football — that’s it. “He’s a 6-foot-6 and 294-pound guy that can bend and run,” Herman continued. “The sky is the limit and we’re excited.” RECRUITING 2018 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 17
SOCIAL BUZZ Valentine’s Day is all about love. Parkland, Fla., needs all the love, support and prayer we can give. Love is the most powerful thing on earth. It’s presence or absence changes lives. Be thankful for the people in your life. Tell them you love them. Never take it for granted. — Drew Mehringer (@DrewMehringer)
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60K VISITS PER DAY Put us back on the college football map Coach Herman! — Jesse Kash Renteria The biggest problem Texas had last year was its decimated offensive line. Charlie Strong didn’t leave the cupboard bare; the offensive line was No. 3 in the nation. Because of injuries, there wasn’t any consistency upfront. Hopefully that’s been solved. — Rick Jones I expect to see Texas in the top four in 2018 after Texas was the No. 3 team in recruiting. You better do your job on offense. The Texas defense played ¾ of the football game almost every game. Texas defense was solely tired and worn out. — Lem Morriss
From the best high school, to the best college. — Cade Sterns (@lil_STERNS2)
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Let’s win some games and compete for the conference title. — Michael A. Dillard What made it over the top for me was the, “The class that changed the game forever” comment. That’s a little much. That being said, I would absolutely love to be sitting here a year later with a bunch of people telling me I told you so. I’m optimistic about the future but have been jaded many times over the past 40 years to know that while this is a very positive step, it means nothing until you show up, play and win. — Curtis King
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You can all go to hell, I’m going to Texas. — @AlyssaSjolander
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Cheering on the @ TexasWBB team. What a game! — @TerriG_KVUE
Like father like daughter. She supports her daddy’s favorite teams proudly! — @CallieDuhon
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The 2018 recruiting class for Texas football has arrived and the results for Tom Herman’s team are nothing short of spectacular. The Longhorns brought in the third-best overall class, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. Here’s what Longhorn fans had to say via the Horns Illustrated Facebook page:
MEET THE T-ASSOCIATION
The T-Association is an organization made up of former varsity athletics letter winners. An additional designation for the T-Association members is the T-Ring, which is awarded to an athlete who lettered for 2 or more years, who did not compete the last 2 years of eligibility anywhere other than The University of Texas and who graduated from college. The T-Association is led by Football letter winner Ricky Brown and Swimming letter winner Jill Sterkel. T-Association Mission - The T-Association’s mission is to create and maintain an enhanced atmosphere and structure whereby UT student-athletes become lifetime members of The University of Texas Athletics family and are welcomed, involved and encouraged to participate during and after their college tenure. TAPN Mission - The Letter Winner’s Professional Network exists to unite the members of the T-Association on a professional level by providing networking opportunities and a database of contacts, thereby furthering the opportunities, community, education and success of Longhorn Letter Winners.
COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
CONTACT INFORMATION: t-association@athletics.utexas.edu 512.471.6864
EXTREME MAKEOVER NOW THAT HE HAS THE PLAYERS, HERMAN MUST TRANSFORM THE 2018 CLASS INTO TEXAS LONGHORNS
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Y ALL ACCOUNTS, Tom Herman and his staff nailed down the recruiting process. They corralled one of the nation’s top-three signing classes by persuading players to come to Austin with the modern practice to cultivate and keep a prep player’s attention. Herman and his staff will now be charged with turning those athletes into Texas players and molding them into a team that will win championships rather than one celebrating its first winning season in four years. There are plenty of people to thank when a group as talented as the 27 players signed by Texas comes together, and Herman was more than happy to recognize every one of them in his signing day press conference on Feb. 7. He talked about how recruiting is like a 500-piece puzzle in which no one section is any more important than the other in relation to the completed product. But how many great recruiting classes does a team need before it can compete for a national championship? “That’s a good question,” Herman said. “It’s no secret that the teams you see in the College Football Playoff have been in the top 10 consistently over the past five to eight years.
“I don’t want to put a timetable on it, but you need multiple years because it’s a player’s game,” he continued. “I can’t play. They need to go out and be the best in the country. But the first part of that is recruiting them — we have to make sure we’re taking care of that first.” Herman said the 2018 class, along with the players already on the 40 Acres, can help Texas climb back to the top. “Kids know what Texas is and can be — most importantly they know us now,” Herman said. “They know our staff, they know me, they know our players, and what kind of program we have here. You’re not selling a record in recruiting — you’re selling potential.” Numerous publications (most of them digital) between now and the first week in September will rank Texas among the top 25 and label it a dark horse to compete for the national title. That’s quite a step up from last year’s squad that barely forged a winning campaign and enters this season’s spring drills with a load of questions to be answered. Maybe Herman and his guys can get it done. It would make things a lot more fun in the fall, that’s for sure. Just sayin’, ya know?
The Habe is Steve Habel, Horns Illustrated’s senior editor. Habel was the first person hired to write for this magazine, in 1994, and has been covering Longhorns sports ever since. RECRUITING 2018 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 19
A NEW HERD ARRIVES
COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
THE LONGHORNS BOAST THE NATION’S NO. 3 RECRUITING CLASS AFTER NATIONAL SIGNING DAY
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F PEOPLE DUBBED former Texas head coach Mack Brown as “Mr. February” for his prowess in signing great high school players, what will they call Tom Herman after hauling in the No. 3 class in the nation? Maybe they’ll call him “Mr. Freeze” because of his cold-season success and his either take-our-offer-or-don’t attitude? Or maybe “The Collector,” for his ability to corral the majority of the players sought after by his staff with a minimal effort? Either way, one thing is for sure — the chatter surrounding Texas’ roundup of top prep talent during Herman’s first full recruiting cycle is the loudest it’s been since Brown’s 2012 class (which included defensive tackle Malcom Brown, running back Johnathan Gray, defensive end Hassan Ridgeway, linebacker
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Dalton Santos and cornerback Duke Thomas). The 2012 class carried similar national ranking and delivered three NFL players who still play in the league today. Texas signed eight players on National Signing Day, including three of the nation’s top defensive linemen, adding to the 19 prep players who had already inked with its 2018 recruiting class on Dec. 21. In all, Herman and his staff pulled in a class heavy on defensive backs (six), offensive linemen (five) and defensive linemen and linebackers (three each). The class includes a pair of quarterbacks, two wide receivers, two players categorized as athletes, a running back, a tight end, a kicker and a punter. The class features three players carrying five-star rankings from 247Sports: cornerback
Jalen Green from Houston, and safeties DeMarvion Overshown from Arp and Caden Sterns from Cibolo. The class also includes four-star safety B.J. Foster from Angleton. That quartet made up the four highestrated players in the state. Nineteen of the Longhorns’ signees were considered four-star or better players. “I’m excited about this class for different reasons,” Herman said. “Depending on what service you subscribe to, 11 out of the top 15 players in the state of Texas signed with the University of Texas. I said it on Dec. 21st and I’ll say it again — that shouldn’t be an aberration. When this place was winning championships on a regular basis, this is how it was. “We know we have to do a great job in our state and our bordering states to make sure
the bulk of our roster stays at Texas. Then we have to do a great job of selecting the out-ofstate players that can come in, fit in our culture and provide us with a spark and depth.” Nationally, Texas finished behind Georgia and Ohio State, both of which signed 26 players. The Longhorns were runaway winners among schools in the Big 12, lapping the likes of Oklahoma (ninth, according to 247 Sports), TCU (25th), Baylor (30th), Oklahoma State (33rd) and West Virginia (35th). Texas finished 14 spots ahead of Texas A&M. Herman reiterated that the core of every Texas signing class would come from the state of Texas. “With the number of good football players in Texas it makes sense [to recruit within the
state],” Herman said. “Kids grow up wanting to play for the University of Texas, so you already have an in. When we go outside of Texas, it’s because we have evaluated every player in the state we feel like we can win a championship with. “Some years you might be slotted to take four defensive linemen, but only the top three in the state are good enough to win a championship with,” Herman continued. “Where do you get the fourth one? You go out of state, right? Maybe you go out of state for two of them because one of the top three had a mom that had them growing up in maroon pajamas. “But the bulk of every one of our classes from now until the time we leave is going to be from the state of Texas.”
For the most part, the Longhorns got the players they wanted and did so efficiently. Herman told reporters that the Longhorns finished with the fifth fewest number of documented offers to prospects in the 2018 signing class, behind Stanford, Northwestern, Clemson and Washington. This class could end up even better with the signings of grad transfer and junior college players between now and the opening of spring drills on March 20. Expect the size of the class to increase by at least two players, and maybe as many as four, with the biggest target being former Rice left tackle Calvin Anderson, a player who could step right in and start for Texas next season. In the meantime, meet the class of 2018. RECRUITING 2018 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 21
THE MAN WITHOUT A PLAN
CADEN STERNS SAFETY 6’1” • 192 LBS. STEELE CIBOLO, TEXAS
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SOME PLAYERS AREN’T fooled by accolades. They know if they score enough touchdowns, make enough interceptions and complete enough passes, the word will get out. Hard work — both on and off the field — will not only result in a pile of honors, but a pile of scholarship offers, as well. Caden Sterns is a prime example of this type of player. By the time he enrolled at Texas this past January, he couldn’t stop the flow of plaudits even if he wanted to. He was on every top-10 player list in the state of Texas — 247Sports ranked him the state’s third-best player, the nation’s second-best safety and the No. 32 player at any position, while Rivals.com ranked him as the best player in the state, the No. 2 safety prospect in the country and the No. 24 player overall in the nation. In a recruiting class ranked as high as No. 3 in the country, there’s a chance Sterns is the best of the bunch.
Whether that turns out to be the case remains to be seen (you’ll have to check back in a couple of years when the incoming players are old enough to shave and understand what is expected from the Texas coaching staff). The Longhorns recruited several players near the top of the recruiting services’ somewhat subjective rankings, so trying to determine superiority now is, at best, splitting hairs. While it may be premature to call any player the prize of the recruiting class, what you can’t argue with is that Sterns is an extraordinary player who’ll get every chance to compete immediately in the Texas secondary. And based on what his former coaches say, he’s ready to take on the challenge. About a half an hour northeast of San Antonio, Sterns did a little of everything for the Knights of Steele High School in Cibolo. “He did everything we asked of him,” Steele head coach David Saenz said. “We played
HEADSHOT: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY, ACTION SHOT: COURTESY KELLY LYONS-SPENCER
CADEN STERNS ARRIVED IN AUSTIN AS A SAFETY — BUT DON’T EXPECT HIM TO STICK TO ONE POSITION
a lot of 4-3, Cover 2 defense and he was our top safety. But he also could play corner because he can cover anyone we saw. He also played receiver for us, punt returner, kickoff returner — anything we needed, he could do and do well.”
to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he had a pair of interceptions while playing with and against many of the nation’s best players. When a strong student puts together the kind of résumé Sterns has, it’s not surprising
We play in one of the toughest districts in the state and he’s a real go-getter. He’s an incredibly smart player — he’s like having an extra coach, so he knows what has to be done at safety, corner, receiver, on special teams, to win games, and he wanted to do everything he could. – David Saenz,
Steele head coach
recruiters come running from all over the country. Sterns piled up a slew of offers from the likes of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Tennessee and UCLA and initially committed to LSU, where he formed a close relationship with head coach Ed Orgeron. But the Longhorns didn’t give up. Head coach Tom Herman made no secret of his goal to keep as much top Texas talent within the state as possible. Assistant coaches Jason Washington and Craig Naivar stayed in contact with Sterns, and after a visit to Texas, he flipped his commitment from the Tigers to the Longhorns. “Honestly, we didn’t know Caden was going to flip, but I can’t say I’m surprised that he did,” Saenz said. “When Caden was growing up,
Saenz said he didn’t worry about wearing out his star by heaping too many roles upon him. “He would’ve been mad at us if we didn’t let him do everything,” Saenz said. “We play in one of the toughest districts in the state and he’s a real go-getter. He’s an incredibly smart player — he’s like having an extra coach, so he knows what has to be done at safety, corner, receiver, on special teams, to win games, and he wanted to do everything he could.” After opening the 2017 season with a 36-3 win over San Antonio’s Madison High School, the Knights stumbled through a four-game losing streak before rebounding to win nine straight. They eventually fell to Austin Westlake in the state’s 6A championship game. “He never wanted to come off the field,” Saenz said. “He’s as tough as he’s talented.” Through the 16-game schedule, Sterns piled up the kind of statistics expected from one of the nation’s elite players. He accounted for 82 tackles, six pass breakups and four interceptions — three of which he returned for touchdowns. On the offensive side, he had 302 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns — and for good measure, he returned a punt for a touchdown. Saenz said he had an early inkling that Sterns had standout potential. When Sterns was in middle school, his older brother, Jordan, was a key player for the Knights. Jordan later went on to earn all-conference honors at Oklahoma State and eventually signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. “The first time I saw him in middle school, I knew he’d be a special player for us,” Saenz said. “His brother was already playing for us, and went on to be a great player at Oklahoma State. But when I looked at Caden, you could see there were things that aren’t coachable: the angles he’d take, the way he’d go get the ball, the way he’d come down and strike an opponent. He’s a special player.” Sterns picked up about every accolade available, earning all-district, all-state and AllAmerican honors. He also earned an invitation RECRUITING 2018 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 23
SMOOTH OPERATOR: Caden Sterns is a can-do-everything player who can easily transition from safety to corner, and even to receiver.
The sky’s the limit for Caden, he’ll get bigger and stronger — he can add a lot of weight if they want him to — and he’ll do everything they ask of him. Before he’s done at Texas, they’ll realize they got a great player and a great young man.”. – David Saenz,
Steele head coach
Watch Sterns on the field, and he can make everything he does look effortless. He reads offenses, including the quarterback’s eyes, very well and accelerates quickly to make a break on the ball or to bury a ball-carrier. 24 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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He’s a do-everything safety who can drop back into a center field-style ballhawk or roam from sideline to sideline to make plays against opposing running attacks. He’s always a step or two ahead of the offense and knows where to be before the ball even arrives. Saenz said Sterns handled the sometimesfrenetic recruiting process with equal smoothness. “The recruiting process can be fun, and it should be,” Saenz said. “You get to go through it once in your life, and it’s something most people never get to experience. Caden
had a lot of options and he handled it like a pro. He went about his business and talked to everybody. “As a staff, we never saw it get to him — if it did, he didn’t mention it,” he continued. “We would sit down and talk about different things, but there was never anything negative about the recruiting process. When it came down to it, he liked the idea of playing for Texas, playing near home and the feeling he got from the Texas program.” Sterns was one of several Longhorn recruits to enroll in January, getting a jump-
ALL PHOTOS IN THIS SPREAD: COURTESY KELLY LYONS-SPENCER
he was always a Texas fan and Austin’s right up the road from here. He had a great opportunity at LSU, but when he had the chance to stay home and play for his favorite team … no, I can’t say I’m surprised.”
WITHIN REACH: Caden Sterns may see some playing time this fall if all goes well this spring.
start on classes and participating in the team’s spring workouts — an irreplaceable benefit for any new player hoping to crack the lineup in his first year. Make no mistake — with the departures of DeShon Elliott and Holton Hill this year, and P.J. Locke III and Kris Boyd next year, the Longhorns need some of their young defensive backs to play, and play early. But with six new players in the secondary, several of whom enrolled early, the competition will be fierce. Sterns will get some work this spring, and perhaps into his freshman season, at cornerback and safety. The plan reflects the Texas coaches’ realization that not only is Sterns an elite athlete, but he also has the smarts and the maturity to take on multiple roles while navigating his first year of playing college football. “I don’t know what their plan for him is, but honestly it doesn’t matter,” Saenz said. “He’s a great safety. If they move him up in certain packages and play him as a linebacker, he can do that, too, because he’s fast, tough and versatile. “The sky’s the limit for Caden,” he continued. “He’ll get bigger and stronger — he can add a lot of weight if they want him to — and he’ll do everything they ask of him. Before he’s done at Texas, they’ll realize they got a great player and a great young man.”
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THE NATURAL-BORN ATHLETE
MIKE WILLIAMS QUARTERBACK 6’2” • 240 LBS DUNHAM SCHOOL BATON ROUGE, LA.
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RECRUITING MIKE WILLIAMS was a sport in itself — one that Texas head coach Tom Herman and his staff enjoyed playing, with other national heavyweight programs like Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Arizona State. After all, Williams is an absurdly intriguing athlete, and it’s easy to see why top programs across the country wanted him. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder predominantly played quarterback in high school. He’s too quick and nimble for defensive linemen, and far too strong for defensive backs to tackle one-on-one. The two-time all-state honoree threw for exactly 3,400 yards and 41 touchdowns over his junior and senior seasons. The internet is littered with Williams’ highlights but one stands out among the rest — a 98-yard touchdown run in which he makes defenders look ridiculous in a number of ways. First, he shot through a gap in the offensive line before a pair of
defensive linemen could meet to seal off the running lane, then hurdled a safety diving at his ankles, cut back against the grain to elude a linebacker, then ran away from and — in the case of two more defensive backs and another linebacker — through the rest of the defense en route to the end zone. Williams played at the Dunham School in Baton Rouge, La. — just under 10 miles from LSU’s Tiger Stadium. Fortunately for the Longhorns, he decided to leave the state of Louisiana and venture over to the 40 Acres. But Williams isn’t headed to Austin as a quarterback. Herman and his staff watched Williams play linebacker and defensive end for Dunham. Although his primary role was quarterback, he still managed to collect six sacks and create matchup problems for opposing offenses; when teams blocked him one-on-one with a lineman, he used
ALL PHOTOS IN THIS SPREAD: COURTESY STEVE JOHNSON
MIKE WILLIAMS HAS THE SPEED AND STRENGTH TO DOMINATE ANY POSITION ON THE FIELD
his quickness to get around blockers, and teams that chose to try to slow him down by throwing a running back in his way rarely made that mistake more than once. Evaluating high school players and projecting what they’ll become in college is an inexact science. That uncertainty only increases when a player is asked to switch to a new position while he matures. Texas didn’t lose any defensive ends to graduation in 2017, so while Williams will be asked to improve the position, it isn’t as if the Longhorns won’t have other options as he completes the transition to playing defense on a full-time basis. Herman and his staff are banking on the fact that Williams’ extraordinary combination of speed, strength and athleticism will translate into the creation of some of those same mismatches at the college level. He will get bigger and stronger, but while other young defensive end prospects might have more technical polish, the bet is that Williams’ running ability and overall athleticism will allow him to adjust to — and thrive in — his new position.
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BEST IN SHOW
DEMARVION OVERSHOWN SAFETY 6’3” • 195 LBS. ARP ARP, TEXAS
SOME PLAYERS SIMPLY jump out at observers, whether on video or in person. Such players can include a lineman who’s so big and strong that he simply overwhelms opponents, the receiver with so much speed he’s a threat to score any time he touches the ball, or the strong-armed quarterback who can fire 40yard strikes downfield seemingly with the flick of the wrist. 28 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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The Longhorns have signed several players who fall into that category, in one form or another. But it’s quite possible that none is as dynamic as Arp, Texas, safety DeMarvion Overshown. When he signed and enrolled in January, Texas’ athletic sports information listed Overshown at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds — dimensions that are slightly more modest than those being published by assorted recruiting services, which listed him at 6-foot-4 and north of 200 pounds. What’s beyond debate, however, is Overshown’s ability to make plays. Over the past three years, he piled up a ridiculous 411 tackles, including 142 in his senior season, 34 tackles for loss (14 in 2017) and 12 sacks (five last season). He contributed heavily to the Arp defense’s takeaways, picking off 12 passes, including five as a senior, and recovering six fumbles, two of which he grabbed in 2017. Not surprisingly, Overshown collected accolades like he piled up tackles, earning AllAmerica, all-state (twice) and all-district (twice) honors and being selected to play in the 2018 Under Armour All-America Game. Different recruiting services vary in their specific rankings, but all agreed he’s among the top handful of safeties in the country; 247Sports ranked him in its top spot at the position. Some safeties pile up the interceptions and tackles, and Overshown certainly does those
things. But in addition to his overwhelming productivity, what caught the eye of recruiters was the sometimes-violent punishment he doled out to any wayward receiver who ventured across the Arp secondary. He has good size for a safety — especially for a high school safety — and administered some brutal hits that might not be expected from a player with a relatively lanky frame. Because he’ll likely add significant muscle as he matures, and because of his jackhammer hitting style, there’s some uncertainty about what position Overshown will hold by the time his career in Austin is over. If called upon, he has the speed and hitting ability to be a terror on special teams. As far as his role on the defense, that will sort itself out in the years ahead. He’s starting out his career at Texas at safety, but there are many — including coaches from national powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma and Ohio State — who think his best position might be at linebacker. Whether Overshown makes the transition from the secondary to the front seven in the Texas defense remains to be seen. What is known now, however, is that a large part of the reason Texas’ recruiting class is ranked the nation’s best is because of the heavy emphasis Herman and his staff put on recruiting defensive talent. In other words, they wanted players like Overshown.
HEADSHOT: COURTESY ETSN.FM, ACTION SHOT: COURTESY INTERSPORT
DEMARVION OVERSHOWN IS ONE OF THE TOP SAFETIES IN THE NATION
A RARE BREED KEONDRE COBURN IS IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN
KEONDRE COBURN
ALL PHOTOS IN THIS PAGE: COURTESY HORNS247
DEFENSIVE TACKLE 6’1” • 329 LBS. WESTFIELD HOUSTON
LOOKS CAN BE deceiving. Yes, this statement is a cliché, but in the case of defensive tackle Keondre Coburn, it applies. Coburn is hard to miss. The All-American and three-time All-District 16-6A honoree from Westfield High School in Houston carries nearly 330 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame and dominates the interior of the line of scrimmage. As a senior, he wrecked opposing teams’ blocking schemes while collecting 56 tackles, including an absurd 20 tackles for loss and 7.5 quarterback sacks
en route to earning District Defensive Most Valuable Player honors. The honors poured in from the media. He grabbed the No. 9 spot on the Austin American-Statesman’s Fab 55 list and the No. 10 spot on the Houston Chronicle’s Top 100 list. He was named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine’s 2017 Super Team and earned a spot on the magazine’s “Tops in Texas” list. Every recruiting service ranked him among the nation’s top 200 players and the top 20 in the state of Texas as he anchored the defensive line for a team that surrendered just 101 points for the season — an average of just 8.4 per game. Awards and rankings are an indicator of what a player did in high school, but what he might become in college almost always is reflected by the scholarship offers he receives. Using that metric, there’s reason to believe the Longhorns might have a future star; before signing with Texas, he received offers from national heavyweight programs like Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M and Wisconsin. It’s easy to look at Coburn’s size and strength and lump him in with other interior linemen whose size allows them to clog up the middle, but also virtually eliminates any mobility. That can be effective in high school, where opposing offensive linemen can lack the size and strength to move a player who weighs in on the north side of 300 pounds. But such an image is anything but an accurate portrayal of Coburn, whose quickness
is nothing short of shocking for a player who boasts his bulk. College coaches search constantly for big interior linemen, but the ones those coaches truly covet are big enough to anchor and hold up against two blockers while also possessing the quickness to shoot through gaps in the opposing offensive line. Coburn fits that formula perfectly. While some teams seek out size and little more in their interior linemen, more teams are after those who can bull-rush a blocker straight backward, or use an explosive first step to get around him — someone in the mold of NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams. Coburn is bigger than Donald, but his quickness will cause headaches for opposing blockers — and for the ball carriers he’s able to track down. Most will notice Coburn’s combination of size and strength at first, which is rare in a player at any level, especially one who just finished his high school career. But it doesn’t take much time in the film room to realize that what sets him apart is extraordinary quickness, the kind of acceleration and mobility usually reserved for players with far less bulk. Still, Coburn is in for an adjustment. It’s safe to say he was the most dominant athlete on the line of scrimmage in just about every high school game he played; however, when he gets to college, he’ll encounter blockers with the size and strength to knock him off his path to the ball carrier. But with his rare combination of size and quickness, he should be able to make an early, significant contribution. RECRUITING 2018 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 29
PICK PERFECT MEET THE MEMBERS OF THE 2018 CLASS
T
HE EYES OF the nation were upon Texas’ recruiting class this year. The Longhorns received high grades and praise for their 2018 recruiting class, with hopes that the newcomers — some of whom are already on campus — can bolster Texas to its proper place among the historically great. Here’s a glimpse into each player coming to make an impact on the 40 Acres.
QUARTERBACKS CAMERON RISING 6'1" • 232 LBS. NEWBURY PARK NEWBURY, CALIF.
TOM HERMAN DIDN’T need to wait until October to get his first win over Oklahoma. Sooner rather than later, the Texas coach picked up a commitment from Cameron Rising, a four-star quarterback from California who had previously been committed to Oklahoma. Rising made the announcement via Twitter, and Longhorn Nation celebrated. Rising is the No. 7-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2018 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. He’s listed at 6-foot-1, 235 pounds. Rising became the second quarterback to join Texas after Herman landed four-star Casey Thompson.
CASEY THOMPSON
6'0" • 190 LBS. NEWCASTLE NEWCASTLE, OKLA.
FOUR-STAR QUARTERBACK CASEY Thompson, the son of former Oklahoma quarterback Charles Thompson and the younger brother of former Sooners quarterback Kendal Thompson, has high pedigree and expectations to fulfill. In his Southmoore, Okla., high school career, Thompson amassed more than 8,000 yards of total offense and scored 109 touchdowns. He’s ranked as the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in the nation and is a 247Sports Composite national top-160 player. As a junior, Thompson passed for 2,730 yards and 28 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He rushed for 586 yards and scored 14 touchdowns on the ground. He’s accounted for 139 total touchdowns in his prep career. Texas did a great job holding on to both Thompson and Rising, who both enrolled early and will immediately elevate the quarterback room occupied by Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger. The Longhorns hope Thompson and Rising can push both returning quarterbacks and provide immediate depth. Expect one of the two to redshirt.
KEAONTAY INGRAM 6'1" • 190 LBS. CARTHAGE CARTHAGE, TEXAS
TEXAS ALWAYS WANTED Keaontay Ingram as its running back. Considering he’s the only Longhorn running back in this class, it’s safe to say both sides are getting exactly what they want. Ingram, a four-star talent and a member of the Fabulous 55, led Carthage to the Class 4A state championship as a junior.
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He showed the ability to hurt teams out of the backfield as a traditional running back. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound prospect rushed for 2,225 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior, adding 475 yards and two touchdowns on 46 receptions. The only thing Texas wanted to accomplish at running back was holding on to Ingram, the best running back in the state by a wide margin. The three-down playmaker was busy helping Carthage win its second straight state championship or he would’ve signed in December. He’s also a willing blocker. Herman wants Ingram to report to campus in June ready to compete for the starting running back position. Ingram topped 5,000 yards of rushing in his career, one of three Carthage running backs to accomplish that feat. He could easily be the future at the running back position, which is now without Chris Warren III.
RISING AND THOMPSON: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY, INGRAM: COURTESY BUD WORLEY
RUNNING BACK
WIDE RECEIVERS BRENNAN EAGLES 6'3" • 200 LBS. ALIEF TAYLOR HOUSTON, TEXAS
TEXAS ADDED A potential all-conference talent when four-star wideout Brennan Eagles committed to the Longhorns over offers from Florida, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU and others. Eagles, who is the No. 12-ranked player in the Fabulous 55, also had the chance to play in the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Eagles is a traditional wide receiver who’ll play on the outside. He’s physically mature for his age and can out-muscle most prep cornerbacks. Eagles participated at The Opening Final in Oregon and is ranked as the No. 10 wide receiver in the country and the No. 61 overall prospect in the 2018 class, per 247Sports Composite. He was a star performer at The Opening regional and Under Armour All-America Camp Series after catching 55 passes for 1,069 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. Eagles and Al’vonte Woodard both have an argument to be named the best wide receiver prospect in Texas, but Eagles might have the physical upside.
JOSHUA MOORE 6'1" • 170 LBS. YOAKUM YOAKUM, TEXAS
EAGLES: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY, WOODARD: COURTESY HORNS247, MOORE: COURTESY TOMMY LIN, EPPS: COURTESY 247.0
JOSHUA MOORE, A four-star receiver from Yoakum High School, picked the Longhorns because he wants to help the offense become the best in the Big 12, and the nation.
AL’VONTE WOODARD
6'1" • 193 LBS. LAMAR HOUSTON, TEXAS
HOUSTON LAMAR WIDE receiver Al’vonte Woodard is an elite athlete who ranks No. 13 in the Fabulous 55. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound four-star player held 31 offers from around the country before signing with the Longhorns. Texas was considered his favorite throughout his recruitment and his preference was made clear when he set up a summer visit to the 40 Acres, a week after his announced commitment date. He’s one of three Houston Lamar prospects in the 2018 class to hold an offer from the Longhorns, who later secured cornerbacks D’Shawn Jamison and Anthony Cook. Woodard is the No. 104 prospect in the nation and the No. 20 overall wide receiver prospect in the country, per 247Sports Composite rankings. At Lamar, Woodard was the District 18-6A Overall MVP as a junior, quite a feat for a player of his stature and position. He tallied 90 catches and 26 touchdowns in his last three high school seasons.
Texas battled for Moore’s commitment when the 6-foot-1 prospect de-committed from Nebraska on Dec. 10. Texas wide receiver coach Drew Mehringer was at a Yoakum football practice the next day and remained on Moore throughout January. Moore played his final prep game at the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando on Jan. 6, surrounded by eight future Longhorns. He was a priority recruit for the Texas commits in attendance and that bonding experience played a big role for Moore in choosing Texas. He’s extremely quick and grabbed 29 catches for seven touchdowns and 424 yards last season while also accumulating 456 yards rushing and five rushing touchdowns, giving him 12 offensive scores.
TIGHT ENDS MALCOLM EPPS 6'5" • 218 LBS. DEKANEY HOUSTON, TEXAS
MALCOLM EPPS ISN’T physically ready to be an in-line blocker, but his sheer height and length make him a potential matchup nightmare on third downs and in the red zone. The four-star prospect has a big catch radius and does a good job using his hands to catch the ball. The Longhorns had two tight ends committed, but JUCO product Dominick Wood-Anderson de-committed during the season. With
attrition and NFL declarations freeing up scholarships, it wouldn’t be surprising for the staff to make a late addition to the tight ends room with a grad transfer. Epps is a 6-foot-5, 218-pound tight end who plays like a wide receiver and looks like a small forward on a basketball team. He’s long and lanky, excelling more as a receiver than a blocker at this stage in his development. A polished route-runner with consistent hands, Epps’ weakness is clear, even to him. He’s ranked No. 14 on the Fabulous 55. A one-time Alabama commit, he’s the No. 227-ranked overall prospect in the country and the 10th-ranked tight end in the 2018 class, per the 247Sports Composite. He de-committed from Alabama and committed to the Longhorns last summer and was in Austin for Texas’ win over Kansas State.
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OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
OFFENSIVE TACKLE 6'4" • 320 LBS. COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO SAN MATEO, CALIF. TEXAS NEEDS IMMEDIATE help at offensive tackle heading into the 2018 season, and the Longhorns took steps toward filling future needs at the position with signatures from prep products Rafiti Ghirmai, Reese Moore and Junior Angilau. Still, it didn’t seem like enough. So, Tom Herman’s staff made one last splash at the position by adding JUCO offensive tackle Mikey Grandy from the College of San Mateo in California. The three-star product chose the Longhorns over UCLA. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Grandy should compete for the left tackle spot vacated by Connor Williams. Grandy is the No. 20-ranked overall JUCO prospect in the country and the No. 4-ranked offensive tackle at a JUCO level, per 247Sports Composite. Grandy took an official visit to Texas on Dec. 15 after visiting UCLA on Dec. 9. He goes a long way toward further establishing the offense as a bruising unit that also has grace and flexibility, not to mention some knowhow and a ton of motivation to make his stint at Texas an impactful one. Grandy should compete instantly at left or right tackle. He’s one of several prospects from the 2018 class already on campus.
JUNIOR ANGILAU
OFFENSIVE TACKLE 6’6” • 297 LBS. EAST SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH TEXAS ADDED ANOTHER top-flight prep prospect when four-star offensive tackle Junior Angilau chose the Longhorns over Utah, Oregon, USC and others. The Salt Lake City East High School product is a national top200 prospect and the No. 10-ranked offensive tackle in the 2018 class, per 247Sports Composite. Angilau is a big-bodied offensive tackle with a wide wingspan and solid feet. He’s a true offensive tackle prospect because of his sheer size and experience at the position. Angilau is a skilled pass rusher and shows a great punch and quick hands when blocking edge rushers. Like most high school offensive lineman, he must improve his flexibility and add strength to his frame. He’s also a bully in the running game, and Texas needs more offensive linemen with nasty streaks. Angilau finishes blocks with authority and can handle big defensive linemen in one-on-one situations at the point of attack. His athleticism also allows him to get to the second level in the run game. It’s hard to ask prep offensive linemen to make an immediate impact at the college level because of the difference in size and speed of collegiate defenders. Texas doesn’t exactly have the depth to wait for players like Angilau to develop in the old-fashioned route of a redshirt season, much like Derek Kerstetter was thrust into action as a true freshman. Angilau is the most college-ready of the four high school offensive linemen who signed with the Longhorns. Asking him to start might be a stretch, but Texas might need him to provide immediate help at the position entering the 2018 season. 32 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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REESE MOORE
OFFENSIVE TACKLE 6’6” • 280 LBS. SEMINOLE SEMINOLE, TEXAS THE LONGHORNS ADDED depth and strength to their offensive line via the recruiting trail when they secured Seminole offensive tackle Reese Moore. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound prospect was a first-team all-district tight end as a junior and projects to become an offensive tackle in college. He’s a three-star player, and he knew he wanted to become a Longhorn early on, joining others in the 2018 class at the time: wide receiver Justin Watkins, linebacker Byron Hobbs and quarterbacks Casey Thompson and Cameron Rising. A longtime defensive lineman in high school, Moore has shown an ability to block. He takes up one offensive tackle spot heading into the spring and looks to be a big reason for optimism for the Texas offense this season. He’s athletic, not just for a lineman but especially for an offensive lineman, logging playing time and even earning all-district honors as a tight end. Moore passed up offers from TCU, Texas Tech, Northwestern, Oklahoma and other schools before pledging to suit up for the Longhorns. With his size, the move to become a lineman for Texas is being met with a lot of optimism because of his agility and intelligence on the field.
CHRISTIAN JONES
OFFENSIVE TACKLE 6’6” • 285 LBS. CY-WOODS CYPRESS, TEXAS
TEXAS PROVED IN 2017 that there’s no such thing as too much depth on the offensive line. The Longhorns are taking that lesson to heart, gaining a commitment from their fifth offensive lineman in the 2018 class when Cy Woods offensive tackle Christian Jones pulled the trigger days after de-committing from SMU. Jones, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound three-star prospect, picked Texas over UCLA, Cal and Vanderbilt. Jones spent his high school career contributing at Cy-Woods as an offensive lineman and a defensive end. He’s an athletic big man with solid feet and a strong understanding of when to get to the second level. Jones can be used in the screen game and as a pulling tackle on sweeps and counters. Texas figures it can add weight and strength to Jones during a redshirt freshman season and uncover a true recruiting gem. The three-star prospect is ranked as the No. 727-ranked prospect in the class. He’s the No. 56 ranked offensive tackle in the cycle and the No. 101st-best player in Texas for the 2018 class, per 247Sports Composite. Texas is betting on his upside and potential to grow into an athletic left tackle. Jones joins four other offensive linemen in the class and might be the furthest away from college-ready. He’s the lowest-rated commitment of the five, per 247Sports Composite. He’s a project with upside and could use a redshirt year to develop his body in the weight room.
GRANDY: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY, MOORE: COURTESY LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL ANGILAU: COURTESY 247, JONES: COURTESY HORNS247
MIKEY GRANDY
DEEMED DESTINED FOR UCLA, Rafiti Ghirmai delivered a huge win to head coach Tom Herman and his staff when he showed up on the Texas campus. Ghirmai, a four-star from Frisco Wakeland, could add depth in year one at tackle or guard. Ghirmai played right tackle for Wakeland. Texas tight ends coach Derek Warehime has led the recruitment of Ghirmai, and the two remained close leading up to his joining the Longhorns.
RAFITI GHIRMAI
OFFENSIVE TACKLE 6'4" • 290 LBS. WAKELAND FRISCO, TEXAS
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN MORO OJOMO
DANIEL CARSON
DEFFENSIVE TACKLE 6'3" • 280 LBS. KATY KATY, TEXAS
DEFFENSIVE END 6’5” • 260 LBS. WILLIAM CHRISMAN INDEPENDENCE, MO.
GHIRMAI AND OJOMO: COURTESY 247.0, CARSON: COURTESY HORNS247 BUJCEVSKI: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
MORO OJOMO EMERGED as a top target at defensive tackle late in the recruiting cycle after turning in a terrific senior season. The three-star Katy product was named his district’s defensive MVP and then watched offers roll in, beginning with Texas. Many more national programs followed suit. Ojomo, who took an official visit to Texas on Jan. 26, became the Longhorns’ 26th commitment for the 2018 class. He’ll pair with fourstar Keondre Coburn as the Longhorns’ defensive tackles for the cycle. Ojomo is just beginning to scratch the surface as a prospect. The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder is only 16 years old. He’s still growing, and that makes his upside appealing. Ojomo could easily grow an inch or two and add 30-40 pounds to his frame before stepping foot on the field. He’s a three-technique tackle, excelling when he’s allowed to battle guards and avoid double teams. He’s strong at the point of attack, but his best attribute is his ability to run up and down the line of scrimmage. Ojomo carries his weight tremendously and is surprisingly athletic for a prospect his size. He’s pegged to play the position that Chris Nelson occupies, with Coburn more of a nose tackle like Poona Ford. Ojomo can play tackle in a 4-3 or as an end in an odd-man front like the one often employed by Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. Add in Ojomo’s potential for growth and he’s the type of prospect who could blossom into the steal of the 2018 class.
IT’S HARD TO find holes in a recruiting class ranked third in the nation and best in the Big 12. Yet, the defensive line was the hole for the Longhorns in the 2018 cycle, and the commitment of three-star defensive end and Missouri native Daniel Carson gives Tom Herman and his staff another building block toward the future. Carson is a big-bodied defensive end who’s an ideal fit in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s scheme, which relies on big defensive linemen to take up blocks for athletic linebackers. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Carson is big enough to become a defensive tackle and athletic enough to play on the edge. His versatility is what attracted Texas to offer Carson, and his fit into the scheme was the main driving point in gaining his commitment. Carson recorded 73 tackles as a senior, including 17 tackles for loss and six sacks in 10 games. He’s the No. 24-ranked strong side defensive end in the 2018 recruiting cycle and the No. 9-ranked overall prospect from the state of Missouri. The versatility of Carson’s body type and athleticism should make him a favorite of Orlando. The Longhorn defense thrives on the ability for players to line up in multiple positions against a variety of packages, and Carson could remain a big defensive end or gain 30 pounds and spin to defensive tackle. Fellow 2018 commitment Ayodele Adeoye is also a Missouri native despite finishing his career in Florida at IMG Academy.
PUNTER RYAN BUJCEVSKI 6'0" • 180 LBS. PROKICK AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA
TEXAS IS ACCUSTOMED to punting success after the Michael Dickson years. The Longhorns hope the Australian connection carries on that tradition with Ryan Bujcevski, a product of Marist Catholic College in Melbourne. He’ll join Lake Travis kicker Cameron Dicker as two specialists to receive a scholarship offer in the 2018 class. Bujcevski was the sixth member to fax a letter of intent to the Texas staff on the first day of the early signing period.
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LINEBACKERS
OFFENSIVE LINEBACKER 6'4" • 220 LBS. OAK RIDGE CONROE, TEXAS JOSEPH OSSAI WAS the premier pass rusher in the state of Texas during the 2018 cycle. He’s not the same type of defensive end like fellow commitments Michael Williams and Daniel Carson. Ossai is an edge rusher who excels at attacking the quarterback or ball carrier. That’s not to say Ossai shies away from setting the edge against the run. The best part is that he’s still improving. The Nigeria native didn’t watch football until he was 10 years old. He didn’t play defensive end until his sophomore year of high school and didn’t become a dominant force until his junior year. The athleticism and size were always apparent, but his stock grew as he became a refined defensive end. A guy who can get to the quarterback is always in need. Texas needs more dynamic pass rushers to truly run defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s scheme. Orlando wants his team to attack with speed and aggression, and those two adjectives describe Ossai. The four-star lineman plays fast and likes to attack. He’ll likely find his way onto the field in certain packages during 2018 — he doesn’t expect to redshirt. Ossai played defensive end at Oak Ridge but will move to outside linebacker in college. His priority will remain getting after the quarterback. Ossai was an in-state win for Herman over Texas A&M.
BYRON HOBBS
OFFENSIVE LINEBACKER 6'3.5" • 216 LBS. EASTERN HILLS FORT WORTH, TEXAS TOM HERMAN’S FIRST real recruiting class at Texas needed familiar blood. It got exactly that in Fort Worth Eastern Hills linebacker Byron Hobbs. The three-star prospect was one of the top performers in Dallas at The Opening regional and the Under Armour All-American Camp Series.
AYODELE ADEOYE
INSIDE LINEBACKER 6’1” • 235 POUNDS IMG ACADEMY BRADENTON, FLA.
FOUR-STAR LINEBACKER AYODELE Adeoye, a Missouri native, pledged to Tom Herman’s program after he spent a weekend unofficially visiting Texas and taking part in a mini-camp. Adeoye is a 6-foot-1, 235-pound middle linebacker prospect ranked No. 119 overall in the 2018 class. He’s ranked the No. 6 inside linebacker prospect in the country, per 247Sports Composite. He chose Texas over more than 20 offers after stellar play in high school. Adeoye was Texas’ first commitment at middle linebacker in the 2018 class and helped set the tone for what the Longhorns look to become this spring. With a 34-inch vertical and fast first step, the linebacking prospect plans to step into a vital role for Texas with an aggressive and controlled attack on defense. Texas let out a sigh of relief when Adeoye faxed in his letter late on Dec. 20. He was a key piece to the class and is needed to compete for snaps at middle linebacker next to Gary Johnson. Oklahoma made a late push for Adeoye.
At nearly 6-foot-4 and 216 pounds, Hobbs is a hybrid linebacker with position versatility. Texas defensive coordinator Todd Orlando thrives with those types of athletes. He wants players who can play against a variety of offensive looks. Hobbs is a fast, explosive athlete with raw upside at either outside linebacker position. He’s already adept at rushing the passer off the edge and is more comfortable attacking downhill than playing in space at this stage in his development. He’s not a finished product and his best football is ahead of him. Hobbs showed the ability to cover running backs at both camps he attended last year and never shied away from snaps despite not playing at a high-profile high school. Hobbs’ frame should allow him to add 30 pounds in a short time once he hits a college weight room.
CORNERBACKS JALEN GREEN
6’0” • 171 LBS. HEIGHTS HOUSTON, TEXAS HOUSTON HEIGHTS CORNERBACK Jalen Green, a four-star prospect ranked No. 9 on the Fabulous 55, was the first cornerback to choose Texas in 34 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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the 2018 cycle. Green was an all-defensive selection at The Opening Final in Oregon. Green possesses the ideal combination of length and athleticism at over 6-foot. He started his high school career as a quarterback before switching to defense his sophomore season. The move stuck, and Green quickly earned scholarship offers from around the country, including one from Houston when Tom Herman was still the Cougars‘ head coach. Green announced a top five of Texas, Oregon, LSU, Ohio State and Penn State prior to deciding to come to DBU.
OSSAI AND HOBBS: COURTESY BRIAN PERRONI 247SPORTS, ADEOYE: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY GREEN: COURTESY 247SPORTS
JOSEPH OSSAI
D’SHAWN JAMISON
ANTHONY COOK
5’10” • 174 LBS. LAMAR HOUSTON, TEXAS
6’0” • 190 LBS. LAMAR HOUSTON, TEXAS
D’SHAWN JAMISON PROVED doubters wrong with MVP-level performances at elite camps throughout the spring and the summer. Jamison’s knock is his height, and it does limit him on the outside against bigger receivers. However, it doesn’t make him an ineffective defensive back if used properly. Jamison is an ideal fit for a Big 12 defense because of his ability to play coverage against running backs, tight ends and slot receivers. He’s also physical enough to remain on the field in run situations. Texas plays with five or even six defensive backs on the field under defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, and that’s the role Jamison hopes to play when P.J. Locke III leaves the 40 Acres. The four-star cornerback from Houston Lamar is the 15th-rated cornerback in his class and the No. 115 overall prospect in the entire nation, per 247Sports Composite rankings. He’s a member of the Fabulous 55 and held 28 scholarship offers. He started his high school career watching Texas defensive back Holton Hill become an elite prospect who garnered attention from around the country.
ANTHONY COOK SHOULD fit right at home in Austin, as he joins Houston Lamar teammates Al’vonte Woodard and D’Shawn Jamison in Texas’ 2018 recruiting class. Cook is a technician. While most elite cornerbacks win matchups due to sheer athleticism, Cook is a master of his craft at a young age. It garnered him more than 30 offers and made him the No. 1 player in the state for most of the recruiting cycle, per 247Sports Composite. He would finish the cycle ranked seventh in Texas. An alumnus of The Opening Final in Oregon, Cook concluded his prep career by playing in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Cook is 6-foot and strong enough to body receivers at the line of scrimmage. He’s a willing tackler in space and excels in man-to-man coverage. Cook chose the Longhorns over Ohio State and LSU. He was first-team all-district selection at cornerback as a sophomore, junior and a senior. There’s a hole to fill opposite Kris Boyd, and Cook will get his chance to make an impact as a true freshman. His advanced understanding of the cornerback position should give him an advantage over the other young cornerbacks.
KICKER CAMERON DICKER LOOKS to revive the tradition of kickers kicking butt at Texas. The local leg committed to the Longhorns one week after receiving an offer from Tom Herman, wasting no time as he wanted to stay close to town and with a budding winner. Dicker is a three-star prospect and was ranked as the No. 4 kicker in the 2018 class, per 247Sports Composite ratings. Dicker was a member of Lake Travis’ 2016 state championship team. In two years of varsity action, he’s 20-of-25 on field goals and 161-of-163 on extra points. His longest field goal in high school was from 46 yards.
CAMERON DICKER
JAMISON: COURTESY 247SPORTS, COOK AND FOSTER: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY DICKER: COURTESY BART BACON
6'1" • 187 LBS. LAKE TRAVIS AUSTIN, TEXAS
SAFETY B.J. FOSTER
6'1" • 205 LBS. ANGLETON ANGLETON, TEXAS TEXAS MISSED OUT on every top-10 player inside the state for the 2017 class. However, the Longhorns didn’t repeat that failure in 2018, and there are a lot of people hopeful — and confident — B.J. Foster will live up to his high billing. Tom Herman’s program earned a five-star
pledge from the Angleton safety who’s one of two five-star talents in Texas and is the No. 2 ranked player in the Fabulous 55. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound safety is the third-ranked safety in his class and the No. 24 ranked prospect in the nation, per 247Sports Composite. Foster is a force on both sides of the football in high school, but he’ll be a safety at the next level. He has great top-end speed and range, so his upside is highest on the defensive side of the football. He has great height as a defensive back and a good frame. He missed most of his junior year with an ACL injury but bounced back with a great senior season and strong, hard-hitting performance in the Under Armour All-America Game.
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YOUNG AND RELENTLESS: Daniel Young is one of four young running backs who will look to stand out in this year’s spring game.
SPRING AWAKENING TEXAS RETURNS TO THE PRACTICE FIELD TO DETERMINE WHO HAS THE TALENT TO EARN PLAYING TIME THIS FALL
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“We’ll take that extra week before spring break, then we’ll come back from spring break, go four or five straight weeks, culminating in the spring game.” On the heels of a recruiting class ranked in the top three in the nation by 247Sports, Texas should improve in 2018. But many of the players the Longhorns signed in December and February — 27 in all — won’t work out this spring or play this fall. At least that’s the best-case scenario. The more seasoning and work the younger players receive before the coaching staff sends them into game action, the longer, more productive careers they could have on the 40 Acres. A handful of the players in the class of 2018 may be too talented to leave in the pasture when the time comes to play for real. On offense, the Longhorns have real needs at running back, tight end and on the line, while on defense Texas loses key players in the interior, at linebacker and in the secondary.
Let’s look at the positions and players to watch during this year’s spring game, which takes place on April 21. QUARTERBACK Texas used a platoon situation at signalcaller last year, mostly out of necessity. Shane Buechele started the season at quarterback but got injured in the season opener vs. Maryland. His absence gave way to true freshman Sam Ehlinger, who played well at times in his seven starts but also made some head-scratching poor decisions. Buechele battled an ankle injury most of the season and tore his abductor muscle in the Texas Bowl. He had surgery to repair the tear on Jan. 18 and is expected to be back for some level of participation during spring drills. How much remains to be seen. “We’re excited we got that taken care of,” Herman said. “Shane is doing well. If everything goes according to plan, we’re
COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
A
FTER WINNING THE Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl in dominating fashion over Missouri only months ago, it’s already time for the Longhorns to get back to work and improve on the 7-6 record that garnered them their first winning campaign since 2013. Head coach Tom Herman and the Texas football machine coined the drive to make Longhorn football great again as #RevolUTion18, which comes into full swing March 20. “What we’ve done in the past is go the week before spring break, take spring break and come back,” Herman explained when asked about the late start date. “With the signing date being so late this year — almost a week later than some years — as well as adding a new piece to the offensive staff, we needed time to just talk football and get everybody on the same page.
expecting him back for spring practice at full speed.” Herman wants a quarterback who can lead and be consistent. Both Buechele and Ehlinger have their strengths (a hybrid made up of parts of both players would be ideal), and those high marks should be better than their weaknesses if Texas plans to win in the Big 12, which is a quarterback-driven conference. “Sam’s mindset is great,” Herman said. “He’s a great leader. He knows to take the next step as a leader, he has to be in the position to where his teammates have confidence in him. “Having the year under his belt, another spring practice, another training camp,” Herman continued, “the speed of the game is going to slow down for that kid monumentally.” Both quarterbacks signed by Texas this season — Californian Cameron Rising and Casey Thompson from Oklahoma — are early enrollees and will participate in spring drills. How much work they get depends on their progress compared to that of Ehlinger and Buechele; if one or both do something special, Herman will make sure they get on the field. “Rising and Thompson have been great,” Herman said. “Both have magnetic personalities. They’re not afraid to work. In fact, they enjoy it.”
COURTESY BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS
RUNNING BACK True freshman running backs Toneil Carter and Daniel Young combined for 625 yards and six touchdowns rushing in 2017, but neither are the breakaway threat the Longhorns’ offense craves. Kyle Porter, who returns for his junior season, added 261 yards last year but isn’t the answer either. All three of those players need to make huge strides in the spring to hold off incoming freshman Keaontay Ingram, a back whom many recruiting gurus have compared to Ohio State’s J.K. Dobbins, last year’s freshman sensation. Carter, Young and Porter will have the jump on Ingram as far as meaningful college reps, but talent — and skill — will rise to the top. “I don’t know if we’ll ever say we expect Ingram to be the guy,” Herman said. “That’s not fair to the guys that are bleeding and sweating for us. There’s a need at that position to get better. Whether that’s the development of the guys we have now — great. If that’s the infusion of a Keaontay Ingram — great.”
FULL SPEED AHEAD: If Shane Buechele’s recovery goes to plan, expect to see him in full force this spring.
OFFENSIVE LINE Texas suffered through a tough season in 2017 on the line, as injuries forced thenoffensive line coach Derek Warehime to field a makeshift group that changed from week to week and ended up with a true freshman playing at right tackle for half the season. The Longhorns lost Connor Williams, last year’s bellcow lineman, to the pros, while Terrell Cuney and Jake McMillon decided RECRUITING 2018 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 37
to forgo their final season of eligibility and give up football. The spring will be the time for the likes of Elijah Rodriquez, Patrick Hudson, Tope Imade and Derek Kerstetter to fight for spots in the Longhorns’ front five — and to impress new offensive line coach Herb Hand, who was hired away from Auburn to make the most of this bunch. Much of Texas’ offensive woes last year can be attributed to the injuries on the offensive line. If there’s one position that has to be decidedly better for the Longhorns this season, it’s the offensive line. DEFENSIVE LINE Gone is stalwart Poona Ford, and seniorto-be Chris Nelson injured his elbow and didn’t play in the Texas Bowl. Defensive end Charles Omenihu might be Texas’ next great sack producer, and Ta’Quon Graham will be relied on heavily in the coming years. However, both have to improve. The spring marks the next time for them to show what they can do. The Longhorns signed three of the state’s — and maybe the nation’s — best prep defensive linemen to fill the holes. Until then, 38 HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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Gary Johnson
defensive coordinator Todd Orlando will work to separate the wheat from the chaff. LINEBACKER Texas’ unquestioned leader, Malik Jefferson, heads to the NFL with a world of potential and will likely have an extensive professional career. The group he leaves behind, including Gary Johnson, Texas Bowl-star Anthony Wheeler, Edwin Freeman, Jeffrey McCullough, Demarco Boyd and Marquez Bimage have a lot of talent and adaptability — the later an aspect that Orlando needs from all his players. Johnson has nothing to prove after his late-season show of speed, knowledge and
Toneil Carter
dominance, but the rest of the bunch will use spring drills to decide where they stand in the pecking order. DEFENSIVE BACK Gone from this impressive bunch of players is DeShon Elliott and Holton Hill (two juniors who decided to forgo their final college season and head to the pros), Antwuan Davis and Jason Hall, who filled a role as a linebacker in the Longhorns’ “lightning” defense — Orlando’s answer to the spread offense. The cupboard is far from bare, with P.J. Locke III, Davante Davis, Kris Boyd, Brandon Jones, John Bonney and Josh Thompson back
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
COMING TOGETHER: Infused with new talent and healthy players, the Longhorns plan to show early improvement in the front five.
Charles Omenihu
FROM LEFT: COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS
P.J. Locke III
after each had huge roles in the Longhorns’ defensive success in 2017. Those players, and the other seven secondary members who saw the field in 2017, will be pushed by Texas’ talented gaggle of signees, a group many publications are ranking as the best collection of incoming defensive backs in school history. The class features three players carrying five-star ratings from 247Sports in cornerback Jalen Green and safeties DeMarvion
Overshown and Caden Sterns, as well as fourstar safety B.J. Foster. That quartet made up the top four-rated players in the state. Sterns and Foster are already on campus and will use the upcoming drills to try to springboard into playing time in the fall. “You know how you get better at DB?” Herman asked. “You try to win your job every day in practice. If you don’t, some young dude will take your job. That’s the way it was when Texas was winning championships.”
Horns Illustrated (ISSN 1096-2573), Volume 25, Number 2. Copyright © 2018 by Texan Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Published seven times a year (monthly in January/February, March/April, May/June, July-September, October, November and December) in the United States by Horns Illustrated, 9417 B Solana Vista Loop, Austin, TX 78750. Subscription Inquiries: Send new or renewal notices or change of address (send both old and new addresses) to Horns Illustrated, P.O. Box 50069, Austin, TX 78763. Allow 6-8 weeks for change of address. Subscription Problems: Call 855-246-7677. Subscription Costs: U.S. and its possessions, one year basic rate, $39.00. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER – send address changes to Horns Illustrated - P.O. Box 50069, Austin, TX 78763. Tel. (855) 246-7677. Publisher disclaims all responsibility to return unsolicited editorial matter, and all rights in portions published vest in publisher. Letters to Horns Illustrated magazine or its editors are assumed intended for publication in whole or in part without permission from the writer. Any similarity between persons or places mentioned in the fiction or semi-fiction and real places or persons living or dead is coincidental. Single copies: $4.95 in U.S. RECRUITING 2018 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 39
FINAL SCORE
In the 100th meeting between the two programs, the Texas women’s basketball team defeated Texas Tech 87-72, as Brooke McCarty moved into the all-time top 20 for career scoring. Totaling 13 points, McCarty (1,472 points) surpassed Nell Fortner (1,466 points, 1977-1981) on the all-time career-scoring list. McCarty shot 5-for-13 on field goals and recorded one 3-pointer while adding four steals. The game marked sophomore guard/forward Joyner Holmes’ first start of the season, and her season-high 13 points tied with McCarty’s for the game-high in points. Adding nine rebounds, Holmes tied senior guard Ariel Atkins for the team lead in boards. Atkins recorded 10 points, shooting 5-for-8 from the field. Texas was 30-for-61 shooting field goals, 6-for-14 in 3-point shots and 6-for-13 from the free-throw line. All 12 Texas players who saw action in the game recorded double-digits in minutes played for the first time this season.
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COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS
STYLE POINTS