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MANAGING EDITOR STEVE LANSDALE
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TABLE OF CONTENTS M EHLINGER 6 LEAD LONGHORN - SAM WARD LIST 14 TEXAS PRESEASON AWARD ALYSIS 16 TEAM & OPPONENT ANALYSIS ARCH ON CAPITOL L 32 TEXAS LONGHORNS MARCH 34 CAMPBELL - WILLIAMS FIELD 38 BEN BALLARD - PLAYERR HIGHLIGHT 42 PUNDIT PICKS 46 SENIORS PROFILES 52 HABE ON THE HORNS 54-55 SOCCER, VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULES
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Quarterback Sam Ehlinger takes steps on, off field to leave program better than when he took the reins
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LEAD LONGHORN
By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer
PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
AUSTIN, Texas — What do you think of when you think about Sam Ehlinger, the Texas Longhorns’ senior quarterback and undisputed leader? Likely the first thing to come to mind is Ehlinger standing on a raised stage in the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans on New Year’s ugged Night 2019 after the Longhorns outslugged wl and declaring, Georgia to win the Allstate Sugar Bowl without hesitation, “We’re Back!” — in n the process channeling every giddy Texas fan’s feelings elings that night in the Big Easy and beyond. 08 passes Or perhaps it is Ehlinger’s streak of 308 without an interception in his sophomore more year, a run that set a new Big 12 Conference ce record for accuracy. ff It might even be Ehlinger bouncing off tacklers or standing tall in the pocket on the way to racking up 4,326 yards of total offense (3,663 yards passing, 663 rushing) last season in the Longhorns’ 8-5 campaign that ended with a win over Utah in the Valero ero Alamo Bowl.
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He’s the epitome of every Texas fan, albeit one that makes memories for others in the stadiums of the college football world instead of a supporter who watches those happenings from the stands or on television. Ehlinger, a senior from Austin’s Westlake High School, is — like a Longhorn — smart, and toughand resilient. “When I think of Sam, it’s about his toughness and his ability to learn,” Texas’ first year offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. “There’s a lot of football IQ going on, and he has a good business mind as well, so it doesn’t just pertain to football. Sam’s a very intelligent man.”
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But here’s a different perspective: Ehlinger is the human, football-playing version of Bevo, a Longhorn disguised as a 6-foot-3, 225-pound never-say-die signalcaller in burnt orange and white.
Yurcich has not had much of a chance to see Ehlinger work in person under game conditions because the coronavirus pandemic kept the Longhorns from practicing in the spring. But he knows good football and good leadership when he sees it, and it is evident in Ehlinger’s prior performances. “Sam has not only the ability to run the ball, but throw it with tremendous accuracy,” Yurcich said. “He’s got good footwork, and he can manage the game really well because he can get you out of bad plays. He knows where the defense is, and has tremendous vision. He’s the total package.
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“But Sam’s most significant trait is his leadership ability, his ability to grab the guys’; attention, to get them focused, to make sure that they own.” The Longhorns will go only as far in 2020 as Ehlinger takes them. He is the best player, the most vocal player, the most feared player and the most respected player on a Texas team of really good football players. Ehlinger is the Longhorns in a microcosm. “The hardest thing with the five months off (because of COVID-19) was not being able to be in the facility with all the guys,” Ehlinger said, “and being able to be around my teammates and get in the weight room get on the field and develop. “I try to keep a positive outlook on everything, and I’m just being grateful for the opportunity to even play at this incredible university and play the sport that I love. We are just trying to control what we can control, and to keep our emotions in check.”
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This was his destiny Ehlinger was born, it seems, to be a Texas football player. If you’ve followed the Longhorns even casually over the past three years you likely know his background story — about how Ehlinger grew up dreaming of playing for Texas, about how his parents were huge UT fans — and seen the pictures of him as a boy in his Longhorns’ uniform and helmet. You likely also know that Ehlinger and his family suffered an unfathomable tragedy when he was a teenager: the death of his triathlete father from a heart attack during a competition, and how Ehlinger became the man of the house for his mom and two siblings as an eighth grader.
bo games after the past three seasons. Ehlinger started Texas has won bowl all 27 game games for the Longhorns over the last two campaigns, and leads all a active Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterbacks in completio completions (571), attempts (879), passing yards (6,955), total offense (8 (8,100) and total touchdowns (80) since the start of the 2018 campaign. E Ehlinger is nothing if not a perfectionist, and used the d downtime created by COVID-19 to hone his throwing m motion and to better learn the offense Yurcich will e employ this season. “He’s been refining, tweaking — you know, whatever phrase you want to use — trying to get better,” Herman said of Ehlinger. “It’s like the Holy Grail, right? You know he’s trying to get the perfect motion. We know it d doesn’t exist, but the perfect one for him. This year, I’ve noticed a bigg bigger jump from his off-platform throws, and I think he’s getting the b ball out in time even better.” Ehlinger also ranks second among active FBS quarterbacks in touchdown p passes (57) and fifth in completion percentage (65.0) in his past two campaigns. He is the only FBS player to account for at least 50 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns since 2018. Last year year, Ehl Ehlinger was responsible for 39 total touchdowns (32 passing, 7 rushing), the third-highest single-season mark in program history; in 2018, he posted 41 total touchdowns, the second-best tally by a Longhorn all-time. He is the only player in Texas football history to record multiple seasons with at least 35 total touchdowns. Ehlinger threw for at least 200 yards in all 13 games last season, making him the first Texas quarterback and one of just four nationally to accomplish the feat. Ehlinger also rewrote UT’s single-season benchmark for games with at least three passing touchdowns (seven) and games with at least four passing touchdowns (four) last year. 10
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Ehlinger led Westlake to the Class 6A state championship game as a junior before suffering a series of injuries during his senior year. He kept his commitment to Texas even after then-coach Charlie Strong was fired in 2016 and he has flourished under the tutelage of current Longhorns coach Tom Herman.
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Ehlinger is so much more than just a set of numbers. Just ask Chris Ash, the Longhorns’ new defensive coordinator, what going against Ehlinger in practice means to his unit. “Our guys know that to compete and get better, they’ve got to go against the best,” Ash said. “Sam’s a competitor and he’s making us better and hopefully he thinks we’re making him better. It’s been a lot of back and forth throughout training camp. It’s been fun to go back and forth with Sam because he’s an elite player.” Texas enters the delayed and shortened 2020 season ranked 14th in the nation in both of the major college polls and has been picked to finish second in the Big 12 Conference. Ehlinger has taken a shine to Yurcich’s offense and has spent the extra hours in the film room to learn how the new coordinator’s attack will mesh with the one left over from years past. “Offensively I’m really excited. I think that we have a chance to be extremely elite,” Ehlinger said. “I love it — the attention to detail. The concepts are really, really good, really everything about it is. I love the way that Coach Yurchich approaches every day with such a professional mindset. “With all the talent that we have … again, those guys in space going fast and letting them make plays, I’m really excited for them. At this point, I feel better than I ever have. We’re at a really good spot. Obviously we have to continue to develop and continue to work together and get better, but I’m content with where we’re at.” HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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A lasting legacy? Ehlinger may have been a little buoyant in New Orleans two seasons ago when he proclaimed that the Longhorns were set to return to the upper echelon of college football. If that was the case, he can be excused for being caught up in the moment. Last year’s 8-5 finish could be considered a correcting move, with Texas set to shine in 2020.
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But what if the Longhorns don’t live up to expectations, don’t win the Big 12 Conference and fail to play for the national championship? Would falling short affect Ehlinger’s legacy on the 40 Acres? “I think that’s up for you to determine,“ Ehlinger told the media when asked if he needed a championship to validate his time at Texas. “I know for myself. My mission at the University of Texas is to leave the program better than it was when I got here. That’s kind of my mindset with everything that I do in life. “So if I feel that in December or whenever the season ends that the program is better than it was when I first got here three-and-a-half years ago, then I would say that that was a success in my mind.”
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By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer AUSTIN, Texas – Texas is expected to be one of the top teams in college football in this truncated and bizarre season, and the quality of the 14thranked Longhorns can be gleaned from the list of players who have received preseason acclaim from a bevy of different award and honor teams. Here’s a roll call of the Longhorns who’ve been noticed heading into the 2020 campaign, along with an explanation of the various awards:
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Texas football preseason awards lists wrapup
Texas Football 2020 Preseason Awards List Samuel Cosmi, Offensive Lineman • • • • • •
Walter Camp Football Foundation’s All-America (First Team) CBS Sports’ All-America (First Team) Associated Press’s All-America (Second Team) USA Today All-America (Second Team). All-Big 12 Team (First team, unanimous) Outland Trophy watch list (nation’s top college interior lineman)
Sam Ehlinger, Quarterback • • • • • • • • • •
CBS Sports’ All-America (Second Team, received votes for the Player of the Year) Phil Steele’s All-America (Third Team) All-Big 12 (First Team) Phil Steele’s All-Big 12 (First Team) Senior Bowl Top 250 watch list Maxwell Award watch list (nation’s most outstanding college player) Davey O’Brien Award watch list (nation’s top college quarterback) Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list (top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class) Manning Award watch list (nation’s top college quarterback) Wuerffel Trophy watch list (FBS player who best combines exemplary community service with leadership achievement on and off the field)
Tarik Black, Wide Receiver •
Senior Bowl Top 250 watch list
D’Shawn Jamison, Defensive Back • •
All-Big 12 (First Team) Paul Hornung Award watch list (most versatile collegiate player)
Ryan Bujcevski, Punter •
Ray Guy Award watch list (nation’s top college punter)
Joseph Ossai, Linebacker • • • • •
All-Big 12 (First Team) Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list (nation’s best college defensive player) Butkus Award watch list (nation’s top college linebacker) Chuck Bednarik Award watch list (most outstanding college defensive player) Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list (IMPACT college defensive player)
Caden Sterns, Defensive Back • All-Big 12 (First Team) • Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list (nation’s best college defensive player) • Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list (nation’s top college defensive back) • Chuck Bednarik Award watch list (most outstanding college defensive player) Keaontay Ingram, Running Back • Doak Walker Award watch list (nation’s top college running back)
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SEPT 12 (SAT) / 7:00 P.M.
UTEP
VS UTEP
Head coach: Dana Dimel (third season) 2019 record: 1-11 (0-8 Conference USA) Top returning players • G Bobby DeHaro (Honorable Mention All-Conference USA) • DE Praise Amaewhule (3 sacks) • K Gavin Baechle (13/16 field goals; long 46) • WR Justin Garrett (40 receptions, 446 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns)
An argument could be made that no Football Bowl Subdivision team could have used a full offseason with a complete allotment of spring practices more than UTEP. The Miners went 1-11 in 2019, beating Houston Baptist in their opener and then enduring 11 consecutive losses, eight of which were decided by 14 or more points. UTEP scored just 235 points last year. Do the math and that comes out to an average of just 19.6 points per game — an anemic total in today’s game that ranked the Miners 119th in scoring offense. They averaged 329.2 yards per game, good for No. 116 in the country … but allowed opponents more than 100 more yards per game, at an average of 430.8 yards per game. nsiderable rebuild in El THIRD-year head coach Dana Dimel is in the midst of a considerable Paso after going 2-22 in his first two seasons. Kai Locksley) are UTEP’s top rusher last year (Treyvon Hughes) and passer (Kai gone. But the Miners do welcome back Quardraiz Wadley, who led the offense ore missing the with 627 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns before 2019 season with a toe injury, and much of any optimism surrounding the team centers on his return. Who will play quarterback this year is anyone’s dwin, Isaiah Bravo guess — at this point, it could be Gavin Hardison, T.J. Goodwin, or Calvin Brownholtz. ng the team The Miners’ top receiver, Justin Garrett, is back, after leading ng yards, three with fairly pedestrian numbers: 40 receptions, 446 receiving o led the team with receiving touchdowns, as is deep threat Jacob Cowing, who h, and also reached 550 receiving yards and an average of 17.7 yards per catch, the end zone three times. If the Longhorns have any wrinkles to iron out on offense, UTEP is an ideal opening opponent after mustering just 12 sacks as a team and coughing up more than 200 rushing yards per game in 2019. klers are in Coaches generally aren’t thrilled when their teams’ top tacklers ar too the secondary, because it means the defensive front was far son generous. UTEP’s top three tacklers were safeties last season … and they’re all gone. If there is a “best player” on the UTEP defense, it’s sophomore defensive end Praise Amaewhule, who led the team with three sacks as a freshman. 16
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Running back Quardraiz Wadley is back to lead the UTEP ground game in 2020 after missing the entire 2019 season with a toe injury (photo courtesy of utepminers.com).
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SEPT 26 (SAT) / 2:30 P.M.
TEXAS TECH
@ TEXAS TECH
Head coach: Matt Wells (third season) 2019 record: 4-8 (2-7 Big 12)
It has been said that when replacing a successful coach, the worst thing a new coach can do is try to recreate what his predecessor did. Third-year Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells certainly subscribes to that theory, replacing the wide-open bombs-away offense of Kliff Kingsbury with a scheme that relies heavily on short passes. Not coincidentally, the Red Raiders averaged a very un-Tech-like 30.5 points per game last season en route to a 4-8 record. Quarterback Alan Bowman burst on to the scene in 2018 as one of the nation’s premier freshman quarterbacks, but was limited to just three games last season before going down with a season-ending injury to his non-throwing shoulder; after he was cleared to return, Bowman shut it down for the rest of the season, thereby qualifying as a medical redshirt and retaining his status as a sophomore. When healthy, the big-armed Bowman adds a quick-strike ability the offense lacked without him. While the offense hasn’t been blowing up any scoreboards like it did during the Kingsbury years, Bowman will have plenty of able targets, starting with Erik Ezukanma (42 catches, 664 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns) and T.J. Vasher, a 6-6 giant who also caught 42 passes over 10 games for 515 yards and a team-high receiving touchdowns. SaRodorick Thompson is back to lead the Tech ground game after rushing for 765 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago, and he’s an able receiver out of the backfield, but he’ll be looking for running room this season behind an offensive line that returns just two starters from 2019. Defensive end Eli Howard and linebacker Riko Jeffers lead the Tech defense that allowed 30.3 points and 480.3 total yards (including 307.8 through the air) per game last season. Howard only had 21 tackles last year, but he was an unquestioned playmaker, with six tackles for loss and a team-high five sacks. Jeffers finished second behind Jordyn Brooks, who was drafted in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks, with 76 tackles. The 30.5 points per game the Red Raiders scored last year were enough to win some games, but for Wells to lead Tech to another level of success, the scoring has to be more than adequate and the defense has to be stingier. Only two FBS teams — New Mexico and UMass — allowed more than the 9.2 yards per pass attempt. For his team to get back to its more prolific production, Bowman is going to be asked to return to — and exceed — the form he showed in 2018. 18
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Strong-armed quarterback Alan Bowman is back to lead the Texas Tech offense after being limited to just three games in 2019 (photo courtesy of texastech.com).
Top returning players • RB SaRodorick Thompson (160 carries, 765 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns) • QB Alan Bowman (101-154 passing, 1,020 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns in 3 games) • LB Riko Jeffers (76 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks) • K Trey Wolff (20/22 field goals, long 45)
SEPT 26 (SAT) / 2:30 P.M.
TCU
VS TCU
Head coach: Gary Patterson (20th season) 2019 record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12)
Linebacker Garrett Wallow was one of the premier defensive players in the Big 12 in 2019, piling up a team-leading 125 tackles (photo courtesy of gofrogs.com).
There was a time when five victories in a season would have been cause for celebration at TCU, but since Gary Patterson took over as the team’s head coach, the Horned Frogs have averaged just over nine wins per year. So last year’s 5-7 mark was met with expectations that the team needs to be better in 2020. TCU is a very talented team, and Patterson obviously can coach, so chances are the Frogs’ fortunes will improve this season, perhaps by a lot. But there are questions that need to be answered.
Top returning players • LB Garret Wallow (125 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 3 sacks) • QB Max Duggan (181-339, 2,077 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns) • S Ar’Darius Washington (46 tackles, team-high 5 interceptions) • TE Pro Wells (17 receptions, 196 receiving yards, 5 receiving touchdowns)
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The most glaring is what happens at quarterback. Sophomore Max Duggan started 10 games and played in all 12 last year, and was hailed as the quarterback of the future after completing 181 of 339 for 2,077 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns. But his status is unclear after Patterson announced that Duggan will miss “at least the first part of the season” (the length of which has not been defined, at least not publicly) with an unidentified medical condition. Whether or not he plays has a considerable impact on the effectiveness of the TCU offense. In Duggan’s absence, Patterson may well turn to Matthew Downing, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Georgia. Patterson has long been heralded for his recruiting, and that will be tested in 2020. In addition to Duggan’s unknown status, the Frogs lost their top receiver, Jalen Reagor, to the Philadelphia Eagles, and their top two running backs: Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua. Fans will clamor for heralded recruit Zachary Evans to get the job as the team’s top rushing threat, but he’ll have to fend off JUCO transfer Emari Demercado, as well as redshirt freshmen Darwin Barlow and Daimarqua Foster. Evans is thought to be a thoroughbred talent, but he’ll be running behind an offensive line that must replace three starters, including both starters. Whoever lines up at quarterback will miss Reagor but will have an army of talented receivers from whom to choose. Tight end Pro Wells is a dangerous receiver, finding the end zone five times on just 17 receptions, and a punishing blocker. The top wideouts Taye Barber, a 5-9, 186-pound burner who caught 29 passes in 2019 for 372 yards a year ago, and 6-3, 200-pound Te’Vailance Hunt, who caught 20 passes for 308 yards. Patterson’s teams always have had good defenses, and the 2019 version finished the season ranked first in the Big 12 in total defense, although it was surprisingly generous in the Red Zone, allowing opponents to score 90 percent of the time they got inside the TCU 20-yard line. Last year’s version surrendered 26.4 points and 336.9 yards, including 199.7 through the air, per game. Patterson’s 4-2-5 scheme relies on linebackers who can run, and this year’s group is predictably fast and talented. The group will be led by SAM linebacker Garret Wallow, who piled up 125 tackles last season — more than double the total of safety Trevon Moehrig, who is back after finishing second on the team with 62 stops. Before ascending to become the team’s head coach, Patterson established his reputation as a secondary coach, so it should come as no surprise that safeties Moehrig and Ar’Darius Washington finished second and third in tackles and had nine of the Frogs’ 16 interceptions in 2019. HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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INTERCEPTION
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TEXAS
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OCT 10 (SAT) / 11:00 A.M.
OKLAHOMA
VS OKLAHOMA (RED RIVER)
Head coach: Lincoln Riley (fourth season) 2019 record: 12-2 (9-1 Big 12) Top returning players • C Creed Humphrey • S Delarrin Turner-Yell (75 tackles) • WR Charleston Rambo (43 receptions, 743 receiving yards, 5 receiving touchdowns)
There’s something a little strange brewing in Norman. For the first time in TAP TO VIEW HISTORY what seems like forever, the Sooners won’t be starting a seasoned transfer at quarterback. After watching the likes of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts put up video-game numbers while piloting the offense — with Hurts at the helm last year, OU ranked No. 3 in the country in total offense last year with an average of 548 yards per game and No. 6 in scoring average, at 42 points per game — head coach Lincoln Riley seems headed toward starting a quarterback he recruited out of high school. Spencer Rattler seems the oddson favorite to get the job, although another heralded recruit, Tanner Mordecai, also is getting a long look in camp. Both got on the field momentarily last year — Mordecai completed 16 of 26 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, while Rattler completed seven of his 11 pass attempts for 81 yards and a touchdown — but that was when games were long since out of reach. merica CeeDee Lamb, Not only is Hurts now a Philadelphia Eagle, but his top target, 2019 All-America is a Dallas Cowboy, but whoever lines up at quarterback will have plenty off able targets, n Rambo, a as the next seven receivers after Lamb return in 2020, including Charleston five redshirt sophomore this season who caught 43 passes for 743 yards and fi ve scores in 2019. ding rusher, Hurts not only directed the OU passing game, but also was the team’s leading usher in with 1,298 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. The second-leading rusher 2019, Kennedy Brooks, topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons rmon but has opted out of the 2020 season to prepare for the NFL, and Trey Sermon 6 pounds) transferred to Ohio State, making bruiser Rhamondre Stevenson (6-0, 246 the top returning back after he picked up 515 yards on just 64 carries — yes, that’s 8.0 yards per carry — and six touchdowns last year. Stevenson won’t start right away; his suspension before the Sooners’ bowl game was declared to include “half of competition” for this season. When handed down — the punishment, of course, was handed out before the coronavirus pandemic shortened the schedule — the suspension was to last through OU’s first five games of the 2020 season. OU has filed an appeal, but Riley said in the spring that he has not heard any adjustment to the penalties of Stevenson or defensive s. end Ronnie Perkins or receiver Trejan Bridges, who earned similar penalties. Even if the suspensions were shortened by a game, the three still would miss ries Oklahoma’s game with Texas. Until Stevenson returns, the bulk of the carries an likely will be shared by a committee of running backs that includes freshman e Seth McGowan, redshirt freshman Marcus Major and junior T.J. Pledger. The Sooners will operate behind one of the top offensive lines in the country, a unit anchored by 6-5, 320-pound redshirt junior Creed Humphrey, who many will argue is the premier center in all of college football. 22
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Arguably the nation’s top center, Creed Humphrey will anchor a stout offensive line for a retooled Oklahoma offense (photo courtesy of soonersports.com).
With Perkins shelved for the start of the season, the strength of the Oklahoma defense is in the back end, where safeties Delarrin Turner-Yell and Pat Fields roam after a 2019 season in which they finished second and third on the team with 75 and 64 tackles, respectively. The secondary must generate more takeaways in 2020 after the Sooners combined for just seven interceptions last year, with just one player, defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles, picking off two passes.
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When Perkins plays, he and sophomore Jalen Redmond give the OU defense an imposing pair at defensive end. Redmond led the team with 6.5 sacks last season, edging Perkins’ 6 for the team lead. Until Perkins returns, Redmond will see more help from opposing offenses in the form of tight ends and running backs chipping at him to help the tackle assigned to block him. The absence of takeaways notwithstanding, the Oklahoma defense was far better in 2019 than it was the year before, allowing an average of 356.4 yards per game last year — not exactly the 1986 Chicago Bears, but nearly 100 yards per game fewer than the Sooners surrendered in 2018. They also allowed only 20 touchdown passes last year before Joe Burrow showed why he deserved to win the Heisman Trophy and get drafted first overall with 493 yards and seven touchdowns through the air as LSU destroyed Oklahoma, 63-28, in the Peach Bowl.
PHOTO: DON BENDER
DaShaun White is expected to be the next great OU linebacker, and after the departure of Kenneth Murray to the NFL, the Sooners need a star at the second level of their defense. If he can become the force many think he can, the defense has a chance to be solid, if not spectacular, allowing the offense to sort out its quarterback and running back positions.
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OCT 26 (SAT) / TBA.
BAYLOR
VS BAYLOR
Head coach: Dave Aranda (first season) 2019 record: 7-6 (4-5 Big 12) Top returning players •
Senior quarterback Charlie Brewer will be the first Baylor quarterback to start for four consecutive seasons and is trying to become the first player in Baylor history to lead the Bears in passing four years in a row (photo courtesy of baylorbears.com)
•
Some teams have that player who seems to just … stay … forever. Baylor is one of those teams, and that player is quarterback Charlie Brewer.
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Of course, any time a player creates that image for opponents, all it means is that he is both productive enough to be noticed, and his success started early on. Brewer has been leading the Baylor offense since he was a freshman, and at a high level. Brewer will play his final season in Waco under a new head coach as Dave Aranda, fresh off winning the national championship as associate head coach and defensive coordinator at LSU, was hired to replace Matt Rhule, who bolted for the Carolina Panthers. Aranda brought in former North Carolina head coach — and Baylor assistant coach — Larry Fedora to run an offense that might have to put up massive numbers to compensate for a defense that only allowed 19.8 points per game last year, but brought back just two starters. Baylor’s first four-year starter at quarterback since J.J. Joe in the early 1990s, Brewer enters the season on the watch lists for a slew of awards,, including the s Golden Arm Manning Award, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Johnny Unitas s in his first Award. The Austin native has topped 200 yards passing 19 times three season and thrown for more than 300 yards 11 times, and is a deceptively n program history effective runner: his 18 career rushing touchdowns rank fourth in — for all players, not just quarterbacks. at needs to Guard Xavier Newman-Johnson anchors a stout offensive line that protect Brewer, who took a physical pounding in the latter half off 2019. re If Brewer goes down, backups Gerry Bohanon and Jacob Zeno are promising but largely unproven. Bohanon played well against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship, but the two are thought to be just about even in the battle to back up Brewer. p The receiver corps took a couple of hits with the departure of top target Denzel Mims and deep threat Chris Platt, but the Bears are not without viable targets, a group that is led by big-bodied (6-3, 180) Tyquan Thornton and R.J. Sneed. Thornton caught 45 passes for 782 yards and five touchdowns, while Sneed snagged 42 passes for 437 yards and three scores.
Linebacker Terrel Bernard was everywhere for the Baylor defense in 2019, with a teamhigh 112 tackles and 4.5 quarterback sacks, but is one of just two returning defensive starters for first-year head coach Dave Aranda (photo courtesy of baylorbears.com)
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QB Charlie Brewer (251-389, 3,161 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 344 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns) LB Terrel Bernard (team-high 112 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss) G Xavier Newman-Johnson WR Tyquan Thornton (45 receptions, 782 receiving yards, 5 receiving touchdowns)
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Aranda made his name running the stingy defense in Baton Rouge, but he did hire defensive coordinator for his first season in Waco. Ron Roberts will lead the unit after making the jump from Louisiana to Baylor. Roberts takes over a unit that was strong in 2019 — the Bears ranked first in the Big 12 last year in pass rush (piling up 46 sacks a year ago), takeaways and scoring defense, and third in total defense, and held the Texas offense largely in check last season in a 24-10 Baylor win over the Longhorns — but nine starters and nine of the top 11 tacklers have moved on. There are talented athletes available, but how quickly Roberts can get them to be productive will go a long way toward determining the Bears’ success in 2020. The Bears are counting on a significant impact from linebacker/defensive end William Bradley-King, who had 33 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2018 while playing for Arkansas State. Nose tackle Chidi Ogbonnaya is a load in the middle at 6-5, 300, but his 11 tackles last season were the most among returning defensive linemen. Terrel Bernard is back and will be counted on repeat — at least — his performance from last season, when he had 112 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
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Raleigh Texada is the best in a secondary that is athletic but young. He had 45 tackles from his cornerback spot in 2019 and broke up five passes.
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OCT 31 (SAT) / TBA
TEXAS TECH
@ OKLAHOMA STATE
Head coach: Mike Gundy (16th season) 2019 record: 8-5 (5-4 Big 12) Top returning players •
• Running back Chuba Hubbard used his elite sprinters’s speed to run away from opposing defenses for 2,094 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns in 2019 (photo courtesy of okstate.com).
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Former Oklahoma State quarterback Mike Gundy is entering his 16th season as the Cowboys’ head coach. In the program’s 104 seasons before Gundy took over in 2005, OSU appeared in 16 bowl games. Since then, the program has gone 129-64 and appeared in 14 bowl games in 15 years with Gundy at the helm. The OSU offense was typically potent in 2019, averaging 32.5 points and nearly 454 yards per game. It would be overstating things to say that as running back Chuba Hubbard goes, so go the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2020 — but not overstating by much. If Hubbard isn’t the best running back in college football, he definitely is on every short list. Once tagged as “a track star playing football,” he turned the idea that he had more speed than talent around while shredding defenses for 2,094 rushing yards in 2019 on a bruising 328 carries.
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RB Chuba Hubbard (328 carries, 2,094 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, 23 receptions, 198 receiving yards) QB Spencer Sanders (155-247, 2,065 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 139 carries, 628 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns) LB Malcolm Rodriguez (team-high 103 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery) LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (100 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery)
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The same school that has produced elite receivers — think Tyreek Hill, Dez Bryant and James Washington — has a stellar pair of wideouts returning in 2020. Tylan Wallace led the Cowboys with 53 catches, 903 yards (17.0 yards per catch) and eight receiving touchdowns before his season ended after eight games by a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee, while Dillon Stoner pulled in 52 passes for 599 yards and five scores. In all, six of the top seven receivers from a year ago are back, and if Wallace is fully recovered, the receivers have a chance to be truly elite. Getting them the ball and driving the OSU offense is sophomore Spencer Sanders, but inconsistencies in 2019 have shortened Gundy’s leash on his quarterback, a luxury he can afford because of the presence of heralded freshman Shane Illingworth waiting in the wings. The Cowboys’ defense, which ranked No. 7 in the Big 12 in total defense and No. 5 in scoring defense (26.8 points per game), is led by perhaps the best pair of linebackers in the Big 12: LB Malcolm Rodriguez, who had a team-leading 103 tackles and seven tackles for loss, and Amen Ogbongbemiga, who racked up 100 tackles, 15.5 sp tackles for loss and sacks, sparking speculation of future stardom. The 5-11, 220-pound Rodriguez lacks ideal size at the position, but as long as those two patrol the second level, the Pokes’ 4-2-5 defense should remain at least in the middle of the conference pack. The Cowboys have more depth on the defensive line than they do at linebacker. The front defensiv end Trace Ford, who had 29 tackles, four tackles for loss and four is led by defensive sea three sacks last season, and defensive tackle Israel Antwine, who had 25 stops, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks from his spot in the middle of the OSU defensive line.
Linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez lacks elite size for the position but is exceptionally productive, piling up a team-leading 103 tackles to lead the Oklahoma State defense in 2019 (photo courtesy of okstate.com).
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NOV 7 (SAT) / TBA
WEST VIRGINIA
VS WEST VIRGINIA
Head coach: Neal Brown (second season) 2019 record: 5-7 (3-6 Big 12) Top returning players •
• Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Darius Stills (56) and his brother, Dante (55) each had seven sacks in 2019 to share the team lead (photo courtesy of wvusports.com).
Neal Brown was brought to Morgantown last year with a reputation as a program builder and a creative offensive mind. In his first season with the Mountaineers, Brown’s team finished dead last in the Big 12 in total offense (321.9 yards per game) and in scoring offense (20.6 points per game). It was accepted that he was beginning a rebuild at WVU, but more is expected going forward. To his credit, after his team endured a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season, Brown helped the Mountaineers get back on track, upsetting No. 24 Kansas State on the road, 24-20, falling by a touchdown to a potent No. 22 Oklahoma State team, 20-13, and then knocking off TCU in Fort Worth in the season finale, 20-17.
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WR Sam James (team-leading 69 receptions, 677 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns) S Sean Mahone (team-high 80 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception) DL Darius Stills (47 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks) QB Austin Kendall (187-304, 1,989 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions)
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The offense was anemic, and will need a jump-start. Quarterback Austin Kendall, the transfer from Oklahoma, managed to complete 61.5 percent of his passes, but that added up to a rather pedestrian 1,989 passing yards and barely more touchdown passes (12) than interceptions (10). To be fair, he and backup Jarret Doege had a stable of young receivers who were just learning the college game; five of the team’s top seven receivers were either freshmen or sophomores. The offensive line was adequate at pass protection but ineffective at opening running lanes — the team’s top ground threat, Leddie Brown, mustered just 367 yards on 107 carries (3.4 yards per attempt — and now must replace three starters. While the WVU offense struggled last season, the defense thrived, especially after the games against Oklahoma and Texas, which scored 52 and 42 points, respectively. The level of opponents’ offensive talent dipped toward the end of the season, but the Mountaineers also stiffened up on defense, holding four of their last five opponents to 20 or fewer points. The defense is led by defensive linemen (and yes, brothers) Darius and Dante Stills. Darius Stills, who played mostly nose tackle, was named to the watch lists for the Outland Trophy, Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Awards, earned third-team preseason All-America nods from Phil Steele and Athlon, and was named picked as the preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after collecting 47 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks last year. Dante, who operates more at defensive end, is equally effective, with 25 tack tackles, 11.5 tackles and seven sacks of his own, tying his brother for the team lead. Jo Josh Chandler-Semedo is built like a safety (5-11, 220), but can play any linebacker spot in the WVU defense. He finished with 71 tackles last year, trailing only safety Sean Mahone’s 80. Fellow linebacker Dylan Tonkery also is undersized, at 6-0, 228, but picked up 36 tackles in 2019 and is expected to play a major role in 2020. Five of the top seven and seven of the top 10 tacklers are back in 2020. For elite running backs, 1,000 is no longer a career year, but last year, the entire WVU ground attack generated just 879 yards (2.6 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns … combined … in a 12-game season. That has to change if the Mountaineers are going to show much improvement. Defensively, they have to be more aggressive. The WVU defense took the ball away from opponents just 14 times last season, and 12 game in five games.
Wide receiver Sam James is a dangerous return man and led the West Virginia offense with 69 receptions and 677 receiving yards in 2019 (photo courtesy of wvusports.com).
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NOV 21 (SAT) / TBA
WEST VIRGINIA
@ KANSAS
Head coach: Les Miles (second season) 2019 record: 3-9 (1-8 Big 12) Top returning players • •
One of the best at his position in the Big 12, Kansas running back Pooka Williams, Jr., rushed for 1,061 yards and three touchdowns despite missing one game (photo courtesy of kuathletics.com).
For many programs, six victories over two years would be cause for frustration and anger. At Kansas, some have called it a sign of improvement. The Jayhawks won three games in each of the last two seasons, including last year under first-year head coach Les Miles. It had been a decade since KU won more than six games over a two-year stretch: Kansas won eight games in 2008 and five in 2009.
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RB Pooka Williams, Jr. (203 carries, 1,061 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns) LB Gavin Potter (56 tackles, 3,5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks) WR Andrew Parchment (team-high 65 receptions, 831 receiving yards, 7 receiving touchdowns)
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Back-to-back three-win seasons does not mean championship parades or even bowl trips are being planned in Kansas just yet, but the presence of Miles on the sideline certainly offers hope. Known as a successful Xs and Os strategist and an effective recruiter, he might just be the coach to give the program a brighter future. Kansas got outscored last season by an average of 36.1-23.5 points per game, meaning the team can afford to improve on both sides of the ball. But no aspect of the team’s performance, and no player, is more important than the running game. Specifically, that means running back Pooka Williams, Jr., the most gifted player Kansas has had in years. A year ago, he ran for 1,061 yards to lead the offense, but he only reached the end zone three times on the ground — that must change. Williams and the Kansas running game would be aided considerably by the emergence of a viable passing game, if for no other reason than to keep defenses honest and make them resist the urge to pack the line of scrimmage with extra defenders in an effort to contain Williams. Carter Stanley was an adequate passer last year, throwing for 2,664 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, but he is gone. The inexperienced candidates to replace him are Miles Kendrick, who completed 11 of 18 passes in 2018, and Thomas MacVittie, a big (6-5, 225) quarterback with a big arm who threw only one pass last season … and it was incomplete. The Jayhawks do have three capable receivers returning this year: Andrew Parchment led the wideouts with 65 receptions and 831 receiving yards, and scored seven receiving touchdowns, Stephen Robinson 45 catches for 727 yards and a team-leading eight touchdown catches, and Kwamie Lassiter had 45 grabs for 352 yards and a score. The Kansas defense could use a similar jolt after allowing an average of 478 yards per game while letting opponents convert 53 percent of their third downs into first downs. The defense desperately needs more takeaways, after picking off just six passes and recovering a pair of fumbles in 2019. Safety Davon Ferguson is the team’s top’s top returning tackler with 57 last season, including three tackles for loss. Linebacker Gavin Potter finished just behind him, with 56, which earned him Honorable Mention All-Big 12 recognition as a freshman.
Wide receiver Andrew Parchment is back after leading all Kansas receivers with 65 receptions and 831 receiving yards in 2019 (photo courtesy of kuathletics.com).
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NOV 27 (FRI) / TBA
Iowa State is about as anonymous as s a top-25 team can get. The Cyclones have an exceptional mored to coach in Matt Campbell, who was rumored be a candidate for so many top jobs around m up with the country that Iowa State locked him a contract extension through 2025. As the typical college football fan to name the best quarterbacks in the country, and most of them will rattle off a lot of names before getting to Brock Purdy, but he ra in which belongs in that conversation. In an era many teams basically ignore the tightt end position, the Cyclones boast a future high draftt pick in Charlie Kolar. Running back Breece Hall is a more-thanonors. legitimate candidate for All-Big 12 honors.
IOWA STATE
VS IOWA STATE
Head coach: Matt Campbell (fifth season) 2019 record: 7-6 (5-4 Big 12) Top returning players
Most non-Iowa State fans can’t name a Quarterback Brock Purdy passed for 3,982 quarterback who played at the school other yards and 27 touchdowns last season and is than Seneca Wallace, or for the real students expected to compete for All-Big 12 honors in of college football, Sage Rosenfels. Purdy has 2020 (photo courtesy of cyclones.com). a chance to be the best in program history, if he isn’t already. Just about anyone who thinks a quarterback other than Sam Ehlinger might deserve first-team All-Big 12 honors will point to Purdy; if he gets that honor, he might well end up as the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year, as well. Purdy is smart, accurate — he completed nearly 66 percent of his passes last year and had a 27-go-9 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio — and a better athlete than many realize, rushing for 249 yards (in additions to yards lost on sacks) and scoring 8 rushing touchdowns.
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But he definitely is not the Cyclones’ only weapon. Hall is a dangerous running back who had 897 yards as a freshman. Couple him with Kolar, probably the Big 12’s best tight end, and a cast of receivers that includes Tarique Milton (20.6 yards per catch on 35 receptions and three touchdowns) and Sean Shaw (five touchdowns on just 15 receptions), and it’s evident why the Cyclones’ offense scored more than 400 points (418) for the first time in 18 years.
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Iowa State has extensive talent back at the skill positions, but needs to shore ard Trevor Downing, up an offensive line that welcomes back just one starter, guard from the final games of 2019. Talented replacements are in place, but they’re young an unproven, which could make it difficult to repeat as the Big 12’s best offensive line in terms of sacks and tackles for loss allowed. e first time since While the ISU offense cracked the 400-point plateau for the d in years, 2002, the defensive also had a higher point total than it had topping 300 points allowed for the first time since 2016. kles The defensive line must find replacements for defensive tackles nd JaQuan Jamahi Johnson and Ray Lima, but brings back defensive end Bailey, who has 113 tackles, 18.5 sacks and 31.5 tackles forr loss in his career but only played in four games last season before being shelved for the year by an ankle injury. The defensive ends rotation am last also includes Will McDonald, who finished second on the team year with six sacks. Behind Bailey, McDonald and the rest of the defensive line, Iowa State offers an exceptional group of linebackers, even after the departure of Marcel Spears, who led the Cyclones last year with 92 tackles. Mike Rose, Jake Hummel and O’Rien ackles, 18.5 tackles Vance are an athletic trio who combined last year for 179 tackles, for loss and 10 sacks last season. me last season, Iowa State allowed an average of 230 passing yards per game in part because its defense mustered just six interceptions all year. Safeties m in the Big 12 — Lawrence White and Greg Eisworth might be the best tandem White finished second on the team with 84 tackles in 2019 and Eisworth had 65 tackles, along with 3.5 tackles for loss last season. Defensive end JaQuan Bailey returns to the Iowa State defense after missing most of 2019 with an ankle injury (photo courtesy of cyclones.com).
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•
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QB Brock Purdy (312/475, 65.7 completion percentage, 3,982 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 93 carries, 249 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns) RB Breece Hall (186 carries, 897 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 23 receptions, 252 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown) S Greg Eisworth (65 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 10 passes broken up) TE Charlie Kolar (51 receptions, 697 receiving yards, 7 receiving touchdowns)
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DEC 5 (SAT) / TBA
Kan Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman spent mu much of his first season at the helm explaining th he isn’t Bill Snyder, and he wasn’t going to do that everything exactly the same way as his legendary predecessor. Much to the surprise of many observers who predicted failure for the man who had the misfortune of following Snyder, Klieber cobbled together an 8-5 record. The offense stumbled a bit in the early portion of the Wildcats’ games against Big 12 competition — K-State mustered just 25 comb m in combined points in losses to Oklahoma State and Baylor, but th but then never scored fewer than 20 points the rest of the w way until a 20-17 loss to No. 21 Navy in the Liberty Bowl In the second half of the season, the Wildcats Bowl. took o on the persona of previous Klieman-coached teams, dominating the time of possession and limiting turnove turnovers. Quarterb Quarterback Skylar Thompson is more of a rushing threat than he is a passing threat, and his mobility will be critical behind an offensive line that welcomes back standout guard Josh Rivas but must replace the other four starters. His top receiver from a year ago, Dalton Schoen, is gone, but he only caught 37 passes. The most dangerous receiver might well be Josh Youngblood, who only caught nine passes a year ago, but he is an electric open-field runner. Given his success on special teams — Youngblood returned 14 kickoffs for 502 yards (35.9 yards per return) and three touchdowns — the KSU coaches have made no secret of the fact that they would like to get the ball in his hands in any way possible.
KANSAS STATE
@ KANSAS STATE
Head coach: Chris Klieman (second season) 2019 record: 8-5 (5-4 Big 12) Top returning players •
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QB Skylar Thompson (177/297, 2,315 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 114 carries, 405 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns) LB Elijah Sullivan (65 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception) DE Wyatt Hubert (33 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks) G Josh Rivas
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The K-State defensive coordinator is former Texas safety Van Malone, and just like he has throughout his coaching career, Malone runs a 4-2-5 defense Skylar Thompson, Kansas State quarterback, is one experienced veteran who enters the season with 32 built around linebackers who make up games on his résumé and the mobility to escape th blazing speed. for a lack of size with defensive pressure (photo courtesy of kstatesports. et first crack at the Cody Fletcher will get com). outside linebacker spot, but will be part of a rotation. Elijah Sullivan, who at 6 ounds looks more feet and just 210 pounds like a safety than a linebacker, patrols the middle of the KSU defense, where he led the team last year with 65 tackles. How successful Sullivan and Fletcher and the rest of the back half of the defense are in 2020 will depend in large part on the defensive line in front of them. efensive lineman, Defensive end Wyatt Hubert is the most dangerous K-State defensive kles in 2019. The mixing in 12.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks among his 33 tackles ant more pressure Wildcats had 22 sacks a year ago, but Klieman and Malone want as a first-team up front this season, a charge that starts with Hubert, who was aches.. They also Preseason All-Big 12 honoree in a vote among conference coaches.. owns, and need to allowed opponents to convert just 28 percent of their third downs, be equally stingy this year. fficient on To improve upon last season, the Wildcats need to be more effi offense, converting on third down to keep opposing offenses off the field e. and finding playmakers to help Thompson in the passing game.
Defensive end Wyatt Hubert earned Preseason All-Big 12 honors after collecting 33 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2019 (photo courtesy of kstatesports.com).
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By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer Dealing with the ongoing impact of coronavirus, as well as the state of turmoil created by demands for a change in how Americans view race and entitlement have placed plenty of hurdles on the path to the Longhorns’ preparedness a football campaign begun amod high expectations in 2020. And would be expected from a university with a slogan that reads: “What starts here, changes the world,” the University of Texas
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football team’s players, coaches and staff have made their voices heard, both individually and as a unit, by calling attention to the issues while setting the bar for effective and meaningful protests. Be it in a team march from RoyalMemorial Stadium to the Texas State Capitol in protest of the George Floyd killing, to the changing of the name of the field at the venerable stadium to honor the program’s two Heisman Trophy winners — both of them black — to discussions among the players and posts on social media, this has been an offseason of change and messages spoken and heard on the 40 Acres. Texas head coach Tom Herman has lauded his players and credited their use of their voicees to declare and expound on their feelings. “Our advice to them is you can do both: you can affect change in your society as well as play football at an elite level,” Herman said. “You can do those two things together. Playing college football at the
University of Texas at the level that we plan on playing is going to give a tremendous platform to all the players, not just on our team but especially those that are starring for our team, just (because of) the amount of microphones that will be put in front of them throughout the season. “If you can devote your time, effort and energy to playing this game and preparing to play this game at the level that we all expect, there’s still enough time in the day and time, effort and energy in yourself to go affect meaningful change in your society.” Herman commended the players and coaches for the way they have handles the challenges in the ongoing nationwide call for better race relations as the players have tried to grasp and find ways to be a part of the impact of protests. “We’re here to provide guidance and mentorship and ultimately support for the things that are important to the people that we love, which
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Texas players do their part to call attention to need for bridge over social and racial divides
are certainly our players,” Herman said. “I’m really proud of them and their open mindedness, as well as their ability to be involved in their community and our society as a whole. That makes all of us in our program very proud.”
March with a purpose The Longhorns’ first real visible move to express themselves as a team came in June when they walked from campus to the steps of the seat of Lone Star State government, escorted throughout the march by members of the UT and City of Austin police. The group then knelt for nine minutes, in total silence, to protest the killing of George Floyd and the time he spent under the knee of a police officer while dying. Law enforcement officers joined in with the kneeling protest. At the end of the nine minutes, senior defensive back Chris Brown stood and made poignant comments on the demonstration and its purpose. “As we approach the nine-minute mark, think about not having life after reaching that nine-minute mark,” Brown said in his speech. “Think about no air being in your body as you reach that nine-minute mark. Think about having a life squeezed out of you. After nine minutes, there ain’t no more of this.
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photo from Emmanual Acho Youtube Channel “Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man”
perspective of the stereotypes, the racial biases that were set upon us,” Sterns said. “It’s not about white people or white vs. black. It’s a system that continuously keeps failing us. I’m tired of seeing it. Our teammates are tired of seeing it. There’s so much emotion. It’s just hard.” This kind of outpouring of emotion on social issues is a departure from the “shut-up-and-play-football” expectations of athletes in past generations. “People definitely got to see a different side of us,” linebacker Juwan Mitchell said. “Coach Herman let us be us. He told us in the team meeting, ‘Whatever y’all got to say, let it be heard.’ That’s what I feel like happened.”
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“After nine minutes, you can’t see no more. You can’t hear, you can’t breathe — nothing. After nine minutes, it’s over. I want you to think about how George Floyd felt, as the life and the air was being squeezed out this man’s body. For a non-violent crime.” Walking back to campus after the demonstration, junior defensive back Caden Sterns made his voice heard as well. “In order for things to change, it has to be the white person wanting to change or change the way they view African-Americans and their HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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In July, at the request of the Jamail family and as part of an initiative to promote a change in attitude toward race within the university, Joe Jamail Field was renamed in honor of Longhorn legends Earl Campbell (1974-77) and Ricky Williams (1995-98). The field at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium will now be known as CampbellWilliams Field. Campbell and Williams are the only two Longhorns to win the Heisman Trophy. Both Williams and Campbell addressed the team and made it clear that the change was emotional for the two former running backs, and that the current crop of players’ actions had been an impetus for the renaming. “What I take the most pride in is that I decided to come to a university, that sometime in the future, would bring in a group of football players that had the courage and the initiative to speak up,” Williams said. “The most important thing to me about this is that it’s not just an empty gesture. No matter what you do, you
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Jamails requested name change for field
can not change the past, but you can learn from it, and you can use it to move forward into a brighter future.”
WHAT STARTS HERE CHANGES THE WORLD
“(The name change) is going to change America and a lot goes to you men, because y’all spoke up,” he told the players. “I want to thank you for doing that. It takes a hell of a man to be y’all’s age and to do something like y’all did. I thank you guys for speaking up.” Speaking for the Jamail family, among the most prominent supporters of Texas Athletics and the University as a whole, Dahr Jamail, one of Joe Jamail’s three sons, thanked the team for inspiring the family’s decision. “It’s easy for me to be here and honor two people that are a part of my family,” Dahr Jamail said. “When the school honors them, they honor us. It’s not like I’m giving something up, I’m getting something back. Today will feel like we did something. I’m telling you, you are here with the best people and the most chances, so make the most of them. This is your opportunity.”
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Campbell lauded the Jamails for helping “change the world, not just The University of Texas.”
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Protests and outcry on racial issues contin nue now as more atrocities are committed against Black people and other people of colorr every day in the United States. Throughout the run--up p to the Longhorns s’ Sept. 12 season opener against UTEP, th he Texas players have responded via social media a and ev ven req quested a stop p to practice Aug. 27 and 28 to find a way y to voice e the disple easure at the lack of meaningful progres ss made on th he issues in the past months.
“W With the continued displa ay of racial inju ustice in America, many playerrs were filled with em motions and questions on why there is continued opp pression against the Black community,” Thompson wrote. “Colllecttively as a team, we gath hered to discuss our concerns and where we should go moving forward. We e chose to sit out practice to dialogue abou ut how to better our society. We,, as players, re ealized that add dressing ra acial injustice is more sig gniifican nt than playing the sporrt that we e love. Racism is embed dde ed in our nation’s culture and d we mu ust take action to chang ge this reality. “Iff we want to change soc cie ety and make the world a better pla ace e, it is paramount tha at we take me easures to do so. We wa ant to work with church hes to includ de social justice in their me essages, set up monthlly meeting gs with law enforcement fo or open dialogue, conduc ct interview ws with officers on proper ru ule es of eng gagement and what mea asures should be taken wh hen police e violate those e rule es. “There are a multitude off id deas that we have drafted, and we must understand that this will be a continuous process. We must take a stand to do o wh hat is right; this must come to a stop. We must work togetther to restore peace within our natio on.” Senior quarterb back Sam Eh hlinger, the und disputed leader of the Longhorns on and off th he field, said the team m has worrked together to put forward one voice desp pite playerrs having different backgrrounds and experiences with racial profiling.
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Texas defensive bac ck Josh Thomp pson to ook to Twittter to explain the two-day y stoppage in practtic ce and laid out steps the e Lon nghorns wantt to see ad ddresse ed as they go forward.
“Everything that I’ve been trying to get across is s tha at every voice is absolutely needs to be hearrd, and affter everybody’s voice is heard we got to move toge ether as a team,” Ehlinger said. “That’s the most imporrtant part: we are a team and the unity that we can builld together because locker rooms are so inclusive and th he things that are able to be accomplished in locker rooms are so incredible. “T The underlying theme is that we gott to move together as a te eam on whatever decision is made about anything.” The players’ stance and outsp pokenness has not been universally accepted by th he Lo onghorns’ fans, some of who took to the Internet to voiice diff fferent opinions, mostly demanding that the players ge et back to work an nd get rea ady for football.
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Herman was asked how he fellt about thos se fans who do not agree with his players and d their collec ctive stance. “Everybody’s got differrent opinions, and th hat’s wh hat makes our country y great.” Herman said. “(The com mments show) a lack of (tthe) openmiindedness that our players and our staff ha as. I think it’s a shame that every ybody doesn’t have an open mind and d ca an’t see othe er people’s s points of view and ho ow differe ent th hings that hap ppen throughout ourr socie ety affect otherr people, let alone our players our pro ogram. “You know the ey’re human beings that yare aff ffecte ed by this. And for any other huma an being to tell another human being ho ow to feel without eve er walking a mile in their sho oes. I ju ust don n’t think it’s rig ght.” Herman added d that the job of a compass sio ona ate society is to listen. “You don’t always have to o agrree,” he said. “Bu ut I do think it’s our right, as mem mbers off the same society y to at least liisten. I’m re eally prou ud of our team for listening to each other, and proud d off our staff for listening to our players.”
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BEN BALLARD POSTION: QB HOMETOWN: AUSTIN, TEXAS MAJOR: ADVERTISING HIGH SCHOOL: HYDE PARK SCHOOLS Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Backup quarterback Ben Ballard is playing for his dream school, now awaiting chance by Riley Zayas Deep down, Ben Ballard has always been a Longhorn. Years before he starred at Hyde Park High School in Austin, he was in the stands watching some of the great Texas football teams in the early 2000s. Long before his 38
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talent on the gridiron came to the surface, a dream to one day be out on that field was born. A goal was set. A journey began. Last fall, that dream became a reality for Ballard, now a redshirt freshman, when he walked on to the Longhorn football team. Coming out of high school, Ballard was a solid quarterback, one who could throw on the run, find the open receiver downfield and manage the game well. That led to interest from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools such as Dartmouth, Abilene Christian and Georgetown. But those did not interest Ballard as much as the sprawling campus just miles from the Hyde Park campus. Texas held a great opportunity. Even if the road to playing for the Horns was
uphill all the way, Ballard was all in. He would not be on scholarship, at least at the beginning. Instead, he would be a preferred walk-on. It was not about playing time, or making a name for himself, either. It was about the university. Hyde Park Schools head coach Chuck Peterson remembers talking to his star quarterback as he weighed the decision. “I tried to show him all his options and talked to him about the road less traveled,” said Petersen. “He could have gone to some other places and probably guaranteed himself a lot of playing time. But he said, ‘Coach, that’s not it. It’s about the University of Texas... and I’m going to compete my tail off, and I’m going to show everybody that I can play here.’”
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(fall 2019, spring 2020)
That drive and work ethic to accomplish his goals was evident as he led Hyde Park School to a 6-4 record his senior season. Unlike many other blue-chip quarterbacks, Ballard did not get on the field early in high school. D.J. Bolger, who now plays at Texas State, had secured the job; after all, Bolger was one year older and a TAPPS All-State pick his senior year. So Ballard did not play regularly until his senior year. He made the most of his limited opportunity, throwing for 2,059 yards and 19 touchdowns in his final season with the Panthers. It is hard to measure how instrumental the Hyde Park Schools and Petersen were to Ballard’s success in high school. For one, the prep school environment allowed for a complete experience that prepared Ballard for life on and off the field at Texas.
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“The first thing you’re going to do is you’re going to leave here knowing who Jesus is, and hopefully establish a relationship, if you don’t already have one with him, because we’re here to help kids for eternity,” Petersen said when asked about the Hyde Park experience. “Secondly, we’re going to help your son or daughter be the man or woman God needs them to be in every area of their life. (Third), we’re a very competitive prepschool environment academically and we’re going to create opportunities, along with the families’ help, to get (you) to the school you want to attend. “It is amazing the numbers of kids that get accepted every year from Hyde Park to the University of Texas. You’re going to play a very competitive brand of athletics. In today’s world it is really hard to be a multi-sport athlete at the high school level, because of the pressures and demands of that one sport, but we’re going to allow your kid to go from a football field to a basketball court to a baseball diamond or a track. We want to encourage multisport athletes.” Ballard was a multi-sport athlete with the Panthers, also playing baseball. “I feel like specialization hurts,” Peterson said. “So I’m old-school and believe that you do need some time away from your sport to develop other skills that you may not develop in your ‘primary’ sport. I think it is really key that (student-athletes) do as many things as they can because, one, it is going to help them, but two, the high school experience will normally end a competitive athletic career for most every kid who plays high school sports.
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“‘Keep being patient,’” Petersen said when asked what he has been telling Ballard recently. “‘Keep being a great teammate.’ A great teammate is a guy that shows Ballard certainly did that during up everyday ready to work. his high school career. While If you’re Sam Ehlinger, you’re he is two years removed from going to get a whole lot of his time on the Hyde Park reps. If you’re Ben Ballard campus, the connection to the right now you’re probably Panthers has not waned, and it not going to get as many. starts with Petersen, a former But the rep you get is the college player at the Air Force most important rep you have Academy. because it is the only one. I keep telling him just to ‘keep “I try to keep up with all my grinding, to keep being a guys that are playing at the great teammate, to support next level, just to see how the other quarterbacks in that they are doing,” Peterson said. room. Do what (UT offensive “Having coached and played at coordinator) Coach (Mike) the collegiate level for a long Yurcich wants you to do, time I know how difficult it is (head) Coach (Tom) Herman [to play in college] and I just wants you to do.’ want them to know they have a guy here in me that will always “And I always go back to this be with them.” because Ben understands the history at the University of His constant encouragement Texas: a good friend of mine helps former Panthers, is Randy McEachern (UT’s No. including Ballard, now playing 3 quarterback who came off at the college level. Having the bench in 1977 to beat previous experience as both Oklahoma, instantly becoming a college player and college a fan favorite). I said, ‘Ben, assistant has played a role in you’re a couple plays a Peterson’s role in developing way from being a Randy players hoping to play at the McEachern, and that is not a collegiate level. He knows what bad thing.’” the college coaches want in recruits, he understands what No it is not. At this point in his kinds of skills players need to career, Ballard is a little like develop to compete with the a minuteman, the militiamen best of the best in college. That who were known to be ready is invaluable, especially for a at a moment’s notice during player such as Ballard, who has the American Revolutionary had to stay patient and earn War. He does not know when every single rep he gets in his number will be called, or practice. in what scenario, but he does know one thing; he has to
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be ready, just like he always was at Hyde Park, just like he has done in practice with the Horns. Said Petersen, “There is nobody in America who wants to do as well as Ben does for the University of Texas.”
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So what I want them to do is be able to look back and say that ‘I got everything out of my experience that I possibly could.’”
LONGHORNS IN REAL ESTATE MJ MCFARLAND - Realtor® 210-774-0725 call or text me
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HORNS ILLUSTRATED Pundits Picks Horns Illustrated asked several pundits to share their picks for the 2020 Football Season. We asked 12 questions. What would your picks be? You can engage with your favorite pundit on their social media page. We shared their twitter handles when available and in one case (Joe Nick Patoski) his Instagram.
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PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
TEXAS LONGHORNS FANATICS BRANDED ADULT ALL OVER FACE COVERINGS 3-PACK
2020 Horns Illustrated Pundit Picks BIG 12 WINS CHAMPIONSHIP
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
FRESHMAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR
COACH OF THE YEAR
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS
OKLAHOMA
CHUBA HUBBARD, OKLAHOMA STATE
JOSEPH OSSAI, TEXAS
TCU RB ZACHARY EVANS
LINCOLN RILEY, OKLAHOMA
GEORGIA VS. CLEMSON
TEXAS
CHUBA HUBBARD, OKLAHOMA STATE
DARIUS STILLS, WEST VIRGINIA
BIJAN ROBINSON, TEXAS
TOM HERMAN, TEXAS
CLEMSON VS. TEXAS
OKLAHOMA STATE
CHUBA HUBBARD, OKLAHOMA STATE
JOSEPH OSSAI, TEXAS
ZACHARY EVANS, TCU
MIKE GUNDY, OKLAHOMA STATE
CLEMSON VS. OKLAHOMA STATE
TEXAS
SAM EHLINGER, TEXAS
DARIUS STILLS, WEST VIRGINIA
SPENCER RATTLER, OKLAHOMA
TOM HERMAN, TEXAS
CLEMSON VS. GEORGIA
OKLAHOMA
SPENCER RATTLER, OKLAHOMA
AMEN OGBONGBEMIGA, OKLAHOMA STATE
SPENCER RATTLER, OKLAHOMA
LINCOLN RILEY, OKLAHOMA
CLEMSON VS. ALABAMA
OKLAHOMA
SAM EHLINGER, TEXAS
NO ANSWER
GARRETT WALLOW, TCU
MATT CAMPBELL, IOWA STATE
CLEMSON VS ALABAMA
TEXAS
BROCK PURDY, IOWA STATE
DARIUS STILLS, WEST VIRGINIA
BIJAN ROBINSON, TEXAS
MATT CAMPBELL, IOWA STATE
ALABAMA VS CLEMSON
TEXAS
SAM EHLINGER, TEXAS
DARIUS STILLS, WEST VIRGINIA
BIJAN ROBINSON, TEXAS
TOM HERMAN, TEXAS
TEXAS VS CLEMSON
TEXAS
CHUBA HUBBARD, OKLAHOMA STATE
JOSEPH OSSAI, TEXAS
SPENCER RATTLER, OKLAHOMA
MATT CAMPBELL, IOWA STATE
CLEMSON VS ALABAMA
TEXAS
CHUBA HUBBARD, OKLAHOMA STATE
JOSEPH OSSAI, TEXAS
SPENCER RATTLER, OKLAHOMA
TOM HERMAN, TEXAS
ALABAMA VS TEXAS
TEXAS
SAM EHLINGER, TEXAS
JOSEPH OSSAI, TEXAS
SPENCER RATTLER, OKLAHOMA
TOM HERMAN, TEXAS
ALABAMA VS CLEMSON
Danny Davis Austin American-Statesman
@aasdanny
Ed Clements KLBJ Radio
@EdClements590
Riley Zayas Horns Illustrated
@ZayasRiley
Steve Habel Horns Illustrated
@stevehabel
Joe Nick Patoski Writer, Author, Radio, Pundit
@JoeNickP - IG
Brian Davis Austin American-Statesman
@BDavisAAS
Steve Lansdale Horns Illustrated
Anthony Geronimo CBS Austin Sports
@ATXANT10
Bob Ballou CBS Austin
@BobBallouSports
Steven Ngati Fanatic Perspective
@Fan_Prspective
Mike Hardge IHeartRadio
@HardballHardge
HORNS ILLUSTRATED
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2020 Horns Illustrated Pundit Picks NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER
2020 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER
2020 LONGHORNS FOOTBALL MVP
OFFENSIVE / DEFENSIVE MVP
GAME DAY FAVORITE FOOD, SNACKS, DRINK
GEORGIA
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
8-2
SAM EHLINGER
DEREK KERSTETTER/ JOSEPHY OSSAI
LOTS OF COFFEE
CLEMSON
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
9-1
SAM EHLINGER
EHLINGER / OSSAI
OT BURGER FROM DIRTY MARTIN’S PLACE
CLEMSON
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
8-2
SAM EHLINGER
EHLINGER / OSSAI
PIZZA, PRETZELS, ROOT BEER
GEORGIA
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
9-1
SAM EHLINGER
KEAONTAY INGRAM / CADEN STERNS
NACHOS AND MARGARITAS
CLEMSON
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
9-3
SAM EHLINGER
EHLINGER / OSSAI
MATT’S CHILE RELIENO W/ CHICKEN W/ EXTRA RAISINS & PECANS, SHINER BOCK
CLEMSON
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
8-2
JOSEPH OSSAI
EHLINGER / OSSAI
TIFF’S TREATS
CLEMSON
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
9-1
SAM EHLINGER
EHLINGER / OSSAI
BRATS ON THE GRILL, NACHOS & BEER
TEXAS
SAM EHLINGER, TEXAS
CLEMSON
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
ALABAMA
TREVOR LAWRENCE, CLEMSON
Danny Davis Austin American Statesman
@aasdanny
Ed Clements KLBJ Radio
@EdClements590
Riley Zayas Horns Illustrated Writer
@ZayasRiley
Steve Habel Horns Illustrated
@stevehabel
Joe Nick Patoski Writer, Author, Radio, Pundit
@JoeNickP - IG
Brian Davis Austin American Statesman
@BDavisAAS
Steve Lansdale Horns Illustrated
Anthony Geronimo CBS Austin Sports
@ATXANT10
Bob Ballou CBS Austin
@BobBallouSports
Steven Ngati Fanatic Perspective
@Fan_Prspective
TEXAS 2020 REGULAR SEASON RECORD
9-1
SAM EHLINGER
EHLINGER / OSSAI
CHICKEN PIZZA, CATFISH, SPAGHETTI, CHICKEN STRIPS, COOKIES, FRUIT, BROWNIES, DR. PEPPER
8-2
SAM EHLINGER
EHLINGER / OSSAI
EVER? FLETCHER’S CORNY DOG AND BEER
9-1
SAM EHLINGER
EHLINGER / OSSAI
BBQ & BUFFALO WINGS, QUESO, LIVE OAK BEER
8-2
JOSEPH OSSAI
EHLINGER / OSSAI
MILLER LITE, HAMBURGERS & STUFFED JALAPENOS
Mike Hardge IHeartRadio
@HardballHardge
44
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CLEMSON
NO ANSWER
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By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer AUSTIN, Texas – A team, in any sport or in the world in general, is often defined by their veterans, those players that have been through the fire, and worked side by side, be it on the gridiron or in the boardroom or on the assembly line.
and won three straight bowl games, most recently last New Year’s Eve in San Antonio in dominating fashion to cap off an 8-5 season. That 2019 version of Texas football had just 13 seniors (11 of them on scholarship), in what was the smallest list in program history. This year’s Longhorns team, which begins this strange and truncated campaign ranked 14th in both major polls, has 14 seniors. It has 10 players on scholarship, two walk-ons and a pair of talented graduate transfers.
And, thanks to the NCAA’s decision to grant anyone who plays this season an extra year of eligibility due to the coronavirus and its impact on college sports, all these players Tom Herman’s squads at Texas can come back for another have, for the most part, bucked season if they are so inclined. that tradition. The Longhorns, led by a steady flow of talented That ruling begs the question: underclassmen, have returned When is a senior season not to the Top 25 of college football 46
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really a senior season? The answer is in 2020-21, thanks to COVID-19. Yes, this year’s list contains one of the top quarterbacks in school history, a defensive back that could be one of the best in the nation, a solid, if not spectacular defensive lineman and a pair of impactful and versatile offensive linemen. The rundown here has also been affected by the NCAA’s revised redshirt rule that allows players an extra year of eligibility in one of their five allotted season they played in less than four games in a previous campaign. Here’s a look at the Texas senior class, which will try to help the team secure a fourth straight winning season – something that hasn’t been done by the Longhorns since 2006-09:
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Covid-19 will give this class another year, but time is now for Texas seniors to produce
Tarik Black – Wide Receiver The Longhorns’ mostly untested receiving corps got an immediate boost when Black transferred to Austin from Michigan. The 6-foot-3, 217 pound graduate transfer was a three-time letterwinner (2017-19) for the Wolverines and appeared in 21 games with nine starts for Michigan. Black only played one full season as a freshman and sophomore due to foot injuries; he still amassed 40 receptions for 507 yards and two touchdowns over those three years. He played in all 12 games for Michigan last year, with five starts, and caught 25 passes for 323 yards with a TD. There’s room for Black to potentially emerge as a starting wide receiver in the new-look Texas offense.
Sam Ehlinger - Quarterback Ehlinger came to the 40 Acres as a talented and outspoken “alpha” player and gets set for his fourth season with the Longhorns as their undisputed leader and the face of Texas’ turnaround over the past three years. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound signalcaller has played in 36 career games with 33 starts and has been selected to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Wuerffel Trophy in 2020.
PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
Ehlinger is an erstwhile Heisman Trophy candidate, and gets it done on and off the field. He is No. 2 all time in passing yards with 8,870, No. 2 all time in single-season passing yards with 3,663 and two of the top 10 singlegame passing performances of all time. He also rules the locker room, and is one of the Longhorns’ most vocal players on social issues.
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TEXAS LONGHORNS FOOTBALL SENIORS Chris Brown – Defensive Back Brown is not afraid to bring the bacon from the safety position, having played in 35 career games with 12 starts. The hard-hitting 5-foot-11, 190-pound Brown is a key returning puzzle piece for the Longhorns after playing and starting in 10 games last season, when he racked up 46 tackles (37 solo), three tackles for loss and two pass breakups while intercepting a pass and pouncing on a fumble.
Daniel Young – Running Back The 6-foot, 215-pound Young was mostly a short-yardage and mop-up back in 2019 when he saw action in eight games but only rushed for 63 yards on 16 carries. Young made his biggest impact during his freshman season, starting the final five games of the season and amassing 373 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Young has also been effective catching the ball, hauling in 16 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, with most of that production coming in his first year. Young is one of two Longhorns players to opt out of this season because of COVID-19.
Jacoby Jones – Defensive Lineman Jones begins his second year on the 40 Acres after transferring to Texas from Butler Community College in Kansas in January 2019. He played in 11 games last year logged when he had 14 tackles and forced one fumble. Jones was a two-time all-conference award winner in juco and a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2019).
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Brown was just a three-star prospect coming out of high school and took some time to establish himself in his redshirt freshman and sophomore seasons, when he was mostly a special teams player.
TEXAS LONGHORNS FOOTBALL SENIORS Marqez Bimage – Defensive Lineman One of the more experienced players on Texas’ defense, Bimage – who goes at 6-foot-2 and 270 pounds – played in all 13 games (all in reserve role) in 2019, recording 12 tackles (10 of which were solo), a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
Bimage is a solid rotational player and would have been in a position to start at defensive end, but has opted not to play this season because of COVID-19; he has said he will return for the 2021 campaign.
Ta’Quon Graham – Defensive Line Graham was the top defensive player in the class in 2017 and has been a key member of the Texas defense the past two seasons. He started all 13 games last season and finished with 31 tackles, 12 of those for a loss and 3½ sacks, good enough for second on the team. The 6-foot-4, 294-pound defensive end has played in 39 career games with 15 starts and was named a third-team All-Big 12 Preseason selection heading into the 2020 campaign.
Tope Imade – Offensive Line Imade, who’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 355 pounds has been a selfless player in his four years at Texas. He came to Austin as an offensive lineman, but then switched to defensive line in fall camp prior to the 2017 season and then moved back to offensive line in the middle of the 2017 season following injuries.
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TEXAS LONGHORNS FOOTBALL SENIORS Derek Kerstetter – Offensive Line Kerstetter, listed at 6-foot-5 and 293 pounds, moves to center this season for the Longhorns, after playing in and starting in all 13 games last year. The fourth-year offensive lineman has played in 37 games and started 28 games; after the 2019 campaign, Kerstetter was recognized as a thirdteam All-Big 12 performer.
Denzel Okafor – Offensive Line Okafor is a fifth-year offensive lineman who has played in 39 career games with five career starts. He saw action in all 13 contests in 2019 and started against Iowa State, but contributed primarily on special teams. Okafor entered the transfer portal in late March with the intention to become a graduate transfer, but was talked out of leaving by coach Tom Herman and his staff. Okafor will be asked to do a lot more this year, and the 6-foot-4, 317-pounder has been projected as the starter at right guard.
Cade Brewer – Tight End The 6-foot-4, 252-pound Brewer has been the top pass-catching target for the Longhorns from the tight end spot the past three seasons. He has played in 33 career games with 12 starts and played in and started nine games last year, missing time due to an injury. Brewer caught 11 passes for 159 yard and one touchdown during the 2019 season and has 32 catches for 258 yards and three TDs in his career on the 40 Acres.
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Last season Kerstetter played in key role in helping the Texas offense score 35.2 points per game.
TEXAS LONGHORNS FOOTBALL SENIORS Gabriel Watson – Running Back Watson, out of Division II Sioux Falls, signed on Aug. 26 as a graduate transfer and will add some depth to the running back position. Watson, a 6-foot-2, 220-pounder, led D-II in five statistical categories in 2018, including yards per game, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns.
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Watson missed the 2019 campaign with a hamstring injury but was granted a medical redshirt.
John Lilly - Defensive Lineman John is a graduate transfer from Texas State where he earned his degree in May of 2020.
Tristan Bennett - Defensive Lineman Tristan is from Irving, Texas. His major is Neuroscience and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2019 and spring 2020).
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Texas ready to produce memorable campaign, for all the right reasons By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer AUSTIN, Texas – So here we go: college football is finally ready to kick off for real, two weeks late for those of us watching and covering the boys in burnt orange and white, with a shortened season on tap, limited by the coronavirus and after plenty of fits and stops and handwringing. It’s time, my friends, for the Texas Longhorns to shine — and for all the right reasons. 52
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What might be Tom Herman’s best team in the coach’s four years on the 40 Acres will begin with the Longhorns ranked 14th in the nation, as Texas faces a UTEP team that is just a warm-up to the nine-game Big 12 Conference regular-season campaign and, I believe, a trip to the league championship game and even bigger things: a berth in the bastardized College Football Playoffs. Whomever wins the national title will do so without the participation of the Pacific-12 and Big 10 after those conferences decided on a spring sports schedule out of uncertainty about competing safely in the age of Covid-19. That can mean less than nothing to the Longhorns — a football team can only play the teams that lines
up across from it on the field each week. No, Texas doesn’t get to play its marquee nonconference game against defending national champion LSU, which I believe the Longhorns would have won handily even in Baton Rouge, as I assume would have been the case with the home dustup versus South Florida. But Texas will have plenty of games in which to prove itself. This is a hearty and hungry group of Longhorns, fresh off an 8-5 season in 2019 that concluded with a dominant performance in the bowl win over Utah, followed an überchallenging offseason
PHOTOS: STEVE HABEL FROM PRESS BOX
Habe on the Horns
affected in length and preparation routine by the pandemic.
PHOTOS: STEVE HABEL FROM PRESS BOX
Expectations are high in Austin, and they should be: Texas has talented, deep team led by a dynamic and tough senior quarterback in Sam Ehlinger, a finally unleashed defensive whirling dervish in rush linebacker Joseph Ossai, and, as usual, a defensive backfield stocked with players who will be fixtures in the NFL when they are done with college football. Then there’s athletic and strong offensive tackle Samuel Cosmi, a sure early-round pick at the next level, and talented playmakers galore on either side of the ball. Add to that the fact that the Longhorns have new coordinators on both offense and defensive, coaches who will be happy
to tell you they have something to prove, and this Texas team is sitting on top of a near-perfect storm for success. Sure there are questions. Who will emerge as Ehlinger’s go-to target receiver? Can the Longhorns find a capable linebacking corps beyond Ossai? What about depth at quarterback if Ehlinger gets dinged playing his no-step-back brand of football? And will the Longhorns “show up” every game, even taking the likes of Kansas and West Virginia as seriously as they should? And can Texas finally find a way to beat Oklahoma for the Big 12 title? The Longhorns might have to accomplish the latter twice to get to the CFP. The biggest question of all:
will the coronavirus allow Texas and the rest of the Big 12, Atlantic Coast, and Southeastern Conferences (the only three Power 5 Conferences to tee it up this fall) to make it through the season healthy and whole? One thing’s for sure: we are all in for a wild ride between now and Jan. 11, the date of National Championship game in South Florida. There will be a lot of fun to be had, and the escapism that college football will allow us in these troubled and confusing times is priceless. Just sayin’, ya know? The Habe is Steve Habel, former senior editor of Horns Illustrated and now a senior contributing writer. Habel was this magazine’s first employee, in 1994.
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all photos by Jose Mendez / Horns Illustrated
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Please know our sincere gratitude and appreciation for everyone who helped Horns Illustrated make this issue possible. For over 26 years we have covered University of Texas Sports. Thank you subscribers, advertisers, sponsors, writers, photographers, editors, friends, family (wives/girlfriends/ daughters/sons) who cheer us on (aka edit our work), and support what we love to do. Thank you Texas Longhorns fans for allowing Horns Illustrated to be a part of your fan experience. Thank you for following us, commenting, and sharing on our social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and visiting our website to enjoy our content. Please know, we see you and hear you. We follow you, see your posts and are cheering you on also. Okay...after that, makes me want to raise an arm and Hook’em Horns! A special thank you to Texas Longhorns Athletics for allowing Horns Illustrated to play a part in covering the great sports programs at UT. Thank you to the all the Directors, SID’s, teams, coaches, players and those in media who do such an amazing job. With Gratitude, Appreciation, and Honor, Hook’em
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PHOTO THIS PAGE COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY
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