Horns Illustrated 2019 Recruiting Issue

PHOTOS BY DON BENDER/HORNS ILLUSTRATED

HORNS UP TOOK on new life this year as plenty of foes of Bevo tried to besmirch the Longhorn name and everything Texas stands for.

As the fall brought Hook’Em Horns back into the spotlight and into national attention and headlines, the Texas football team bucked its way into the Top 10 by season’s end with an especially sweet Sugar Bowl victory worth savoring.

Now the new crew of recruits are ready to roll with some of them already on the Forty Acres, as 10 signees (mostly freshmen) enrolled into Texas early this spring. Also back this year are soon-to-be seniors Collin Johnson and Malcolm Roach, who along with the Sam Ehlinger-led offense and the ever-driven defense sharpened up for the 2019 season during the April 13 Orange-White Spring Game (See more on spring practice and the Orange-White Game on hornsillustrated.com).

The Spring Game has blossomed from fanatics and diehards cramming the sidelines to see new and veteran Longhorns alike, to a fanfest full of Texas fans from far and wide as the game’s presence has grown immensely these past few years.

A large part of that is Texas’ rise and allure, with major kudos to athletic director Chris Del Conte, head coach Tom Herman, and of course, the proud players throwing the Horns UP on campus — and around the globe.

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2019 RECRUITING ISSUE

The Texas football squad bonded through the 2018 season and stand poised and proud to challenge for a National Championship in 2019.

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

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DRIVEN DIRECTION

Chris Del Conte has corralled something extra special on the Forty Acres. From his interactions with fervent fans, in person and on social media, to his leading the charge to create an entire gameday experience not just for the football team but for every sport that wears the Burnt Orange. Take a deep dive into the mind that is making Texas the envy of schools around the country.

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HERMAN, HORNS HOOK INCREDIBLE CLASS

Now and beyond, the Texas football team is back in the national spotlight both on the field and around the nation. Head coach Tom Herman and his staff wrangled the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation — with plenty of out-of-state recruits looking to come to the capital city of the Lone Star State along with local talent from Texas signing on. That’s all on top of finishing the 2018 season ranked No. 9 nationally, giving plenty of reasons to say “We’re Back!”

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7 LEADING OFF - BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SET TO CONTEND FOR TITLES

11 ROUNDUP - AUGIE HONORED, DKR GETS AN UPGRADE, AND MORE FROM THE FORTY ACRES

23 HABE ON THE HORNS - OUR OWN STEVE HABEL HAS HIS TAKE ON RECRUITING

40 DKR FUND - THE ANNUAL GALA WAS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

HORNS IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Look back at the Longhorns 2018 season and savor the sweet Sugar Bowl victory, as well as the win over Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl and all the top Texas moments from the top-10 finish from a season ago.

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COVER PHOTO: COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY TEXAS SPORTS

COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS

CONTENTS

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COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, MIDDLE IMAGE: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

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FANS FLOCKED TO Disch-Falk Field last season as the Longhorns caught fire after a slow start, and Texas’ torrid run to the College World Series has the Forty Acres — and beyond — buzzing with excitement about coach David Pierce’s squad this season.

Armed with plenty of ace-worthy talent on the mound and bats booming in the box, the 2019 Texas Baseball team is a shining diamond looking to cut through the competition en route to the CWS once again.

From Friday night starter sophomore Bryce Elder, who has proven himself early with a hot to start the season, veteran junior Blair Henley bringing back a wealth of knowledge, and freshman phenom Coy Cobb earning Big 12 honors after just his second career start, the Longhorns these next two months-plus should be packed with plenty of fun and wins.

With faces new and old in the fold, like junior Ryan Reynolds, who is fully back from injury, and freshman Eric Kennedy are meshing in majestically with juniors Austin Todd and Duke Ellis, senior Masen Hibbeler and sophomore Zach Zubia along with a whole slew of depth and youth at Pierce’s disposal.

The Big 12 Conference season concludes with Texas hosting rival Oklahoma at Disch-Falk May 16-18, with the Big 12 Tournament running from May 22-26.

With eyes on the big prize, Texas plans to play into June, with the CWS starting on the 15th and running through to the championship’s conclusion on June 26.

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LEADING

COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS

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THE OREGON TRAIL that followed new head coach Mike White down to Texas is more than meshing in with the Longhorn softball team. They’ve embraced an enthusiasm that bounds out of the dugout and has Texas ranked in the top 10 nationally early in the season, with an eye at a legitimate run toward a national championship.

Shannon Rhodes, Mary Iakopo, Lauren Burke and Miranda Elish have made immediate impacts as new Longhorns after their transfer from Oregon, where White was their coach.

The core of the Horns remains strong as well, with sophomore second baseman Janae Jefferson, junior first baseman Kaitlyn Washington, and redshirt junior center fielder Reagan Hathaway among the returning Texas players propelling the team toward the top once again.

Elish is a marvel on the mound, and not to be outdone, freshman pitcher Shealyn O’Leary became the third player in UT history to start her career 5-0 on the mound. Senior lefty Brooke Bolinger and sophomore righty Ariana Adams have been stout as well this season, giving White and the Longhorns a lot of looks to throw at opposing hitters as the season gets deeper.

The Big 12 Championships are in Oklahoma City, Okla., May 10-11, with the NCAA Regionals going May 17-19. The Women’s College World Series begins May 30 and lasts through June 5.

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ROUNDUP RECRUITING 2019

COURTESY JOSE MENDEZ/HORNS ILLUSTRATED

AUGIE HONORED: The late legendary Texas baseball coach Augie Garrido left behind a lasting legacy as a Longhorn. The University of Texas honored Garrido and his family before the annual Alumni Game at Disch-Falk Field prior to the start of the season, and his bust now sits for all Longhorn fans to see and celebrate on the Forty Acres.

Garrido retired in 2016 as the winningest coach in college baseball history with an overall record 1,975–951–9. Perhaps the most celebrated college baseball coach in history, Garrido went to the College World Series 15 times and collected five CWS wins with two different teams — the Texas Longhorns and also with Cal State Fullerton.

While at Texas, the legend compiled an 824–427–2 record and Garrido is one of only two coaches in the storied history of college baseball to lead more than one team to a national title.

Garrido is survived by his wife, Jeannie, and daughter, Lisa, and he was laid to rest next to former UT football coach Darrell K Royal at the Texas State Cemetery in 2016.

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SAVVY SUG SUTTON steered the Texas women’s basketball team toward the NCAA Tournament this season. The junior stepped into the starting role and excelled, ranking in the top 25 nationally in assists while putting up more than 12 points per game along with five rebounds.

In her first season as her team’s starting point guard, Sutton emerged as one of the nation’s top all-around floor leader as one of 10 semifinalists for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award. Sutton is the lone candidate from the Big 12 Conference, joining former Longhorns Brooke McCarty and Jamie Carey as one-time candidates for the prestigious award.

“As a point guard I (just try) to lead the team and use my voice on defense,” Sutton said.

Sutton was on the floor a lot for Texas this season, averaging more than 30 minutes per game and was usually the player the Longhorns looked to when they needed something to happen on offense.

Under head coach Karen Aston, this year’s Longhorns incorporated a lot of new faces from transfers Danni Williams and Jatarie White to freshmen Charli Collier and Audrey Warren among the group. The Horns stayed in the top 25 nationally and wound up the season with a regular 22-8, 12-6 in the Big 12.

Jaxson Hayes’ leaping led to a lot of blocks this season.

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Sug Sutton is the steadying force for the Texas women’s basketball team.

COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS

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NE THING STOOD above all else for the Texas men’s basketball team this season — they have some great young talent ready to burst through to the forefront.

As the season went along, though the Longhorns have their ups and downs in a difficult Big 12 Conference that saw teams knocking each other down week after week, the younger players continued to progress.

High-rising freshman forward Jaxson Hayes has become a force in the paint as a shot blocker, and his rebounding prowess along with his offensive arsenal grew through the season.

Hayes led the Big 12 in blocked shots in 2018-19 and only got stronger as it went along, with a season-high six blocks against Oklahoma on Feb. 23. The Loveland, Ohio native swatted away an impressive five shots twice, tallied four blocks twice and also had several games of three blocks or more.

“I feel like that’s something I always have (been good at), even in middle school I was a pretty good shot blocker because I was more athletic than everyone else,” Hayes said. “In high school you can tell what someone’s about to do — if they’re just gonna lay it up or dunk it. But in college you never know if they’re gonna bring it up, (or) go down. It’s a lot harder to read what they’re gonna do (in college).”

Head coach Shaka Smart saw Hayes getting better every day as well, and feels like the Longhorns have a solid piece in the middle heading into next year as well.

“As you know he’s just starting to scratch the surface,” said Smart of Hayes.

Along with Hayes, freshman Courtney Ramey saw significant time on the wing as he moved into the starting lineup on Jan. 19 and never looked back.

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COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

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HIS, MOST DEFINITELY, is Texas, as the Longhorns literally will be on display for all to see soon.

Adding to its “modern game day experience” with a Texas-sized addition to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, the University of Texas last year announced a $175 million DKR south end zone design focusing on “quality, not quantity.”

The project, which Texas tabbed the firm Populous to design, features a new student terrace, athletic amenities and more, and is slated to break ground this summer.

Construction on the seats, clubs and additional amenities is slated to be completed by kickoff in 2021.

For the first time ever, a logo — the iconic Longhorn — will be carved into a seating bowl, with a Longhorn-shaped balcony designed into the end zone seating, which will be visible from the air for all to see.

If the recently completed projects for the University of Arkansas football team and for the Milwaukee Bucks’ home facilities are any indication, Horns fans and student-athletes are in for a real treat.

BRINGING IT IN AND OPENING IT UP The addition to the stadium will make DKR enclosed for the first time in 95 years, and aims to improve football training, game day offerings, and more. In line with other projects and upgrades across the country, the project will streamline football operations through a renovation to the Moncrief-

Neuhaus Athletic Center, including enhanced and expanded student-athlete amenities and football coaches’ offices as well as a multitude of new and unique fan experiences.

“The new south end zone will provide our student-athletes, staff and fans with the finest facility in the country and one that we all can be extremely proud of,” said Chris Del Conte, University of Texas Vice President and Athletics Director. “It will feature the best of the best when it comes to student-athlete amenities and training needs, first-rate coaching staff offices and meeting rooms along with state-ofthe-art opportunities and experiences for our many fans and supporters.”

Another of Populous’ designs came to fruition when the $160 million north end zone expansion at Reynolds Razorback Stadium opened to start the Arkansas Razorbacks season earlier this year. The players themselves raved about the amenities for student-athletes and the experience it gave them in preparing for football every week.

“Honestly, it is the best locker room in the country, unless there’s a school I don’t know about somewhere,” sophomore quarterback Cole Kelley said to Hawgs Illustrated. “I mean really, even NFL locker rooms. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s just Grade A.” Added Arkansas junior running back Devwah Whaley called the additions “amazing” and “first class,” saying to Hawgs Illustrated, “I haven’t seen anything like that besides the [Dallas] Cowboys’ stadium. It’s a blessing to have a locker room like that.”

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY THE KEY The first looks of the design definitely invoke an image of the tailgate experience blending into the game day experience and more.

Students will have plenty to celebrate in the new south end zone, from a student terrace with concessions to a student seating section with multiple corner patios that provide a unique game day vantage point, according to the University. Adjacent to the student section, a new stage will be home to the Longhorn Network and the network’s iconic GameDay show, further connecting students to the Longhorns brand as well as its broadcast partners. Additionally, several premium experiences will be available, from the Bevo Corral adjacent to the fieldlevel club and patio - which players will proceed through for pregame, halftime and postgame field access - to the loge seating and Founders Suites.

“The modern game day experience is about quality, not quantity. Fans want unique experiences in an authentic place,” said Sherri Privitera, Populous Principal-in-Charge for the project. “This is a game-changing project.

From fully enclosing the stadium for a more intimate atmosphere to the impactful in-seat Longhorn logo, it is the ultimate celebration of The University of Texas.”

Since 2015, the Kansas City-based Populous has completed four end zone expansion and renovation projects at the collegiate level.

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Townley Haas earned three Big 12 titles this season.

JOANNA EVANS WAS named Big 12 Swimmer of the Meet after she set new conference and meet records while winning the 500yard freestyle in 4:36.87, and a meet record to win the (15:57.28) to win the 1,650 freestyle.

The women’s swimming and diving squad secured its seventh consecutive conference title by winning the Big 12 Championships held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

Junior Alison Gibson claimed Diver of the Meet honors after repeating as champion in the one-meter springboard to claim her third Big 12 title. Freshman freestyler Grace Ariola was named Newcomer of the Meet after winning the 50-yard freestyle and swimming on four conference title-winning relays.

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Joanna Evans stands honored as the Big 12 Swimmer of the Meet.

COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

ENIOR FREESTYLER TOWNLEY Haas earned Swimmer of the Meet honors at the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships after winning the 500-yard freestyle for the second time and completing the four-year sweep in the 200 freestyle. At the meet held in Austin during the final days of February and into the first days of March, Haas also helped the Longhorns win titles in the 200 and 800 freestyle relays.

Under the direction of legendary coach Eddie Reese, the Longhorns won the last 17 championships in the nowdefunct Southwest Conference, and now have won all 23 Big 12 crowns.

Reese was named the Swimming coach of the Meet for the third straight year, and the 16th time in his career, while Matt Scoggin was named Diving Coach of the Meet for the ninth time in the last 10 years, and the 14th time in his career.

Junior Grayson Campbell was named the Diver of the Meet after sweeping the one- and three-meter springboard events, giving him three Big 12 titles in his career.

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The Texas women’s track and field team captured the Big 12 • Championship this season.

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COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

PEED, POWER AND grace catapulted the Texas women’s track & field team to the Big 12 Conference Indoor Championship this season with three Longhorns taking home individual titles and head coach Eldrick Floréal being honored as the Big 12 Women’s Coach of the Year.

Senior Teahna Daniels, who was the 2016 national champion in the event, ran 7.22 in the event for her title while freshman Kynnedy Flannel won the 200m championship with a time of 22.89. Flannel was named the Big 12 Women’s Freshman of the Year.

Senior Ashtin Zamzow won her second consecutive conference title in the indoor pentathlon as her 4,183 points set a new school record.

Fellow senior Gabby Crank ran to the No. 3 time in UT history in the 800m, coming across in 2:04.92.

Bianca Turati is a force on the court.

Furthermore, the women’s 4x400 meter relay squad advanced on to the NCAA Indoor Championships as well.

“The future of Texas Track & Field is getting that swagger back and getting that confidence back,” Floreal said. “Wearing the Texas on your shirt means something and we need to take pride in that and build off of this meet going forward.”

The men’s track & field squad fared well, taking fifth overall at the Big 12 meet, with seven individuals and a relay team moving on the NCAA meet.

Sam Worley won the mile, Tripp Piperi won the shot put for the second straight season and John Burt won the crown in the 60m hurdles for the Longhorns.

Senior Alex Rogers advanced in the 3000 meter race, with teammates Steffin McCarter (long jump) and O’Brien Wasome (triple jump), along with the distance medley relay

team also doing well enough to secure a spot at the NCAA meet. Wasome won the 2018 national championship in the triple jump.

Jonathan Jones ran his way to the No. 2 time in the world in the 400 meter dash earlier this season and also captured the No. 2 time in UT history as well before advancing on to the NCAA meet.

Jonathan Jones ran to the second-best time in the world in the 400 this season.

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS junior All-American Bianca Turati won the ITF pro circuit singles championship at the 15k tournament at Hilton Head Island, S.C. this season as she earned three ITF pro circuit singles titles during the 2018 calendar year. She previously claimed back-to-back singles titles in August at the 15k events in Biella, Italy and Sezze, Italy.

The women’s tennis team, which also features her twin sister Anna Turati, hopes to bring home a national title this season while being ranked in the top 10 most of the spring.

On the men’s tennis side, the team got all the way up to No. 3 earlier this season thanks to stellar play in singles matches from highly ranked Christian Sigsgaard along with teammates Yuya Ito, Harrison Scott and Leonardo Telles.

Scott and Sigsgaard are also ranked in the top 50 nationally for doubles play, with teammates Chih Chi Huang and Ito partnering up for a formidable duo as well.

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Cole Hammer and Spencer Soosman hosted an outing on the six-hole Spieth Lower Forty earlier this season.

Horns Illustrated’s own Steve Habel had a heck of a time taking to the course with the Texas men’s golf team.

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ITH A WORLD-CLASS unique golf course right here in Austin’s own back yard, the Texas golf teams have a way of honing their craft that gives Longhorn golfers that well-known pedigree the world over.

So when the Texas men’s golf team invited our own Steve Habel, Horns Illustrated’s Senior Contributing Writer and the Managing Editor of GolfDaily.com, to play with members of the team this spring we jumped at the chance to see what went into the prestigious makeup of the course and the Texas golfers.

Habel has played golf all over the world — from Ireland to Australia, from Mexico’s Baja Peninsula to Indian Ocean shores in South Africa, from Augusta National to Cape Fear National.

But he still had a few butterflies, at least on his first swing, back in February when he played the six-hole Spieth Lower Forty at the University of Texas Golf Club along with the coaches and a pair of players from the Texas men’s golf team.

And it showed, as Habel was about five yards over the green on the 75-yard first hole after a swing that was a little too steep and a lot too nervy.

The six-hole Spieth Lower Forty, designed

by Austin-based golf architect Roy Bechtol with input both in the design and financially from the three-time major winner and former Longhorns’ standout, is a wonderful amenity for the club as well as a practice facility for Texas’ men’s and women’s teams.

As for Habel: well, he got up and down on No. 1, eventually found his range and finished with two birdies on his first time around the course. He still got drummed by Texas players Cole Hammer and Spencer Soosman, but it was all in good fun.

Longhorns Doug Ghim and Scottie Scheffler earned guaranteed starts for the upcoming 2019 Web.com Tour season as they both finished in the top-40 of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament Finals this spring.

Ghim came in a tie for third place, granting him 12 starts, while Scheffler, who also finished in a tie in the 34th spot, earned himself eight starts on the tour.

Meanwhile, the NCAA Championships are scheduled for May 24-29 at the Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark.

Maddie Luitwieler

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COURTESY SUSIE EPP

WOMEN’S GOLF Swinging smoothly toward a possible national title, the Texas women’s golf team stood at the top of the rankings often this spring and looked to the No. 1 team in the nation for a reason.

The squad secured a win at the 2019 Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship in February at English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans.

Senior golfer Maddie Luitwieler posted a top-10 finish, coming in eighth overall at the tournament. Teammates sophomore Agathe Laisne and freshman Hailee Cooper each tied for 11th at the tournament as Texas had four players in the top 20, including sophomore Kaitlyn Papp, who finished 17th with a tournament-high 42 pars.

The NCAA Championships are scheduled for May 17-22 in Fayetteville, Ark.

Chris Del Conte has revived Texas pride campus-wide.

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F YOU THINK your schedule is demanding, be glad you’re not Chris Del Conte.

The university’s athletic director, who took over for Mike Perrin in December 2017, typically rises before 6 a.m. and might get home at 7 or 8 p.m.

Unless, that is, one of the sports teams he oversees is playing locally — if so, he’ll be there.

Or unless he’s traveling, as he was the day before this interview, when he flew in from Kentucky, drove to Austin from Houston, and got home after midnight. And unless he’s involved in any of the myriad tasks required of UT’s athletics ambassador.

“Phew,” he exclaims when asked about his schedule. “It’s crazy.”

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And Del Conte wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s passionate, personable and possesses boundless energy — which explains the success he’s had first at Rice, then TCU and now in Austin.

“Anyone who loves the University of Texas and bleeds burnt orange wants those attributes in their leader,” notes John Bianco, senior associate AD for communications, who’s now in his third decade at UT. “He brings energy to every room and any discussion he’s in, and he has big, bold visions and high expectations.”

While at TCU, Del Conte developed winning programs — most notably in football — upgraded facilities, improved the fan experience and helped his studentathletes excel both on and off the field.

His tenure there has been described as “historic.” Now he’s continued that record at Texas, overseeing the renovation of Darrel K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and the establishment of a new basketball arena, overhauling the game day experience for football, and developing, with his staff, an academic plan that’s resulted in an overall GPA among student-athletes that’s north of 3.0.

But what separates Del Conte from other ADs may very well be his dedication to the fanbase. Every “T” is crossed when it comes to improving the fan experience at Texas, all while respecting the pride and tradition central to the University. He refers to fans as “stakeholders,” and was responsible for

COURTESY BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS

UT’S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HAS BIG PLANS AND THE DRIVE TO CARRY THEM OUT. BUT HE CARES JUST AS MUCH ABOUT THE SMALL STUFF

a group home for foster children in New Mexico. That’s where Chris Del Conte grew up and learned the life lessons he now carries with him.

Del Conte took time out of his jam-packed day to speak with Horns Illustrated.

Q: Let’s begin with a softball. Why Texas?

Del Conte: Well, it was the University of Texas — the top brand in college athletics.

We have one rodeo in life, and when this job came open — at an iconic institution and an iconic collegiate program — I knew it was an opportunity to test myself at the highest level, not just in terms of competition, but in terms of what the University of Texas means to the state, to its constituents, to college athletics. I wanted to serve the very best. I had to take it.

I have a unique perceptive on three institutions in Texas. I may be the only AD who’s served at three institutions in one state, in fact.

Think of the movie Hoosiers. Gene Hackman coaches that little team from Hickory, Ind., and that team starts to progress to the playoffs.

Well, Rice is 3,000 students with 30,000 living alumni, and passion for the Owls runs deep.

Then Hackman’s team wins the district and goes to the sectional game at a bigger gymnasium. That’s TCU — you’ve got 8,000 students and 50,000 living alumni, who have great pas-sion for their school.

Now we’re at Hinkle Fieldhouse for the state championship — and that’s the University of Texas … 50,000 students, 600,000 living alumni. Now what does Gene Hackman do?

He tells the players it’s still a 10-foot rim, a 15foot free throw and a 94-foot court. It’s just the scope that’s bigger.

Here you have the eyes of Texas upon you at all times. You have the state capital right here. You have historic relevance. There’s a sign in the weight room I love — it reads, “The pride and winning tradition of The University of Texas will not be entrusted to the weak nor the timid.” That sums up the University of Texas — whether you’re on the playing fields, whether you’re in the classroom, wherever you go … this program is always, always the hunted. That’s different than being the hunter.

There are pros and cons to that.

DC: Right. The upside is you have 600,000 people who are with you. The downside is that when it’s not going right, you have 600,000 people who go, “What’s going on?!” Expectations are great, and our kids feel it … our coaches feel that weight … the community feels it.

If you think about athletics, it’s the front porch of a university. We’re here because of the University of Texas, first and foremost. The University of Texas is why we’re here. The athletic department is just the front porch that invites

holding the first-ever Texas Athletics Town Hall so he could listen to their ideas.

Such dedication and drive definitely has not gone unnoticed.

“He gives Texas a knowledgeable, powerful and impactful voice among the leaders of the Big 12 and in the world of college athletics,” Bianco adds. “He’s constantly looking at ways to make things better for coaches, studentathletes, staff and everyone who supports our programs.”

And he makes himself available — to coaches, to staff, to student-athletes, to media, to fans and supporters, and for community events. That’s something he learned from his father, Robert Del Conte, who was famously known for never saying no, and who started RECRUITING 2019 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 19

From his office to the field to the fans in the stands and all points in between, Chris Del Conte has rejuvenated what it means to say “We’re Texas”.

In what way were the BBs out of the box when you arrived here?

DC: Start with the psyche. We’ve had three chancellors, two presidents, three football coaches, four ADs, two basketball coaches and two baseball coaches in five years. There’s a lot of BBs out there, baby. [Laughs] Just think that through. That’s where we’re spending a lot of our time — just focusing on asking people to put the “T” back in Texas.

Now, someone will say, “It’s always been there,” and they’re right, but we’re asking you to emphasize it by being a part of what we’re doing — whether it’s buying a season ticket, buying a T-shirt, going to a volleyball game, supporting a brand new football facility and basketball arena … and a new Texas Athletics Hall of Fame.

That’s a capstone right now. We’re building a massive, 30,000-square-foot Hall of Fame in the north end zone — the first place on our campus that’s had all of our trophies centralized. People will walk in and go, “Wow, this is what it means to be a Longhorn. Right here.” That will be awesome, and it will open on Aug. 31.

So when I say the BBs are out of the box, our recent history has seen a lot of upheaval.

So we’re asking everyone, “Hey look — we are the University of Texas. Here’s our vision.

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Here’s how we’re going to go about it. Here are our core values.” And my personal core values are to be honest, to be humble in the things we do and to serve other people — and if you serve other people and you’re humble doing it, great things can happen.

How do you emphasize the student part of student-athlete?

DC: I tell every student-athlete who comes here on a recruiting trip that “Athletics is what you do. It’s not who you are.” The university is going to get the very best out of you — that’s what the university does.

But young people identify who they are based on what they’re good at — whether it be an athlete or a musician or whatever else helps you gain self-confidence. And a professor’s job is to say, “Hey, you’re really good at this as well.”

So I tell athletes, “What you do is play sports.

Who you are and who you’re going to develop into will come from the university and who you surround yourself with, and the growth that comes from being at the University of Texas.”

What specifically are you doing to emphasize academics?

DC: We make it a priority. We have an unbelievable academic staff. We celebrate academic success along with athletic success.

The reality is, if I make it a priority for our staff, for our coaches and for our student-athletes, that becomes a systemic vein within our core organization. I may not be there every single day with them, but when you make it a priority, that vein becomes such a part of your core makeup that when we’re at a staff meeting we’ll talk about the fact that we have 300 kids with a 3.0 GPA … that we have 50 with a 4.0 GPA. We talk about “4Ever Texas” and how you can get a job beyond the handshake. We’re ensuring that when you go to school here, the employment opportunities are phenomenal in the fields you want to study. So it just becomes

a core part of our ethos. But for me personally, it’s making it an emphasis.

To me, it’s a little bit different because I grew up in a children’s home — there were 85 of us.

Sports was a way for us to get an education, for us to become popular. So I understand what the power of athletics can be. But there’s that “aha” moment when you realize you received a scholarship based on what you do. Who you’re ultimately going to be is about the professors on this campus and who your friends are and how you mature and grow. And you’ll look back on your college years and think, “Boy, that was an awesome time for me. I found myself. They set me on a path for who I am today.”

But it’s not just talking about it — it’s going over our academic plan and deciding what our “4Ever Texas” plan is going to be. We sit down … we write the core curriculum out, and we discuss it. We’re involved in it. I have a marketing director who writes out the entire marketing plan for football, and I sign the marketing plan, the head coach signs the marketing plan, and the marketing director signs it, too, so we know exactly what we’re doing throughout the year. Same with academics. We’ll make a curriculum for a kid — and that kid will typically have that “a-ha” moment their junior year of college. That’s when I had mine … when I realized, “I’m not going to the Olympics.” That moment is awesome. And we capture that with each student — “Here’s what you can be, here’s what we can do.” Coming to the University of Texas isn’t a four-year decision — it’s a 50-year decision. And here’s how we’re going to be “4Ever Texas.”

What prompted you to transform the football game day experience?

DC: You’re familiar with R&D — research and development? Well, I’m a big fan of R&D, too — only mine is rip off and duplicate. Yesterday, I flew to Alabama, then to Kentucky, with a group of donors. I wanted them to see what those schools are doing, to hear from their ADs, to look at their

COURTESY JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

100,000 people on a football weekend, 15,000 for a men’s basketball game, 10,000 for women, 8,000 for baseball, 5,000 for volleyball … they come to celebrate their university. And our student-athletes are representing them on the playing fields. With that comes a lot of passion, and that’s what the University of Texas has … a passionate fanbase.

It’s a challenge, too. Darrel Royal used to say, “Once the BBs are out of the box, it’s hard to put them back in.” I look at it another way — once the BBs are out of the box, you have to get your passionate fanbase to help you pick them up one at a time. That’s how you stoke momentum, and when you stoke momentum, it’s not a tsunami that’s coming your way, it’s a reckoning.

FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS

physical plan. And part of that is just gleaning things. When I go to an away football game, we’ll get there four hours before the game, and I’ll tell our marketing director, “OK, you need to go pay attention to how they do their in-game … how they run their ads, what they’re doing with their public address system, tell me about their food … everything.” Then I’ll have another guy walk all the parking lots — see how their tailgating is set up … where they’re located, what they do.

Another guy will go through all their pre-game seating. Someone else will gather all their media guides and look through those. Then we’ll come back and say, “OK, what did we like?”

But really, this idea of a game-day experience came from Disney. I had them come in, and I spent a lot of time talking with them about how they operate. And they said, “You know what? We outsource some concessions, we outsource parking, we outsource other things … but we make all those people feel like they’re Disney employees.” The Disney experience starts when you buy your ticket — when you make that emotional purchase, and you’re coming to Disneyland.

Look at how it’s packaged. Our new packaging for our ticket renewal this year was “Come Celebrate Texas,” and we put a big Bevo on it. We talk about when that person makes that buy — how it starts with that ticket.Then they travel to the game, then they park in their parking lot — is it clean, is it friendly, is there an attendant there? Then they come on campus, and what do they see? When you go through the gates at Disneyland, you see all the sights and smells of Disneyland, and you wait for three hours for the Matterhorn, because the line is so long. What is Disney doing around that … to create energy while you’re waiting for that ride?

It’s no different than a football game. Then after the ride’s over, you’re exhausted, and your kids get home at night, and they go, “Dad, that was the best!” Then you go back the next weekend.

I took that model, and laid it around the football game. I said let’s talk about how we design the ticket package. Let’s talk about the parking experience. How’s the tailgate experience? And when fans walk on campus and get in front of the stadium, are there sights and smells? And why not have our student-athletes walk down in front of the stadium? A lot of coaches have the Bevo Walk … or the Walk of Champions, or whatever. Why don’t we create a place where fans celebrate, and they can walk through that? We came up with a great place for that. And we have the very best mascot — Bevo — and that mascot ought to lead the charge in.

And we have an unbelievable band.

So we just started playing with the parts.

What is Austin known for? Food trucks — you know, food connoisseurs, different types of beverages — and music. So we laid out a plan to see if we could create a different way to celebrate our university — especially at Texas,

The most iconic Texas Longhorns — from Ricky Williams (top left) to Kevin Durant (bottom left) to head football coach Tom Herman (top) trust and embrace Del Conte.

RECRUITING 2019 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 21

where we have parking garages everywhere and not surface lots. We were always thinking, how can we create a different dynamic with things around campus to create a different environment?

Then they go into the stadium, and we changed that experience, too. We lowered our prices dramatically, so a family of four can come and say, “That was worth every single penny.” And we added a pre-game concert and a post-game concert for our students, because on our campus there are only 7,000 beds — the rest of those kids are living off-campus. We need to get them here early.

What’s the response been like?

DC: Fans like the pomp and circumstance — and just seeing something new. It really is a celebration — the cheerleaders, the band. We have a lot of improvement to do, but we’re making strides, and that’s all I can ask for. This year was all about throwing it out there to see what would happen, and we evolved throughout the year.

Success helps. When you combine all the festivities with winning and our studentathletes doing an amazing job on the field, it’s fantastic. Plus, we had a lot of close games, so there was great energy we kept feeding off. But regardless of that, we were just going to change the dynamic. And admittedly, there was a lot of “Let me dip my toe in, and see if it works.”

So here’s your big chance to reveal what will be different about the experience this year.

DC: Remember Gomer Pyle? Surprise, surprise, surprise. [Laughs] You’ve got a lot on your plate, but I’m curious if you’ve thought about adding sports like, say, men’s soccer.

DC: I haven’t considered it. We’ve been focused on improving the plan for the 20 sports we do offer — improving those sports with the goal that every one of those teams will be a top10 team. Because if you’re in the top 10, that means you have the chance to compete for a national championship.

Now, you never know when a team is going to galvanize — like Loyola of Chicago in men’s basketball last year — and have one of those magical runs. But if you’re consistently working on it, more often than not your team can compete for a title. And that’s what we’re trying to do.

What do you look for in a coach?

DC: A great work ethic — they’ve built programs, they have great character, they graduate their kids. They’ve won on and off the field. But you also have to look for the right fit. You can have a great coach at Providence College who might not be a great fit for the University of Texas — just geographically,

maybe from a recruiting standpoint or maybe because their family wouldn’t want to come here. But if they have all the qualities I’ve articulated and they’re a good fit, oh boy, it’s magical when it works.

Of course, the University of Texas isn’t a starter job either. You have to hire someone who’s had success where they’ve been, with what they’ve built, and who wants the challenge of coaching at the University of Texas. Because for every sport we participate in, it says “Texas” across the chest. And that opposing team is going to give you 20 percent more effort when they play Texas rather than someone else, because again, we’re the University of Texas, a program that has great history and tradition, and you’re always the hunted. And you have to embrace that and know that going in.

What’s the toughest thing for an AD to deal with?

DC: Managing passion. I’m running an enterprise based on people’s passion. And very rational people can become irrational when it comes to passion — whether it’s the studentathletes or the coaches or the staff or University leadership. My mantra has always been, “Just be honest. Always tell the truth. And serve others to the best of your ability.”

It strikes me that those are qualities your dad possessed.

DC: Yes. And if I didn’t value those qualities, he’d let me know. Every child … their emotional intelligence comes from their folks. Their academic knowledge comes from what they’ve been taught. And those two things form their opinion. So my emotional intelligence comes from my mother and father, and my academic intelligence comes from what I learn and read today and continue to strive for. But I’m always observing and adding things to the tool kit to improve myself and the organization to which I belong.

What’s been the highlight of your time here thus far?

DC: There are so many. Last year’s graduation … watching those kids graduate, even though I’d only known them for six months. Graduation is such a great day. Only 30 percent of the U.S. population has a college degree, and now you’re one of those … at one of the top 10 public institutions in the world.

And our baseball team going to Omaha … that run we had was awesome. And our football team this year having that run. And really, little successes — like when a kid who’s been struggling in a class comes in and says, “I just got a B.” And you cerebrate that B, because you know where he came from, and how difficult that B was to attain. But he got that B, and I’m like, “Dude, are you kidding me?!

That’s the best!”

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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.

CONTACT INFORMATION: t-association@athletics.utexas.edu 512.471.6864

IF YOU GOTTA BE RECRUITING, MIGHT AS WELL DO IT UP RIGHT

L

ET ME GET this off my chest right here at the jump: I hate recruiting.

I’m not a fan of all the time and effort and coverage that’s levied on high school players while some of them are still wet behind the ears, all of them are unproven and most of them will never make a real impact for the lucky schools that corral them.

Recruiting reminds me of the runup to the Kentucky Derby each year, when literally thousands of horses vie to be among the 50 or so that have a chance to run in the world’s biggest race and are placed in the “hype machine.” Twenty of those horses make it to the starting gate for the Run for the Roses and 15 of those are never heard from again after the first Saturday in May. College football is just the Kentucky Derby on grander scale, if that’s possible.

Given what I’ve said above, I understand that recruiting is a necessary evil, and the lifeblood of any great college program. And when it comes to attracting some of the top college football players to their leafy campuses, a handful of programs have shown they have a certain prowess in the process — teams like Alabama, and Notre Dame, and Ohio State, and Oklahoma, and, over the past few seasons, our own Texas Longhorns.

The Bevos under Tom Herman did their homework and went out and rounded up 24 players over two official signing periods, 22 of them in December (21 players on the 19th and another, offensive lineman Isaiah Hookfin, a week later), and two more on Feb. 6.

The latter two players, one of which was fivestar stud-in-shoulder-pads, Bru McCoy of California, elevated the Longhorns’ overall class from a just inside the top 10 to one of the top three in the nation.

How’s that for impact?

Looking at the newcomers, 10 of whom are already in classes on the Forty Acres and going through offseason conditioning drills with the team, there are several who need to be highlighted, either because they are at the top of a great class or because they will a real and immediate need for the Longhorns.

At the top of the class talent-wise are McCoy, from Palos Verdes, California who’s listed as a wide receiver but might end up as a linebacker as he continues to eat and fill out; wide receiver Jake Smith, the 2018 National Gatorade Player

of the Year from Scottsdale, Arizona; linebackers Caleb Johnson from Fullerton (Calif.) Community College, and De’Gabriel Floyd of Westlake Village, California; and quarterback Roschon Johnson of Port Neches-Groves in Texas’ Golden Triangle.

You can even make a case for tight end Brayden Liebrock, from Chandler, Arizona for that lead group as well.

McCoy is important because he’s one of the best players in the nation, and — as you’ll read in the pages to follow — because he first decided to play at Southern California and then changed his mind. Smith is also one of the best players in the country, as far as wide receivers go, and — we all understand — today’s college football offenses go as their wideouts go.

Both Caleb Johnson and Floyd are important because they fill Texas’ need for linebackers that can play immediately.

Roschon Johnson is vital to this team because the offseason transfers of backup quarterbacks Shane Buechele (to SMU) and Cameron Rising (to Utah) leave the Longhorns perilously thin at signalcaller. Teams are always one play, and one injury, away from losing their starting quarterbacks, and two plays away from sending in the third-teamer (remember 1977 and Randy McEachern in the Oklahoma game?).

Liebrock is a key player because he has the makeup and skill set to become the best Texas tight end since David Thomas (who you might recall caught 50 passes in the 2005 national championship season), and the Longhorns want to emphasize the tight end in their offense.

One other interesting thing about this class is that a dozen of them, half of the 24, hail from somewhere besides the Lone Star State, showing that coach Tom Herman and his staff are making inroads on the national scene and are hip to doing so if they think they can get a better player at a position than they can wrangle in Texas proper.

It will be interesting to look back in four or five years to see just how much impact these newest players in burnt orange and white had on the Longhorns. That, in my eyes, is the part of recruiting that’s real — what was the coaching staff able to make of the fellows they accumulated through all the speculation and flowery accolades, and did they make them better with good coaching?

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.

RECRUITING 2019 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 23

Tom Herman enters his third year of molding the Texas football team from recruits to on-field stars.

T

HE BUSINESS OF recruiting in college football runs in pairs of opposites: arduousness and reactionary; exhilarating and exasperating; vital and…not so vital.

Former Texas coach Mack Brown always said “getting ‘em here is good, but coaching ‘em up is even more important.” The Longhorns’ staff, under third-year coach Tom Herman, has done to former. Now it has to do the latter.

On the Forty Acres, the Texas football program’s haul was better than most, signing 24 players — 12 of them from out of state — in what’s being ranked as a top-three national class. Twenty-two of the players are coming to Austin out of high school, with the other two taking the junior college route.

The group is headed by dual-purpose athlete Bru McCoy from Palos Verdes, California, wide receiver Jake Smith, the 2018 National Gatorade Player of the Year from Scottsdale, Arizona, linebacker Caleb Johnson from Fullerton (Calif.)

Community College, linebacker De’Gabriel Floyd of Westlake Village, California, and quarterback Roschon Johnson of Port NechesGroves in Texas’ Golden Triangle.

Collectively the class was originally ranked as the second-best in the Big 12 Conference, behind only Oklahoma (eighth), but was elevated to third (and first in the conference) after McCoy’s signing in February.

Alabama’s haul of players was ranked first

by ESPN and Texas A&M’s class landed in fourth place overall.

“There’s not a head coach in America that stands up on signing day and says, ‘You know what? We’re really disappointed,’” Texas coach Tom Herman said. “We’ve signed guys that are, without question, culture fits in our program 24 HORNS ILLUSTRATED

RECRUITING 2019

with great support systems, great families, and guys that are tremendous players. We’re not done yet.”

The Longhorns’ biggest needs were at defensive line (Texas lost all three starters from last year’s team), wide receiver (three Longhorns at the position will be seniors next year), and linebacker (where both starters are out of eligibility after the Longhorns’ win in the Sugar Bowl).

Texas filled those spots with five signed players at wide receiver (which is where McCoy will play), and four each at defensive line and linebacker. The Longhorns added four defensive backs, three offensive linemen, two tight ends, a running back and a quarterback.

While it seems from the outside that recruiting cycle is hectic, with a whirlwind of activity in the final days, Herman said most of the work is done in advance of the late push.

“The recruitment of these guys starts sometimes as early as when they’re freshmen, but usually when they’re sophomores,” Herman explained. “That’s where your relationships with the high school coaches, the relationships with principals, counselors, the people that really know these young men, then you get to know their families, their support system.

“Probably the biggest tell is on their official visit when they spend 48 hours around our players away from us coaches, then we have our players kind of report back to us and say, ‘Would this guy fit in our locker room? Would you like to play with this guy?’” “Obviously all of these guys got rave reviews.”

Ten players in the class are early enrollees and are with the team now in offseason conditioning drills as spring practice begins later this month.

“We have 10 early enrollees, which is exciting in and of itself,” Herman said. “To be able to have that extra six months on the rest of the freshmen class really gets them, hopefully, prepared to play for us. We’re going to need some of these guys to do that.”

Herman said his team’s needs and the talent level across Texas affected the number of players the Longhorns signed from outside the Lone Star State.

“As I’ve said, and I think every high school coach in the state knows our philosophy: if there are 25 national championship-caliber players in the state of Texas that want to come to Texas, that’s what we’re going to fill our roster with,” Herman said.

“When there aren’t, when those criteria aren’t met, and you have to go outside the state to find national championship-caliber players, then it does say something about the respect of the brand that is the University of Texas, that these kids have grown up watching some of the great teams and programs in Texas’ history.”

Assistant coach Drew Mehringer was named the rivals.com Recruiter of the Year for his work bringing top talent to Texas.

FROM TOP: COURTESY PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COURTESY JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

RECRUITING 2019

BRAYDEN LIEBROCK

LIEBROCK’S LENGTH

EQUALS MISMATCH AT TIGHT END FOR LONGHORNS SIZE, SPEED, ROUTE-RUNNING ABILITY SET SAVVY TEXAS SIGNEE APART

COURTESY PAUL MASON

F

IVE MINUTES OF watching tape on Brayden Liebrock, Texas’s four-star signee from Chandler, Ariz., is plenty of time to see how he can be the next great tight end for the Longhorns.

Yes, it’s granted that the plays we all see on tape are highlights and not always the bread-and-butter production from a player’s everyday work ethic.

Yet, there’s undoubtedly something special about Liebrock.

It’s his size, speed, route-running and great hands (especially in traffic and on the dead run) that shows why 23 colleges offered him a scholarship.

“What you see in the highlights is what we saw every day and in every practice,” said Rick Garretson, Liebrock’s offensive coordinator and now the head coach at Chandler High School, which has won the past three Arizona 6A championships.

“He’s truly a standout player who’s been helped by playing with a team of great players.

“But, it’s Brayden desire to build on his talents and improve that, I believe, will set him apart at the next level.”

Garretson is talking about Liebrock’s commitment to better blocking and to bulking up and adding muscle to his 6’5” frame.

Liebrock carried 220 pounds last year as a senior and, according to his coach, is already “significantly bigger” than he was in December.

“I’ve been more of a flex tight end, and I know I need to gain some more muscle and strength and be more of a blocking threat if I want the opportunity to prove myself at Texas,” Liebrock said. “I’m working on that.”

Head to Liebrock’s Twitter page (@ LiebrockBrayden) and you’ll see him building his body, and doing his work with the iron.

Liebrock also spent the majority of his time at the Under Armour All-American Game in January focusing on his blocking against some of the top high-school defensive players in the nation, and learning how and where he needs to improve. He knows that getting bigger and better in the trenches will produce early playing time for him with the Longhorns.

Liebrock is already an elite-level catcher of the football, something that could be a key factor in expanding the already-diverse Texas offense even further.

“One of the things that I liked the most about Texas and their offense is how they use the tight end in a wide receiver role at times, and how they get varied and give everyone a chance to find an advantage against the defense,” Liebrock said.

Liebrock’s success on the gridiron was no surprise. His father played college football, as did his uncle and older brother, who was also a three-time state champion in high school, though at a rival school in the Valley of the Sun.

When Texas came calling during the recruiting cycle, coach Tom Herman, offensive coordinator Tim Beck and tight ends coach Derek Warehime sold Liebrock on their plan to utilize the tight end more in the Longhorns’ attack.

The Texas contingent didn’t have to do a lot of convincing. Unlike many prep standouts, Liebrock wanted to get the business of recruiting behind him as quickly as possible.

He committed to the Longhorns in May 2018 and made it official on Dec. 19 on Early Signing Day. “You come across kids that love the show of recruiting,” Herman said. “Liebrock is the complete opposite. He was one of the most highly recruited, highly decorated tight ends in the country, and wanted no part of recruiting.

He wanted to go very meticulous, take some visits, decide what was best for him — decide and it was over.”

Could Liebrock be the next Bo Scaife or David Thomas or Jermichael Finley, the three tight ends that Texas most recently used as

Brayden Liebrock plans to become the next big thing at tight end for Texas.

RECRUITING 2019 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 25

From laying out to snag a pass with his length to building his frame for blocking, Brayden Liebrock is on the right path for the Longhorns.

true, all-down, weapons? That’s asking a lot but Liebrock certainly has the tools to make that jump.

Of those three standouts, Liebrock most favorably compared with Thomas when he came to the 40 Acres. Thomas had 98 receptions for 1,367 yards in his four-year college career, including 50 catches for 613 yards in his senior season, which coincided with the Longhorns’ national championship in 2005.

“Brayden’s got a lot of length, and great ball skills,” Herman said. “We’re excited about his development.”

To be a player like Thomas, he will have to be a great blocker, a trait that Andrew Beck, the Longhorns’ All-Big 12 tight end in 2018, possessed in spades.

What Liebrock now offers the Longhorns is a player who can line up in the slot and be a mismatch either across the middle or down the field against the defense. Lined up against nickel backs, he would have an edge in size, and on linebackers, he would have more speed — hink the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, but with more emphasis in the trenches when needed.

Liebrock is one of the top players in an excellent class of Longhorns’ signees. With Beck out of eligibility (and likely on to the NFL) he’ll have a chance to shine immediately as he battles Cade Brewer and Reese Leitao for playing time.

JAKE SMITH

RANGING WIDE FOR A PERFECT FIT

I

T WAS LOVE at first sight, sound and everything else for five-star receiver recruit and new Longhorn Jake Smith.

The standout wideout has always been committed to playing at Texas, saying he fell

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in love with UT as soon as he went to watch the spring game last year.

“I fell in love with the atmosphere, the fans, the culture, the program, the campus, the barbecue, Bevo — pretty much everything all at once,” Smith said. “I knew after that day this is where I had to be.”

Two character traits define Smith — five-star wide receiver recruit Jake Smith — his extreme athleticism and excellent work ethic.

“Hard work will always beat talent when talent fails to work hard. Jake is a great example of that,” his head coach at Notre Dame Prep, George Prelock, said of Smith.

As far as his athleticism goes, it’s come quite naturally to him and and a result, football

is not the only sport in which he has dominated in over his high school career.

As a sophomore, Smith was looking for a spring sport to play that would allow him to better his endurance, hand-eye coordination and physicality across the board, and to make him a better player on the gridiron.

“Lacrosse seemed like the perfect fit,” Prelock said.

It proved to be, as Smith not only became a better athlete, but led the Notre Dame Prep Lacrosse team to two consecutive state titles as the squad’s leading scorer.

In addition, Prelock says that when he took over as the head varsity coach, he was told that Smith was a good football player, but even better at baseball.

COURTESY PAUL MASON

SMITH’S WIDE-ARRAY OF TALENTS MAKE HIM A PRIME TARGET FOR EHLINGER

COURTESY MIKE HARVEY-PEAK IMAGE PHOTO

“He came in and everyone thought, ‘Is he going to play all four years of football?’

Because at the pace he was going, a lot of people said by his senior year he would have already been drafted for baseball,” says Prelock. “Then if you asked Jake, his best sport was soccer.”

As a result, playing all three of those sports not only added to his skill set, but also increased his tremendous work ethic.

Texas fans and coaches alike should be encouraged by the fact that Smith’s great work ethic can translate directly into improvement and big numbers.

According to Prelock, the area in which he has developed the most over the course of his senior season is on his routes and ball framing.

However, those skills were not improved by just showing up for practice and games — they were enhanced over many hours of voluntary workouts and taking time to better his skills.

“He’s worked extremely hard and done certain things to make sure his hand-eye coordination is outstanding,” Prelock said.

“There was one point in the season when he was dropping some passes in practice, which as a competitor that upsets you. So he took a tennis ball and began training with it, because he figured, ‘If I can frame a tennis ball, I can absolutely frame a football.’”

What’s more impressive, is his knack for consistently having big games.

Current Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk grew up in the Scottsdale area and as a senior, posted 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving on his way to a scholarship at Texas A&M. Smith did that as a junior. He brought his stats up to an even higher level this past season on his way to the Gatorade National Player of the Year award, earned as an important leader on a team that had just two returning starters.

Prelock recalled, “He was really instrumental in not only producing on the field, but making those around him really be able to have their moment to step up to the plate.”

Smith also is one of those athletes that held himself to a higher standard than what was expected, always striving to become stronger, faster and at that elite level that makes the top recruits stand out for the rest.

“After practice, he’s staying after for 30 minutes to throw with the quarterback,” Prelock remembered. “In the offseason, he did some competitive camps just because of the notoriety he got after his junior year presented him with the opportunity to face the best competition the country had to offer.”

In addition, because of the long seasons Notre Dame Prep has put together due to successful playoff runs and how much endurance a player needs at the end of a 14-game season, Smith believes his experiences will help him during the longer seasons at Texas.

“I’m used to going out there every day now for over six months, because of our successful seasons, so I’ll be ready to endure long and tiring practices everyday,” Smith said As Smith heads to campus to join a very young wide receiver unit which is highlighted by returning veteran Collin Johnson, who will be a senior, there is no doubt that this electrifying athlete can contribute in big ways very soon.

Not only will Smith be contending for a large amount of playing time and should be a key in future seasons at wideout, he also hopes to see time in the backfield as a running back.

This freshman is every coach’s dream, an athlete who is versatile, hard-working and without a doubt a leader.

As Prelock put it, “He’s competitive, likes a challenge and works extremely hard. When you have that and you’re driven, the sky’s the limit.”

From baseball to soccer to lacrosse and, of course, football, Jake Smith has what it takes to shine at Texas.

RECRUITING 2019 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 27

RECRUITING ROUNDUP

THE EARLY ENROLLEES

ATH • 6'3" • 205 LBS. MATER DEI SANTA ANA, CALIF. TWO DAYS AFTER Texas lost star wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey as he made the decision to enter the 2019 NFL Draft, the Longhorns reeled in something surprising and incredible.

One of the nation’s top recruits Bru McCoy who had just become a signee when he enrolled early at USC, changed course and decided to come on down to the Forty Acres.

McCoy entered the transfer portal and got to Texas as fast as he could, becoming an early enrollee at UT this spring.

“That was a little bit of a whirlwind of emotion, but a really, really special moment to have him here,” Texas assistant coach Drew Mehringer recalled. “For me obviously I’m super-excited. He was one of the guys I really, really loved recruiting. When he called, LJ (Lil’Jordan Humphrey) declared for the draft two days before that. That’s what we talked to him about (during the process): What role can you fill for us? They’re similar body types. LJ is a little taller, Bru a little faster. Similar skill sets, and I was like ‘oh my god, LJ is in the draft and I got a great role for you.”

Texas had a taste of what a nimble and highly-aware athlete could do all around the field last season with Humphrey. Humphrey had running back blood from his high school days and the star wideout showed his prowess by lining up all around and even throwing for a touchdown last season.

True to how returning wide receiver Collin Johnson and Humphrey played last year, McCoy also is a complete receiver with great blocking skills to go with exceptional hands and body control.

McCoy was named the 2018 MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year, and he was also the 2019 All-American Bowl Player of the Year. While he might be destined to catch passes from Sam Ehlinger this upcoming season while mixing in time in the backfield, McCoy is seen as a defender by some, as he plays the run well and is comfortable in space or dropping back in to coverage, something to keep an eye on as spring practices evolve.

Bru McCoy vaulted the Texas recruiting class to No. 3 in the nation.

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JORDAN WHITTINGTON

ATH • 6'0" • 198 LBS. CUERO CUERO, TEXAS

THE LONGHORNS MIGHT have another wide receiving wonder in Jordan Whittington.

The 6’1” Whittington could also follow the footsteps of Humphrey as a do-it-all star for Texas. Whittington broke the Texas state title record for most rushing yards in a Class 4A championship game (that was held by Eric Dickerson, no less). Oh, and his 334 yards on the ground also state the record for any state title game in Texas history.

He had six touchdowns and added eight tackles on defense in the championship win for his alma matter, Cuero.

All the while Whittington, one of Texas’ highest touted recruits, dreamed of getting to the Forty Acres as fast as he could.

“I narrowed it down to four schools that had everything I wanted.

The vibe I had when I was at Texas was just way different,” Whittington told USA Today. “Now people are seeing what I saw a long time ago.

I’m ready, but I got one more thing to finish before I graduate. We’re still going. We’re favorite to win it.

“This 2019 class at Texas is going to be really good before it’s all over. There’s still some people coming before the 19th and on the 19th, including some people that no one thought would come.”

Whittington is ranked as the No. 9 wide receiver and No. 53 overall prospect in the country, per 247Sports Composite.

With the playing future of signee Derrian Brown uncertain, Whittington is expected to get a long look in the backfield this spring.

Whittington could still wind up working in the slot.

Jordan Whittington says he loves the vibe at UT.

TOP IMAGE: COURTESY JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, HEADSHOTS: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY, BOTTOM IMAGES: COURTESY HORNS247.COM

BRU MCCOY

TYLER JOHNSON

OT • 6’5” • 308 LBS. OAK RIDGE CONROE, TEXAS THE LOVE ALONG the Texas offensive line was apparent last year, and the Longhorns are going to love what they’re getting in new OT Tyler Johnson.

Johnson, in turn, is enamored with how Texas is putting together its team and how the Horns looked on the field this past season.

“Texas is ranked in the nation,” Johnson said. “They are grinding. Me and my boys in the 2019 class are looking to get up there and grind, too, and hopefully, get a ring. I’ve been very impressed. Coach (Tom) Herman is a great coach. The assistants like Coach (Herb) Hand are great, too. They players are playing their asses off.”

As a testament to how head coach Tom Herman and his staff are reaching players far and wide, it was Texas offensive line coach Herb Hand that headed the effort to lasso Johnson to Texas.

“He’s one of a kind,” Johnson said of Hand. “I love that man. We’ve been in contact for less than a year, but I love his knowledge, and we have a relationship that’s more than just football. He cares about his players. I can’t wait to get up there and play for him.”

At 6-foot-5, 308 pounds, Johnson is ranked as the No. 8 offensive tackle and No. 36 overall prospect in the country, per 247Sports Composite.

MARCUS TILLMAN, JR.

HEADSHOTS: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

OLB • 6’1” • 220 LBS. ORLANDO JONES ORLANDO, FLOR.

EVEN AS TEXAS threw up some eye-raising numbers on offense this season in more than a few high-scoring affairs, the Longhorn defense stayed sturdy and reliable all the way through the Sugar Bowl win.

Defensive coordinator Todd Orlando got the best out of his bunch this year, and is busy adding new elements and wrinkles to help incorporate a new slew of determined defenders.

Snagging another out-of-state stud, Marcus Tillman originally committed to Florida, but he opened his recruitment and chose Texas.

The 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, Tillman is ranked as the No. 22 outside linebacker and No. 54 overall prospect in the state of Florida, per 247Sports Composite.

“Coach Orlando is real,” Tillman said. “He tells you how and what it’s going to be, and his style fits me playing on the edge … The coaches the players made us feel like family. From the time we stepped on campus, they were real people. They were ecstatic when I committed.”

Orlando orchestrated a plan to tell Tillman just what a fit he would be as a versatile defenderat Texas.Tillman has the size and speed to play both inside and outside and smoothly made the move from safety to linebacker, meaning he’ll be able to range around, tackle and cover as he moves around, crucial during Big 12 play.

CALEB JOHNSON

OLB • 6’1” • 2015 LBS. FULLERTON COLLEGE (TRANSFER) FULLERTON, CALIF. AS EVIDENCED BY the bond built between Herman and Gary Johnson, there’s a powerful force drawing players from outside the Lone Star State into the Texas interior.

Linebacker Caleb Johnson was highly sought after as a JUCO transfer, and it’s another athlete that couldn’t shake the thought of playing for Herman in Austin, as he first committed to Iowa State before changing his mind to become a Longhorn.

Johnson will have three years of eligibility remaining after receiving a medical redshirt this season, and he is the No. 3 junior college outside linebacker in the country, per 247Sports Composite.

The elder Johnson, Gary, told orangebloods.com that he was happy to see the Horns wrangle Caleb Johnson to Texas.

“Definitely, seeing his success and everything coming from JUCO, and we’re relatively the same size, that was a big factor,” Johnson told Orangebloods. “And I feel like the coaches saw him come in be one of their best players, so I feel like they have trust in JUCO players and have success at the University of Texas.”

DE’GABRIEL FLOYD

ILB • 6’1” 1/2 • 231 LBS. WESTLAKE WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIF. IF DE’GABRIEL FLOYD’S confident approach is any indication, the California linebacker will be a perfect fit on the Texas defense.

Floyd racked up 120 total tackles last season as he bulled his way into backfields while also showing a nimbleness that led to four interceptions and nine total touchdowns — five as a runner on offense to go with two defensive scores and two punt returns for touchdowns.

“People call me a freak, athletically,” he told USA Today.”I kind of pride myself in making sure I’m built to do things like that. I like dominating over big guys and then running straight through them and making a play, like, that’s exciting to me. It fuels my game, and fuels my love for the game.”

The versatile Floyd started as a running back in high school before transitioning primarily to defense, adding to the notion that he might parlay an impressive spring into a large role come the 2019 season

RECRUITING 2019 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 29

DE • 6’4” • 250 LBS. BUTLER CC (TRANSFER) EL DORADO, KAN. ANYTIME A TEAM can land a No. 1 at anything it’s reason to celebrate.

In comes another already established defender by way of JUCO transfer Jacoby Jones, who is ranked as the No. 1 junior college defensive end in the country, per 247Sports Composite.

The 6’4” Jones will have a chance to step right up with veterans Charles Omenihu and Breckyn Hager having played their last games in burnt orange.

A three-star defensive end from Butler Community College in El Dorado (Kan.), Jones originally committed to Oklahoma before backing away and heading a little further south to the Forty Acres.

Jones played multiple positions during his time at Butler, and he showed more pass-rush ability than is typically seen from a traditional strong-side end. Texas defensive line coach Oscar Giles was crucial to landing Jones, who is part of a four-man defensive line group along with Myron Warren, T’Vondre Sweat and Peter Mpagi.

PETER MPAGI

DE • 6’4” 1/2 • 224 LBS. GEORGE RANCH RICHMOND, TEXAS THOUGH TEXAS TURNED to plenty of out-of-state talent during this recruiting cycle, there were some standouts from inside the state that have been waiting for a chance to put on a Longhorn uniform.

Defensive end Peter Mpagi had burnt orange in his blood early on as he grew up a Texas fan and desired an offer from the Horns program.

At 6-foot-4, 224 pounds, Mpagi is ranked as the No. 64 weak-side defensive end in the country and No. 118 overall prospect in the state in the 2019 class, according to 247Sports Composite.

“I’ve always prayed and dreamed of this moment … With that being said, I am 119 percent committed to The University of Texas,” said Mpagi on Twitterunder the headline ‘My dream came true’.

Mpagi is scouted as a hybrid edge rusher who could add some size and eventually move to a different role on the strong side.

“For Mpagi, committing to Texas was a dream come true,” Horns247 recruiting insider EJ Holland said of the new Texas commit.

“He grew up a fan of the program and consistently mentioned that he was working towards a Texas offer. Mpagi attended Texas junior day weekend in February and impressed the staff during the spring evaluation period.”

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ROSCHON JOHNSON

QB • 6’1” 1/2 • 192 LBS. PORT NECHES-GROVES PORT NECHES, TEXAS THERE’S A CHANCE Roschon Johnson is a name you’ll know well soon enough.

Johnson arrived at the Forty Acres early and already is the No. 3 QB on the depth chart, as Texas lost both Shane Buechele and Cameron Rising to the transfer portal. After what Sam Ehlinger did on the ground and through the air this year, the composed Johnson should be able to slide right in to Herman and offensive coordinator Tim Beck’s offense, as he had 4,871 rushing yards and 82 touchdowns rushing with 7,710 passing yards and another 85 touchdowns through the air.

“The No. 1 thing is competitiveness,” Herman said when asked what he values most in a quarterback prospect. “Is winning the most important thing to a young man? It’s leadership ability. It’s football smarts. Is the game slow to you? Do you understand it? Can you process information quickly?”

JARED WILEY

TE • 6’6” • 225 LBS. TEMPLE TEMPLE, TEXAS IF THE TEXAS offense is to become complete this season, the tight end spot looms large.

With Jared Wiley joining the Longhorns, Texas can take steps to move multiple players around to many different spots along the offense with anyone capable of being a threat in the way some fluid NFL offenses are operating these days.

Could Texas have a Travis Kelce in waiting, or a chance to develop an offense into one that can strike from anywhere? With Wiley and Brayden Liebrock adding pass catching tight ends to a stout wide receiver and running back core, that is scene that some can start to dream of.

At 6’6” Wiley is still emerging after starting his career at quarterback, which gives the Temple product a chance to see the offense from the vantage point of a signal caller while running routes.

Texas tight end coach Derek Warehime saw enough in Wiley to recruit him with visions of blocking and catching passes despite his limited time as a tight end in high school.

HEADSHOTS: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

JACOBY JONES

RECRUITING ROUNDUP

THE RECRUITS TO COME KENYATTA WATSON II CB • 6'2" • 182 LBS. GRAYSON LOGANVILLE, GA.

WHEN ONE COMES to DBU, confidence grounded in a great approach goes a long way.

Cornerback Kenyatta Watson II aims to make an impact right away with the graduation losses of Kris Boyd, PK Locke and Davante Davis, even with plenty of talent on the roster already with players like Caden Sterns, BJ Foster and Anthony Cook among others.

“I feel like I have, first, a good chance to play,” Watson said. “Second, having a good chance to play because of my man and zone skills.”

Watson’s aggressive nature is a natural fit for the Todd Orlando 3-4 defense. Knowing that tackling will be as important as his coverage skills, the Georgia product is hard at work honing his craft to be able to earn playing time in the fall.

“Being able to contain receivers long enough for their linebackers to get to the quarterback and having the D-linemen that can get pressure on the quarterbacks,” Watson said. “If they’re in, all of that’s important.”

“I want to be able to learn the system as fast as I can,” Watson added. “Whenever I’m able to get the playbook and learn everything, I just want to be able to dig into that.”

TYLER OWENS

S • 6’2” • 197 LBS. PLANO EAST PLANO, TEXAS A RECORD ON the track turned Tyler Owens into a Texas Longhorn.

The spry and springy Owens shot up recruiting boards during his senior season, and his 4.37 time in the 40-yard dash definitely caught the eyes of Herman and his staff.

A verified track time is a huge part of the evaluation used by Tom Herman and Co. when deciding whether or not to pull the trigger on a prospect.

“You could tell the light switch went on. Had a phenomenal senior year. He’s an athletic freak. We’re excited to see him develop. Coach (Craig) Naivar and coach (Tim) Beck found him early. Talked to his high school coaches about his potential. We got him to camp and just absolutely fell in love with him,” Herman said.

Owens originally debuted in the 247Sports rankings for 2019 as the No. 898 overall prospect in the country as he got noticed due to his freaky combination of size and speed — a personal best of 10.35 in the 100 meters — coming to together to where his presence on the field was felt in a big way.

So big that as the 2019 recruiting cycle winds down, Owens has been given the designation as one of 32 prospects in the country to receive a five-star rating from 247Sports.

“I guess I was looked over because I didn’t go to those things,” Owens said. “When my senior season came around I did get noticed.”

CHRIS ADIMORA

HEADSHOTS: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

S • 6'1" • 192 LBS. MAYFAIR LAKEWOOD, CALIF. SPORTING PLENTY OF range and athleticism, safety Chris Adimora echoed what a lot of recent Texas recruits have said about the program.

“I took my visit and really enjoyed my time there,” Adimora said. “It felt a lot like family there with the coaches and the players. I had a great time. It’s a great program, and I like what they are doing for the future.”

Adimora and safeties coach Craig Naivar formed a close bond that helped solidify the commitment from yet another top talent outside the Texas borders.

“Coach Naivar is a great guy,” Adimora said. “I really like the way he coaches and works with the players. He tries to get to know you off the field. He’s a really genuine guy. We talk all the time and have a great relationship.”

At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Adimora is ranked as the No. 14 safety and No. 200 overall recruit in the country, per 247Sports Composite.

MARQUES CALDWELL

CB • 6’1” • 171 LBS. ALVIN ALVIN, TEXAS “THE CULTURE OF Texas stands out — the energy and the juice that Texas has,” cornerback Marques Caldwell said. “The staff… really, anything you can think of about Texas stands out. Texas will be competing for a natty within the next few years, without a doubt.”

Caldwell picked up an Oregon offer in June of last year and gave the Ducks a verbal pledge a few months later. Caldwell was solid with Oregon despite earning other Power Five offers.

However, the Texas offer changed things.

Last year’s Big 12 Recruiter of the Year, Texas cornerbacks coach Jason Washington, was instrumental in getting Caldwell in the fold.

“The offer from Texas meant a lot,” Caldwell said. “I was overwhelmed with excitement inside when Coach Washington told me. For it to be one of my dream schools growing up made it that much better.”

Despite being one of the lowest-ranked recruits in this year’s UT class, Caldwell has huge upside with great natural ball skills but is raw from a technical standpoint.

RECRUITING 2019 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 31

LB • 6'0" • 218 LBS. CINCO RANCH KATY, TEXAS LINEBACKER DAVID GBENDA is confident, savvy and tries to be the best he can in everything that he does.

“He can get outside just as fast as a running back. That’s what’s most impressive about his closing speed.” said Cinco Ranch head coach Don Clayton, who has coached many great athletes in his 38 years of coaching.

“You see and you think,’He’s not going to … Oh, he got there.’”

Although his physicality stands out, that’s not all that makes David Gbenda a superior athlete. He is also a dedicated student of the game, something Clayton believes will serve him well once he puts on the orange and white. “He studies the opponents so well, that he can tell by little clues what the other team is doing,” Clayton said. “These are the kind of players we all want on defense, but they’re so rare.”

As a result of the loss at the linebacker and defensive line positions after the 2018 season, headlined by All-Big 12 linebacker Gary Johnson, there is a good chance that with his talent and skill set, Gbenda will be seeing more time on the field than the average freshman this fall.

However, Clayton doesn’t think it will have that great of an impact on this inexperienced, but hard-working recruit.

“I think he’ll be fine,” Clayton said. “He’s a very confident young man and he’s confident because he works at it. So I don’t think there’s going to be any doubt about his own ability because he feels like he can step in with anybody.”

— Riley Zayas, Horns Illustrated Contributor

JAVONNE SHEPHERD

OT • 6'6" • 327 LBS. NORTH FOREST HOUSTON, TEXAS TEXAS A&M WAS considered the early frontrunner for Shepherd before Texas made up some ground and won him over in the summer.

Texas was able to fend off another run from the Aggies after hosting Shepherd for an official visit. It was there where his original decision was reaffirmed.

Shepherd also made official visits to Alabama and Georgia, but distance played against both schools.

Texas offensive line coach Herb Hand and inside wide receiver coach Corby Meekins played big roles in Shepherd’s recruitment. Both went in-home late in the process, which helped keep him in the fold.

Shepherd was a teammate of five-star 2020 wide receiver Demond Demas, who is currently committed to Texas A&M. Demas holds a Texas offer and is a key target for next cycle.

At 6-foot-6, 327 pounds, Shepherd packs a powerful punch at the point of attack and can keep upright as defenders try to get to the quarterback. He came in ranked as the No. 28 offensive tackle in the country and No. 41 overall prospect in the state, per 247Sports Composite.

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MYRON WARREN

DE • 6'3" • 240 LBS. MANY MANY, LA. WHEN MYRON WARREN went under the radar to TCU, then backed out, Texas swooped right in. The Longhorns landed a big defensive end recruit while taking a player away from an upcoming foe (LSU) with Warren following the footsteps of fellow Louisiana defensive end Malcolm Roach and turning to Texas.

There’s already plenty of size to go with Warren’s pass-rushing prowess, Warren, who could play strong or weak side depending on how he — and the rest of the Texas defense — fills out. Warren was ranked the No. 21 player overall in the state of Louisiana, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

The 6’3” DE has a propensity to close out quickly and doesn’t mind chasing down a runner from behind with all-out pursuit.

ISAIAH HOOKFIN

T • 6’5” • 197 LBS. DULLES SUGAR LAND, TEXAS THE HORNS HOOKED a huge piece for their offensive line of the future when they reeled in Isaiah Hookfin. The towering offensive tackle moves swiftly and strongly from one level to the next — just what the Longhorns crave as they move around the offense.

Offensive line coach Herb Hand helped land Hookfin, who nearly picked Baylor before deciding on Texas.

Hookfin became one of the biggest risers of the 2019 recruiting cycle withplenty of natural ability and a lot of room to grow as well.

MARCUS WASHINGTON

WR • 6’2” • 191 LBS. TRINITY CATHOLIC ST. LOUIS, MO.

ONE OF THE biggest reasons Texas is connecting with kids before they reach the Forty Acres these days is Director of Recruiting Bryan Carrington, who brings a direct and relatable approach to recruits (and to his somewhat infamous Twitter account). Carrington was integral in got talented wideout Marcus Washington to Texas, as he made a strong impression on the St. Louis native’s family.

At 6-foot-2, 191 pounds, Washington is ranked as the No. 32 wide receiver and No. 202 overall prospect in the country, per 247Sports Composite.

HEADSHOTS: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

DAVID GBENDA

DERRIAN BROWN

RB • 5’11” • 188 LBS. BUFORD BUFORD, GA. EVERYONE IN THE Longhorn family is rooting for a full recovery for 2019 four-star running back Derrian Brown.

Texas football received terrible news last week when it learned signee Brown was hospitalized for an undisclosed medical issue. The Longhorns’ signee remained in the hospital as of early spring and is currently undergoing various medical tests.

Third-year head coach Tom Herman delivered the latest update from the Brown family during his National Signing Day press conference.

Wednesday afternoon

T’VONDRE SWEAT

DT • 6’3” • 249 LBS. HUNTSVILLE, TX HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS

“Out of respect for the family’s privacy, all we’re going to say right now at this time is that he is hospitalized for undisclosed reasons,” Herman said to lead his press conference (recently). “He still has a lot of tests to figure out exactly what his ailment is, and it would probably be premature to assume anything.

“The family does want everybody to know that he is getting better every day. He is moving all of his extremities and he is alert. They actually took the ventilator out just about an hour ago, so he’s breathing on his own, and, like I said, is getting better every day.

“His family and our program do want to express our sincerest appreciation to Longhorn nation for their support throughout this very trying time. I do want to thank our compliance department and the NCAA for approving a GoFundMe Page that you can find links to on all of our various media outlets.”

Brown remains in treatment on National Signing Day, but that did not stop his classmates at Buford High School to honor their fellow student.

T’VONDRE SWEAT POURS himself out each and every time out, something he sees in his soon-to-be team at Texas.

“It makes me feel really proud to know that they took the time out to come watch me,” Sweat told burntrangenation.com. “I feel like they think I can come in as a freshman and contribute. They think I can be a dog at my position and take care of what I’m supposed to take care of.”

Sweat, along with Roschon Johnson, was one of the first players to commit to becoming a Longhorn and that loyalty goes both ways as Texas turns to a new crew of recruits to fill holes in 2019.

KENNEDY LEWIS

HEADSHOTS: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

WR • 6’3” • 190 LBS. MELISSA MELISSA, TEXAS THE HORNS HAVE even more height in their receiving core with 6’3” Kennedy Lewis joining the wideouts.

Originally slated to go to TCU, Lewis gave up that commitment and with some solid work from assistant coach Drew Mehringer and offensive coordinator Tim Beck, the wideout went with Texas.

A big wide receiver, Lewis has tremendous speed for his size and has a ton of upside. While he is still raw from a technical perspective, Lewis has all the tools to be molded into a bigtime player for the Longhorns.

At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Lewis is ranked as the No. 84 wide receiver in the country and No. 77 overall prospect in the state, per 247Sports Composite.

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HORNS IN THEIR OWN WORDS

2018 SEASON RECAP

EXAS FOUGHT AND caught a peak of the top as the Longhorns got back into the top 10 multiple times last season, culminating in a yearend No. 9 rank after a thoroughly dominant win over the higherranked Georgia Bulldogs in the All-State Sugar Bowl in January.

The cast of characters ranged far and wide on the Forty Acres with coach Tom Herman creating a culture throughout the Texas

GAME 1

football program allowing his players’ personalities shine through while maintaining the competitively fierce edge needed to compete with the country’s best.

Take a ride through the season that ended with sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger declaring for the nation to hear” “We’re baaaack!”

GAME 2

AT Maryland 34-29 Loss (0-1 overall record)

VS Tulsa 28-21 Win (1-1 overall record)

TEXAS ENTERED THE season ranked No. 23 with plans to put the past away and start with a bang. Instead, the host Terrapins took Texas by surprise and left the Longhorns looking at what went wrong so soon.

“I feel like we were too passionate and too riled up. We wanted that game so bad,” senior linebacker Breckyn Hager said. “We were so excited and ready to play. I don’t know what it is, we just played real tight. We didn’t just let it loose.”

“Yeah, I’m not going to lie it did (surprise me),” senior defensive end Charles Omenihu said. “But again we as a group just have to understand that this is something that can’t be a continuous kind of thing. It can’t be a thing that we’re going to start slow and then get going. It has to be full pedal on the gas from start to finish.”

“We beat ourselves more, so we have to focus on us,” senior running back Tre Watson lamented.

THE HORNS FELL out of the top 25 rankings and as the sky was falling around the Forty Acres, Texas calmly gathered itself and made sure to not let the loss linger on into the season as they had a year ago.

“Anytime you win, we’re going to celebrate,” head coach Tom Herman said after the game. “Winning is hard — really, really hard. You know, we’re going to get everybody’s best shot.We’ve got to do a great job of making sure our guys continue to have fun, celebrating the win and celebrating great plays. It’s our job to get the things that are correctable, corrected.”

“I’ve always, from the first snap he took in a game, I’ve always had a lot of faith in him,” senior tight end Andrew Beck said of Ehlinger. “And that’s a credit to him and credit to the coaches because they prepared him to play in a game. If they didn’t think he was ready and didn’t think he was capable they wouldn’t have put him in a game.”

“I think it’s a positive step ahead because that just builds your confidence. It’s your first game in DKR, the stadium is rocking, you’re in front of hometown fans — you go out there and first play of the game you create a takeaway,” senior safety PJ Locke said. “That’s a huge confidence boost to let you know, ‘OK, yeah I can play on this level.’ I just keep telling them, keep building on it.”

Brandon Jones delivers a hard hit.

Sam Ehlinger & Texas thwart Tulsa.

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PHOTOS BY DON BENDER/HORNS ILLUSTRATED, JESSE DROHEN, AND UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

T

ORAL HISTORY

GAME 3

VS No. 14 USC 37-14 Win (2-1 overall record) A GOAL-LINE STAND. A field goal block returned for a touchdown. The showdown with USC had it all for Texas fans, including the emergence of freshman safety Caden Sterns, who was responsible for both feats.

“You have to have that mentality, and we all do,” Sterns said. “Iron sharpens iron – we all make each other better.”

“You always need, you know, when you’ve been up and down and you’ve been so close for the last year and three games in these types of games to go out and win in a complete fashion the way that we did,” Herman said. “It certainly adds to our level of confidence.

Omenihu said. “We bowed our necks, bit down a little harder on our mouth guards and were determined to keep them from scoring.”

“It was neat to see the looks in their eyes when they realized that this coaching staff and myself has a tremendous amount of belief in them,” Herman said.

“The light bulb went off.”

GAME 3: PHOTO BY DON BENDER/HORNS ILLUSTRATED GAME 4 AND 5: PHOTOS BY DON BENDER/HORNS ILLUSTRATED, JESSE DROHEN, AND UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

Caden Sterns’ blocked field goal led to a Texas touchdown..

GAME 4

AT No. 17 TCU 31-16 Win (3-1 overall record 1-0 in Big 12 Conference) TOPPLING A SECOND-STRAIGHT top 25 foe, Texas turned to its defense to become the calling card amidst a high-scoring season, per usual, in the Big 12. “Over these past two weeks we are showing everyone what kind of defense we can be. It’s all about letting loose, trusting each other and having fun,”senior linebacker Gary Johnson said.

“Guys are out there smiling, before games, during games, and understanding that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to play at a university like this and to play this sport,” Sterns added. “When you have that mindset and you have the coaching staff we do, and play freely and notice how hard we train, Saturday is the fun part of what we do.”

“When you’re having fun and you just know what you’re capable of doing and know you can trust your training we’ve done all week,” senior defensive back Brandon Jones said. “The games are supposed to be the fun part, and we really have taken advantage of that.”

Added senior safety PJ Locke, “I don’t want to say we’re back, because I want everybody to stay hungry.”

The Horns love Chris Nelson belly rubs.

GAME 5

AT Kansas State 19-14 Win (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) VAULTING BACK INTO the AP rankings, Texas came in at No. 18 as it headed to the always-hostile atmosphere in Manhattan, Kansas. The Longhorns showing poise by running out the final six minutes and 20 seconds of the fourth quarter.

“We won ugly, yes, but the key word there is ‘won,’” Herman said.

“We did not play our best, but we found a way to do so in critical times.”

“We’ve been training for the fourth quarter all year long. And we are a fourth quarter team, that’s the quarter that we thrive in,” offensivelineman Elijah Rodriguez said.

“We realized how physical we can be, we really take pride in that, that’s a big thing for our program,” junior defensive back Brandon Jones said “There was just no doubt, not in anyone in the offense, anyone in the defense, anyone on the team — there was just no doubt, just full belief in each other,” Collin Johnson said.

Chris Brown bends back Duke Shelley.

“Everybody has bought in. And that’s a good thing,” junior wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey said. “We’re looking forward to being successful the rest of the season.”

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GAME 6

VS No. 7 Oklahoma AT The Cotton Bowl 48-45 Win (5-1, 3-0) THE GLORIOUSLY GORGEOUS Golden Hat made its way back to the Forty Acres following No. 19 Texas squeezing by its longtime rival across the northern border, the Oklahoma Sooners. Freshman Cameron Dicker “The Kicker” came up clutch by booting through the go-ahead field goal with just nine seconds left to play for the final tally, sending Kyler Murray and the Sooners back home.

“Confidence is being gained every week, we’re understanding that we can continue to get better,” Ehlinger said. “The only thing stopping us is ourselves in certain situations, and we understand that.

I feel like now we’re playing less uptight, per se, we’re not afraid to make mistakes.”

“I do — I genuinely love those guys as brothers, as teammates, I’d do anything for them,” said senior center Zach Shackelford. “When I see the whole line, after the game wearing the Golden Hat, it gives me such great joy because I feel like I was a part of that and I could get us all on the same page and stuff like that.

“Not necessarily for me but for the guys in that room I just care so much about.”

“We’ve got some long-range goals that we needed to take this next step to get toward, and I’m happy we did,” Herman said.

“I feel like we’ve got one of the best receiving cores in the nation,” Humphrey said emphatically.“Our biggest thing is to dominate on the perimeter. We try to enforce that against anybody that we play.”

“These group of guys — I wouldn’t rather be on the field with any other group of guys,” added Collin Johnson. “(Coach Herb Hand) tried to tackle me one time during the USC game, after we scored because he was so excited,” laughed senior offensive lineman Patrick Vahe.“That feeling is kind of indescribable, but it’s what breeds seasons like this. (I’ve had) a lot more fun so far this season than I have playing football my whole career.”

Jeffrey McCullough embodies every Texas fan after the OU win.

Cameron Dicker (The Kicker) was the hero.

Sam Ehlinger

Omenihu pursues Kyler Murray.

GAME 7

A TRUE TEST of Texas’ character came as the Longhorns struggled to hold off visiting Baylor while Ehlinger went down with injury. Perfectly poised, junior Shane Buechele stepped in and stepped up, connecting with Collin Johnson for a touchdown. The defense held strong to keep the Bears at bay for the home win.

Senior DB Kris Boyd let the love flow following the ‘W’.

“I feel like it’s also the bond we’ve built outside of football,” Boyd said. “I tell’em every day ‘I love y’all. I don’t care what they say because like I say it so much and they’ll be laughing like, ‘Oh shut up.’

Boyd said through a laugh, “I don’t care, I’ll still tell them I love them.”

“We’ve got something special going here,” junior wide receiver Collin Johnson said.

“That’s one of the special things about this team is we have a lot of young guys who have veteran mentalities, and that comes from the coaches,” senior offensive lineman Calvin Anderson said.

“It’s just a mentality. We’ve all come together and we’re closer than we’ve ever been,” junior Brandon Jones said. “That’s the biggest thing.

As a defense, the closer you are the more you trust your guy to your right and left and play as one unit.”

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Texas Cheer flies the flag.

“Every Sunday we come in that locker room (the day after a game), you see nobody bragging, nobody talking about the plays they made, none of that,” Nelson said. “That’s the thing I love about it.”

COURTESY JESSE DROHEN, AND UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY GAME 6 TOP AND MIDDLE LEFT: PHOTOS BY DON BENDER/HORNS ILLUSTRATED,

VS Baylor 23-17 Win (6-1, 4-0)

PHOTOS BY DON BENDER/HORNS ILLUSTRATED, JESSE DROHEN, AND UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

GAME 8

GAME 9

AT Oklahoma State 38-35 Loss (6-2, 4-1)

VS No. 13 West Virginia 42-41 Loss (6-3, 4-2)

INTENT ON STAYING strong out of their off week of rest, Texas looked, well, off, for most of the game against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys built a 31-14 lead before the Longhorns locked in and rallied back, ultimately falling short in a loss that may have kept them from the College Football Playoff.

“That’s a really upset and dejected locker room, but they are very, very together,” Herman said. “I love the fact that one loss hurts that bad — we had guys in tears — and to think how far we’ve come where one loss matters that much, and it should, means we are heading in the right direction.”

“Hats off to Oklahoma State – they played an excellent game,” Ehlinger said. “You can’t get in a hole like that early in the game. I don’t think this is a setback. We have to keep moving forward and learn from this and get better. We definitely didn’t play to our standard. We have to come out faster and play more aggressive at the beginning of the game.

“Regardless if we are down or if we’re up we have to make sure that our head is on straight and that we just continue to execute in the way that we practice,” Vahe said.

TWO LOSSES BY a total of four points is hardly a harbinger of bad things to come, and though Texas suffered through the two excruciating defeats, the Longhorns looked forward as they had all season and refused to let any one game of the season define them.

“We just didn’t play good, period,” said Omenihu.

“That’s the biggest message. When we play well, we are unstoppable.

When we don’t, other teams can beat us,” Ehlinger said “I knew after West Virginia called time out, I knew what they were going to do, and I was screaming it out,” Omenihu said,”and (Grier) did it and walked into the end zone. I don’t know what it was — it just wasn’t defended. The scoreboard says 42-41 West Virginia. We lost.”

Herman added, We’ve got to make sure that this one stings.

Obviously to have this happen at home and the way that it happened is a tough pill to swallow. You’ve got to stop the run, or you’re going to bleed a slow death, and for the most part we couldn’t tonight.”

Breckyn Hager

Devin Duvernay feels the love.

GAME 10

AT Oklahoma State 38-35 Loss (6-2, 4-1)

I HAD NO doubt in my mind that we were going to go down the field and finish the game, whether it was a field goal or a touchdown,” Ehlinger said.

“We’re coming out with energy and not tip-toeing around,” Humphrey said. “We’re going out there and knowing we’re a great offense, a high-powered offense, and executing.”

“We know how to make them interesting, don’t we?” Texas coach Tom Herman said. “It’s huge for our confidence. I think winning this game gives our guys a little boost. We have taken some pretty good blows over the past two weeks. To battle back, after that especially, certainly will pay dividends for our confidence moving forward.They know the potential of this team, and I think they’re hell bent on making sure that this team achieves its potential.”

Malcolm Roach

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GAME 11

VS No. 16 Iowa State 24-10 Win (8-3, 6-2)

CONSIDERED ESSENTIALLY EQUAL by the AP rankings, No. 15 Texas took it to No. 16 Iowa State to set the stage for a postseason run. Buechele ably stepped in for an injured Ehlinger and the Horns defense drove the Cyclones backward into dust.

“We are at the stage in our program right now where we are overachieving a little bit,” Herman said after the victory. “We are winning on grit, we’re winning on toughness, we’re winning on physicality, we are winning the turnover battle, and we are winning on love and genuine care for the guy next to you.”

“We were flying around like we do – all I know is that we won big,” Omenihu said. “If you love winning and love this feeling you will do anything you can to keep it going, and that’s hard work. I don’t like losing, I hate losing with a passion. We showed that we will do whatever we need to do.”

Concluded Herman, “Iowa State, we feel like, is the second-most physical team in the Big 12,” Herman said while considering his own team the most physical. “So we knew we were going to have to match and or exceed their physicality to have a chance in that game.”

BJ Foster gets after Brock Purdy.

GAME 12

THOUGH IT WAS close, Texas took care of business against Kansas and set up the rematch with Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game.

“We did enough to win,” Ehlinger said.

“We had some opportunities on offense that we just let go, and we need to clean up those up for next week. We set out with this goal at the beginning of the year, and to be able to accomplish this even though we’ve had some ups and downs feels really good.”

Andrew Beck and Texas held off Kansas.

GAME 13

Collin Johnson corrals a big catch.

Big 12 Championship 39-27 Loss (9-4) Overall THE LITTLE THINGS led to a large letdown for Longhorns in Texas-OU Part II. The rematch in the Big 12 Championship game had Texas playing catch up most of the way after taking an early lead, with the game being much closer than the score wound up.

“Coming out of the second half, we made too many mental mistakes,” Texas linebacker Anthony Wheeler said. “Against an offense like Oklahoma, you can’t make mistakes like that. Even though we lost, I feel like we won by the way we played. I feel like we played hard and never gave up.”

“I think, like Coach said, we really bought into what the coaches preached, and we loved each other and we’ve learned that the only thing that can stop us is us. (In) the games that we’ve lost, we’ve hurt ourselves,” Ehlinger said 38 HORNS ILLUSTRATED

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PHOTOS BY DON BENDER/HORNS ILLUSTRATED, JESSE DROHEN, AND UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

AT Kansas 24-17 Win (9-3, 6-3 Big 12)

GAME 14

VS Georgia AT the Mercedes-Benz Superdome 28-21 Win (10-4 overall)

Ehlinger belts out “We’re Baaack” for all the nation to hear.

PJ Locke poses.

The Sugar Bowl Championship Trophy.

PHOTOS BY DON BENDER/HORNS ILLUSTRATED, JESSE DROHEN, AND UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

“We’re Baaaaaaaaaaaack!”

We’re Texas. This is Texas.

Hook’Em. Horns UP! “YOU CAN’T BE at The University of Texas if you’re not physical, or that’s not your mentality,” Boyd said. “That’s part of our culture and who we are. That’s the standard of who we are.”

“I’m just really proud of the physical nature in which we played this game,” Herman said.

“At this point in our program’s trajectory, that’s what we’re going to need to do to win, is we have got to out hustle people, we’ve got to out hit people. And tonight I feel like we did that.”

“That mindset and the physicality and the whatever-it-takes and the fourth and inches is the mindset that our offense needs to have, that our team needs to have every single play,” Ehlinger said. “And I’m going do everything that I can for my team to put them in the best situation to win. Thank you for giving me the ball. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

‘We didn’t think y’all would come that hard,’” Wheeler said of the banter he heard from the Georgia players. “That was plenty of motivation … just hearing that was telling me they ain’t ready for us.”

“We knew coming in that we had to come in and start fast,” said Humphrey, who led the Longhorns with seven catches for 67 yards.

“That’s exactly what we did. Once we went down and scored, we knew that we were going to be in the game all game.”

“This win is an up-arrow for this program,” Omenihu said. “These guys are led by amazing men and amazing coaches. And to have a leader like Sam that is going to continue to lead these guys in the off season, to make them not as satisfied for this, because this ain’t the end goal for this university. I know that this football team and this program is in the greatest of hands.”

“We played with a chip on our shoulder and all we heard about coming in was how physical those two backs were and how physical their

Joseph Ossai jars it loose.

Jordan Pouncey gives HC Tom Herman the celebratory dousing.

Lil’Jordan Humphrey breaks away.

Tre Watson

offensive line was,” Johnson said. “We knew we had to stop the run and everything else would take care of itself.”

“We had the ball for 12 minutes in the fourth quarter – 12 of the 15 minutes,” Herman said. “Our offense did a great job of getting first downs and milking the clock down with a lead. And our offense played a part in playing great defense as well.”

“The confidence this man (Ehlinger) exudes to the offense and to the whole team, I’ve commended him so many times,” Texas defensive end Charles Omenihu said. “And I’ll commend him again for just being the guy he is and the way he is because it’s really been transcending and inspiring to everybody on this whole team and the whole university.”

“We feel like we’re on track, having been at this program for a couple years,” Herman said.

“We’ve recruited really well. We’ve developed really well. I think we’ve got the best strength coach and strength program in America. So we’re going to need to continue to recruit at that elite level. And once we get them here, we’ve got to develop them at an elite level.”

Horns Illustrated (ISSN 1096-2573), Volume 26, Number 1. Copyright © 2019 by Texan Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Published twice a year (March/April, June/July) 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.

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FINAL SCORE

DKR FUND

Among the 750 people who joined Mrs. Edith Royal at the event were many members of the DKR Fund’s Board of Advisors, Officers and Directors and Legacy Council. Co-Chairing the event with Mrs. Edith were: Georgeann and Bill McRaven, Sammye and Mike Myers, Ashley and Rad Weaver, Julie and Ben Crenshaw and Ava and Steve Late. Also in attendance were: UT Austin President Greg Fenves, incoming UT system Chancellor James Milliken, Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, Janis and Doug Maund, Nelson Puett, Mike & DK Reynolds, Beau & Val Armstrong and Chris Mihm

For more information on the DKR Fund visit http://www.dkrfund.org.

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COURTESY TYLER SCHMITT

THE DKR FUND had a successful 2018 4th and Goal Gala when it raised over $1 Million for UTSW O’Donnell Brain Institute and UT Austin for neurological research in the areas of Traumatic Brain Injury, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease at the event held at the Austin City Limits-Moody Theater last fall.

Special guest and DKR Fund Advisory Board member Matthew McConaughey gave a moving speech about coach Darrell K Royal’s legacy, his friendship with the late coach, and the importance of Alzheimer’s research.

McConaughey’s speech ended by asking, “If not now, when? If not Texas, where?”

Advancing brain health remains one of the most important initiatives occurring across the UT System and the DKR Fund serves to help fund this important work. Proceeds will provide grant funding to UT medical schools and their global partners in pursuit of treatment and a cure for TBI, AD and related disorders.

“We are seizing the opportunity to build an incredible legacy of research excellence by honoring a man whose contributions to the lives of so many cannot even be measured,” said former Texas golf legend and multiple major winner on the PGA Tour Ben Crenshaw, Vice Chairman of the DKR Fund Board of Directors.