Inside Texas 2016 Season Preview

INSIDETEXAS.COM

2016 SEASON PREVIEW

2016 SEASON PREVIEW MALIK JEFFERSON IS DETERMINED TO LEAD TEXAS BACK INTO CONTENTION.

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in this issue

Ready to Lead |

by

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Joe Cook

Malik Jefferson and Jerrod Heard

2016 Team Preview |

by

Mike Blackwell

A look at each position group on offense and defense

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Offense

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Defense Stream of Consci__sness |

by

Eric Nahlin

Eric talks about the upcoming season and recruiting.

The Schedule |

by Ian

Boyd

Ian provides a scouting report for each opponent

Making of a Quarterback |

by

Justin Wells

2017 Recruit Sam Ehlinger’s inspirational story

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Publishers -- Michael Pearle, Clendon Ross | Managing Editor--Clendon Ross | Editor-- Mike Blackwell InsideTexas.com Editor -- Justin Wells | Lead Writer -- Bill Frisbie | Contributor -- Ian Boyd Designer/Photographer -- Will Gallagher | Recruiting Analyst -- Eric Nahlin To Subscribe/Customer Service -- Phone: 512-659-8167 | Email: help@insidetexas.com 2016 Season Preview

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READY to LEAD

BY JOE COOK

T

exas linebacker Malik Jefferson and QB/WR Jerrod Heard

confident and positive. Jefferson says this is because the team and

lived with pressure even before they stepped on the University

members of his class were able to gel throughout offseason training,

of Texas campus.

spring football, and summer workouts.

After dealing with the pressures of being a highly touted recruit during

“We’ve all come together,” Jefferson said. “This whole summer we’ve

his freshman campaign, Jefferson now has to deal with new expecta-

been working really hard and we put the time into actually getting to

tions in his sophomore season. While those are different, he is ready

know each other and everybody’s been mentoring these young guys

to take it on with the help of veteran teammates.

so well. It’s been a very comfortable season.”

“I can say that,” Jefferson said when asked if he is more comfortable

Jefferson earned freshman All-American honors during his 2015

as a leader. “The older guys have really helped me out a lot as well.

campaign which he finished with 61 tackles and 2.5 sacks. A year

I think that there is a lot more of my leadership this year. There’s a

later, he now knows what to do to become a better player on the field.

lot of leadership in all three phases of the defense, and of course the offense as well. Guys are really coming together and understanding

“The experience part, learning little tendencies of other teams, mak-

we’re coming for one common goal.”

ing sure I get in that film room spending extra time just to get to know what they do,” Jefferson said when asked what he has done in his

Although his team went 5-7 last season, they remain extremely

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second year to improve. “I think that’s the big part of growing and, of

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course, every year you have to do something different. That’s what

those outside the program say.

I’m focusing on this year.”

“Every day we know there are people that doubt us and we know When Jefferson takes the field against Notre Dame, and the off-

we have to come out there and focus everyday on what we do,”

season moves into the season, his eyes will be forward instead of

Jefferson said. “And I think a lot of this year we aren’t worried about

looking to the past.

what other people say because that’s what is in the past and what people say is what people say. It’s word of mouth. They don’t know

“We try not to talk about the past anymore because we can’t do any-

what’s happening. And I think the biggest thing for us this year is to

thing about it,” Jefferson said. “Our focus is on what they do this year

not worry about what other people say.”

and getting ourselves prepared for what they’re going to throw at us.”

Sophomore QB/WR Jerrod Heard has been at the forefront of attenWhat the Irish will throw at the Horns in the first game is two quarter-

tion on the offensive side of the ball for almost an entire year. Last

backs, at least according to Irish head coach Brian Kelly. Though his

season, the question was if he would be the starter. Then it became if

defense has to take on two different styles at quarterback, Jefferson

he would play.

is not concerned.

In the early part of the offseason, it turned into where he was in the “It’s not going to be a big challenge to us,” Jefferson said about

pecking order in the quarterback room. That, however, did not last

defending Irish quarterbacks DeShoneKizer and Malik Zaire. “We’re

long. He began taking reps at wide receiver and at quarterback.

just going to go out there and play our game. We know what type of

Then more at wide receiver than quarterback. Then almost all wide

quarterbacks both of those guys are. One likes to run more, one’s a

receiver. It remained Texas’ worst kept secret thanks to various posts

passer. They both are very good. We understand that. Whatever they

on social media showing Heard wearing receiver gloves.

throw at us, we’re going to counter and do whatever we can to stop them.”

It was fully let out of the bag when Texas Football’s official Instagram account showed him wearing a normal practice jersey instead of

Even with all the pressure and all the different things the team has to

a black jersey for the quarterbacks. Since then, both players and

prepare for, Jefferson says that the team is ready regardless of what

coaches have discussed Heard’s ability, and acumen, at the position.

Jordan Elliott

2016 Season Preview

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For Heard, he continues to take it all in with a smile and confidence.

watching guys who have perfected their craft in route running.”

“The transition is going good,” Heard said. “Right now I’m enjoying

Heard’s demeanor makes it seem like the transition was seamless,

it, living every minute of it. It’s just a learning thing every day. I didn’t

but it did not come without its bumps and bruises.

fight against it. Really I was ready for the transition myself, so I felt like it would be a positive thing for me and for my future. So I was all

“The day they took the black jersey away, I’m not going to lie, I was

for it and ready to go.”

kind of scared because the DBs, they loved it,” Heard said.

Though Heard is not lining up under center, he does not have one

“And the linebackers loved it. I remember, I think it was Malik [Jeffer-

position he calls home.

son] and Tim Cole, they were like they’ve been praying for this day.

That day, it was pretty intense. I got hit a few times and I got to lay

“I’m a receiver, wildcat, you’re going to see me do a lot,” Heard said.

some hits on them.”

“It’s going to be fun and interesting. I’m all across the board, just an athlete, really.”

Even after a major change, Heard said he wants to be a consistent option for his quarterbacks.

Heard has plenty of role models who have made this same switch to look to, including Braxton Miller, Brad Smith, and Antwaan Randle El.

“I feel like I’m really coming into my game and the style of receiver

While he cannot name one person he is trying to become, he knows

that I wanted to be,” Heard said. “Going out there and playing re-

what he needs to get done in order to be successful.

ceiver, I just want to be that reliable receiver for those quarterbacks to throw to.”

“I’ve been looking at a few guys,” Heard said. “Pretty much whoever is dominating in the receiving corps in the NFL. Also, in college,

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2016 Season Preview

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2016 TEXAS L

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LONGHORNS

2016 Season Preview

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MOVING THE LINE

M

att Mattox is a lucky man, and

by becoming a college football player at

elford...etc., etc., etc. After years of medio-

for a lot of reasons. The next

the University of Houston.

cre offensive line play, the Longhorns can

Texas offensive line coach/

running game coordinator awakes every

claim - with some confidence - that the #Blessed.

2016 offensive line might be the best on

morning comforted by the knowledge that

the Forty Acres in more than 10 years.

his cup runneth over like the Pedernales

But as summer becomes fall in 2016, Mat-

river in the springtime.

tox is fortunate for several more reasons

A big key - perhaps the biggest key - to

than simply where his hard work and skill

Texas success on the football field this

have taken him professionally. He’s also

season will be determined by the offensive

lucky because his good fortune has gifted

line. So congrats, Coach Mattox.

Why? Many reasons.

him a Texas team with a young, big, nasty offensive line which appears ready to

Each year for the next three years, the

open holes for perhaps the best running

University of Texas will deposit $550,000

back tandem in the country.

into his bank account. He lives and works

Now just don’t screw it up.

Truth is, Mattox will have a hard time screwing this up.

in Austin. He and his wife Stacey are

Coach Mattox, please introduce yourself

parents of a pair of great kids. When he

to Connor Williams, Patrick Vahe, Kent

The Longhorns are paced up front by

was younger, the Kansan lived his dream

Perkins, Tristian Nickelson, Zach Shack-

left tackle Williams, a 6-6, 288-pound

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OFFENSE sophomore who started last season along

to put in and we both see that we need

attempt to predict where these linemen

with fellow sophomore Vahe. Big, athletic,

to be leaders on the O-line and push the

will ultimate play is fruitless. And that’s

intelligent...no wonder Williams is on the

younger guys and push the O-line as a

another of Mattox’s blessings: not only

Outland Trophy’s postseason watch list

whole.”

is the offensive line talented, but it’s also

and preseason All-Big 12 team.

versatile.

Williams and Vahe will also benefit

He was an honorable mention all-

from their friendship, which was forged

Add Denzel Okafor to the rotation, and

conference selection after a 2015 season

initially in high school. Both are quick

Jean Delance...Brandon Hodges...clearly,

that saw him start all 12 games for the

studies, and both have their own unique

Mattox is someone who realizes how good

Longhorns. He was a first-team freshman

mean streaks, with Vahe the more vocal of

the Texas line can be.

All-American.

the tandem.

“Obviously this is one of the greatest in-

Vahe - completely different in tempera-

“Me and Connor, we’re good friends,”

stitutions in the United States, and it’s the

ment - is another gem for Mattox to mold.

Vahe says. “We played each other in high

football capital of the world being in the

The 6-3, 326-pounder is versatile enough

school. We beat him but he’s a good guy. I

state of Texas,” Mattox admits. “Having

to play guard or center, and might very

bring it up all the time, every time I walk

played in Kansas, but then also being able

well start the season alongside Williams

into the locker room. We both have differ-

to play in Texas and recruiting down here,

at left guard. With the injury bug nipping

ent ways of playing the game and we try

I know the type of athletes that are being

at projected starting center Shackelford,

to put it together in unison. If we’re trying

recruited here and the type of talent that

Vahe might could himself at center as

to double team on one player, we try to

comes from the state. I know the tradi-

well, though Jake McMillon is getting

make sure that our steps are there and

tion that’s here at the University of Texas,

most of the looks in Shackelford’s absence.

that we can execute the play and make

and I’m just looking forward to getting a

sure that we score.”

chance to put my mark on that.”

says Williams. “Great run blocker and

Joining Williams and Vahe on the of-

Lucky for him, the 2016 offensive line

pass blocker and I’m excited to play next

fensive line - ideally - will be Shackelford,

looks more than capable of making sure

to him. We both see the work we need

Perkins and Nickelson. However, any

Mattox makes his mark.

“Patrick’s a great player to play next to,”

2016 Season Preview

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QUARTERBACK THE PLAYERS Shane Buechele Tyrone Swoopes Matthew Merrick

THE STARTER

Shane Buechele

It needs to be Shane Buechele. It might be Tyrone Swoopes. Last year, it was Jerrod Heard. Have we cleared this up for you? Seri-

THE BELL COW

ously, most believe it’s Buechele, but as of mid-August, Charlie

With an outstanding performance in the spring game, the clear Bell Cow is

Strong wasn’t saying.

incoming freshman Shane Buechele. The Longhorns were 5-7 last season,

Jerrod Heard

Jaxon Shipley

getting inconsistent quarterback play from both Swoopes and Heard, so the situation is perfect for the talented and poised-beyond-his-years Buechele. Buechele helped himself more than a little bit by completing 22 of 41 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in one of play for new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. Swoopes - who effectively operated the ‘18-Wheeler’ offensive package for Texas last season - was merely 4 of 16 in the spring game, while Heard nursed a sprained shoulder. Heard is now taking reps as a receiver. Some believe Merrick has passed Locksley on a suddenly-crowded QB depth chart.

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Again, this must be Buechele. Is it clear yet how important Buechele is to the success of the Longhorns in 2016?

Tyrone Swoopes

PLAYER TO BE MISSED Strangely, the Longhorns might miss the Heard who torched California last year, should Buechele fail in his new role.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH Clearly this is Buechele, the well-hyped son of former Texas Rangers’ third baseman Steve Buechele. He’s a hard worker, and Strong needs him to succeed.

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RUNNING BACK THE PLAYERS

Chris Warren III

D’Onta Foreman Chris Warren III Kirk Johnson Kyle Porter

THE STARTER Foreman/Warren. Seriously, how could you pick a starter from these two? Foreman led the team in rushing with 681 yards and four 100-yard-plus games, and Warren stepped off 382 yards in just two games.

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR How about Kirk Johnson? He’s getting plenty of praise from Strong, and

Marcus Johnson

could provide a great contrast to the power of Foreman and Warren.

THE BELL COW

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Again, you have to add the ‘s’ here and give them both the ‘Bell

Porter was a four-year starter at perennial power Katy, and played in four

Cow’ designation. Foreman introduced himself by stepping all

consecutive state title games during his tenure. He’s 5-9 and 208, and could

over the Oklahoma Sooners in a shocking win last season in Dal-

see playing time despite the talent in front of him on the depth chart.

las. He’s huge, at 6-0 and 238 pounds, but also nimble, averaging more than 85 yards per game in Big 12 play. Warren is even

D’Onta Foreman

bigger at 255 pounds, and it will be a long, long time before Texas fans forget his coming-out party game last Thanksgiving against Texas Tech, when he gashed the Red Raiders for 276 yards and four touchdowns. Both Warren and Foreman have been nicked up in August, though. But the Longhorns have depth beyond the two bruisers in speedy/elusive Kirk Johnson and Kyle Porter, the freshman from Katy who Strong can’t stop gushing about. Gilbert’s teams have also rushed the football effectively, and this is clearly the strength of the Texas team in 2016.

PLAYER TO BE MISSED Johnathan Gray will be missed primarily because of the leadership he brought to the locker room.

2016 Season Preview

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OFFENSIVE LINE THE PLAYERS Tackles - Connor Williams, Brandon Hodges, Patrick Hudson, Tristan Nickelson Guards - Patrick Vahe, Kent Perkins, Terrell Cuney, Alex Anderson Centers - Zach Shackelford, Jake McMillon

THE STARTERS

Patrick Vahe

Most likely Williams, Perkins, Shackelford, Vahe, Nickelson. With this caveat: in mid-August, the offensive line suffered Jerrod a handful Heard of “dings” - should the injury bug bite, this group could have an

THE BELL COW

Jaxon Shipley

entirely different look.

Williams was a first-team freshman All-American, so we’re going to go

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

too, so there’s that. He started all 12 games for the Longhorns, and was

Going to go with Hudson here. Strong recruited Hudson HARD coming out of high school, and the Baylor fiasco landed him in Austin after all.

with him. The tackle is also on the Outland Trophy preseason watch list, an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. Williams and Vahe combined in 2015 to form a unique stat: the Longhorns were the only team in the country to start two true freshmen on the offensive line.

Mike Mattox

PLAYER TO BE MISSED

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH

Probably center Taylor Doyle. Texas must play very young and inex-

The Longhorns were extremely happy to have Patrick Hudson fall to

perienced players at this position in 2016.

them from Baylor, and he will definitely be someone to watch, along with young center Shackelford.

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TIGHT END THE PLAYERS

Caleb Bluiett

Caleb Bluiett Andrew Beck

THE STARTER Bluiett will be - without question - the starter in Gilbert’s new offense. He caught just eight balls last season, but averaged just over 20 yards per catch and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Marcus Johnson

D’Onta Foreman

THE BELL COW Bluiett is the only tight end who could remotely be considered in

PLAYER TO BE MISSED None.

The Longhorns barely acknowledged the existence of a tight end in 2016.

the Bell Cow category, and it will be interesting to see how Gilbert chooses to implement the tight end position in 2016. He only started two games for the Longhorns, but seems to have a big-play knack to go along with a fiery attitude that coaches in general and Strong in particular - seem fond of. Beck is clearly the number two here; in fact, the Tampa native started 10 games for the Longhorns last season. Beck finished the year with eight catches for 77

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Let’s go with Beck, who surely must be expected to catch more than eight balls this season after starting 10 games in 2016.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

yards and no touchdowns. No other tight ends currently on the

Who knows? Jay Harper, Blake Whitely, Robert Willis, Matt Center, Gar-

roster caught a pass last season for Texas.

rett Gray, Peyton Aucoin, Chris Fehr...none are proven or experienced.

2016 Season Preview

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WIDE RECEIVER THE PLAYERS John Burt Armanti Foreman Collin Johnson Devin Duvernay Lorenzo Joe Jacorey Warrick Jerrod Heard Kai Locksley Davion Curtis

THE STARTERS Burt, Foreman, Johnson

John Burt

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

THE BELL COW

Since we gave Duvernay the ‘Newcomers’ tag, this one goes

Burt gets the nod here, but the Bell Cow could come from any one of this group that

to Burt. He had a decent year last year, but could have a

is heavy on raw talent. Burt started all 12 games last season, after all, and is the lead-

monster year in 2016 if things break well.

ing pass catcher from 2015. The 6-3, 189-pound deep threat (he had an 84-yarder in 2015) caught 28 passes for 457 yards (more than 16 yards per catch) and a pair of touchdowns. That touchdown total should at minimum triple in 2016. Fortunately for Burt - and whoever the starting quarterback will be - he might have company competing for the Bell Cow honors. Foreman returns (11 catches, 182 yards), and newcomer Johnson, towering at 6-6 and 212 pounds, is getting rave reviews. Joe, a 6-3 junior from Abilene, will also play a vital role in a Gilbert offense that requires a handful of productive receivers. Need another name? How about Duvernay, the blazing speedster who transferred from Baylor? He’s a 10.27 100-meter guy, as well as a legitimate 4.3-40 burner. Don’t blink.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH Mike Mattox

Definitely Duvernay (see numbers above).

Daje Johnson will definitely be

He could literally be the steal of the Big 12.

missed, although most believe he

But don’t count out Johnson in this role,

was not utilized as he should’ve

too, especially in the quick-hitting Gilbert

been - he caught 37 passes last

offense.

season for 415, but scored only one touchdown.

Armanti Foreman

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PLAYER TO BE MISSED

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SPECIAL TEAMS

THE PLAYERS Kicker Trent Domingue Punter Michael Dickson Return Specialist Kris Boyd

Marcus Johnson

Kris Boyd

THE BELL COW

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

D’Onta Foreman

Though Boyd could be electric as a return guy, Texas fans will be THRILLED

We can call Boyd, a sophomore, a newcomer. He’ll be a new-

by Domingue, the transfer from LSU, as the Longhorns’ inconsistencies in

comer as a punt returner, for sure. As a kick returner in 2015,

the kicking game was torturous last season. Domingue was 13 of 17 for the

he returned nine for 185 yards, just over 20 yards per attempt.

Tigers in 2015, and had one streak of 10 consecutive successful field goals.

He also contributed 42-straight extra points in 2015 at one point, and even scored on a 16-yard run against Florida on a fake field goal attempt. His career-long field goal is 45 yards, so maybe Texas fans won’t be holding their

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

breath when the kicking team jogs onto the field in 2016.

All right, Dickson, we will go with you. Though he went somewhat unnoticed last year, he averaged more than 41 yards per

PLAYER TO BE MISSED No brainer: Daje Johnson. Johnson averaged 24 yards per kickoff return

punt and had 17 boots that travelled more than 50 yards. The Australian also dropped 19 punts inside the 20 yard-line.

and was also the main punt returner, averaging almost 11 per attempt, including one touchdown.

2016 Season Preview

19

HOLDING THE LINE

C

harlie Strong likes defensive

2016 defensive line must be at least tem-

Frankly, the Longhorns need to do in

linemen. Sometimes, he nick-

pered until the ball is kicked off against

2016 what they failed miserably to do in

names them, and shares funny

Notre Dame. Yes, the group has really

2015: stop the run and rush the passer.

stories about them to the press. He likes

good, if not great, potential. Yes, the Texas

experienced ones, too. And fast ones. He

defensive line is athletic and has been

Boyette, Nelson and Ford - playing in the

especially likes the ones who stop the run

bolstered by youth. Yes, the group has

heart of the defensive line - must carry the

and rush quarterbacks like their hair is

elderly leadership in tackles Paul Boyette

brunt of the responsibility.

on fire.

and Poona Ford.

And with those parameters set as a gen-

And yes, the Texas defensive line must

they're doing an unbelievable job from

eral rule, there's a good chance that Strong

- must - play significantly better this

their leadership ability because we have all

is going to really like those players along

year than last if the Longhorns are to be

of these young guys," Strong says. "Poona

the defensive line of scrimmage for the

successful. The Longhorns need Boyette,

has two of [the freshmen] next to him

Longhorns in 2016. In fact, in August, he

Ford, Chris Nelson, Naashon Hughes,

playing in the defense and then you look

made it clear that he's a fan of the group

Bryce Cottrell, Charles Omenihu, Breckyn

over to Chris and he's got two of them

already.

Hager, D'Andre Christmas, Jordan Elliott,

next to him and [Paul] Boyette's got them

"They are doing an unbelievable job and

Chris Daniels and Marcel Southall to play

next to him, explaining it." Those guys are

But Strong also knows that games are not

well enough to forget the historically bad

the ones right now that are working hard

won in August, so any affection for his

performance by the defense in 2015.

and not much has been said about them.�

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DEFENSE Explaining it is one thing; transferring the

the field. We need to put pressure on the

work in the classroom to the field is quite

quarterback."

another. But Strong seems to believe that

* Hughes had 5.5 sacks last season * Boyette is a fifth-year senior who com-

his defensive line will be able to handle

Which is a very roundabout way of saying

the pressure, thanks to both talent and

the Longhorns must - must - be better

good mentoring.

on the defensive front. Right now, Texas

* Hager is small (6-3, 230), but is the

is looking at Boyette, Ford and Nelson

unit's high-motor energizer bunny

fortably playing the role of mentor

He also thinks - hopes? needs? - his de-

at tackle, along with the youngsters

fense will be greatly improved in the area

Christmas, Daniels and Southall. At end,

* Omenihu might very well be the sleeper

of rushing the quarterback.

the Longhorns will send Hager, Cot-

of the group, having bulked up to 262

trell, Hughes and Omenihu to go get the

pounds spread over his 6-6 frame

"Well I would love to think I have a pass

quarterback.

rush," Strong says. "When you look at it,

Still, optimism only lasts until the games

we have to find the right speed of the guys

If the Longhorns can get run stoppage

begin. Like everyone else, Strong probably

we put on the field when it gets to third

from the tackles and combine it with one

has the indelible memory of last year's

down, and those guys can put some pres-

or two seek-and-destroy ends, then Strong

defensive "performance" against Texas

sure on the quarterback.

and defensive coordinator Vance Bedford

Tech on Thanksgiving embedded in his

can go a long way toward blocking out last

brain: the Red Raiders moving the ball at

year's nightmare.

will against the Longhorns in Austin.

"If " is a big word.

And if he's going to successfully purge

Not so much you look for a sack every time; you want to make sure you can make a guy step up in the pocket and make it very uncomfortable for the

his mind of that memory, he'll need his

quarterback to stand there. We can't allow

There is good reason for Strong's opti-

defensive line to make major, significant,

for him to just stand there and pat the

mism:

Herculean improvements in 2016.

ball at the receiver and put the ball down

2016 Season Preview

21

DEFENSIVE TACKLE THE PLAYERS Paul Boyette Poona Ford Chris Nelson D’Andre Christmas Jordan Elliott Chris Daniels Marcel Southall Gerald Wilbon

THE STARTERS Boyette and Ford

Paul Boyette

THE BELL COW

Jaxon Shipley

Jerrod Heard

Alright, Mr. Boyette, the floor is yours. The married senior is the most well-known name on the Texas defensive line, and he also carries the most responsibility. Many are saying the success of the Texas season is predicated upon the ability - or lack thereof - of the Texas defensive front. Boyette should be a leader this year, after a season in which he started six games and played in all 12. His best game was probably his last one of 2015, the win against Baylor, when he led the team with nine tackles (five solo, two for loss). At 6-3 and 314 pounds, the Longhorns need him to plug the middle and, perhaps, contribute an up-the-middle pass rush as well.

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Ford is a good candidate for this title: he started five of 12 games last season, finishing the year with 39 tackles. If he can join Boyette as a force in the middle of the line for Texas, the Longhorns’ defense should be fine with the athletes it has at linebacker and defensive back.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH Elliott, from Houston Westside, could very well end up filling this role, with the sophomore Nelson and the freshman Christmas close behind.

The Longhorns badly need a youngster to step up at tackle in 2016.

PLAYER TO BE MISSED Hassan Ridgeway is the obvious choice here. Ridgeway, who made 36 tackles last season, decided to declare for the NFL draft early.

Poona Ford

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DEFENSIVE END THE PLAYERS Naashon Hughes Breckyn Hager Bryce Cottrell Charles Omenihu Erick Fowler

THE STARTERS Hughes and Omenihu

Naashon Hughes

THE BELL COW

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Hughes is the winner in a landslide here. He’s the leading returning tackler on the

Hager played every game last season, but as a

defensive line with 57, and also the leading returning quarterback sacker with 5.5 in

sophomore, he still fits the ‘newcomer’ category.Marcus Johnson

2015. Having started 12 games last season, the junior Hughes can accurately see this

He’s raw, but his “go” button is always pushed,

as a “money” year if he’s able to terrorize opposing quarterbacks. Hughes, at 6-4 and 239 pounds, also returns as the leading tackle-for-loss defender: he had nine last year for losses totalling 52 yards. Hughes had 18 tackles in the final two games of the season for Texas - vs. Texas Tech and Baylor - so he should be poised to do some major

and he could become a consistent terrorizer of quarterbacks.

Kris Boyd

damage in 2016.

D’Onta Foreman

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Omenihu is the man here. The sophomore has bulked up for 2016 (he’s 6-6 and 262), and should be ready to break out.

PLAYER TO BE MISSED Shiro Davis and his 29 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles will be missed.

Charles Omenihu

2016 Season Preview

23

LINEBACKER THE PLAYERS Malik Jefferson Edwin Freeman Tim Cole Anthony Wheeler DeMarco Boyd

THE STARTERS Jefferson and Wheeler

Malik Jefferson D’Onta Foreman

THE BELL COW

PLAYER TO BE MISSED We can drop Peter Jinkens easily into this category. Jinkens was the team’s

Well, duh, this is Jefferson in a landslide. Strong’s first big stud

leading tackler last season with 75, and leading sacker with 6.5. The Long-

recruit is the leading returning tackler, with 61 in 2015, and that’s

horns must find others who can duplicate those numbers.

despite missing three games with an injury. He had seven tackles

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR

for loss and two and a half sacks, with a team-high half-dozen quarterback hurries. The freshman All-American in 2015 returns in 2016 as a pre-season All-American in some publications, as well as on the watch list for the Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus and Camp awards. The Big 12 Freshman of the Year should be ready to lead the defense, despite having played just one year for Texas much is expected of him. Duh, indeed.

We will go with the “other” sophomore linebacker, Freeman. A 6-1, 232-pounder from Arlington, he was one of the top linebackers in the nation coming out of high school.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH Let’s go with Wheeler here, though he played in all 12 games last year. He only started two games, though, and the sophomore from Dallas Skyline had 36 tackles. He should be an excellent compliment to Jefferson.

24

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CORNERBACK THE PLAYERS Holton Hill Davante Davis Kris Boyd Antuwan Davis Chris Brown P.J. Locke

THE STARTERS Hill and Davante Davis

Holton Hill

THE BELL COW

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

We’re going with Boyd. Why? Well, he’s all over the place, and everywhere he goes, he

Boyd would be an obvious choice, but we can

hits. A special teams ace, Boyd led special teams in tackles with four in 2015. Boyd is

give Hill this accolade for now. Hill finished

extremely fast, and had four tackles and a forced fumble last season against Notre Dame

last season with 49 tackles, and he started eight

in 2015 and a season-high seven against Oklahoma State. Coached by Jeff Traylor at

games as a freshman.

Gilmer, Boyd is fast enough to hang with the fleetest wide receivers in the country and big enough, at 190 pounds, to bring ball carriers to the ground. The sophomore could very well announce himself as a candidate for induction into DBU in 2016.

D’Onta Foreman

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Why not Davante Davis from Miami? Yet another sophomore, Davis could be poised for a huge year after recording 36 tackles and eight passes defended while starting just five games.

PLAYER TO BE MISSED That’s easy: Duke Thomas. He started all 12 games for the Longhorns and was third on the team in tackles in 2015 with 58.

Davante Davis

2016 Season Preview

25

SAFETY THE PLAYERS Jason Hall Dylan Haines DeShon Elliott Kevin Vaccaro Brandon Jones

THE STARTERS Haines and Hall....for now DeShon Elliott

THE BELL COW

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Hall gets the nod here, because he’s the most likely safety to enter into “Beast Mode”

Going with Elliott here. Like Hall, he’s big (215

territory. At 6-3 and 219 pounds, the Grand Prairie native is now and junior, having

pounds) and is not afraid to tackle. The sopho-

started 11 of 12 games last season. He ended the season fifth in tackles with 51, to

more played in seven games after missing time

go along with a pair of interceptions. His season-high tackle total was the eight he recorded against Kansas State. With a bevy of talented coverage cornerbacks, Hall should be free to roam sideline-to-sideline or, perhaps in a role that better suits him, step into the box and defend the run.

D’Onta Foreman

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Kevin Vaccaro has gotten rave reviews in fall camp. Like his older brother Kenny, he is fearless, though he is small at 5-8 and 188 pounds.

He’ll get significantly more playing time in 2016.

PLAYER TO BE MISSED Seriously, no one. The Longhorns extensively used youth at safety last year - all of the significant playing time from 2015 returns in 2016.

Dylan Haines

26

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early with an injury. He became only the second true freshman at Texas to record two interceptions in one game when he picked off a pair of passes against Kansas.

Kraken_Texas_mechanical.indd 1

5/19/11 2:17:09 PM

STREAM OF CONSC

by Eric Eric Nahlin Nahlin by

28

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I__SNESS

Potential Storylines to Frame the Season...

How long will the quarterback “battle” play out?

Three snaps? Three games? After the spring game and well into the summer, I thought this was mercifully behind us all but unless Strong has everyone running subterfuge the situation seems unsettled, even if everyone knows it will end with Buechele starting.

The question is, when?

Prediction: Buechele plays the bulk of snaps versus Notre Dame and doesn’t look back, especially after he helps Texas wax UTEP and defeat Cal on the road.

How consistent will this team be?

It couldn’t possibly have been more inconsistent than last year, best summarized in the week from TCU to OU. Not coincidentally, that week summed this board up too. Lesson to be learned: don’t get too high (unless you’re in Colorado) or too low.

Prediction: I’m still expecting some ups and downs, but not nearly to the degree we saw last year. It would be impossible to look like a Top 10 FBS team one week and an FCS team the next. UT’s losses will be by less; its wins by more.

Will Sterlin Gilbert be able hold to a run-heavy run/ pass ratio, or will UT be playing from behind?

If Texas is running the ball well, Texas will be winning games.

Last year at Tulsa that ratio was 45.5/37.8. Texas has more than enough running options to have fresh legs logging more than 45 carries a game.

Prediction: I think tough games will be much closer meaning Texas will be running the ball in the 4th quarter. I also think Texas will win some blowouts meaning Texas will be running the ball in the 4th quarter. We know the running back talent is there but the offensive line issues at center and right tackle are a concern.

We’ve heard from a source who says the OL concerns on message boards are overblown. What does that tell you? The DL must be pretty good.

2016 Season Preview

29

- stream of consi__sness -

The defense will be improved but will it be closer to ‘14, or ‘15?

Anything resembling last year is a failure of coaching. Anything close to ‘14 is a celebration of it. UT’s main problem last year was run defense and getting off the field on 3rd

Prediction: Other than just being concerned about Notre Dame in general, I’m not particularly worried about the defensive line. Texas just has too many bodies at the position.

It’s a much better mix of veterans and young talent than we’ve seen in years, and all the parts fit together nicely.

down. UT’s yards per play allowed was lower than some defenses who finished in the thirties by that metric.

Prediction: I think lack of experience was the main influencer of 3rd down issues. Those are otherwise harder to explain than overall inconsistent team performance week over week; which also boils down to inexperience. The difference in inexperience this year is most of the young players will be depth, rather than being forced to start. A prime example of

Who will be the breakout player on defense?

Prediction: To me it boils down to Charles Omenihu and Anthony Wheeler and this team needs both. Because sacks are so high profile, Omenihu will receive a lot of attention, but Wheeler could be the engine that allows the other parts to thrive, like Malik Jefferson’s NOS button.

that is defensive line play.

How soon will the defensive line demonstrate obvious improvement?

Notre Dame can run the ball, and Cal has some running tal-

Texas is going to have a 1,000-yard rusher, right?

Prediction: Of course, I’m guessing it will be Chris Warren, though D’Onta Foreman is certainly capable.

ent too. The DL better be ready soon.

...Looking at Conference Foes I caught up with one of my CFB sources on OU and TCU since they’re obviously the favorites to win the conference, and also Texas.

TEXAS

“OL depth was my biggest concern and they did what they could with the

class and then some with Patrick Hudson and JP Urquidez.

Denzel Okafor is going to be a monster as is Hudson. That’s

OU

“They’ll be interesting. To me it will come down to

the story with Texas, though; they’re young and talented

whether or not Riley is worried about his Air Raid

but can Strong get it going quick enough to see that thing

card or if he’ll run the ball. They have a brutal schedule to

through? That’s the question everyone has. He’s finally on

start and I think they’ll find that their second season in that of-

the back side of putting it together but he has to win now.

fense will be tougher because teams will have a year to study

Shane will give them a good shot but they’re trying to put a lot

them. That’s why they should be run focused. Their backs are

of things together at once. The talent is definitely there but I

really good.”

think they’re a year away.”

TCU

“I don’t think the offense will drop off much.

My thoughts on the UT comments: I think most people

It’s designed to put up points. They won’t

don’t understand the pieces are in place to beat people by

be as explosive without Doctson and Listenbee, but they’ll be

overpowering them in the run gazme (even if OL play is

more well-rounded. The story there is their defense, though.

average) and sprinting by them in the passing game. To me

They’re very fast. If TCU stays healthy and offensive line

it breaks down that simply on offense because Buechele is

comes together, they’ll be real good.”

such an ideal facilitator to take advantage of natural advantages.

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- stream of consi__sness -

...Fowler Power How close was Erick Fowler to being considered a five-star? Prob-

translate ideally to Fox where his duties require players to drop, play

ably two or three inches, because length is the only attribute he lacks.

the flat, and chase running backs and receivers in space. The power

But even his shortcoming becomes a strength as he devastates taller

in his hips will help him set the edge versus big linemen tasked with

blockers on the edge with quickness and power. He's more bowling

moving him out of the way. Fowler isn't the sort to catch a linemen, he's

ball than a bend-the-corner type, but Fowler gets upfield regardless of

going to attack a shoulder and run through him. Versatility is another

who is trying to block him and then is able to get flat.

strength. Like Malik Jefferson and Anthony Wheeler before him, and Jeffrey McCulloch in the same class, Fowler could swing inside to play Mike or Will if needed. For this season, though, simplistic duties on the edge will be how he can make his most immediate impact.

Effects on recruiting: Because of his versatility as a player he protects Texas from having to force the issue for a lesser talented Fox or LB if Texas misses on K'Lavon Chaisson or Anthony Hines. Should this scare away a talent like Chaisson? No, I'm sure he was already assuming Fowler would make it in if he was even aware of the situation, and Fowler can be sold as a linebacker by the staff rather than a roadblock to playing time. Texas still cannot miss on the unicorn that is Baron Browning.

Effects on depth chart: I don't expect Fowler to sit long for a couple

As a player: First step/twitch/suddenness, whatever you want to call

reasons: his college role will be one he's familiar with, meaning the

it, Fowler has it and it's a rare trait for someone who projects to carry

learning curve isn't all that steep despite coming in very late, and I

240 pounds on a 6-foot-1 frame. When that initial quickness is coupled

think football incentivizes him to put in the work to stay in good aca-

with his natural power you have a player whose floor is 'solid pass

demic standing. They need to keep him engaged on all fronts. Expect

rusher' but who should become much more. Fowler is also directionally

to see him on the field sooner rather than later, at least situationally.

quick, as evidenced by him stopping, starting, and altering direction

Put him on special teams with Demarco Boyd and Chris Brown and let

while chasing quarterbacks. He does a great job of chopping his steps

him head hunt.

and playing under control when breaking on the ball carrier. This will

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2016 Season Preview

34

2016 SCHEDULE

by Ian

Boyd

It starts on a Sunday night nationally televised game in Austin against Notre Dame and finishes with TCU playing a season ending game in DKR. A week-byweek guide to every opponent on the 2016 schedule.

2016 Season Preview

35

notre dame Austin, TX | September 4th 2015 Record: 8-5 | Independent Head coach: Brian Kelly PLAYERS TO WATCH WR Torii Hunter, Jr. The son of Twins legend Torii Hunter will take Will Fuller’s place as the deep threat receiver that Brian Kelly looks to isolate out wide in space.

QBs Deshone Kizer or Malik Zaire One is the player that Texas hoped Tyrone Swoopes would be, the other is the guy they thought they were getting in Jerrod Heard.

HOLES TO FILL The O-line -- Notre Dame returns two good linemen from an excellent 2015 unit but will have to replace LT Ronnie Stanley, who went to the NFL, and retool elsewhere.

Will Fuller -- One of college football’s most dominant receivers is off to the NFL and leaves a huge vacancy that will have many qualified applicants.

E

nthusiasm in South Bend is actually pretty high for this team, despite losing 7 players to the NFL including LT Ronnie Stanley (1st round), WR Will Fuller (1st round), LB Jaylon Smith (2nd round), and Center Nick Martin (2nd round).

That’s right, the 2015 Notre Dame Fighting Irish were arguably the most talented team in college football last year. In their three losses, the Irish lost by two to national runner-up Clemson (24-22), by two to Pac-12 champions Stanford (38-36), and then by 16 points to Ohio State in their bowl game after Jaylon Smith went down to injury.

The 2016 Fighting Irish should be strong again thanks to returning Zaire and his standout replacement DeShone Kizer, but their losses should make them more vulnerable than a year ago. The reason that Irish fans are so optimistic is evident from their Spring game, where many of the young replacements flashed potential.

ON DEFENSE Let’s start with the Irish defense, which will get the first crack at defending Texas’ new veer and shoot offense. The key to stopping this offense is a sound overall unit with individual components that can survive being isolated and attacked in space.

36

Either a team needs to be able to hold up the run game with even numbers by consistently beating blocks up front, or else they need to be able to leave defensive backs in man coverage in order to send extra help.

Either strategy would leave cornerbacks Cole Luke and Nick Watkins on islands while asking redshirt freshman nickel Shaun Crawford and true freshman free safety Devin Studstill to lock down the middle of the field. There’s probably not a better route for the Irish though as their LB corps was totally depleted by graduation and Smith’s departure to the NFL necessitating that they involve strong safety Max Redfield to stop the run.

The prospects for the Irish containing the Texas run game in that scenario are fairly solid, mostly due to the return of 6-foot-6, 320-pound nose tackle Jarron Jones. Handling Jones, a massive powerhouse with a quick first step, in the middle of the line is going to be a serious challenge for freshman center Zack Shackleford and could very well be where the game’s outcome is determined.

ON OFFENSE The Notre Dame offense is somewhat similar to Gilbert’s system in that it’s big on building a downhill running game and taking deep shots from spread formations.

A Zaire-led Irish team presents different challenges than a Kizer-led offense and it’ll be important to note which one actually ends up taking the field. Kelly has begun to lean on a strategy of playing his best outside receiver

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z(Fuller last year, Torii Hunter, Jr this year) at the outside field receiver position. Kizer has enough arm to make the throws outside the hash marks to those targets.

Zaire is less reliable in the passing game (although he shredded Texas a year ago) but he’s a good enough ball carrier that his presence in the backfield essentially gives the Irish a second back in the running game.

Either way, the defensive plan for Texas is fairly obvious, to try and lock down the young Irish receivers while dropping down Jason Hall or whoever wins the free safety job to control Notre Dame’s running game. Despite the losses on their O-line, the Irish are probably going to be able to over power the Texas run defense at times.

Overall this is a fairly evenly matched game with both teams relying on young talents stepping into key roles. The key differences are that when Texas needs to run the ball they’ll be working against a big, experienced defensive line whereas Notre Dame will be working against a more suspect unit. The Longhorns will also be leaning on a true freshman QB playing in his first game while the Irish have two good, experienced options to execute in that setting.

For that reason, it’d frankly be fairly shocking if Texas could pull off the win but we should still see numerous signs that these programs are closer than they were in 2015.

U

TEP is the perfect “easy win” non-

physicality.

conference opponent for this Texas

That concern established, the UTEP skill

team. They’re a physical, run-based team

positions aren’t exactly terrifying and a bad

that will look to pound the Longhorn defensive

defense is making a transition from the 4-2-5

front with big bodies and smashmouth football

to the 3-4.

UTEP

Austin, TX | Sept. 10th 2014 Record: 5-7 | CUSA Head coach: Sean Kugler

but they lack the speed and overall talent to keep up. Think 2015 Rice but with the tight

ON DEFENSE

ends attached to the formation rather than

The Miners struggled mightily on defense

spread out and you’ll be pretty close.

a year ago and finished 122nd nationally in defensive S&P, one spot behind Texas Tech.

PLAYERS TO WATCH RB Aaron Jones UTEP’s philosophy is very simple, try to smash holes with big formations and hand the ball to Aaron Jones over and over

ON OFFENSE

Since their offensive philosophy is to run the

again.

The biggest challenge here is the sheer size

ball and control clock this was a disastrous

LB Alvin Jones

and experience of the Miner offensive front,

result that undermined their entire strategy.

Jones will give Texas a little prep for what it’ll be like handling

which you can see for yourself in this table So they’ve given up on their “all or nothing” POSITION

PLAYER/SIZE

EXPERIENCE

Fullback

Darrin Laufasa 6-1, 250

Senior 32 Starts

Left Tackle

Jerome Daniels 6-3, 305

RS Senior 25 starts

Left Guard

Derron Gatewood 6-3, 315

RS Sophomore 0 Starts

Right Guard

John De La Rosa 6-6, 325

RS Senior 6 starts

Right Tackle

Jerrod Brooks 6-5, 330

RS Sophomore 0 starts

Tight End

Hayden Plinke 6-4, 255

RS Senior 10 starts

4-2-5 system that regularly brought major blitzes and left corners on islands and installed a 3-4 defense that’s intended to be more of a “bend don’t break” system. Their goal will be to keep things simpler, play faster,

Baylor’s mini-OLB Taylor Young later in the year. At 5’10” 220, Jones doesn’t look like much but he’s the Miners’ most disruptive player on defense.

HOLES TO FILL Quarterback -- The Miners will need to hit some deep shots to make this offense work and are replacing Mack Leftwich, who was being groomed in 2015 to be the answer but will now miss 2016.

The left side of that line is loaded with experience and the overall size across the board is pretty considerable. Facing a big, experienced fullback will also be challenging for a Texas defense that doesn’t face that regularly in the Big 12, although they may face it some in practice from Caleb Bluiett.

Also troubling, all this size and experience will be managed by Brent Pease, who comes from the Boise State coaching tree. Pease knows how to build a good running game and how to do it from the types of talents he’ll have on hand at UTEP.

and rely on execution. Against Conference USA foes that might work better but if Texas is

Texas should expect to get some good

comfortable in their new offense it’ll be tough

practice in handling lead zone and power

to out-execute athletes like John Burt and

concepts in this game, perhaps from blocking

Chris Warren with UTEP’s personnel.

that put this game away, much like they did against Rice a year ago, but don’t be shocked if (like the Owls) the Miners hold the ball on offense and find some success picking up steady gains along the ground.

that will be on par with what they’ll face from some of the Big 12 in terms of technique and

Texas should land a few explosive plays

2016 Season Preview

37

california Berkeley, CA | Sept. 17th 2014 Record: 5-7 | Pac 12 Head coach: Sonny Dykes PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Davis Webb

an explosive unit that can put points on the

Although Webb will be a handful, the match-

board, much like last year.

ups in this game really favor Texas moreso than the close outcome in Austin a year ago

Where the challenges will come in this game

would suggest. The only reason this should

is in trying to cover the Bears in the middle of

be too close is if the younger Longhorns

the field. In 2015, Texas was facing the loaded

stepping into starting roles struggle on the

Cal offense with a secondary that featured an

road.

overmatched John Bonney at corner and was

Texas never really had to deal with Webb at Tech due to

quickly without Dylan Haines in the secondary

ON DEFENSE

injuries but they’ll finally have to face him now that he’s the

after he was ejected for targeting.

The Bears defense last year leaned on a

trigger-man for Sonny Dykes Cal Air Raid.

“bend don’t break” strategy from their 3-4

WR Chad Hansen

By utilizing normal cover 2 and two-deep fire

defense that featured regular 3-man pass

With most of the skill players moving on with Jared Goff,

zones, Texas was able to hold Goff to 7.2

rushes and shoddily executed cover 4

yards per pass (although they gave up three

schemes.They should be better with a ton

TD passes and picked off zero throws) but

of starters back, but they have a long ways

were consequently gashed for 280 rushing

to go in order to reach “mediocre” and losing

yards at 6.8 yards per carry.

Nickerson surely won’t help. Texas should run

Hansen seems to be the man who’s stepping into the featured receiver role. How often Webb connects to Hansen will be a big factor in this game.

HOLES TO FILL LB Hardy Nickerson Nickerson was a big time plugger inside for the Bears but he transferred to Illinois to play for his dad and Lovie Smith.

all over this group once again.

The 2016 Texas defense figures to handle the Bears’ Air Raid with single-deep safety

If Texas has improved as much as you would

coverages that rely on Davante Davis, Kris

typically expect from a young team in this

Boyd, Holton Hill, Sheroid Evans, and P.J.

scenario, then they should manage a 2-1

The Bears’ skill positions are less than after

Locke playing good man coverage so that a

finish against this non-conference slate. A 1-2

losing proven players like receivers Kenny

safety can play near the box. If the Longhorns

finish would suggest that something major

Lawler and Stephen Anderson, and 1k yard

have made strides at nickel, linebacker, and

has gone wrong while 3-0 would indicate a

running back Daniel Lasco. The line returns

safety in coverage, then they could really limit

major leap and the possibility of a much better

three out of five starters and Sonny Dykes

the passing windows for Webb without also

season than Texas fans would have dared to

plugged Kevin Sumlin’s 2015 scapegoat Jake

compromising the run defense.

expect.

The entire passing game With Goff and all of his top receivers gone, the Bears are plugging in new faces at QB and every single WR spot.

I

t’d be easy to dismiss a team that lost a 1st round quarterback and the heart of

the defense (linebacker Hardy Nickerson transferred to Illinois to be coached by his father and Lovie Smith) but this is still an Air Raid team and Davis Webb is here.

ON OFFENSE Eric Nahlin’s all-time favorite Red Raider QB got a fairly raw deal in Lubbock as he dealt with injuries in his freshman and sophomore seasons and was then replaced by a wunderkind in Pat Mahomes who might be the league’s best player. Despite that difficult past, Webb is a legit signal-caller and a proven operator in the Air Raid offense.

Spavital to coordinate the offense. This will be

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W

ith

better

officiating,

quicker

ON DEFENSE

deployment of the young cornerbacks,

Meanwhile the Cowboys defense is loaded

better 4th quarter play-calling, one less

with veterans up the middle of the defense

special teams disaster, or a more productive

with returning, proven players at both

offensive

have

defensive tackle spots, middle linebacker,

defeated and perhaps even routed the

and both safety positions. Free safety Jordan

Cowboys in Austin last year.

Sterns is one of the better run-support players

offseason, Texas

would

oklahoma state Stillwater, OK | Oct. 1st 2015 Record: 10-3 | Big 12 Head coach: Mike Gundy

in the conference and nose tackle Vincent This year’s Okie lite squad will be a tad

Taylor is a real handful in the middle of the

different than the one that surged to an

line.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

improbable 10-0 start before getting lit up at the end of the year when they played stronger

Even worse, D-coordinator Glenn Spencer

opponents. That said, the main identity of the

is one of the league’s most clever tacticians

team will remain the drop-back passing game

and will find it easier with this veteran group

orchestrated by quarterback Mason Rudolph.

to disguise their looks and prevent Shane

ON OFFENSE

Buechele from getting a clean pre-snap look.

On the bright side, the Cowboys are losing

The Cowboys bring back virtually the entire

their no. 1 cornerback Kevin Peterson

offense including tight end Blake Jarwin,

and lack an obvious candidate to serve

leading receivers Marcell Ateman and James

as a lockdown option. They’re also losing

Washington, six different linemen that have

their athletic bookends Jimmy Bean and

logged significant snaps, and a couple of

Emmanuel Ogbah on the D-line. Against

backs that will now be in the fight of their lives

much of the Big 12 I expect them to mix in

to hold off Stanford transfer Barry Sanders Jr.

some nasty dime packages with 220-pound

from stealing that role.

safety

Derrick

Moncrief

(transfer

from

Auburn) replacing a linebacker or D-linemen, Word out of Stillwater is that the ‘Pokes will

but against Texas’ veer and shoot, they won’t

spend more time under center this year

be able to downsize their lineup or they’ll just

and try to hammer down outside zone as a

get run over.

QB Mason Rudolph Rudolph is the man for the Cowboys and one of the most dangerous pocket passers that Texas will face in 2016.

RB Barry Sanders, Jr The legacy of legacies will be wearing Cowboy orange and black this fall and hoping to help revitalize a moribund run game.

HOLES TO FILL The pass-rush Emmanuel Ogbah and Jimmy Bean are gone now, leaving a massive void in pass-rushing production for the Cowboys to fill.

Short-yardage options The Cowboys haven’t been able to run the ball since Joe Wickline left but in 2015 they overcame a poor OL by using running QB J.W. Walsh in a wildcat package in the red zone.

Now he’s moving on and it’s back to the drawing board.

running play so they finally have something they can hang their hats on for standard downs besides the passing game.

If that happens, their passing game will become even more potent, but perhaps not against Texas. The Longhorns were able to seriously diminish the efficiency of Rudolph and the passing attack, which had been carving Texas’ secondary apart with curl-flat combinations, by finally unleashing Davante Davis and Holton Hill. Each of them had the ability to hang with the receivers’ breaks back to the QB and stick their long limbs into the passing windows against the dreaded curl route.

While the ‘Pokes passing game should be better in 2016, a similar leap from the Texas cornerbacks and overall defense should

If John Burt is ready to be a dominant player

make this game a serious challenge for the

in the Big 12, this would be the game for him

OSU offense. Their strength in the passing

to prove it with a 100-yard day. Of all the

game is facing a strong pass defense while

opponents on the schedule the Cowboys are

they lack the resources to get after Texas’ soft

one of the better-equipped defenses to try

spots against the run.

and handle Texas’ power run game thanks

to their size and experience up front. They are less equipped to handle the Longhorns if Buechele, Burt, and co. are ready to punish an aggressive run defense with a vertical passing attack.

2016 Season Preview

39

oklahoma Dallas, Tx | Oct. 8th

2015 Record: 11-2 | Big 12 Head coach: Bob Stoops

nastiest we’ve ever seen in the Big 12 and their skill sets perfectly complement each

other as Mayfield can run the option, Perine

The Sooners are basically a healthy Mayfield

forth between the box and the perimeter. The

away from being the runaway favorites

Mixon is very comfortable moving back and Sooners are also expecting to add another

PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Baker Mayfield

blocking makes their perimeter running game

in charge of choosing which new weapons the Sooners will utilize with WR Sterling Shepard now in the NFL. OT Orlando Brown The Sooners are loaded at RB with Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon back. If they can dominate the trenches thanks to guys like 6’8” 340 pound monster Orlando Brown then those two will run wild.

S Steven Parker This athletic defensive back will be called upon to serve as the “eraser” for the Sooner defense in 2016, utilizing his range and open field tackling ability to keep points off the board.

HOLES TO FILL

the D-line.

is a thundering runner and willing blocker, and

hybrid to the mix in flex TE Mark Andrews, a

A Heisman contender and scrappy, versatile QB who will be

Dimon, and Jordan Wade all returning along

6-foot-5 match-up problem in the slot who’s even more fearsome.

With all of these weapons and athletes back

and a cunning signal-caller like Baker at the helm, beating OU in 2016 is probably going to

and the discovery of a 10-sack caliber OLB to dominate the Big 12 that everyone is expecting them to be.

Their likely weak spots are the pass-rush, at

guard where they have fresh faces stepping

in, and potentially in the run game if a team can exploit their occasionally unsound option

defenses or lack of big pluggers at linebacker.

require scoring lots of points.

Texas’ best bet on offense is in exploiting the

ON DEFENSE

gifted by the Sooners’ lack of veteran run-

Their defense looks like it should be impervious to getting lit up by the standard

Big 12 offense thanks to a secondary that

run defense and picking up easy yardage

fitters at linebacker and unaggressive D-line techniques.

boasts some great athletes in nickel Will

On defense Texas needs to find ways to fire

Johnson, corner Jordan Thomas, and strong

tackles or linebackers through the interior

in veterans at the other corner spot and at

If Malik Jefferson can win some battles

The edge of the defense Not only is Eric Striker gone but so is DE Charles Tapper and fellow outside linebacker Devante Bond, meaning that the Sooners have new faces on the edge and virtually zero returning pass-rush production.

Sterling Shepard Shepard got 16 targets against Baylor last year and had 14 catches for 177 yards and two TDs. He was the go-to of all go-to receivers last year and almost always open. The Sooners will have to find other targets now for Mayfield.

O

klahoma is the overwhelming favorite to win the Big 12 in 2016 and are still

considered the class of the league thanks to an always physical and athletic defense now paired once more with an elite offense. The additions of Baker Mayfield and Lincoln Riley kick-started that offense back into hyper-drive

last year and they’re likely to be even better in 2016.

The biggest difference will be an O-line that

is bringing back talented players at both

tackle spots that were pushed into action

as freshmen a year ago while sliding an

experienced guard over to center. With those three (Orlando Brown, Jonathan Alvarez, Dru

Samia) anchoring the unit it should be a really strong unit.

free safety with Dakota Austin and Ahmad Thomas returning. Their returning linebacker Jordan Evans is another athlete who’s great

in coverage and can handle the space of playing in the Big 12.

Up front they don’t look nearly as disruptive

as they did a year ago with Charles Tapper,

ON OFFENSE

Their Cerberus backfield of Baker Mayfield, Samaje Perine, and Joe Mixon might be the

40

safety Steven Parker. They’ll also be plugging

Devante Bond, and Eric Striker gone but at the very least their run defense might still be

solid with Charles Walker, Matt Romar, Matt

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gaps defended by the green Sooner guards. against LT Orlando Brown in the pass-rush

and Poona Ford can eat well again shooting gaps inside then perhaps Texas can cause enough disruption to kill drives.

Overall the match-ups in this game don’t

favor the Longhorns at all. At least under

Strong it appears that Texas is at a physical/ emotional advantage in this game after years of lackluster showings.

M

y money is on Matt Campbell’s “make

which only returns one starter (tackle Jake

Iowa State the Midwestern team of

Campos) but will be looking to build around

the Big 12” play working out quite well over

gap schemes and pulling young center Julian

the next few years. The Cyclones might even

Good-Jones, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound athlete

replacing Kansas State as the strongest

that should thrive in the new schemes.

remaining member of the Big 12 at some

Between

point in the next few years.

schemes, the dual backfield threats of Warren

Campbell’s

unique

running

and Lanning, and the need for many teams to

iowa state Austin, TX | Oct. 15th 2015 Record: 3-9 | Big 12 Head coach: Matt Campbell PLAYERS TO WATCH WR Allen Lazard

In the meantime, they aren’t quite there yet

double Lazard, the Cyclones have a lot going

but they’re probably more dangerous than

for them on offense this year.

it would be all too easy to lose track of star receiver Allen

which includes two of the better weapons in

ON DEFENSE

DT Demond Tucker

the Big 12 in RB Mike Warren and WR Allen

The defense should be at least mediocre

Texas needs to be sure to protect their young OL from the

Lazard. The former is a bruising back that

thanks to the return of safety Kamari Cotton-

came alive in Mangino’s zone run game last

Moya, a big intimidator in the middle, and

year to the tune of 1339 yards while the latter

disruptive defensive tackle Demond Tucker.

is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound match-up nightmare

The Cyclone secondary lacks a lockdown

that had 808 receiving yards.

corner, which would point to playing a lot of

people think. Let’s start with their skill talent,

Now that Iowa State has a quarterback and a running game Lazard, a 6’5” 220 pound match-up nightmare on the outside.

explosive Tucker and keep him out of their backfield.

HOLES TO FILL The O-line After Mark Mangino finally built a good run-blocking OL he quit the coaching staff and all of the Cyclones veteran runblockers graduated, transferred, or retired. So now they start over in building a good front to make the most of star RB Mike Warren.

of a home crowd.

Like in the non-conference slate, Texas should be able to manage a couple of victories from this section of the schedule and be within a couple of games of bowl eligibility heading down the stretch.

In recent years we’ve been forced to throw the data out the window in projecting the Red River Shootout but unless a Texas defensive front that’s missing impact players at inside linebacker, free safety, and defensive tackle can hold down the OU run game, I wouldn’t ON OFFENSE

cover 2, but there’s a lot of question about

Joel Lanning showed some promise at

whether the linebacker tandem of Kane

quarterback last year, mainly for what he

Seeley and Willie Harvey can hold down

could do with his feet, which caught Texas

the middle without Cotton-Moya regularly

completely unprepared last year. He was

dropping down to join them.

not good throwing from the pocket in 2015 but you should probably expect a nice bit of

If Texas can’t shred the green Cyclone OL,

improvement after an offseason of 1st team

they may struggle to keep Iowa State off the

reps with the new coaching staff.

board but on the other end this defense isn’t going to hold up to the tremendous stresses

The obvious weak spot on offense is the line,

expect the Longhorns to out-physical the Sooners again in Dallas. Stoops will be out for blood this time.

Nevertheless, payback against the Cowboys and Cyclones combined with another “we aren’t afraid of you” performance against Oklahoma would tell the story of a program very close to getting back on top of this league.

that the Longhorns will be executing in front

2016 Season Preview

41

kansas state

Manhattan, KS | October 22nd 2015 Record: 6-7 | Big XII Head coach: Bill Snyder PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Jesse Ertz Ertz has been the intended starter in Manhattan for a long time, recruited and groomed by the offensive staff. He would have been the man last year but went down immediately with a knee injury. The Wildcat offense could come back alive if

in the secondary and top quarterbacks had

Lee, and Will Davis filling behind him. The

left them much less sound and precise than

Wildcats got into trouble at times last year

normal while a youth movement at multiple

due to Lee’s inexperience and the revolving

positions doubled down on the same effect.

door behind him at safety but this should be firmed up with Lee back after an offseason

After the weak showing they put up last year

worth of work, Barnett back, and young

they are being largely overlooked by media

Kendall Adams stepping in at free safety.

and they finished 8th in the preseason poll only ahead of perennial doormats Iowa State

The Barnett-Adams pairing in particular

and Kansas. However, the Wildcats return

might prove to be the best supporting safety

the quarterback that was supposed to lead

tandem in the league, capable of executing

the 2015 offense (Jesse Ertz), return most

K-State’s “bend don’t break” system better

of their skill players, and add JUCO weapon

than what they’ve had in recent years.

Byron Pringle to the mix.

he’s finally healthy.

WR Byron Pringle The latest “oh, who’s that new JUCO?” likely to have a major impact for the Wildcats. Pringle was nearly indefensible at his JUCO program and should be the no. 1 target for Ertz and a reawakened K-State passing game.

NT Will Geary This stocky former wrestling champion may be the opposing D-linemen most likely to make Texas rue the day they had to start a true freshman at center.

HOLES TO FILL Cornerback: K-State found its future with freshman corner Duke Shelley a year ago but will be sorting through the usual suspects (JUCO transfers, walk-ons) for another corner to prevent the secondary from having glaring holes.

O-line The Wildcats lost four starters from a year ago and moved center Dalton Risner to right tackle, so they essentially have new starters at all five positions.

M

anhattan is a very difficult place to play, as remaining veterans from the

2014 Texas team could surely pass on to the youngbloods all over the 2016 depth chart.

Their defense plays hard and makes you earn everything, their offense targets your every weak spot with precision, and they will flip field position and steal games on special teams. That’s true for every good Bill Snyder-led team but it’s doubly true at home when they’re playing at the stadium named after him.

ON OFFENSE

KSU returns nose tackle Will Geary, sack

Meanwhile, the Wildcat O-line will be largely

leader Jordan Willis, three solid linebackers,

overhauled after losing four starters but you

and get Dante Barnett back to lead a talented

can count on them using fullbacks and tight

and now experienced secondary. Assuming

ends, nailing double teams, and scheming

they aren’t devastated by injuries again as

advantages all over the place via the option

they were last year, there is a much better

and QB run game. It’s a tough matchup for

chance that this Wildcat team resumes their

a team that doesn’t have a war horse on the

Snyder-ball ways.

DL, doesn’t have proven inside-backers, and doesn’t have a proven free safety to use in

The issues for Texas in this matchup are

the box to counter the advantages Snyder-

how they attack one of the Big 12’s tougher

ball will manufacture.

fronts and whether their own young front can

The 2015 team that Texas ran over after its glorious Red River Shootout win the week before was an uncharacteristic one by Snyder standards. Injuries to their veterans

42

ON DEFENSE

withstand the Wildcats’ diverse run game.

This is going to be an easy game for a young team to overlook and a tough one to actually

K-State is going to be tough up front with Geary doing his wrestling routine in the middle and a LB corps of Mike Moore, Elijah

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emerge victorious from.

H

ow Baylor will perform after seeing

conference and will still be plenty dangerous.

the head coach who led them out of

the wilderness to bewildering heights get

ON OFFENSE

dismissed in disgrace is really anyone’s

Texas has to assume that the seven

guess. They were probably facing something

scholarship offensive linemen Baylor has will

of a rebuild either way after losing four OL,

still be formidable in its own veer and shoot

Corey Coleman, and the entire D-line. Baylor

run game and that between Russell, K.D.

ended up sending four players to the NFL

Cannon, and young athletes like Ishmael

(plus a long snapper and a basketball player),

Zamora and Blake Lynch that the Bear

and that kind of talent is harder to come by

offense will still be very explosive. Texas

in Waco.

has really struggled in recent years with the

Austin, TX | Oct. 29th 2015 Record: 10-3 | Big 12 Head coach: Jim Grobe PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Seth Russell Texas dodged Russell last year after he broke his neck midway through the year against Iowa State. Russell can make the deep throws in this offense and also adds some potent running that could make this offense a nightmare.

WR Chris Platt This former track star seems to be the next “alien” that Baylor regularly sends deep down the seam in their offense. He’ll be a major test for Texas’ young nickel and safeties.

LB Taylor Young Due to lack of DL depth, the Bears have been experimenting with Young as a 3-4 OLB and it’s gone remarkably well thanks to the tiny LB’s absurd quickness. Young will be one to account for on the edge.

HOLES TO FILL Star power athletes The Bears lost WR Corey Coleman and CB Xavien Howard to the NFL when both departed early after their junior campaigns. The next generation of skill athletes will now have to step up sooner than otherwise.

The trenches The Bears lost every starting D-lineman from a year ago along with four starters on the O-line. They also lost several potential replacements on the D-line due to off field issues.

Nose tackle Andrew Billings and left tackle Spencer Drango will be very difficult players to replace.

On top of this they’ll also have to do without

Baylor run game and it’s hard to believe that

ON DEFENSE

Jarrett Stidham, which may or may not matter

will be different given the Longhorns’ own

The Baylor defense is uniquely qualified to get

pending how well Seth Russell has recovered

issues up front.

smashed by the Texas offense and I can only

from breaking his neck, and Andrew Billings’

assume that’s what will be happening to them

replacement Jeremy Faulk, who was kicked

Johnny Jefferson and K.D. Cannon are two

every day at their own 2-a-day practices. They

out by Grobe. Count out pass-rushing DE

of the more fearsome skill players in the

have some athletic safeties and linebackers

Brian Nance as well, who is academically

conference and we haven’t even mentioned

that could be really valuable if they can hold

ineligible.

Shock Linwood, who has run for over 1k

up decently at the point of attack but even that

yards two years in a row. Baylor knows how to

may be beyond the ability of this depleted DL.

The upshot is you have a team with minimal

force opponents to account for Cannon’s over

They’ll probably go all-in on stacking the box

QB depth, minimal OL depth, and a completely

the top speed, and Linwood or Jefferson’s

with numbers and hoping that runners that

devastated DL. Not a team you’d like to bet

running ability on the same play. Texas is

get through don’t go the distance.

on surviving a full Big 12 season and all of the

more immune to this than many other teams

injuries that tends to bring.

because they can play man coverage without

Fortunately Texas has runners that can break

living in fear of a vertical bomb but they’ll still

your back for playing that way, as Texas Tech

All that said, Baylor has as many athletes

need to play well up front to avoid another

can attest. I think this game sets up very well

in its offensive skill positions and defensive

career day for Jefferson or Linwood.

for Texas.

backfield as most anyone else in the

2016 Season Preview

43

texas tech Lubbock, TX | Nov. 5th 2015 Record: 7-6 | Big 12 Head coach: Kliff Kingsbury PLAYERS TO WATCH

load to handle in all of the space Tech plays

The surer path is to blow the doors off their

in.

own defense with the run game and plenty of scoring, which is what Texas attempted last

ON DEFENSE

year but was thwarted due to poor special

Tech’s defense was abysmal in 2015 but might

teams play and a lucky break for Tech.

be half-decent in 2016 thanks to the return of promising contributors like Jah’Shawn

Both teams are likely to be improved since last

QB Pat Mahomes

Johnson,

Breiden

year and it’s hard to gauge who will make the

For my money Mahomes is the most dangerous opponent

Fehoko. By simply having another year in

bigger leap but the game will be in Lubbock

the Gibbs defensive system and playing with

and the best player on the field is the Tech

better fundamentals up front, the Raiders

junior quarterback. This is the kind of game

should be able to make a considerable leap

you win when you either enjoy a massive

in run defense and consequently in their pass

talent advantage (not really the case) or you

defense as well.

have a team full of veterans that understand

that Texas will face in 2016. He can scramble and throw on the run, rip you from the pocket, or run the ball in himself on designed runs.

D’Vonta

Hinton,

and

WR Derrick Willies The massive, leaping JUCO figures to be Mahomes’ favorite weapon in 2016.

S Jah’Shawn Johnson This small but fierce DB will be counted on to help Tech keep the Texas run game under wraps so that Charlie can’t control the clock and avoid the shootout the Red Raiders want.

HOLES TO FILL Offensive speed Tech was breathtakingly fast on offense last year thanks in no small part to WR Jakeem Grant and RB Deandre Washington, both of whom are now in the NFL. The defensive front Tech is mostly starting over along the D-line and their most exciting young linebacker, Dakota Allen, was kicked off the team over the summer leaving another hole.

L

ike Kansas State, this team is getting overlooked due to Oklahoma State’s

strong record in 2015 and Tech’s own relatively poor season. However, the Raiders were scorching on offense last year, ranking 2nd in offensive S&P, and were a real load to

what it takes to win a game like this (also not For Texas this will be a game that really tests

true).

the young cornerbacks again but also the play of nickel P.J. Locke and whoever is starting at

For that reason, the matchup in Lubbock

and LSU.

safety by that point in the season. Kingsbury

and this part of the schedule may be one of

knows how to get after poor coverage from

the more problematic stretches for Charlie

Texas fans should remember well how

interior defenders and Mahomes is brilliant at

Strong’s young Longhorns. They’ll at least

attacking the middle of the field, especially off

learn a lot about what it takes to win the

a scramble.

conference if it doesn’t also hand them a

handle even for SEC defenses from Arkansas

explosive and lethal Patrick Mahomes was given how the Longhorns were defeated by the Raiders despite running for 403 yards.

The 2015 winner of the “Darren Sproles water bug trophy for most outstanding tiny person” is gone (Jakeem Grant), but Kingsbury has proven adept at weaponizing a wide variety of skill players in his offense. A system built around Mahomes’ amazing gifts, incoming freak athlete Derrick Willies, and remaining burners like Justin Stockton should still be a

44

few losses. A 2-1 result would indicate either ON OFFENSE

extremely positive things about this Texas

It’s pretty difficult to contain the Raider

team’s talent and leadership or else result

offense; Oklahoma came the closest a year

from injuries depleting these opponents’ of

ago and they did it via a sweltering pass rush

their strengths.

and flooding the field with four plus coverage defenders that generated four Mahomes

From this point on, Charlie’s team won’t really

interceptions. LSU tried the same approach in

be “young” anymore.

the bowl game and saw diminishing returns, to say the least.

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B

y this point of the year the Mountaineers

by how well they maximize their assets in

should already have collapsed into the

the run game. Can Howard or another QB

pit of despair. Dana Holgorsen has proven

connect on deep routes or can they find

himself a bright offensive mind on the cutting

another way to generate explosive plays to

edge of combining the Air Raid system and

complement a downhill rushing attack?

smashmouth spread but his West Virginia teams have lacked the quarterbacking or the

ON DEFENSE

chutzpah to win tough games on the road and

Heading into the season the Mountaineers

challenge for Big 12 supremacy.

were facing the challenge of replacing nearly the entire defensive backfield of their 3-3-5

Austin, TX | Nov. 12th 2015 Record: 8-5 | Big 12 Head coach: Dana Holgerson PLAYERS TO WATCH WR Shelton Gibson Gibson is quietly one of the fastest skill players in the Big 12, if the Mountaineer quarterbacks can get him the ball more consistently in 2016 he could be a real load.

ON OFFENSE

unit, which is eight players mind you, as well

The offense is returning a ton, including an

as one or two of their key defensive linemen.

S Kyzir White

interior O-line of Adam Pankey (6-5, 312,

Then potential star free safety and sole

There are two younger brothers of Kevin White on this roster,

redshirt senior, 25 starts), Tyler Orlosky (6-

returning starter Dravon Askew-Henry tore

4, 295, redshirt senior, 29 starts), and Kyle

his ACL in fall camp leaving them destitute in

Bosch (6-5, 308, redshirt junior, 15 starts)

the secondary.

that will probably be very formidable in the

one could be an impact player at receiver (Ka’Raun) while Kyzir will be counted on to help them control the box as a safety/linebacker hybrid.

HOLES TO FILL

run game. QB Skyler Howard is back for an

The West Virginia defense should be fairly

encore after a mostly unimpressive 2015

easy to attack since they don’t have anyone

season and Holgorsen is hoping he’s finally

that can cover John Burt and will have to

found the range of deep threat weapons like

either take chances with big blitzes or else

Shelton Gibson (11.1 yards per target) and

play a ton of zone and hope they can tackle

Wendell Smallwood

Ka’Raun White (10.6 yards per target).

guys like Devin Duvernay and Jerrod Heard.

The “do everything back” was an explosive cog for a run-

The defensive backfield The Mountaineers lost almost the entire defensive backfield, all eight linebackers and defensive backs, from a very strong 2015 unit. The growing pains should be fierce.

focused offense a year ago and must now be replaced by a diverse committee of younger backs.

Holgorsen’s end of year death march.

For Texas, this game is fairly straightforward.

They need to control the West Virginia offense and prevent big plays and scores, even if they give up some rushing yardage as part of the plan. This should be a manageable task thanks to the effectiveness of Texas’ blitz package combined with good tackling in the secondary. One dimension of this Texas defense we haven’t discussed much that could be big in 2016 is the open field tackling of the cornerbacks and nickel.

Hill, Davis, Locke and co. are all quite good about arriving to help clean up in run support on plays where they aren’t primary They have several solid runners as well,

Their run defense is also depleted with

run defenders. West Virginia is the kind of

led by power back Rushel Shell who should

so many DL and LBs moving on. All in all

opponent that could stall out if you inflict a few

thrive in the power/inside zone schemes that

this just doesn’t stand out as a particularly

negative plays while minimizing the damage

Wickline will be shoring up with his expertise.

imposing match-up for Texas. Maybe if it was

when they get things right.

in Morgantown and not Austin they’d have a The Mountaineer season will be determined

good chance but instead this may be a part of

2016 Season Preview

45

Lawrence, KS | Nov. 7th 2015 Record: 0-12 | Big 12 Head coach: David Beatty

on offense this year. For Texas this game

bubble screens to Heard or Duvernay in the

should be good practice for DeShon Elliott,

slot followed by missed tackles could thwart

Brandon Jones, or the young linebackers to

this strategy pretty quickly.

work on their coverage skills in a relatively The Jayhawks have a few different calls that

low-risk setting.

work on these kinds of principles, hoping to ON DEFENSE

create a negative play while playing off or

The Kansas defense is an aggressive unit

bracket coverage over dangerous receivers,

WR LaQuvionte Gonzalez

with a ton of experience in the defensive

so it’s a matter of either beating them

Gonzalez is one of the only fearsome weapons in the Jayhawk

backfield (all seven starters returning) and a

anyways or else taking what they give and

few interesting pieces up front in DT Daniel

out-executing them down the field. Both are

Wise and DE Dorance Armstrong. Their style

feasible at this point, although they may be

is to be aggressive up front with movement

tougher than expected playing at home in late

and numbers to try to help their guys stop the

November.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

arsenal, a speedy A&M transfer they’re finally able to plug in.

LB Joe Dineen Kansas is going to bet on their ability to attack the Texas run game with movement up front and the athletic Dineen will the the tip of the spear.

HOLES TO FILL The roster Charlie Weis left a gaping hole in place of a roster that the Jayhawks will likely spend several years filling in.

K

ansas is still terrible, their staff spent much of 2015 (even game weeks)

simply trying to teach their roster how to play college football. Charlie Weis left a smoking crater in Lawrence when his “get rich quick with troubled JUCO transfers” scheme blew up and left the Jayhawks without any roster depth.

They will be better, of course, because David Beaty knows how to get talent and he’s been bringing in as much as he can to try and allow the Jayhawks to field a Big 12-caliber football team in the foreseeable future. They played freshman last year at QB (Ryan Willis) and LT (Clyde McCauley III) so they are all about the long, steady rebuild and carefully laying down a good foundation. The hope for 2016 is that Willis and McCauley make a leap and that the offense is catalyzed by the addition of Texas A&M WR transfer LaQuvionte Gonzalez, a former Cedar Hill standout athlete.

ON OFFENSE Between Gonzalez and flex TE Ben Johnson, Willis will have some pretty good options to work with in the middle of the field and the Jayhawks may actually have some moments

46

run, meanwhile playing it as safe as possible on the back end to limit big plays.

This would be a more troubling game if Texas caught them, say right before the

Texas should be able to exploit this defense

Red River Shootout, when they weren’t

by getting good blocks on their stunting

already well experienced at identifying and

defensive tackles to prevent penetration

attacking an overmatched defense with the

and punishing their aggression to the field

Veer and Shoot. Losing this game would be

with throws to the slot or field receiver. A few

unforgivable.

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A

ssuming the Frogs are healthy and still

themselves to be solid when forced into

in position to win the Big 12, I believe

action last year against the likes of Oklahoma

this is potentially the most difficult game on

and Oregon, and a pair of QBs that should fit

Texas’ schedule. Gary Patterson proved

well in the Air Raid.

himself to be the best coach in the Big 12 last year when he cobbled together a decent

The biggest scare comes from Kavontae

defense despite turning over a fantastic 2014

Turpin, their RB/WR water bug who torched

unit and then losing most of the intended

Texas for 152 total yards and four touchdowns

replacements to injury.

in 2015.

The Frogs now have plug and play systems

ON DEFENSE

rolling on both offense and defense with Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie overseeing an Air Raid system that has been proven multiple times over at multiple stops to be ideal for quickly weaponizing spread athletes. On defense, they’ll almost certainly be making a leap with several good young players returning for an encore while on offense they’ll probably be much better than you’d expect from a team losing Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson. After all, who were Boykin and Doctson before the Air Raid turned them into a force of nature? They were just a pair of guys that flashed promise here and there but were done in by an uncoordinated team that

On defense, it’s all about strong safety Denzel Johnson, the Frogs’ preferred plus one

Austin, TX | Nov. 25th 2015 Record: 11-2 | Big 12 Head coach: Gary Patterson PLAYERS TO WATCH RB/WR Kavontae Turpin Turpin shredded Texas for four touchdowns last year and is a difficult weapon to handle in the slot when the Longhorns want to blitz, which is all the time.

S Denzel Johnson Johnson will be a big part of the Horned Frog solution for the

defender they use for stuffing opposing run

Forewarrened run game.

games. The best way to get after 2016 Texas

DE Josh Carraway

is going to be to close up any creases for the

One of 2015’s leading pass-rushers and a big reason that TCU

run game so that Warren and Foreman can’t get loose into the secondary with momentum.

Johnson has the lateral agility and tackling acumen to arrive and help the linebackers stifle lead runs before they can get going.

For Texas the biggest question will be whether they can score while avoiding turnovers against the TCU defense. Since Patterson brought his Frogs to the Big 12 they’ve been a thorn in Texas’ side, forcing an average of

couldn’t work together to leverage the talent.

three turnovers per game.

ON OFFENSE

Texas is 1-3 over that stretch with the two

TCU has several explosive receivers back in

most recent games both ending as blowout

2016, some O-linemen step-ins that proved

losses. The Patterson variety of 4-2-5

could be formidable again on defense.

HOLES TO FILL The passing game Both QB Trevone Boykin and top WR Josh Doctson are now gone and TCU will be left to replace the “reload” qualities of the Air Raid offense with new featured skill talent.

Nose tackle Davion Pierson was one constant for TCU a year ago with his sturdy play up front and he now departs, leaving Patterson looking for new pluggers to man the middle.

defense has proven to be a mystery to Texas’ offensive staff (or the previous ones, at least) while the new Air Raid offense eviscerated the 2015 Texas defense.

With Turpin and Johnson, the Frogs are particularly strong at two key positions for attacking what the ‘Horns like to do on both sides of the ball. Add in their overall quality and how well Patterson and his staff game plan for contests like this and you have quite the challenge on your hands.

Notre Dame and Oklahoma might both be more talented than the 2016 Frogs but a TCU team playing for a shot at the Big 12 title is a very difficult final exam for Charlie’s team.

If Texas is sitting at 6-5 with Strong’s job on the line, there may not be a more dramatic game in all of conference play. Should be a fun season.

2016 Season Preview

47

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Belong Here.

W E D O N ATE

THE MAKING OF A

Some things are just meant to be.

For Elite 11 quarterback and Texas pledge Sam Ehlinger, that seems to be the recipe. The 4-star from Westlake High School in Austin grew up in the Longhorn environment. He’s the oldest of three raised in a burnt orange family.

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A QUARTERBACK

by Justin

Wells

2016 Season Preview

51

- Sam Ehlinger -

H

is mother (Jena) and father

old,” said Jena. “He just had ‘it.‘ He

est of three kids – Jake is a sopho-

(Ross) both attended UT. His

had a vision in every sport. He just

more, Morgan is an 8th grader, or

grandparents, head coach,

knew where the ball was going. He

because of what has happened in his

personal trainer, and an aunt were also

knew where he always needed to be

life, specifically losing his father at age

Texas graduates. It was almost as if he

on the field. The other parents would

13.

was destined to play on the 40 Acres.

notice it and say,’ ok, he’s pretty good.’

It’s hard for to me say this, but we

“I just think it’s the way he was made,”

“He’s just grown up being a Longhorn,”

always made sure he knew that there

said Jena. “I think it’s the way God

Jena said. “At one point when he was

was always somebody better. Ross

made him, probably with a plan for

three or four years old, he wouldn’t

was so humble. I like to think I am as

what was going to be thrust upon him.

take off his burnt orange t-shirt. I had

well. His little brother and sister really

It’s a combination of his genetics,

to hide it. Once you understand the

keep him in his place.”

because he’s the oldest, and because

culture at Texas and appreciate the city of Austin, it’s hard not to fall in love

when his dad died three and half years I asked if it was because he’s the old-

with it. It is special. I think it was just always in him. It was in his gut. We never had to put any pressure on him.

He would make his own decision. Of course I’m delighted he’ll be in Austin.

His brother and sister are delighted.

All our friends are delighted. It will be wonderful, the highs and the lows.”

Ross and Jena saw the competitive spark at an early age.

“He’s always been an old soul since the day he was born,” Jena said. “He’s always had a level of maturity. We used to call him ‘the reporter’ when he was a little boy. He was always listening to adults, and when the conversation was over, 30 minutes later he would ask me ‘mom, when you all were talking about (a subject), what did that mean?’ He was always sitting back and observing, taking things in and asking the right questions after he’d process it. He’s a thinker and just has always had a maturity about him since he was little.”

Then it translated to the field.

“When he played soccer at four years

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ago, he had to step up. It wasn’t from

- Sam Ehlinger -

any pressure I put on him, he just felt

“About five years ago, Sam’s dad

years ago when he said ‘mom, come

it in himself and made it his mission.”

started to realize he’s really got

here. You’ve got to come see this.’

something special,” Jena explained.

It was the 7-on-7 on TV. He said ‘these guys are really good.’ I told him

““He just had ‘it.‘ He had a vision in every sport. He just knew where the ball was going. He knew where he always needed to be on the field. The other parents would

notice it and say,’ ok, he’s pretty good.’”

- Jena Ehlinger

maybe you’ll be there someday. It’s so exciting and he’s having the most amazing experience.”

Being a quarterback is more than just scoring touchdowns. It requires special leadership qualities and traits.

Like posting the all-time Westlake Football QB records chart on his

His dad, Ross, was always one of the

“Ross would say he didn’t know

bathroom mirror over a year ago. A

most respected people in the West-

how to handle this process (of being

list that includes New Orleans Saints

lake community and a man people

a potentially highly touted recruit).

Pro-Bowler, Super Bowl Champ, and

looked up to. He was involved in

(Ross) knew Sam would love to play

future Hall of Famer, Drew Brees, and

every aspect and sport for all of his

in college but I feel weird asking

Los Angeles Rams signal-caller, Nick

children and usually coached their

people about it because he’s only in

Foles. Each time he breaks a record,

teams.

7th grade, 8th grade, but we knew he

he checks it off the list, one at a time.

had something there. Being under-

At 8,100 total yards, and 103 career

He’d organize the youth sports and

rated was partly our fault because we

TDs entering his senior year, he

usually coached Sam’s Pee Wee and

didn’t know how to play this (recruit-

wants all the records. He’s that level

little league teams and just as people

ing) game – the camps, the trainers.

of competitive.

looked up to Ross, Sam recognized

My husband didn’t play college ball

that and learned to use and build on

(even though Ross was a triathlete)

Despite that, and the 6A State title

his dad’s leadership skills to make

so it was new to us.”

runner-up finish last season, you

him a better person. Remember, he

wouldn’t know it talking to him. It’s the

was always watching and process-

Making the Elite 11 was just icing on

ing. He’s got the mental capacity to

the cake, justifying years of hard work

deal with anything life throws him, so

and sacrifice.

opposing defenses don’t really stand a chance.

modesty Ross and Jena instilled.

“Being even-keeled is one of his greatest strengths,” said Jena. “He’s

“It’s a dream come true for him,”

fiercely competitive. Sometimes our

said Jena. “I remember probably six

friends on the other team would say

Sam likes to talk about being under-

‘don’t tick him off.’ He’s got those evil

rated. He plays with that chip on his

eyes. He gets those eyes and you

shoulder and he wouldn’t have it any

better watch out. But he never gets

other way. Two years ago, not many

too high or too low, especially in a

outside of Inside Texas readers knew

competitive environment. He’s still

who Sam was. Now, he’s on one of

humble.”

two Dave Campbell’s Texas Football issue covers for 2016 and was named

Jena credits some of Sam’s physi-

the AP HS Player of the Year in Texas

cal abilities and growth to a pair of

for 2015. Not bad for a kid not many

strength coaches that go above and

knew about two years before.

photo courtesy of Ehlinger family

beyond for her highly-recruited son;

2016 Season Preview

53

- Sam Ehlinger Westlake Strength coach David Granson and Jessica Vaiana from Train 4 the Game in Austin.

“I’ve known (Sam) since he was a kid, and to an extent, he’s still a kid,” said Vaiana, who has worked with him since he was 14 years old. “His maturity has really flipped probably from the beginning to middle of last season. He just got a lot older mentally. He’s probably one of the most competitive people I’ve ever been around in my entire life. He just has something you can’t teach. It’s a switch he flips when he plays. I truly believe his mentality has gotten him

That mentality is something Vaiana explains is not only innate, but fostered.

“I think a lot of things that have happened to him in his life, like losing

photo courtesy of Ehlinger family

to this point.”

his father, who really cultivated that

is today. When you talk to Sam, you’d

Another big help is his head coach,

(mentality), are what made him laser

swear he’s 25 years old. He’s had to

former Longhorn QB, Todd Dodge,

focused,” said Vaiana. “He’s deter-

grow up fast.

who also graces the DCTF cover with

mined.”

Sam. And there’s another Ehlinger playing

Kids that were years younger than

football. Jake, a sophomore, will play

Ross and Jena used to joke about

Sam knew and respected his ath-

LB at Westlake this fall.

how great it would be for Dodge,

leticism and presence while the kids

who was at Marble Falls at the time,

older than him already knew of him as

“(Jake) is just a tank,” said Jena.

to coach their son-turned-prodigy.

the next up-and-coming athlete to go

“Reckless, and has a little bit of that

Dodge is one of the brightest offen-

through Westlake. It wasn’t unusual

‘loose screw’ that a linebacker has to

sive football minds in the country with

for Sam to hangout with the senior

have. Jake has it. And those two get

multiple state titles at Southlake Car-

class his freshman year. It was the

after it. I hear the banging upstairs

roll before heading back to Austin.

leadership and confidence of a kid

and think the ceiling is coming down.

mature beyond his age, which also

They are up there wrestling and hav-

“Coach Dodge has been such a

came from his father. Sam hanging

ing a ball. Sam’s a great big brother.

blessing,” said Jena.

with the seniors taught himself les-

He’s taught his little sister how to play

sons of how to handle yourself in an

basketball. Sam stays on her. He’s

Maybe some things really are just

older environment that shaped his

constantly asking ‘how much did you

meant to be.

personality, making him the person he

practice today?’.

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