Inside Texas 2017 Preview

INSIDETEXAS.COM

2017 SEASON PREVIEW

2017 SEASON PREVIEW TOM HERMAN IS DETERMINED TO RE-ALIGN THE FORTUNES OF THE LONGHORNS.

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in this issue

Williams Leading the Way |

by

Mike Blackwell

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Connor Williams is the best player on the Longhorn offense.

Naashon’s Odyssey |

by

Mike Blackwell

Change has been a constant for Hughes at Texas.

2017 Team Preview |

by

10

Joe Cook

A look at each position group on offense and defense

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Offense

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Defense Summer Recruiting Heats Up |

by

IT Staff

Tom Herman and his staff are building a Top 5 class for 2018

The Schedule |

by Ian

Boyd

Ian provides a scouting report for each opponent

Questions for 2017 |

by

Pat Culpepper

Pat gives his thoughts on the 2017 season.

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WILLIAMS LEAD Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Victor Frankenstein is not a member of Tom Herman’s new coaching staff. No one at Texas is in the laboratory building a tall, strong, football-playing behemoth with chemicals and electricity and life-awakening neck-bolts.

The story of Frankenstein is myth, legend, excess, fiction.

T

he story of Connor Williams, however, is very real. But, like the story of

Frankenstein, Williams now finds himself among the UT legends, his feats

excessive yet most definitely non-fiction. He’s the real deal. No, this Texas All-

American isn’t a fictional character; but if Dr. Frankenstein had wanted to give life to an offensive lineman, his creation would probably look an awful lot like Williams.

Projected as a first-round draft choice in next year’s National Football League draft, the Texas junior is likely entering his final year at Texas. And though he’s not Dr. Franken-

stein’s creation, the Texas coaching staff is taking great pains to make sure Williams is at his very best before the season kicks off.

He’s dropped 19 pounds of fat, then followed the weight loss by adding 12 pounds of

muscle. Now 6-6 and 310 pounds, he’s bigger, faster and more experienced. And like the aforementioned Frankenstein, he’s even using technology to maximize his potential. He has sensors in his helmet to monitor his hits. He wears wristbands that track his sleep.

Good Lord, drones film his work in practice.

His primary goal is to break the cycle of losing at UT, but make no mistake: this is Connor Williams’ contract year, and he and the Texas coaching staff are doing whatever they can to make sure he is as dominant as most believe him to be.

“The intensity,” Williams says, “has been turned up.”

So much so, in fact, that Herman said at Big 12 Media Days that he is perfectly comfortable with the idea that his left tackle is Heisman Trophy-worthy.

“I don’t see why not,” Herman says.

Certainly Williams checks all of the boxes as a potential winner of the Outland Trophy, in which he was a semifinalist in 2016. He’s also been named on the Maxwell Award

watch list for College Football’s Player of the Year honors. He’s on all the pre-season All-American lists, and istexas a preseason All-Big 12 selection.

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DING THE WAY

BY MIKE BLACKWELL

photos by Will Gallagher

2017 Season Preview

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And yet his resume - as he will quickly tell you - is signifi-

“I feel like it’s been an easy transition because being here

Williams and his teams at Texas have not done that. Con-

at stake and they understand they came here to win rings,”

cantly incomplete. The object of football, obviously, is to win. sequently, yes, he and the coaching staff are preparing to

maximize his talents. And maximizing his talents not only gets him NFL ready, but also greatly enhances the Longhorns’ chances of winning again.

“It’s just sad,” Williams said last year after the mind-numbing

loss to Kansas. “It’s saddening to be where we are right now.”

And so, he is doing something about it, and seems thrilled with his “new” surroundings.

for back-to-back 5-7 seasons, the players understand what’s Williams says. “They came here to win trophies and to hold trophies over your head and we haven’t done that. I think

the buy-in has been great because we’re ready to do such a thing.”

Hence the wristbands, the helmet monitors and the drones.

But like a true offensive lineman, Williams says he’s not bogging himself down with thoughts of the NFL.

“I try to avoid it because that’s not my focus,” says Williams,

who has the whole ‘talk like an offensive lineman’ thing down pat. “My focus is the season, my focus is to go out and play

for my teammates, and play the best game I can for my teammates. We have a love for each other.”

Indeed, Williams pretty much leaves it up to teammates - and others - to talk about him individually. Others, though, are more than willing to talk about him.

“It’s awesome having a guy like that in our room,” says junior guard Jake McMillon. “He’s talented, incredibly talented,

and he pushes us every day with everything he brings to the

table. Lately, he’s stepping in and taking more of a vocal role.

He’s working really hard as well and leading by example.”

As for the NFL, there are plenty of teams who will be more

than willing to snatch a tackle who is big, athletic and smart (a reported 3.67 GPA in the McCombs School of Business).

“Williams is an exceptionally talented player in both the run and passing game,” wrote NFL Media Analyst Daniel Jer-

emiah. “As a run blocker, he takes good angles, rolls his hips on contact and shows a nasty demeanor to keep moving opponents both to and through the whistle.

“When you have a mauling run blocker, that player often lacks some athleticism as a pass protector. That’s not the case

with Williams. He’s a graceful mover with tremendous knee

bend, balance and the ability to redirect. He plays with great awareness and can sink his weight to anchor down vs. the

bull rush. He has a very sharp punch and makes it look easy once he gets in position.”

So how did he get to this place, on the brink of being one of

the all-time greats and Texas, and changing his life forever?

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He began his career as a strong, yet quiet, Longhorn. Now, he’s the one the others look to for guidance, strength and force of will. And even words.

Predictably, he quickly re-directs any efforts to compliment him directly.

“I feel like my leadership has definitely become key this

last year in the offseason,” Williams says. “It’s not just me.

There’s many guys around me that have become leaders and helped lead the o-line together. We’re all one unit. Patrick (Vahe) speaks up. Patrick’s a great leader on the o-line.”

He also re-directs his praise to Herman, offensive line coach

Derek Warehime and strength and conditioning coach Yancy McKnight.

“I feel like since Herman has got here, I feel like I’ve gotten

a lot stronger, a lot faster, a lot quicker,” says Williams, who

has missed exactly one game since taking the left tackle job against Notre Dame in 2015. “Also, I feel like this coaching

staff has helped me grow into a leader and a speaker role to where I can be comfortable speaking with my team.”

Clearly he’s come a long way from when he was a gifted - but inexperienced - sophomore at Coppell High School, when

he was forced to face future NFL draft pick Solomon Thomas one-on-one at practice.

“Coach puts me out there, I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to have to go up against Solomon Thomas?!’ Why did you do

this to me,” Williams says of the pivotal moment in his young career.

He overcame his fear and won the battle, stopping the player who would eventually attend Stanford. And then, of course, he paid the price.

“My coach is hyping me up and the D-line coach is yelling at him,” Williams remembers. “They said ‘Go!’ again and I

go into my pass set and he just runs me over and I’m on my

back. He just ran right through me. It was eye-opening. Going to Texas, I thought everybody would be Solomon Thomas.”

Only a few years later, Herman wishes that everybody could

a Big 12 defensive coordinator recently told our writer, Joe

Cook. “He’s just different. I think he might be the best tackle in the country. He’s long, athletic and has the wingspan and he’s nasty.”

Williams himself doesn’t shower himself with those kinds of superlatives. As others have said, he’s talented, big, smart

and more than a little nasty. In other words, he’s someone Dr. Frankenstein would love.

But you get the feeling that what may be Williams’ final year will find him concentrating not on his own attributes, but

rather, on what he sees on the scoreboard. He’s walked off the field in Kansas with a sick feeling in his stomach, and

he’s hoping to use his own personal talent to make sure that never, ever, under any circumstances, happens again.

“It’s not about wins or losses,” says Williams, who knows full

well that it is, in fact, about wins and losses. “It’s about going

out there and playing our best games, playing 100 percent as hard as we can and leaving it all out on the field. I think that at the end of day, wins and losses will dictate them.”

be Connor Williams.

“Connor Williams is the best left tackle we saw last year,”

Jean Delance

2017 Season Preview

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NAAS

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HON’S ODYSSEY

by Mike Blackwell

Naashon Hughes has seen some things.

The fifth-year senior was recruited by Mack Brown - remember him? - and will be playing for his third head coach in 2018.

Strength coaches? He’s trained with three of those.

Position coaches? Seven.

photos by Will Gallagher11

2017 Season Preview

- naashon’s odyssey -

H

ughes has been around so

will devastate opposing backfields.

But, his career has also seen him lose

long that he’s actually seen

Now he’s got one more chance.

time on the field, and his tackle totals

the Longhorns have a win-

ning football season.

He’s been around a long, long time.

fell from 57 in 2015 to 24 in 2016, Certainly he has shown flashes of

his sacks dropping from 5.5 to 3.5.

greatness; his numbers are almost

He’s been solid, but hasn’t been the

as impressive as the man he has be-

difference-maker everyone expected

come off the field. He’s played in 37

five years ago.

Now he will have yet another regime

games, and started 26 of them, see-

for his senior season, and the old

ing time at both linebacker (where he

Whatever disappointment some feel

Army brat who has been more than a

will be this year) and defensive end.

toward Hughes, the revolving-door

little bit of an enigma since arriving on

of coaches at Texas since he arrived

campus will have one more chance to

He’s got 9.5 career sacks and 109

has been spinning like a South Texas

live up to the hype that has followed

total tackles. As a sophomore, he

ceiling fan in August.

him since 2013.

started every game and led the team in tackles for loss. As a redshirt

However difficult it has been to adjust

At 6-4 and 260 all-muscle pounds,

freshman in 2014, he played in every

to the constant upheaval, change

Texas fans has been wanting him to

game, with seven starts.

is certainly something with which

advance from the first-team All Look Good In Shorts team to someone who

Hughes is familiar. As the military But...

son, he was born in Bad Nauheim, Germany, but has also lived in Texas (twice), Louisiana (twice), Baltimore and Pennsylvania.

Ultimately, he played his high school ball at Harker Heights, where he was a two-time all-district performer.

“With the coaching changes I’ve been through, I’ve been able to embrace the things they’ve had to offer, just basically from my background,” Hughes said at Big 12 Media Days. “Being able to move, make new friends, have new teachers from grade-to-grade, just completely new schools and new cities, just being able to accept that and move on.”

That adaptability has also made him a top-notch teammate, a leader who others can go to for on- and off-field advice. And he’s hoping his on-field performance in 2016 will ultimately match the physical attributes that have impressed foes and teammates alike.

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- naashon’s odyssey -

“Getting here my freshman year and getting put up against him, I almost didn’t even touch him because he just ran by me,” said offensive tackle Connor Williams. “I remember looking at Kent Perkins, because KP was one of the older ones, and talking to him, and he was like, ‘He’s fast, bro.

You’ve got to get back there.’ It was an eye-opening experience.”

Hughes hopes his ultimate eyeopening experience will come this fall, when he plans to embrace more of a leadership role.

“Communicate more, see if I can make a couple of plays here and there and just get the younger guys helped out because they haven’t been out here,” Hughes said. “I set high expectations for myself as well as the defense as a whole. This year I plan to take the next step for myself and for the defense.”

And the primary “next step” for

seniors, and they’re about to get out

“On the field, I expect my game to

Hughes - and the rest of the Long-

of here. Nobody else has been on a

take another huge leap because my

horns - will be to get a different result

winning team, and nobody came to

body feels a whole lot better,” Hughes

on the scoreboard than in the last

Texas to lose.”

said. “Mentally and physically, my

couple of years. This goal was made

coach demands a whole lot out of us

clear in Tom Herman’s first meeting

For someone who has seen major

with the Longhorns last November.

changes at Texas for five years, Hughes is hoping to see ultimate

Herman asked the players if any of

change - from 5-7 to a winning record

them had been on a UT team with

- in 2017.

each and every day.

“I can’t wait to get on the field.”

a winning record. Hughes was one of only three players who raised his hand.

“For three people to raise their hands,

Join the Conversation

that’s not the Texas standard at all,” Hughes said. “I think that was an eye opener for a lot of people. The only

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three people that have been there are 2017 Season Preview

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2017 TEXAS

BY JOE COOK

phot

os by

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Will

Galla

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LONGHORNS

2017 Season Preview

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QUARTERBACK

Shane Buechele

THE PLAYERS

THE STARTER

Shane Buechele Sam Ehlinger

Shane Buechele has now won two quarterback competitions in as many years at Texas. He took the top spot ahead of Tyrone Swoopes his freshman year, and this season he holds off another promising freshman in Sam

Ehlinger.

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR How can this be Ehlinger? Well, you’ve got to know that Ehlinger is going to play. He is the backup, after all. He won’t just come in during mop-up duty. He’ll have a package of plays ready, and the coaches will be watching intently.

PLAYER TO BE MISSED THE BELL COW At this point, it’s Buechele. He is the guy going into year two.

He’s got the offense down, he has the team’s respect, he just

Sam Ehlinger

has to put it all together on the field. Herman has a solid backup option in Ehlinger, but Shane looks to be the guy going out first.

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Tyrone Swoopes – While Swoopes’tt passing acumen won’t necessarily be missed, his ability to mix up defenses with his running ability was one of the offense’s go-tos in 2016.

Swoopes is off catching passes in the NFL and Texas is running a different offense, but it remains to be seen if either Buechele or Ehlinger can match his ability in the run game.

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RUNNING BACK

Chris Warren

THE PLAYERS Chris Warren III Kirk Johnson Kyle Porter Tristian Houston Toneil Carter Daniel Young

THE STARTER When healthy, it’s Chris Warren. He brings a pounding Chris Warren III

presence into the game, and introduces that presence to defenders often. The question is can he stay upright and on the field? After that, the second spot is up for grabs.

THE BELL COW PLAYER TO BE MISSED Any team will miss a 2,000 yard rusher, but Texas fans will be asking ‘what if’ for a while about D’Onta Foreman playing

As many as five different running backs could see some action this year according to Herman, including two true freshman. The one who will lead the way this year?

Warren, with Porter close behind.

for Herman. This isn’t a hole on the roster, but the drop off from 2016 to 2017 appears large.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Kirk Johnson finally gets healthy and shows off the dynamic ability that Charlie Strong saw several years ago.

Toneil Carter brings a homerun threat to the running backs room that other backs on the team don’t seem to have.

2017 Season Preview

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OFFENSIVE LINE

Zach Shackelford

Patrick Vahe

Connor Williams

THE PLAYERS

THE BELL COW

Connor Williams is your All-American LT.

Williams begins his third and likely final season playing left tackle for the Horns. He’s consistently graded out as one

Patrick Vahe, who spent some time on the bench last

of the top tackles in the country, and could be a top ten

year, returns to his LG spot.

pick in the 2018 draft. Williams is going to be looked at as the leader of this line, and the guy who will make sure the

Freshman All-American Zack Shackelford has come

quarterback’s blind side is completely protected.

back from his offseason ankle surgery to take back the center spot.

Jake McMillon provides a consistent body at RG.

PLAYER TO BE MISSED

Right tackle? Biggest question of the fall.

Now on the Pitt Panthers, Brandon Hodges pro-

After Elijah Rodriguez grabbed the starting spot,

vided a decently consistent player at right tackle.

he went down with an ankle injury.

Elijah Rodriguez snatched the spot from Okafor and Nickelson, but then injury brought him down. A consistent force at RT would have rounded out an

Now Denzel Okafor and Tristan Nickelson are in a

Mike Mattoxaverage line. Now, there’s a massive quesabove

battle to be on the right side.

tion mark on the right side.

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Patrick Hudson came in as a heralded OL prospect, but he still needed some refinement before he got to the field. He’s still on his way, but he’s much more field ready than last season. He fits into the “top 8 lineman” we will be watching intently.

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TIGHT END

Andrew Beck

THE PLAYERS Andrew Beck Kendall Moore

PLAYER TO BE MISSED Beck. Texas goes from having a guy that position coach Corby Meekins thought could be special to…

Garrett Gray

THE STARTER It was obviously Andrew Beck until his previously broken foot was fractured again, likely putting him on the shelf for most of the season.

Cade Brewer Reese Leitao

The rest of the options are all new in some way.

Garrett Gray is new to the position, while Kendall Moore, Cade Brewer, and Reese Leitao are new to Texas. Leitao has to serve a two game

NEWCOMER TO WATCH If Leitao will break out, Brewer will turn heads. He will play this year,

suspension stemming from his spring arrest.

Is it Gray who can pose a receiving threat? Or Moore who can block effectively? Or Brewer who works hard but is still undersized for the position?

coaches just are wondering if he can match up physically.

THE BELL COW ???

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Reese Leitao may have to pay some additional dues for Texas after his arrest. He’s already got a two game suspension, and will be available, barring any setbacks, for USC. Leitao came in the most college ready of him and Brewer, and he can both block and catch balls.

2017 Season Preview

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WIDE RECEIVER

THE PLAYERS John Burt Armanti Foreman Collin Johnson Dorian Leonard Devin Duvernay Lorenzo Joe Jacorey Warrick Jerrod Heard Davion Curtis Lil’Jordan Humphrey Davion Curtis Reggie Hemphill-Mapps Jordan Pouncey Devin Duvernay

THE BELL COW

PLAYER TO BE MISSED

Collin Johnson will be the go to

Jake Oliver decided to quit football after playing an

guy for this offense. He’s got

important role last season. Other than that, Texas

future pro written all over him.

returns most of their leading receivers. This is a refreshingly short list for Texas fans.

THE STARTERS NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Collin Johnson has the X or boundary spot seemingly locked down. Johnson has a huge frame that WRs coach Drew Meh-

The only true freshman on campus, Jordan Pouncey,

ringer wants him to punish opponents with. He’s answered

likely doesn’t see much action this year. The newcom-

that challenge and is set to show off why he could the best

ers to this unit are the redshirt freshmen, and Hemp-

receiver on the squad.

hill-Mapps has shown an ability to excel in the slot.

Questions remain at the slot and the field spots. Devin DuMike Mattox

BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR There are several options here, but Lil’Jordan Humphrey has found a position, and he’s set to have a great season. The big body has learned the position under Drew Mehringer, and has a massive frame to bully cornerbacks with.

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vernay seems like the obvious answer with his elite speed, but freshman Reggie Hemphill-Mapps has been a recipient of constant praise by the coaches.

On the field side, Jerrod Heard and John Burt are battling

for the spot that shows off their ability to take the top off the defense.

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DEFENSIVE LINE

THE PLAYERS Poona Ford Jamari Chisholm Chris Nelson Charles Omenihu D’Andre Christmas Gerald Wilbon Malcolm Roach Andrew Fitzgerald Chris Daniels Tope Imade Max Cummins Ta’Quon Graham Charles Omenihu

PLAYER TO BE MISSED

THE BELL COW

Paul Boyette Jr. provided a reliable option at the

Now entering his senior year, Ford is the

point of attack last year and is now in NFL camp.

man on the nose. The South Carolina

Though he was a contributor, Texas’ defensive line

native has earned the praise of his head

starters this year will be just fine talent wise.

coach and his defensive coordinator.

The coaches expect a lot from Ford this year, and though he may lack the size, he makes up for it with a relentless motor on the field.

THE STARTERS After being called out by Herman during

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

the spring, the defensive line, espe-

One from the JUCO ranks, one from the TXHSFB ranks. The

Nelson, looks to be one of the stronger

coaches snatched Chisholm from UCF on Signing Day in order to

frontlines in the state.

cially the top three of Roach, Ford and

add some more depth on the ends. Expect the junior to contribute early. Graham is a guy the coaches have raved about, and has the

Omenihu has been described as a

versatility to play at multiple positions.

fourth starter, but runs with the second unit since there’s only three spots. After those four are a lot of questions.

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LINEBACKER THE PLAYERS Naashon Hughes Edwin Freeman Breckyn Hager Malik Jefferson Gary Johnson Anthony Wheeler Jeffrey McCulloch Cameron Townsen DeMarco Boyd Marqez Bimage

Malik Jefferson

THE BELL COW

THE STARTERS

Fans have expected Malik Jefferson to beKris Boyd

come the bell cow since his freshman year.

Linebacker may be the position with

Now highly motivated under a new staff,

the most unproven talent on the roster.

Jefferson should be in a role that allows him

Athletic guys like Jefferson, Hager,

to show his elite athletic traits.

D’Onta Foreman

and Wheeler have the looks of a strong linebacking corps, but they were unable to show it in 2016.

Hughes is starting at boundary linebacker with McCulloch close behind him.

Jefferson and Wheeler again look to be the first group on the field at Rover and

PLAYER TO BE MISSED Tim Cole is the lone player from 2016 not returning to the Longhorns’ LB corps.

Mac, respectively.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Hager is trying to break through at Mac,

Though Jefferson is slated to become the bell

passing downs

but his skills are likely better utilized in

cow, Johnson is expected thrive in Orlando’s defense. Johnson may lack size, but he has high level speed for a linebacker, perfect for defending in the Big 12. Whenever the light turns on for Johnson, it will be bright.

2017 Season Preview

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CORNERBACK

THE PLAYERS John Bonney Kris Boyd Davante Davis Holton Hill Eric Cuffee Donovan Duvernay Kobe Boyce Kris Boyd

Josh Thompson

THE BELL COW If it isn’t Kris Boyd or Holton Hill, it may not bode well for Texas.

THE STARTERS Boyd has been described as the best corner on the team, and he acts like it when speaking with the media. Many players on the roster are drawn to Boyd off the field. If he can get it all together on the field, he’ll be a player the team rallies around.

Hill has the other spot locked down after being MIA for much of 2016, but Davis is not far behind those two.

PLAYER TO BE MISSED

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Sheroid Evans is the lone player from 2016

Freshman Josh Thompson has already shot up the

not returning to the Longhorn’s CB corps.

depth chart and is running with the second string.

Coaches told him to be ready to play early, and he responded strongly.

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SAFETY/NICKEL

THE PLAYERS Jason Hall Antwuan Davis DeShon Elliott P.J. Locke Brandon Jones Chris Brown Montrell Estell

Holton Hill

Jason Hall

P.J. Locke

THE BELL COW PLAYER TO BE MISSED

Tom Herman loves P.J. Locke. Locke has taken a place as one of the faces of the program,

Dylan Haines provided the ability to line players

and his production matches that stature.

up right last season, and though he may not have D’Onta Foreman

been a fan favorite, produced as a walk-on at a level scholarship players could not. This year, the

THE STARTERS Elliott is the thumper, Jones is the runner and Locke is the all-around nickel. Hall and Brown both provide hard hitting traits, but in different body sizes. Davis backs up Locke

NEWCOMER TO WATCH Jones had 5-star ability coming out of high school, but the playbook was always his biggest obstacle. With a good understanding of the defense, Jones should thrive this season.

at nickel, and Estell, though athletic, should be able to redshirt.

2017 Season Preview

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Michael Dickson

SPECIAL TEAMS

THE PLAYERS Micheal Dickson Josh Rowland Chris Naggar

Kris Boyd

Kaleb Smith D’Onta Foreman

THE BELL COW Michael Dickson.

STARTERS Rowland was brought in by Herman for immediate help at kicker. He also brought in Smith from Oklahoma State to make sure things like 2016 Oklahoma State don’t happen again. Dickson looks to be one of the best punters in the country, again, and should be in contention for the Ray Guy Award, again.

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Kraken_Texas_mechanical.indd 1

5/19/11 2:17:09 PM

LONGHORN RECRU Tom Herman and his staff have the Longhorns poised for a Top-5 recruiting class after a busy summer yielded commitments from some of the best prospects in Texas.

BJ Foster Safety - Angleton (2018) How he fits at Texas: Everyone loves Foster as an athlete. He’s big, physical, and athletic in all of the right ways. He can change direction on a dime (check out his RB film) and he covers a wide range of turf in coverage without much effort. Part of me thinks he should stay at RB since he’s excellent making cuts in the run game and has nice hands as well, but his build and the consensus of schools offering him seem to think his greatest upside is at DB. Right now his safety film is just that of a modern Achilles, he’s both bigger and faster than most everyone else on the field. In the defensive backfield, I think his best fit is at field safety where he can use his range and striking ability to eliminate explosive gains. – Ian Boyd

From Eric Nahlin’s interview with Foster at The Opening Will Gallagher/IT

But as the camp progressed he improved and gained confidence

T

he 6-foot-1, 190-pound two-way athlete held offers from most of the nation’s best – Ohio State, LSU, Michigan, and TCU were

among the many. But being close to home, getting friendly advice from fellow Angleton Wildcats and members of UT’s DBU, Quentin Jammer and Quandre Diggs, and wanting to join the Horns’ Class of 2018 revolution won over the state’s best player.

“I chose Texas because I feel like with the recruits we’re getting, and about to get, we can win a National Championship,” said Foster. “The Revolution has begun and I can’t wait to get started.”

Foster is the definition of a difference maker. He exceled at running back on offense, while also surveying the scene in the Angleton secondary last fall before a knee injury derailed his junior year. Fully healthy now, Foster attended The Opening at Nike HQs in Beaverton, Oregon this summer and proved that his accolades were well earned.

As long as there aren’t any hiccups with his rehab, we see no reason why Foster won’t be listed as one of the best safeties in the country.

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The Texas safety commit was a bit sluggish, naturally, on his first day.

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with each rep during 7-on-7. Each game, he made a few more plays than before. He even talked to me about being rusty. He mentioned though he wouldn’t use it as an excuse. There’s just so much to like about this kid.

Q: It’s been a while since you’ve competed.

How do you feel physically?

A: I feel great, matter of fact I feel better than before I got hurt.

Q: You’re not nervous or anything to move around on it?

A: Nah, nah.

Q: What are your plans for the rest of summer?

A: I’ll get back to them soon but I don’t know when yet.

Q: How often do you talk to Texas?

A: Every day. I talk to Coach Naivar a lot.

Q: Who are you going to try and recruit to Texas out here?

A: I’m not sure yet, I gotta see how they do first.

insidetexas.com

UITING HEATS UP

by IT Staff

Jalen Green Corner - Houston Heights (2018) IN HIS COACH’S WORDS Inside Texas caught up with Houston Heights head coach, Stephen Dixon, to get his first hand account of Jalen Green, the player and teammate, as well as his Texas recruitment.

How has he evolved as a player?

He’s evolved so much as a player in his mentality. He’s always going to be quiet off the field [laughter]. A lot of coaches have had trouble getting in contact with him. He’s just that kind of kid. Very quiet. It rubs people the wrong way because they think he doesn’t care but really he’s just quiet unless he’s around teammates or coaches, then he gets rowdy and loud. When he’s out there playing football he goes into Deion Sanders mode.

On the field he’s become more physical. His sophomore year when he started playing cornerback he just used his athleticism. He’s such Justin Wells/IT

H

ouston Heights cornerback Jalen Green committed to Texas in July over offers from Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas,

a good athlete he could just erase mistakes. Now he’s using his hands, feet, and strength better. He still has the speed but now he can push guys off the line and out-physical them.

Oklahoma, Clemson and many others. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound

How much time will he spend on offense and defense this season?

corner was highly coveted in the 2018 class.

He’ll probably be 50/50. He’s such a dynamic athlete, you can’t just

At The Opening in Oregon, he looked like the best CB from Texas, and one of the best in the country. He had a very solid camp including two INTs, one returned for a TD. I wasn’t in love with Green’s junior tape, mainly because much of it was of him on offense. Initially I had him as the top corner, then down to three. After a spring in which I saw him numerous times, I have him as the best player in the state.

He has always reminded me of Kris Boyd, a bit raw — mainly because of so much time spent on offense — but with incredible upside.

Length, physicality, fluidity, and ball skills, Green is the total package to play corner in any concept. He can flip and run while playing “off” or disrupt routes and timing while pressing. Like Boyd, it’s not out of the realm that he could play safety, but that just underlines his versatility and skill set. His upside is at corner and he’ll assuredly stick there.

have a dynamic athlete like him at one position. He could be a 4-5 star quarterback, a 4-5 star wide receiver. He’s a star punt returner.

A star kick returner. We’re so strong in the secondary this year, especially with a move-in named Marco Domio — Jalen will tell you he can play. He’s not Jalen but he can play. Because of that we’ll use him on offense both at quarterback and receiver, but mostly quarterback.

What was his recruitment like with Texas?

It’s basically the same staff that was at the University of Houston, they loved him when they were at Houston. When they got to Texas they stayed in contact with him. It took a while to extend the offer but they always had him at the top. Jason Washington has been on him since day one, there’s no doubt about that. Michael Huff helped out a bunch too, just being Michael Huff, being an All American and playing in the NFL. Can’t help but help out with a young guy trying to get where he’s been.

– Eric Nahlin

2017 Season Preview

29

- summer recruiting -

Rafiti Ghirmai

Guard/Tackle - Frisco Wakeland (2018)

F

risco Wakeland’s 4-star OL Rafiti Ghirmai verbally pledged to Texas over LSU, Alabama, UCLA, and Florida. The 6-foot-5,

290-pounder is the best offensive lineman in Texas and versatile enough to play both guard and tackle.

What was it about Texas that stood out? Tom Herman, Derek Warehime, tradition, global branding, and/or potentially securing a Top 3 class in UT’s 2018 squad?

“All that plus I like the players there, and ones (recruits) coming,” Ghirmai told IT. “Mainly, (Texas) is not that far from home so my mom can see all my games.”

Will Gallagher/IT

How he fits at Texas: Ghirmai is a mauler with ideal size at 6-foot-

He’s excellent going straight ahead on people and would translate

5, 290 pounds or so, likely to hit 300 without much effort or lost

really well inside if he couldn’t play left tackle. Ghirmai will probably

movement ability. He’s pretty good finding targets in space and he

stick at tackle and not move inside but he could be a big plus in

can get out of his stance quick enough to deal with smaller, quick

there if he did, much like Pat Hudson. His best fit at any position will

players on the edge, but whether or not he’ll be elite enough an

probably be on inside zone moving defensive linemen off the ball be-

athlete to be the left tackle is less clear.

fore climbing up to linebackers, just the kind of downhill road grader that Herman wants on campus. – Ian Boyd

Keandre Coburn

Defensive Tackle - Houston Westfield (2018)

On why he committed: “I committed to get it over with, to start on my season and focus on the season with Westfield. I committed to Texas because it’s close to home and I’ve known the coaching staff since freshman year so it’s pretty much, like, why wouldn’t I? There’s good football, a good fan base, and I look good in burnt orange.”

On how long he knew it was going to be Texas: “I’ve been knowing for a while. There were other schools but I just feel good about Texas right now. Hook’em.”

Will Gallagher/IT

“Just dominate every play. I don’t have any goals other than to help

T

my team win. I just want to do better and help my team, that’s my

for the defensive line for years to come. He’s also a player who is

pounds, which always catches your eye. He’s quick off the ball

om Herman and Oscar Giles needed to find someone who could successfully man the point of attack and the 6-1,

320-pound Coburn should be a powerful, and hard to move pivot ready to contribute immediately.

Coburn is a guy that doesn’t go backwards very often due to being so stout and so strong at the point of attack. He’s got good functional strength and has strong hands that he uses well to shed blockers and he is a load to slow down when he gets off the rock.

30

On individual goals this season:

inside texas

goal.”

How he fits at Texas: Coburn is pretty quick for weighing 320 and uses his hands really well, both of which portend really well for his collegiate career. I don’t think he’s quite quick enough, or tall enough for that matter, to be a great fit at the DE position but he’d be a great fit inside at the nose. Orlando needs guys that can battle with double teams but also slant over gaps on the blitz and Coburn could be a real menace between the tackles. – Ian Boyd

insidetexas.com

- summer recruiting -

Brennan Eagles

routes and set up corners so that he can use that speed to blow by

Wide Receiver - Alief Taylor (2018)

A

them. I don’t really see him being a chain mover for Texas without a lot of development.

lief Taylor wide receiver Brennan Eagles committed to Texas over competing offers from Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Ohio

He seems more a guy that needs to be good at winning deep on

State, and Oklahoma, among others.

fades and post routes as an alert/clear out option or a play-action target. He’s pretty raw at this point but with skill development in his

When you are a wide receiver and you measure in just under 6’4

route running that size and speed ratio is going be really hard to

and tick under 215 pounds then proceed to run 4.51 on a cold day

beat. – Ian Boyd

and a slow surface, you are special. Eagles showed off his exploand a 3.99 shuttle time.

At The Opening in Oregon Eagles was a mix of good news and bad news. The bad news is Eagles was slightly underwhelming most the weekend, but still had his bright moments. The good

photo by Justin Wells ? IT

siveness at The Opeining in Houston with a 37-inch vertical

news is this kid has OBJ hands. The one-handed catches are simply incredible. He’s a possession receiver with a little more speed. Teach him some better techniques, sign him up for Jazzercise (for flexibility), and you’ve got a baller.

How he fits at Texas: Eagles is a legit 4.4 guy at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, which makes him pretty scary for Big 12 teams trying to find ways to match up with all the brilliantly athletic WRs in the league. He’ll need to learn how to run more complicated Brennan Eagles

Al’Vonte Woodard

L

Wide Receiver - Houston Lamar (2018)

amar’s 4-star wideout committed to Texas over LSU, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and TCU, among others. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound

pass-catcher is a big play outside deep threat.

Woodard ran 4.61 at the regional in Houston, so he isn’t a burner by any means, but he still finds ways to get separation from defensive backs, he tracks the ball well, and when the ball is in the air he has the ability to go up and outmuscle guys for it.

From a production standpoint, Woodard only tallied 35 catches in 2016, but he averaged over 22 yards per catch and of those 35 catches, 14 went for touchdowns. Woodard seems to be in his comfort zone running the go, post, and post corner on the route tree at this point with a few others mixed in on film, but he obviously has plenty of

Al’Vonte Woodard

At The Opening in Oregon over the summer he didn’t have any ‘wow’ moments, but caught almost everything and was consistent during the 7-on-7 sessions. You take Woodard, work him to the bone, and produce a future All-Big 12 receiver.

How he fits at Texas: Woodard has elite speed, much like apparently every other skill player at Lamar HS right now, and he’s just over 6-foot-2 with good hands to boot. His film features him using fakes to run past defenders or nice quickness to do work on screens and sweeps.

He can run under the ball like Willie Mays and feasted on cover 4 defenses as a junior that provide adequate safety help to the overmatched corners charged with staying on top of him. He reminds me of James Washington and would serve in that sort of role at Texas, potentially feasting on single coverage with his speed while playing opposite another deep threat like Brennan Eagles. – Ian Boyd

work to do in that area of his game.

2017 Season Preview

31

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2017 Season Preview

34

2017 SCHEDULE by

Ian Boyd

Texas starts their 2017 campaign with a home game against Maryland.

They will tackle USC and TCU on the road and get Oklahoma State and Kansas State in Austin.

2017 Season 35 photos by WillPreview Gallagher

MARYLAND Austin, TX

|

Head coach:

D.J. Durkin

2016 Record: 6-7

September 2nd

Series Record:

| Big 10

Texas leads 3-0

This probably would have been an automatic W if the Terrapins didn’t have incoming transfer QB Caleb Henderson from North Carolina to bail them out of what would have been a horrible dilemma choosing between sophomores Tyrell Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager.

Bortenschlager is a pocket passer that can’t pass very well while Pigrome is a 5’11” 196 pound “dual-threat” who threatens to throw a laser to his receiver or a wounded duck to a safety from snap to snap.

Henderson is a better passer than either by a safe margin and transferred to rejoin OC Walt Bell after losing the quarterback battle to nowNFL passer Mitch Trubisky. He may end up wishing he’d stayed.

The system is a variety of smashmouth spread complete with QB option runs and spread-I tactics that include quick passes attached to

Kris Boyd

found ways to lose so many games running

Despite those playmaking attributes, the

the ball like that but I guess we’ve seen how

Terrapins are pretty terrible on defense. The

that can play out, haven’t we?

challenge of playing single-high is that while it allows the defense to keep both linebackers

If Henderson can give Maryland a credible

firmly in the box, it raises the stakes for what

passing threat then the Texas D MUST be able

can go wrong if they are unsure or late to fill

several years.

to fit the various Terrapin spread run schemes

creases.

The Terrapin tight ends are a decent bunch,

this game could get uncomfortably close.

lead runs. Essentially, all the stuff that has confounded the Texas defense for the last

properly and keep these backs under wraps or

they know how to block and spend most of

Maryland will surely be improved from a year ago but this is a big, glaring weakness that

their time doing it.

The Maryland defense is a mostly single-high

The OL consists of a bunch of big heavies that

a strong safety who will drop into the box to

The challenges in this game will come if Texas’

give them a numbers advantage or to replace

defenders haven’t mastered the Orlando run

a blitzing linebacker in their pressure package.

defense or haven’t found a running back that’s

look to limit penetration and then release up to the linebackers while leaning on their size to swallow up DL without spending too much time on double teams. None of them are exceptional but they’re a lot better than you

Texas should hammer.

scheme with a nickel that stays wide and then

healthy and ready to run over the Terrapin They play a 4-2-5 most of the time with a

linebackers behind this OL.

hybrid DE/OLB as one of the two defensive ends. That guy, Jesse Aniebonan, had nine

If they’ve checked off those boxes in the

unit.

sacks a year ago and along with middle

offseason and fall two-a-days then this game

linebacker Jermaine Carter (six sacks last

shouldn’t be close.

Their top two backs at Maryland for next

year) will probably spend a fair amount of time

might expect, they aren’t the weak spot in this

season, Ty Johnson and Lorenzo Harrison averaged 9.1 and 7.2 yards per carry

working off the right side of the Texas OL when the Terrapins are expecting a pass.

respectively. It’s remarkable that this team

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inside texas

insidetexas.com

SAN JOSE STATE Austin, TX

|

September 9th

Head coach:

Brent Brennan

2016 Record: 4-8 Series Record:

| Mountain West

First meeting

This is simply a horrible football team. They

need attention from most teams as well but

It should be very helpful that their new

just hired a first time head coach after getting

that seems less sure a thing to provide back

defensive coordinator’s style of attacking

swamped by every good team on their

breaking gains and points then post routes to

protections is something that Texas’ OL is

schedule in 2016 and he’s searching for a QB

Johnson or quick screens to Devin Duvernay

seeing regularly in practice. If San Jose

from the scrap heap of their roster while trying

or Armanti Foreman.

State gets exotic with their blitzes from a

to convert their defense from a 4-3 into a 3-4.

2-4-5 alignment like they’ve used at Oregon If the San Jose State staff shares my

State that can also only help the Texas OL in

The new guy, Brent Brennan, is more of a pro-

assessment this game could prove a nice test

practicing how to recognize and pick up those

style type coach and while he may eventually

of whether the Texas run game is explosive

pressures before taking on the USC Trojans

find talents in southern California who can

enough to make Texas competitive against

much more deadly varieties.

execute that vision and will come to San Jose

the superior teams that come up after San

State to do it, they aren’t on the roster yet.

Jose State. If not, then we’ll probably just see

Unlike in recent seasons when Texas opened

verified what I think we should already know,

with Notre Dame, the first two games on the

The new defense will be coordinated by a guy

that the 2017 Texas passing game is going

2017 schedule probably shouldn’t lead to any

deep down the Kyle Whittingham tree who

to be pretty potent if they can keep Buechele

overreactions in either this direction…

was coaching safeties at Oregon State last

upright.

year for Gary Andersen.

Last year they ran a lot of different stuff at Oregon State and didn’t do any of it particularly well but weren’t terrible either. I’d guess they’d start out simple against Texas and try to play to keep the ball in front of them.

Against the tougher opponents on the schedule the Longhorns may get the chance to prove that it’s better to bracket Collin Johnson in cover 2 and play to deny the perimeter passing game rather than loading up the box.

But overmatched San Jose State is more likely to give Texas an early exercise in attacking with patience against a team that denies the easy yardage and forces them to work their way down the field with the run game.

Personally I’m already pretty confident that Texas will be lethal throwing quick routes to the field and deep routes down the boundary to Collin Johnson. I suspect the run game will

Chris Warren

2017 Season Preview

37

USC Los Angeles, CA |

Head coach:

Clay Helton

2016 Record: 10-3

September 16th

T

Series Record:

| Pac 12

USC leads 4-1

his is one of the big ones for Tom Herman

son Pyrrhus (Neoptolemus) kills Priam in

under Tom Herman as well as the type of play

in year one even though a pure “win or

ruthless fashion. Priam attempts to lecture

the Longhorns would like to get from Shane

lose” metric probably won’t be the standard

Pyrrhus on how his father Achilles showed

Buechele.

for what Texas needs to accomplish in the

mercy and restored Hector’s body to Priam

premier non-conference game.

while Pyrrhus is dragging the king’s old body

The Lions had a few features Texas is still

through his own son’s blood to the altar, only

searching for, like a stud running back in

to have the young Greek respond…

Saquon Barkley and a dual-threat tight end

The Longhorns need to avoid an embarrassing

in Mike Gesicki. Their OL was inferior to the

blowout like they endured in 2015 in South Bend while a surprising victory like the 2016

“Then you can be messenger, carry the news

Texas unit though and QB Trace McSorley

triumph over the Fighting Irish would be more

to my father, to Peleus’s son: remember to

was a nice approximation of what Buechele

likely to prove a reliable omen.

tell him of degenerate Pyrrhus, and of my sad

could be considering he had 525 rushing

actions: now die.”

yards and 3614 passing yards while playing in the Big 10 at 6’0” 205.

The question marks about the 2017 USC Trojans are much less significant than what

…before stabbing the old Trojan to death. It’d

Notre Dame was facing in 2016. The Trojan

be kind of shocking if we saw a similar scene

For much of the year USC just played man

offense has to replace several key pieces

play out with the young Longhorn offense

coverage on everyone but they had to send

but returns Sam Darnold, who’s probably the

brutally ruining USC’s year in this early

some help against the Penn State receivers

best player in the nation, along with enough

season contest. We might see something

or risk getting blown away by the Lions’

returning starters and young up and comers

more akin to the Trojan horse though, with

vertical passing firepower. Texas needs to

to put together something fierce.

the Longhorns managing to sneak out with a

gain a similar effect from the presence of

victory as a result of guile and Trojan hubris.

Collin Johnson on the boundary and more if

The Trojan defense loses star cornerback

The 2016 Penn State Nittany Lions offense

possible.

A’doree Jackson but returns a lot of the

a good reference point both for what the

components that made it a top unit a year ago

Texas scheme could look like in year one

The problem the Trojans had against Penn

along with aggressive defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. There are a few areas in this game where we should be able to draw some valuable lessons about the 2017 Longhorns but which team finishes the game with more points is probably not going to be one of the main ones. The Trojans are a very tough pre-conference draw for a young team with a troubled past and a new coaching staff.

Can Texas find a Trojan horse on offense?

The Trojan horse analogy is typically used in USC’s favor for some reason, even though it was a combination of the Trojans’ hubris and the Greeks’ cunning use of the trick that led to the destruction of their city. A particularly good scene in that carnage is when Achilles’

38

inside texas

Shane Buechele

insidetexas.com

State that perhaps Texas could also exploit is

sure that Darnold will find his place amongst

week in the Big 12, just more difficult. Make

in defending runs to the field with their nickel.

those opponents when this game is over and

sure you get hats in the right places against

The idea is that Texas wants to force USC to

done, even if Texas manages to eek out a

the run game and then win with pressure up

play off on their receivers and try to control

victory.

front.

steady gains running the ball downhill. USC

Here is a brief scouting report on the USC

The USC RB, Texan transplant Ronald Jones

has good players on their DL and in the LB

offense and signal-caller. He’s basically the

II, is as dangerous as feared when Texas

corps but if Texas can get “one on one” type

ideal, modern pro-style quarterback and a

missed on him and he can break loose and

matchups up front for Connor Williams and

rough approximate for what Sam Ehlinger

do damage but their overall run game isn’t

Patrick Vahe or outside for Collin Johnson

could become down the line. USC makes

overwhelming enough to bowl over top tier

the run with an honest front and then make

then the results should put some points on

defensive fronts. The Longhorn front should

the board.

be athletic and sturdy enough to give them problems IF they play with sound alignments and good fundamentals.

What Texas can’t afford is regularly facing passing downs where Pendergast can bring exotic pressures from their 2-4-5 front of the

From there, Texas needs to get good pressure

sort that ruined Sam Ehlinger’s burnt orange

on Darnold. Ideally inside pressure that

debut in Texas’ own spring game. Porter

flushes him out to guys like Roach or Malik,

Gustin and DL Rasheem Green will chew up

but any good pressure that keeps him from

and spit out the right side of the Texas OL if

being able to pick on safeties and linebackers

allowed to work stunts and pin their ears back

with quick reads and tosses over the middle

all night.

is essential. I think overload blitzes that keep Malik back and able to chase Darnold down Stopping Sam Darnold

after he’s flushed are probably Texas’ best bet here.

The USC defense is a good one and if Texas has to score 30-40 points to win this game

If this game is decided by USC’s ability to

then they probably can’t pull off a win. A

execute their passing game against Texas’

victory will depend on Orlando’s defense

ability to cover then the Trojans will win big. If

against Heisman frontrunner Sam Darnold.

Malik Jefferson

Orlando can break down Darnold’s protections and make it a contest of athleticism between the sophomore QB and Texas’ pass-rushers

It seems to have become pretty popular on the interwebs these days to dismiss Darnold

pretense of being a smashmouth, downhill

then Texas can definitely win some battles

as being overhyped. Allow me to remind

offense and they may very well have success

and keep the offense in the game. USC is

everyone that there have been many other

running the ball on Texas, but when the chips

starting first-year starters at either tackle

occasions in which Texas faced a hyped

are down they accept their identity as an elite

spots, which is a big boost in this regard.

opponent early in the season that fans were

dropback team much like 2008-09 Texas or

eager to dismiss only to later begrudgingly

2016 Clemson.

All in all Texas is in for a serious challenge in this game, trying to put together an A+ effort

accept that they were truly worthy foes. The 2005 and 2006 Buckeyes come to mind,

They use Darnold as an adjunct to their run

in game three of a new system on the road

as well as Sam Bradford in 2008 and Notre

game both with the standard zone-read play

against a team with elite talent. There’s a

Dame in 2015 and 2016.

(he ran for 291 yards last year at 5.2 ypc) and

roadmap to victory here but the real goal here

with bubble screens and other quick pass

is for USC fans to walk home saying, “well we

options attached to their runs.

won, but that Texas team was no joke.”

Texas won some of those games, but challengers like the 2005 Ohio State LB corps or the recent Fighting Irish offenses still gave

For Texas, the formula for stopping the

Texas all they wanted and more. I’m pretty

Trojans will be the same as it is virtually every

2017 Season Preview

39

IOWA STATE Aimes, IA |

Head coach:

2016 Record: 3-9 Series Record:

Septemober 28th

T

Matt Campbell | Big 12

Texas leads 12-2

exas’ reward for going into the Coliseum

strategy around being bigger and tougher in

On defense the Cyclones are again rather

to take on Sam Darnold and the USC

the trenches than the rest of the league.

sneaky good at the skill positions. You

Trojans is a weekend off to recuperate and

wouldn’t necessarily realize it from watching

assess before conference play. They then

Their offensive line will include all three-year

them play defense last year but they were

draw a Thursday night game in Ames, which

players in the starting lineup, guys that have

struggling with the fact that their DL was

has been a troublesome place for Texas this

received a couple of years of Campbell-

terrible, not only lacking pass-rushing outside

decade.

teaching along the offensive line.

but not even fielding the sort of big, heavyhanded DTs they’ve had in the past that could

Herman and his staff will unquestionably be

Another helpful key is that their great hope at

tempted to ignore Iowa State over the extra

left tackle Jake Campos, who showed very

week and look ahead to the tougher games

well as a freshman and sophomore, is healthy

Their solution has included snatching up

on the schedule ahead. The challenge will be

after missing 2016.

some JUCOs, including Ray Lima who figures

for a young team managing to balance giving the Cyclones enough of their attention to win

at least hold the point of attack.

to start immediately at nose, and a pair of The Cyclones quietly have some of the best

massive men with Pacific origins in Kamilo Tongamoa (6-5, 315) and Matt Leo (6-7, 265) the latter of whom played rugby in Australia and is new to football.

How well the linebacker corps plays is going to depend rather heavily on how well converted QB Joel Lanning learns their defense and the middle linebacker position in general.

The secondary could be excellent, particularly if free safety Kamari Cotton-Moya is finally healthy for a full season. The Cyclones are also plugging in Georgia transfer Reggie Wilkerson at strong safety, sliding Tennessee transfer and 2016’s starting nickel D’Andre Payne out to cornerback to start opposite Brian Peavy (Westfield product and third year starter), and featuring veterans at all five positions.

Breckyn Hager

If the Cyclones are still lagging badly

that game while figuring out how to divvy out

skill talent in the league with a pair of strong

along the lines then this should be a game

prep time for a stretch of three consecutive

backs in David Montgomery and Mike Warren

that Texas can afford to look over a bit. If

games that feature the three most likely Big

and then an underrated WR corps led by

Campbell’s trench warriors figure things out

12 champions.

Allen Lazard.

then the Cyclones become a dangerous team in a hurry because the rest of their team is

Iowa State hasn’t had that many good teams

Quarterback Jacob Park is a good signal-

this decade, they’ve had some good players

caller for a run-centric spread team that has

here and there but rarely have they had

the zip and accuracy to make downfield

Fortunately for Herman, if the Cyclones figure

complete teams that could present challenges

throws on single coverage. The Cyclones

some things out this year it’ll probably come a

to teams with better talent. They’re currently in

showed some savvy and ability to attack

tad later in the season as the JUCO DL start

year two of a new regime, the Matt Campbell

teams last year.

to feel its oats.

era, in which they are trying to build their

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ready to go.

KANSAS STATE Austin, Tx

|

October 7th

Head coach:

Bill Snyder

2016 Record: 9-4 Series Record:

| Big 12

Kansas State leads 10-7

T

exas’ MO in the past has been to be a simpler, execution-based football

team but they’ve typically struggled to be disciplined and physical at the point of attack this decade. That made them exceptionally vulnerable to Kansas State, who’s always disciplined and tough in the trenches if nothing else.

The Longhorns are 0-4 this decade in Manhattan, KS, but fortunately play the Wildcats in Austin this year where they’ve gone 2-1 against Snyder-ball.

Judging from Texas’ 2-5 record against Snyder this decade you’d be shocked to learn how fortunate they’ve been in terms of playing the Wildcats when Snyder’s QB was battling injuries.

Granted the signal-caller at Kansas State is virtually always battling injuries due to the nature of their offense, but the Longhorns drew a fairly gimpy Collin Klein in 2011 and 2012, drew Joe Hubener in 2015, and then tweaked Ertz’s shoulder in 2016.

This year Texas gets Kansas State earlier in the year and after the Wildcats have been simply tuning up against the likes of Charlotte, Vanderbilt, and Baylor.

This might be the best offense that Kansas State has fielded this decade with essentially five starters back on the OL, returning starters inside at TE, FB, and QB, emerging playmakers at the skill positions such as Byron Pringle (leading receiver, 631 yards), Dominique Heath (second leading WR, 438 yards), Alex Barnes (7.9 ypc), and then Cal transfer and Texan native Carlos Strickland stepping in.

With all of that firepower and then a QB in Jesse Ertz that ran for over 1,000 yards

Chris Warren

last season and threw decently well on a

get after Kansas State has been to make

bum shoulder, this is a pretty nasty group

them defend gap schemes in the run game

to prepare for and to match up against.

from four-wide, trips formations that stretch

Orlando and the defensive staff may very

them horizontally and push their “bend don’t

well want to spend some of their extra time

break” preferences to the ultimate test.

with the players before Iowa State prepping for K-State rather than the Sooners, as hard

If K-State fails to contend for the Big 12 title

as that may be to accept.

this coming season, their inability to hold up in space on defense will be the most likely

The Kansas State defense is usually pretty

culprit. Texas has the athleticism to get after

solid from year to year, rarely great but never

them in this regard and they need to do so

terrible, this season will likely be no different.

in the middle of the field rather than outside

They’re losing some athletic playmakers

where the Wildcats return their CB tandem.

with DE Jordan Willis moving on, outsidebacker Elijah Lee leaving early for the NFL,

In terms of no longer being vulnerable

and longtime SS Dante Barnett finally gone.

to a team that plays hard and comes in every game with a precise and well drilled

On the other hand, they return two of the

gameplan, that’s more of a question of

better cornerbacks they’ve had this decade

culture.

in Duke Shelley and D.J. Reed, rising sophomore DL Reggie Walker and Trey

Tom Herman is attempting to bring a Bill

Dishon who could both break out, and then

Snyder-level of attention to detail and

plugging in a bunch of longtime program

emphasis on hard-nosed play to the 40

guys like former walk-on and redshirt senior

acres, if he’s successful then Texas will not

Trent Tanking at inside-backer.

only be far less vulnerable to the Wildcats but also present major problems to everyone

For the last several years the best way to

else in the league.

2017 Season Preview

41

OKLAHOMA Dallas, Tx

|

Head coach:

Lincoln Riley

2016 Record: 11-2

October 14th

Series Record:

| Big 12

Texas leads 61-45-5

T

his is the big one, the biggest game on the schedule almost every single season

for the simple reason that Oklahoma is the only other program in the Big 12 with Texas’ resources. Since A&M, Colorado, Nebraska, and Missouri left the league you’d have figured that this game would only grow in importance but...Texas hasn’t made the most of their new place in a weakened league.

Tom Herman is the head coach at Texas today in part because he demonstrated the proper way to approach Oklahoma last year at Houston.

Of course this upcoming Oklahoma team isn’t a pack of world-beaters so it’s not at all unbelievable that a focused and physical effort from Texas in this game could result in a W. This Oklahoma team is primarily defined by a few key features, some of which are overwhelmingly positive and others which could potentially break in a few different directions.

in Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon, and Dede Westbrook, the Sooners should be able to plug and play some with the next generation of crimson-donned stars. Since the year

Baker Mayfield and the offense are going to be very good again.

Last year’s Oklahoma offense was legitimately one of the best of the entire Bob Stoops era, perhaps second only to the 2008 squad if even that. Lincoln Riley returns the entire OL, including future NFL draft pick Orlando Brown at left tackle, and also flex tight end Mark Andrews and fullback Dmitri Flowers.

Riley’s creativity in combining Air Raid concepts with a downhill run game that makes the most of their perpetually massive and athletic OL and positions like the FB and TE are going to make the Sooners potent once more. Baker Mayfield is a highly competent maestro for this offense with a diverse skill set that always makes it easy for Riley to piece all of their talent together into a cohesive whole.

Despite losing a brilliant cast of skill players

42

Shane Buechele

2000 Oklahoma has had a rarely interrupted stretch of dominant running backs including Quentin Griffin, Adrian Peterson, DeMarco Murray, Samaje Perine, and then Joe Mixon.

Katy Tiger Rodney Anderson has been talked up as the best athlete on the team and the next in that line, JUCO Marcelias Sutton was a guy that I liked in the last class who’s also caught some attention.

Riley has shown the ability to craft a potent run game and then to feature some very different receivers in the last two years with Sterling Shepard running the show in 2015 and then Dede Westbrook taking over in 2016. Perhaps this year it’ll be TE Mark Andrews, at any rate I expect they’ll be very effective once more.

Bob Stoops ironically left an uncertain future on defense.

Stoops’ genius at Oklahoma was in working

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to build aggressive, overwhelming offenses to pair with his always steady, sometimes amazing

defenses.

One

of

the

telling

indicators that Bob might be slowing down though was his persistent nepotism and the impact it had on his defenses.

Mike Stoops has been the DC there for five years now and it’s been a mixed resume. In 2012 he brought a dime defense and man coverage to combat Big 12 attacks, which went fairly well but exposed them to spread run games and led to humiliating outcomes against West Virginia and Texas A&M. Then the Sooners moved to a 3-4 defense to get the LBs more involved and to make the most of DL hire Jerry Montgomery. That went fairly well, but then Montgomery left for an NFL job, OU’s top DT had some injuries and left the team, and the Sooners collapsed on DL and defense as a whole in 2016.

One of Lincoln Riley’s early moves as head coach was to bring in his pal Ruffin McNeil, who gave Riley his big chance as an OC at East Carolina, to coach DL at Oklahoma.

Of course OU already had a DL coach and

two LB coaches but only one DB coach, so

played OLB in high school (Kenneth Murray)

Oklahoma is going to be a bear for teams

the allocation doesn’t make a ton of sense...

or a redshirt freshman (Jon-Michael Terry) at

that can’t hold up in protection and/or don’t

unless Riley is asking similar questions about

middle linebacker this coming season. That

have good tools for isolating and attacking

whether Mike Stoops has a job as DC at

sound familiar to Texas fans? Their weakside

defenders in the middle of the field. Of course,

Oklahoma because of what he offers or what

linebacker Emmanuel Beal is undersized,

those are some of Texas’ big question marks

his last name is.

small, and was solid but not great a year ago.

heading into the season.

If (or maybe we should just say “when”)

In the spring game they had athletically

On the other side of the ball the Sooners will

Oklahoma gets thrashed by the Buckeye

promising but oft-confused Will Sunderland

really test Texas’ ability to play sound run

offense up in Columbus it’ll be interesting to

at free safety, then he was suspended

defense but the Longhorn secondary may

note whether Riley makes a move and gives

indefinitely and now they’ve been looking at

be very difficult for the Sooners to attack like

McNeil the reigns on defense while pushing

former nickel Will Johnson to man that role.

they have in recent years if they can’t find

Stoops out. The Ohio State game is perfectly

God only knows what exactly that means for

another Sterling Shepard or Dede Westbrook

timed to give Riley a good view of where

their nickel package, the Sooners have been

on the roster. There’s a good chance Texas

things are and to make a move in time to

scrambling for the last several years to get

will be able to match up outside and commit

save his inaugural season by shoring things

enough quality DBs on the field to win in the

numbers to loading the box.

up for Big 12 play. If Oklahoma is plastered

Big 12. Ever since they hired former DB guru

by a nationally competitive program but still

Mike Stoops, in fact.

dominates the Big 12 then Riley can at least

All that points to a hard fought, lower-scoring game in which things come down to decision-

say that the program is holding steady without

Reading the tea leaves I’d say there’s a

making between Baker Mayfield and Shane

Bob and poised to make a step forward once

good chance that the Sooners will probably

Buechele.

they solve for defense.

The 2017 Oklahoma defense would be an interesting one to watch without all of that potential drama. They’re moving back to a four-down front AND moving away from nickel with space-hybrid Caleb Kelly taking over the “roy-backer” sam linebacker position. The Sooners are also returning star DE/OLB Obo Okoronkwo, who might be the best edgerusher in the Big 12.

Their secondary will include versatile cover safety Steven Parker, lockdown corner Jordan Thomas, and likely a much better cornerback opposite him now that Jordan Parker and Parnell Motley seem ready for primetime.

It’ll probably be tougher to attack the Sooners through the air this coming season, but they may have some boom/bust tendencies as a result of playing some true 4-3 personnel aimed to get pass-rushing on the field. The

Brandon Jones

weak spot for the Sooners is down main street.

be very vulnerable to the run game due

Both of them have played in this game and

to inexperience up the middle and also to

played well so that may very well prove to

Their new scheme requires strong play from a

spread passing attacks that can expose their

be a pretty tough duel. Give the edge to the

3-technique tackle, which they might have in

lack of depth and knowhow in defending the

senior Sooner but Texas has a chance to

Neville Gallimore and might not, and will need

middle of the field in coverage.

come out and reveal a thin margin between

their young linebackers and new free safety to prove capable run-stoppers. The Sooners are expecting to start either a true freshman who

Matching up with the 2017 Longhorns

the two programs.

2017 Season Preview

43

OKLAHOMA STATE Austin, Tx

M

|

Head coach:

Mike Gundy

2016 Record: 10-3

October 21st

Series Record:

| Big 12

Texas leads 24-7-0

ore than a few people

be the answer to the former

like

State

question, if not Glenn Spencer

to win the Big 12 this coming

will often mix in some Tampa-2

season. When they brought

coverages and other tricks to

back QB Mason Rudolph and

shield them from abuse.

Oklahoma

top WR James Washington for their senior seasons, that was

The DL is a tad more promising

eye-opening. When they added

in that they return as many as

Cal LT Aaron Cochran and

four DEs that could be worth

Clemson CB Adrian Baker as

playing this coming season

grad transfers while bringing in

and they may roll with a lot of

LSU WR Tyron Johnson after

3-3-5 packages to make the

he sat out 2016 that was also

most of their abilities. They

rather striking.

don’t seem to have another DT like Vincent Taylor but

The Cowboys are returning a

might be able to make up for

4,000-yard passer in Rudolph, a

1,000-yard

receiver

Washington,

a

1,000-yard

rusher in RB Justice Hill, and then also the 2017 winner of the Darren Sproles water-bug trophy for most outstanding tiny person, Jalen McCleskey.

opponents to try and handle this coming season. One caveat is that in 2016 the ‘Pokes made extensive use of their “cowboy backs” which is how they brand their tight end position.

Assuming they find a good blocker from either walk-on Britton Abbott or JUCO transfer Sione Finefeuiaki, they can probably be expected to plug along with the same tactics. However if they lose their edge in the run game then their passing game will really struggle to match last year’s output.

Gundy’s

embrace

of

the

spread

has always been to utilize its potential for combining a strong run game with vertical passes via play-action. This isn’t an Air Raid passing attack that can dominate without a solid run game attached. The OSU staff knows all of this and they have a coach who’s role is to find creative solutions for their TE

44

rotating cast of ends. room with position changes and walk-ons.

The OSU defense was solid last year and should be again this coming season. Their statistical ranks belie a team that consistently

It all adds up to a rather frightful offense for

Mike

it with disruption from their

Dorian Leonard

in

generates turnovers and executes sound, comprehensive gameplans even if doing so without premier talent. They’re losing some valuable contributors from last year, namely DT Vincent Taylor (seven sacks) and FS Jordan Sterns (three consecutive 100-tackle

One of the big challenges for Texas in matching up with the Cowboys is how detailed and difficult the ‘Pokes are to prepare for juxtaposed with their positioning after the Red River Shootout on the schedule. Playing Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State in succession is a tall order for a team with depth concerns playing their first season in new schemes.

seasons).

An even greater challenge is avoiding

Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer is

which combines amazing athleticism on the

getting overwhelmed by the OSU offense

always plugging in fundamentally strong linebackers and their 2017 safety tandem of Tre Flowers (fourth year starter) and Ramon Richards (started at CB the last two years) is

perimeter with a really strong pocket passer and the kind of run game that has given Texas fits for the last few years.

going to be very solid.

Rudolph is very good in their RPO and

Their big question here is whether they have

catching the ball are very dangerous.

a lockdown corner or any impact players across the DL that can take them from “fundamentally sound but beatable” to “better put another pot of coffee on, it’s gonna be a

play-action stuff and the athletes they have

If Texas can’t hold up to OSU’s run game without getting gashed then this could be a very high scoring game. In that event, Texas

long night preparing for these guys.”

will need Collin Johnson to look like an All-

Adrian Baker and some of the younger

cornerbacks.

corners in the program have a chance to

inside texas

insidetexas.com

Big 12 performer against the ‘Pokes young

2017 Season Preview

45

BAYLOR Waco, Tx

|

Head coach:

2016 Record: 7-6

October 28th

S

Matt Rhule

Series Record:

| Big 12

Texas leads 76-26-4

tories out of Baylor’s camp have Matt

talent that should be solid in year one while

He’ll mix 4-3 Under defense (from a nickel

Rhule describing his new offense as

he rebuilds the defense. In reality I suspect

package) with a three-down dime defense

“soft” and rebuilding the line with sub-300

that Rhule’s bonafides as a coach will be

that floods the field with speed and allows

pound freshman and TE converts to better

evident on defense before they show up on

creative blitz combinations.

run his preferred outside zone/pro-style

offense because of the dramatic overhaul

offensive scheme.

he’s bringing on that side of the ball.

The challenge in Waco will be in finding good DL to anchor things at the point of attack. If you watch Temple film over the last few years the physical play of their defensive front really stands out. Lincoln Riley’s ECU tried to run the ball on them when they found themselves playing in a monsoon together and the Owls absolutely bullied them up front, even in their dime defense.

It’s hard to go from being a team who’s receivers take plays off and that expects to win 50-30 more often than not to embrace an identity as a team that grinds out wins with physical play.

For Herman’s Texas, at least the players he inherited understood a need to get more physical and actually came to campus expecting to be molded in that direction.

Rhule’s players in Waco were drawn there to light up the scoreboard and his regular comments about the lack of leadership from

Poona Ford

the upperclassmen suggests that he’s going to let a generation die in the wilderness before

I’m not super familiar with Arizona transfer

Their defense will depend heavily on whether

Anu Solomon but I know Zach Smith and

or not they get good DL play, the bevy of

Charlie Brewer pretty well and I’m guessing

athletes that Rhule is inheriting at safety,

At any rate, Texas should find the Bears

we’ll see Matt Rhule send Solomon out there

linebacker, and cornerback should allow them

to be a very likely win, even if Rhule’s

to run around and try to make stuff happen

to be solid there in year one and probably

physicality catches on and they manage

while Brewer is groomed to take over in the

good to great by 2018 or 2019.

to field respectable power sets with tight

future. Smith was a Briles project and I doubt he pans out in the new system.

trying to re-enter the promised land.

ends and fullbacks on offense. I don’t think Rhule’s specialty is in recognizing and training

Baylor is going away but there will be a major

up raw athletes with a demanding, physical

adjustment period to Rhule and the new

The prevailing sentiment is that Rhule’s

culture that is frankly akin to what Herman is

program.

inheriting a roster loaded with Briles-scouted

doing in Austin.

2017 Season Preview

46

TCU Fort Worth, Tx

Head coach:

Gary Patterson

2016 Record: 6-7

|

November

I

4th

Series Record:

| Big 12

Texas leads 62-24-1

n years like 2012 and 2016, TCU played

Whatever Gary Patterson settles on, they

the part ascribed to them by D.K.R. back in

should be improved on defense and even

the day as “cockroaches” that fall into things

good, whether they’ll be great is harder to say.

The scariest TCU teams have combined QB

and mess them up. The 2012 Horned Frogs

Their offense is facing similar challenges

run game with a potent anti-spread defense

were struggling on offense all year but they

as most of the key players return but with

that swarms your own run game with speed

mixed some Trevone Boykin QB runs and

shakeups likely now that Sonny Cumbie is

before locking everything down on third and

a typically stout Gary Patterson defense to

running the show as play-caller.

long with two-deep, matchup zone.

Kenny Hill is back at QB but you have

Even their Air Raid teams could be described

to wonder how patient they’ll be with his

that way with Boykin at the helm mixing in lots

In 2016 they were again struggling but still

turnovers given that the run game and

of zone read, speed option, and scrambles.

managed to beat the crap out of a lifeless

defense should be improved and DeSoto’s

If they can get back on that train with Kenny

Texas team coming off the debacle in

championship QB Shawn Robinson is waiting

Hill and find a playmaker at strong safety they

Lawrence, KS.

in the wings.

could certainly be contenders once more, if

the time Texas draws the Frogs.

smash up the Case McCoy-led Longhorns on Thanksgiving day.

In 2014 and 2015 TCU was a conference contender that treated Texas like a cellardwelling creampuff. It’s not really obvious to me whether this TCU team will be a struggling squad that Texas can’t seem to kill or a major contender, although I lean towards the former.

What intrigues people about TCU is how much they return, particularly on defense where the entire defensive backfield is returning largely intact and the defensive line will be plugging in some bigger bodies in an effort to control the line of scrimmage better. However, they may be making some big transitions that make their defense look rather different this year.

Malcolm Roach

On the surface they’d appear to be returning a very solid pair of linebackers in Travin

TCU could be dangerous on offense next

not then perhaps they’ll figure it out in 2018

Howard and Ty Summers, but the former may

season simply by using a lot of spread-option

with Shawn Robinson.

move out to strong safety where the Frogs

run game with slots like Kavontae Turpin and

are deficient in the wake of Denzel Johnson’s

Shaun Nixon serving as perimeter constraints

For Texas those questions will also likely

graduation while the latter apparently had

for the meat and potatoes of Robinson and

determine whether TCU is a major threat or

seven sacks in two days after moving to DE

Kyle Hicks inside. They’ll probably start with

not.

in fall camp.

Kenny Hill in a role of that sort but don’t be shocked if Robinson is running the show by

2017 Season Preview

47

KANSAS Austin, Tx

K

|

Head coach:

David Beaty

2016 Record: 2-10

November 11th

Series Record:

| Big 12

Texas leads 13-3

ansas should actually be improved from

last season with injury. They’re largely

hired Doug Meacham from TCU who might

a year ago and they are fairly intriguing

rebuilding their secondary with JUCOs but

allow them to make a leap in terms of hitting

for the fact that they return three of the better

with Lee back there they’ll probably be in solid

opponents

defensive players in the entire conference

shape.

offense, but there’s just not much to work with

and two of them (Dorance Armstrong, Daniel Wise) play on the defensive line.

with

precise

gameplans

on

that should terrify anyone.

Provided that Texas isn’t overwhelmed by the DL tandem, this isn’t a defense that should

If you match up with their spread sets in dime

The rest of their team is still under construction

scare them yet, especially playing away from

and then bring pressure there’s not much they

though and they have many steps to make

Lawrence.

can fire back with in response.

before they put something together.

Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen has been smart about pairing Dorance Armstrong and Daniel Wise together on the same side of the defensive line (the left side), which makes them a chore to block on passing downs and difficult to beat on runs.

They’ll be going up against the right side of the Texas OL and if the Longhorns haven’t improved and at that tackle position it could be a major challenge keeping Armstrong in particular under wraps.

The other top defender for their squad is Mike Lee, a 5’11” 176 pound safety that brings the kind of coverage and range you’d expect from a smaller player but is also a savage hitter and good open field tackler. The Jayhawks often align him and their DL tandem to the wide side of the field and try to force opponents into the boundary.

The biggest problem has been that their linebacker corps is indecisive and not disruptive. Courtney Arnick was the highest linebacker on their total tackles stat column and he finished third behind the safeties. The

Charles Omenihu

next highest linebacker finished seventh on

The Kansas offense is an Air Raid that lacks

It’s hard to see Texas dropping this one unless

the team in tackles behind the two star DL

a particularly terrifying cast of receivers,

they were terribly beat up and completely

and nickel Tevin Shaw.

especially now that LaQuvionte Gonzalez

overlooked the Jayhawks, the latter of which

has been kicked off the team, can’t run the

seems unlikely in light of last season.

Arnick is gone now but Kansas returns their

ball, and is choosing between unspectacular

top LB from 2015, Joe Dineen who missed

game managers at the QB position. They

48

inside texas

insidetexas.com

WEST VIRGINIA Morgantown, WV

|

November

T

18th

Head coach:

Dana Holgorsen

2016 Record: 10-3

| Big 12

Series Record:

West Virginia leads

4-2

exas has had some close battles with

teaching his system for a few years already

and get the ball out to someone that can burn them. It’s a tough deal.

the Mountaineers since Holgorsen’s

and West Virginia was able to plug in program

program joined the Big 12 but they’ve only

veterans at every position, so they ended up

played in Morgantown twice thus far. In those

being quite strong on defense once again.

two games, Texas is 1-1 and has yet to beat

Their offense is designed to beat their own defense, Grier’s arm can beat opponents

the Mountaineers on their own field within

The 2017 WVU defense will again be plugging

outside of the hash marks while their zone

regulation. At home in Austin, Texas is 1-2

in multi-year program vets to fill in their losses

run game commands attention in the middle

against Holgorsen with a big win in 2014 and

and it’s probably a good bet that they’ll end

of the field. Like Oklahoma State, they’ll use

then a pair of close losses in 2012 and 2016.

up being reasonably solid. Whether or not

an H-back to allow them to add an extra gap

they have DL ready to go that can match the

on their zone runs, this is one of the teams

disruption of Noble Nwachukwu or Darrien

in this league that can really give Texas fits if

There’s a wide diversity of opinions on what this West Virginia team will look like in 2017 due to their heavy losses from graduation.

On the negative side of the ledger, the Mountaineers are losing star center Tyler Orlovsky, QB Skyler Howard, all of their top wideouts, their entire DL, leading tackler (LB Justin Arndt), and both starting corners including Rasul Douglas who had eight interceptions a year ago. That’s a lot to replace, perhaps most particularly along the DL which is completely starting over.

On the positive side of the ledger, the Mountaineers return three starting OL and are plugging in guys at the other spots that have spent two offseasons with Joe Wickline.

Their wideouts include Kevin White’s talented younger brother and David Sills, who has always flashed great potential at the position when he wasn’t trying to be a QB. Fullback Elijah Wellman is back to escort star RB Justin

DeShon Elliott

Crawford, who ran for 1184 yards at 7.3 yards per carry last season. Most importantly, the

Howard isn’t clear yet but it’s not a good bet

they haven’t worked out how to beat blocks

Mountaineers are replacing Skyler Howard

to say that the whole defense will go over a

at linebacker.

with Florida transfer Will Grier, who brings

cliff. They’ll be tough and multiple again and

a vertical passing element that could really

their 3-3-5 design allows them to be masters

Like every other game on the schedule against

open up this offense.

of situational calls, always ganging up on your

a balanced offense, Texas will probably lean

favorite players and concepts with numbers.

heavily on DeShon Elliott in this game to read

Things look rougher on defense as they

the action and make tackles as a free hitter,

attempt to replace the line and a ton of

Beating West Virginia’s defense is similar to

hopefully bringing people down close to the

production...but that’s what I thought in

beating any other defense around the league,

line of scrimmage.

2016 as well. Last season the Mountaineers

you have to be able to overstress them in

were replacing literally the entire defensive

multiple areas of the field at the same time

Using a 200+ pound heavy hitter to clean up

backfield. All three linebackers and four out

and you can’t be predictable about which

behind the linebackers while the rest of the

of their five starting defensive backs all had

area you attack. Additionally, you have to be

secondary locks things down in man coverage

to be replaced. The key for DC Tony Gibson

able to hold up in protection when they bring

could prove to be a nice way to contain most

though was that he’d been installing and

their zero blitzes backed by man coverage

of the teams on the opposing schedule.

2017 Season Preview

49

TEXAS TECH Austin, Tx

|

November 24th

T

Head coach:

Kliff Kingsbury

2016 Record: 5-7 Series Record:

| Big 12

Texas leads 50-16-0

exas Tech is well positioned for a

and whether they can make any stops on

defensive backfield there’s still the problem

horrible season in which their defense is

defense.

of Tech’s lack along the defensive line.

still in a state of disrepair while their offense

There’s barely enough talent here to try and

no longer has Pat Mahomes II to put up 500

Defensive coordinator David Gibbs was

master something simple and flexible, much

yards of offense and keep them in the game

brought in from Houston to install a defense

less to wield the diverse array of fronts and

in the fourth quarter. They’re turning to Nic

designed to create turnovers, but it’s proven

coverages that Gibbs is trying to utilize to

Shimonek at QB, a Texas native but Iowa

to be a defense with too much in the playbook

create confusion and turnovers for offense.

transfer who’s been training under Kingsbury

for the Tech defenders to master and execute

Don’t expect Kingsbury’s focus on overseeing

for the last three seasons.

competently against Big 12 offenses.

defense and special teams to result in

Kingsbury virtually never lacks for good QB

Or perhaps it’s the culture fostered by

play on his teams and we’ve seen Texas Tech

Kingsbury that makes building hard-nosed

roll in experienced upperclassmen that throw

defenses difficult. My best guess is that both

improved development here either, how could it?

The

Tech

offense

is

looking

at

the

replacement of four starters on the offensive line, a true freshman starting at right guard in Jack Anderson, and then a WR corps losing top 2016 target Jonathan Giles to transfer.

The latter point has drawn the headlines but the former two points are probably the more telling harbingers of doom.

Kingsbury’s offense is creative and he’s always known how to teach inside receivers to attack defenses between the hash marks, they’ll be just fine without Giles. However you wonder if that OL will be able to protect Shimonek from good pressure packages or establish the run game against dime defenses.

It’s possible Texas Tech will be looking ahead to the coming offseason and considering whether Philip Montgomery could be the right answer by the time the Red Raiders roll into Kyle Porter

for 4k yards on many, many occasions.

have played a role and I don’t see solutions on the horizon.

skill players that can scare Texas, whether

Even if Tech’s infusion of JUCO talents like

they can run the ball against dime defense,

Jaylon Lane and Dakota Allen upgrade their

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Saddle up, this football season should be fun.

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The bigger questions are whether they have

50

Austin this season.

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Culpepper’s Commentary Questions for the 2017 Season

E

arlier this year, I predicted the Oklahoma State

by Pat Culpepper

I have some questions that remain:

Cowboys to be the most dangerous team in the Big 12 in 2017. There were those that disagreed,

1. Can Shane Buechele avoid the poor performances

but not Sports Illustrated’s college football preview, who

that helped lead to losses against Kansas and TCU?

put them right up there with Alabama, Ohio State, and

The youngster was shaken up and didn’t look healthy at

Florida State.

season’s end. Because he wasn’t. Buechele can’t run like Houston’s Greg Ward did, but he’s got to be a threat run-

My prediction is based on watching QB Mason Rudolph

ning the ball. At least enough to keep defenses honest.

throw passes to James Washington and Jalen McCleskey, as well as the running game of Justice Hill, who rushed

2. Will Malik Jefferson become the player he should be?

for 1,142 last season.

I admit he should have always been at outside linebacker.

Perhaps he has been slowed by injuries. He can be an ex-

The only team close to the Cowboys was Oklahoma, but

ceptional game-changer, but during the Strong years, Jef-

they’ve had so many weapons like Joe Mixon, Samaje

ferson did not become the threat at linebacker he should

Perine, and Dede Westbrook leave Norman, which for me

have, mostly from playing out of position.

leaves a big question mark.

3. Will Chris Warren shake off the injury bug? Does he On October 21st, the Cowboys come to Austin right after

run too straight up?

the OU game in Dallas. It’s part of a tough three-game

During the 60s, we had Tommy Ford, Jerry Cook, and Er-

stretch of Kansas State, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State.

nie Koy. They practiced tough, ran tough, and stayed on

The season preview even said the Longhorns had the

the field running pitch sweeps, counter traps, dives, and

toughest schedule of the top 22 teams in the nation.

option pitches. Texas desperately needs him to emerge as a tough leader and not be a “sometimes” player.

For sure, no one can really predict how this Texas team will perform. For the last few seasons, the Longhorns

4. Can the Longhorn secondary play outstanding foot-

have been inconsistent on the road, like a different team

ball?

that’s not focused and unable to play four tough quarters

It all started in California in the second half. I have a feel-

of football. It’s what got Charlie Strong and his staff fired,

ing that the addition of Brandon Jones at safety will make

pure and simple.

a difference for the better. Plus Boyd, Hill, and Davis have experience and talent.

This summer, I’ve been asked about the team from Texas fans more than ever. I answer with a positive tone each

5. Will the offensive line become the unit it has the

time. Strong left the Longhorns with lots of players.

potential to be?

You’ve got to have the talent to compete on a high level,

Patrick Vahe had a poor year in 2016. Zach Shackelford

but getting them there is the challenge Tom Herman and

at center had a difficult true freshman year and didn’t

his staff have before them.

seem able to shake nagging injuries. When healthy, he’s exceptional. The Texas line has lots of experience and

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Poona Ford (95) and Malcolm Roach (32) - Will Gallagher|IT

could become a real quality group, maybe even one of the

started on how this group more than held their own.

best in the nation?

It’s worth noting how proud I am of Connor Williams.

6. Can Texas us the threat that is Devin Duvernay?

From the get-go, his effort has been consistent, he is well

Last season he spent time being thrown sideline short

spoken and proven to be a warrior. He might not see him-

passes instead of deep outs, curls, and takeoff routes.

self as a leader, but he is for sure.

Then after OU, the seam and wheel-routes became more relevant. With Duvernay on one side and Collin Johnson

It won’t be long now, but college football will soon draw us

on the other, the field can be stretched.

back to Austin. The campus will be spectacular and the excitement in DKR-Memorial Stadium will be real. Some-

7. Will Chris Daniels lose enough weight so he can come

thing very, very good is coming to the 40 Acres. Snap

in and help out Poona Ford, Chris Nelson, and Malcolm

your chin strap.

Roach?

Of all the evaluations made by Herman this spring, the

Hook’Em

most surprising to me was the praise of his three defen-

Pat

sive line starters. He was shocked once the pad work Pat Culpepper played for The University from 1960-62 and graduated from UT with a B.A. degree with honors in history. Pat coached college football for 12 years as an assistant at Texas, Colorado, Tulane, Baylor and Memphis State and was head coach at Northern Illinois from 1976-79. He also spent 16 years as a high school coach in Texas at Midland, Lufkin, Galveston Ball, Westfield and his hometown of Cleburne. He was selected to the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1991. His commentary appears regularly in the Inside Texas magazine and at InsideTexas.com.

- Sam Ehlinger -

BEST TAILGATING? GAME ON. CHEESE TRAYS, CURED MEATS, AND CRAFT BEER & WINE PAIRINGS. 54

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