Inside Texas October 4, 2021 | Texas vs TCU

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OCTOBER 4, 2021

BIJAN GOES BIG

Bijan Robinson shreds TCU for 217 yards in 32-27 win.

THIS WEEK: Cook Horns earn a hard-earned win in Ft. Worth

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Five Quick Thoughts |

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Runnin’ Robinson |

by Joe

by Ian

Boyd

Ian’s five takeaways from TCU

Post Mortem |

by

Scipio Tex

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Breakdown of Longhorn Offense and Defense vs. Horned Frogs

Recruitng Trail News |

by

Gerry Hamilton

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An update of where Texs stands in the 2022 recruiting class

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Texas vs TCU | October 4, 2021

October 4, 2021

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RUNNIN' ROBINSON SENIOR NIGH

BY JOE COOK

by Joe Cook

FORT WORTH — On a third-and-goal from the TCU two-yard line midway through the fourth quarter, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian sent in goal line personnel and handed the ball off to Bijan Robinson, who gained one yard. He did it again on fourth down, and Robinson was stuffed at the one.

The Horned Frogs drove 99 yards on 13 plays in response to make it 32-27 with 4:23 to go. When faced with a third-and-six and needing a first down to seal Texas’ first win in Fort Worth since 2013, even though everyone in Amon G. Carter Stadium knew Robinson was getting the ball, Sarkisian once again placed his trust in Robinson.

LAWRENCE — With a spot in the Big 12 Championship on the line, all the Texas Longhorns had to do was get past Kansas. 3-8 Kansas. 1-7 in conference play Kansas. Lame duck coach Kansas

TEXAS KNEW WHAT OPPORTUNITY WAS AHEAD OF IT BEFORE ITS TOP 25 GAME WITH IOWA STATE. IF ANY LONGHORN DIDN’T, IT WAS UNAVOIDABLE IN PREGAME WHEN THE VIDEO BOARD SHOWED OKLAHOMA STATE TOPPING WEST VIRGINIA.

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IN THE GAME THEY PLAYED SATURDAY INSTEAD OF WATCHED, THE NO. 13 LONGHORNS SUFFOCATED THE NO. 18 IOWA STATE CYCLONES. inside texas

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HT SUCCESS

EVEN WITH QUARTERBACK SAM EHLINGER NOT PLAYING IN THE SECOND HALF. THE LONGHORNS’ DEFENSE AND CONSISTENT RUNNING ATTACK SECURED A 24-10 WIN, AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TEXAS TO PLAY IN THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A WIN AT KANSAS.

October 4, 2021

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Bijan Robinson

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On his 35th carry of the game, Robin-

last one was the most important one to

subtle attempts to send a message to

son gained 13 yards to reach the line

get one more first down to seal the win.”

his team. He believed they could get two yards. He trusted Robinson would find

to gain, capping a 216-yard, two-score outing. Texas knelt out the remainder of

Said quarterback Casey Thompson:

the end zone. He believed, if stopped,

the clock to seal the five-point win.

“Third-and-nine, third-and-seven, it

Texas’ defense would hold.

doesn’t matter. I think we’re pretty safe “It was just awesome to see how Coach

running behind Bijan.”

Though he went unrewarded, Sarkisian consistently tried to go with his best

Sark trusts me to get the first down and get that big run so we could end the

Sarkisian has repeated since his hire

option, especially when it became ap-

game,” Robinson said.

that he operates a run-first football team.

parent his passing game was not going

Even on third-and-medium with the

to offer much help. He did so for nearly

Sarkisian’s trust was not rewarded on

game in its deciding moments, he held

the entirety of the Big 12 contest, and

the first two go-rounds with Robinson

true to that mantra.

especially so with the game on the line.

near the goal line. But those two plays

“A couple thoughts crossed my mind,

Robinson averaged 6.2 yards per carry

didn’t cause him to lose faith in his star

but ultimately I felt like the best option

behind an offensive line that lost starting

back.

was to get him the ball and see if we

left guard Denzel Okafor on Robinson’s

have a chance to go get a first down,”

27-yard score in the first quarter to make

Sarkisian said.

it 10-7 Texas.

The goal line tries, Sarkisian said, were

He added a score in the second quarter

when he tried to make it a 39-20 game

“I think No. 5 epitomized our football team,” Sarkisian said. “The grit, he was exhausted. Thirty-five carries later, the

to complete a seven-play, 55yard drive to give Texas a lead it would not relinquish.

And play after play, Robinson was a problem for a TCU defense playing at less than full strength. He was responsible for almost 80 percent of Texas’ 272yard performance on the ground, finding creases and avoiding tackles.

The best move in his repertoire?

A spin move Horned Frog defenders could rarely handle.

“That spin move is pretty dangerous in space,” Robinson said.

“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t work. I’ve just got to keep timing it up. I think that setting up defenders and then

Jordan Whittington

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making that spin move, they’re just not

win. In addition to Overshown, Anthony

99-yard drive. The Longhorns committed

looking for that. They’re looking for a

Cook recorded eight tackles, two TFL, a

nine penalties and amassed nine points

head up tackle. When you spin, they just

sack that forced TCU’s Max Duggan to

off three Horned Frog turnovers.

get shocked and then we’ve got to come out of it some way.”

It’s one Texas defenders were very familiar with. Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who finished with a gamehigh 10 tackles and a fumble recovery, said he and his teammates are familiar with the challenge of trying to wrangle Robinson. After seeing his performance against an opposing defense, and when asked postgame, Overshown said what a lot of people are currently thinking.

“Best running back in the country, and I stand on it,” he said.

Robinson said he had never toted the rock as many times as he did in Fort Worth. The more opportunities with the ball, the more chances a defender could break the ball loose, something could go awry in the blocking, or, worst of all, something could happen to Robinson.

It’s a risk Sarkisian has to balance.

Demarvion Overshown

But the star runner is willing to take on whatever his head coach puts on his shoulders.

lose the football, and a recovery on that same play.

“I can handle as many as the team

“I’d much rather win ugly than lose pretty,” Sarkisian said.

needs,” Robinson said. “It doesn’t matter

Jordan Whittington had three receptions

what it is. I earned the carries that I did

for 79 yards and a fourth-quarter score.

get. It’s just a blessing that I just came

It may have been an ugly win, but it wouldn’t have ended up that way were it

out healthy with all those kind of carries,

Cameron Dicker was 4-for-4 on field

but whatever helps the team win that’s

goals. One of his punts was downed in-

what I want to do.”

side the 20. The other traveled 52 yards.

not for Robinson’s running.

Put simply by Sarkisian: “We leaned on No. 5 and found a way to get a win on

Though Robinson’s excellence was

There were issues for Texas, too.

the road, which is tough to do against

the top story, other Longhorns turned

Thompson has given better performanc-

good teams.”

in performances that contributed to the

es through the air. Texas surrendered a Jean Delance

October 4, 2021

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thoughts

by Ian Boyd

This was Bijan Robinson’s greatest game yet as a Longhorn.

35 carries, 216 yards at 6.2 ypc with two touchdowns. This wasn’t the SMU gameplan, Gary Patterson packed Frog de-

TCU knew they needed to stop Bijan Robinson to win this

fenders around the box and they couldn’t stop him. TCU has to

game. Play-action was there for Texas, as were some RPOs

be questioning now whether Gary is long for the job after sur-

such as the game-winner to Jordan Whittington, but Casey

rendering 200+ rushing yards in back to back games against

Thompson finished just 12-22 for 144 yards at 6.5 ypa with a

hated, in-state rivals.

touchdown and an interception.

Meanwhile, Texas hands TCU a stinging loss in what may On a 3rd-and-8 before the touchdown pass to Whittington,

have been the last time they’ll play the Frogs on the road in

Texas called outside zone for Bijan and converted. Later with

a long time.

a chance to run out the clock and keep the ball from the Frogs, they called a counter run on 3rd-and-6 and Bijan delivered again.

#1: Great

game for the texas offensive front

At least in the run game. The Frogs got two sacks from right end Dylan Horton going up against Christian Jones. Texas blasted the Frogs all day with split zone runs, often from 12 personnel with Cade Brewer sliding back to pick off Frog ends while the tackle blocked down.

Interestingly enough, the tackle blocking down was often Andrej Karic. Denzel Okafor went down with a nasty looking injury after getting sideswiped and Kyle Flood’s adjustment was to slide Derek Kerstetter inside to left guard and insert fan favorite Karic in at right tackle. Results were positive for Texas.

There were issues on the goal line. Texas tried a two point play with three receivers lined up to block for a flexed out Bijan Robinson on an obvious bubble screen option, Casey Thompson had a draw option in the box, and Joshua Moore was isolated up top on a cornerback. Naturally the Frogs loaded up for the bubble and the draw and forced the fade, which was stuffed.

Then Texas’ jumbo package was stopped at the one-yard line on back to back snaps, breathing life into Amon Carter Stadium and TCU’s chances.

Nevertheless, aside from those issues Texas dominated the game on the ground running the ball repeatedly with Bijan Robinson.

Andrej Karic (69), Junior Angilau (75) and Jake Majors (65)

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#2 Conservative

gameplan on defense Once again, Pete Kwiatkowski brought a conservative gameplan in, content to play a lot of quarters (two-high) and allow the Frogs to spread them out underneath against the run. The reasoning was clearly a belief TCU wouldn’t be able to sustain drives and finish in the red zone.

It worked out pretty well. Zach Evans gave them fits with 15 carries for 113 yards but TCU had to rely on the quarterback run game when Max Duggan couldn’t find anywhere to throw. Duggan ended up with 16 carries himself for 33 yards and on the day TCU had 169 on 41 for 4.1 ypc and two touchdowns. Bijan Robinson outproduced their entire run game.

There’s a lot of upside for the defense within this conservative, “make em beat us consistently” approach as the season progresses.

The Texas D-line should improve, especially as the weather cools

Luke Brockermeyer

down, and as DeMarvion Overshown continues to learn where the ball is going they’ll really pick it up. He had 10 tackles in this game, eight solo tackles, but unfortunately also ripped an interception from Luke Brockermeyer’s hands. Brockermeyer had nine tackles and was quietly pretty good despite being singled out by the announcer for being blocked by Zach Evans on quarterback lead runs.

Also within this approach on defense…

October 4, 2021

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- 5 Q uick T houghts | TCU -

#3 Anthony Cook Cook has not yet received enough love in this column for his play at nickel but the day has come. He had eight tackles, six solo, and two tackles for loss which included a sack-strip when he was blitzed off the edge and found Max Duggan unawares.

He’s excellent working the flat in the quarters schemes with Jerrin Thompson over the top. Opponents have struggled to establish the screen game, he gets to arrives as a slightly late but still valuable defender in the run fit from the far hash, and he can blitz. In a close win wherein Texas defended the spread run pretty effectively from two-high coverage and he forced a turnover, there’s a lot of ways you can credit Cook for the victory.

Anthony Cook

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- 5 Q uick T houghts | TCU -

#4 Texas

fared better in a grind it out game

I expected this game might be a defensive struggle and

in which they have to sustain drives against the conserva-

it would favor Texas due to their better offensive line play

tive defense while holding up themselves against Bijan

and more versatile overall unit.

and company running behind multi-tight end sets. It’s a similar formula as Iowa State employs.

Special teams were also a big factor. TCU had the huge initial return and a few good punts but then muffed a punt

You can win a lot of games in the Big 12 in this fashion if

return. Cameron Dicker had a clean game going 4-4 on

you take care of the ball and consistently win in the red

field goals and kicking a pair of good punts.

zone. Today was mixed in both regards, but this team has a higher ceiling if they could add another dimension.

The identity of the team is set up to lure teams into slogs

Bijan Robinson

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- 5 Q uick T houghts | TCU -

#5 Texas

needs the playaction game next week

Xavier Worthy had six targets and only one catch, on a sweep across

rest of the game and put it on Bijan’s shoulders. The interception and

the formation which was a forward pitch. He had a few drops going

many other deep throws hung in the air and allowed TCU defenders

up against a good TCU cornerback crew and was definitely held

to recover.

on Casey Thompson’s interception (not that he was catching that anyways) but the bigger issue is Texas’ problems finding the range of

Thompson has done many things well this season and made a few

their receivers down the field.

key plays in this game, including a strong 3rd-and-3 conversion on a scramble, but his struggles throwing the deep ball set a ceiling on a

Steve Sarkisian opened up the game throwing dig-post on the TCU

power running team with a lot of unrealized potential to burn teams

strong safety, a play-call which came against a coverage I’ve repeat-

over the top.

edly identified as a weak spot for the Horned Frogs. The Longhorns got Josh Moore open on the post route and missed.

Texas will face another huge game next week and teams will move to load the box on Bijan Robinson, they’ll need to do a lot more damage

Texas’ decision to run Bijan on multiple big third down plays all reflect

on RPOs and play-action than they did against the Horned Frogs to

the same reality, it was a bad game for Casey Thompson. In addition

keep winning.

to missing multiple play-action opportunities, he was nearly picked by linebackers twice in one drive before Sark dialed it back for the

Xavier Worthy

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POST-MORTEM |

O F F E N S E

by Scipio Tex Bijan Robinson hammered the Frogs for 216 yards on 35 car-

Sark lacked confidence in the Texas passing offense and the

ries and caught another 2 passes for 22 yards while notching

Horns had to adjust to a game plan meant to protect Casey

two touchdowns. As Sark has demonstrated at prior stops, he’s

Thompson. That was evident fairly early with Thompson misdial-

not going to shy away from milking his bell cow. Bijan broke 15

ing on open Longhorn receivers, twice trying to throw intercep-

tackles in the game and the last six plays run by the Longhorn

tions to TCU linebackers, and reaffirmed when he threw up a

offense were handoffs to #5.

punt into triple coverage before the half.

Other than a 27 yard touchdown run that was a Rembrandt,

Given the passing game struggles, it is not coincidence that Bi-

Robinson primarily did his work a few hard yards at a time:

jan got the ball on 3rd and 4 with goal to go (TD), a 3rd and 9 in

making a man miss, refusing first contact tackles, demonstrating

the 4th quarter (9 yard run, first down), and a pair of 4th quarter

terrific vision, moving the pile, singlehandedly willing a struggling

goal line carries that screamed play action situation against a

Texas offense to victory.

sold out TCU run defense (Texas failed to convert). The coup de

BIJAN ROBINSON (5) AND MARCUS WASHINGTON (15)

October 4, 2021

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grace was a 3rd and 6 handoff late in the 4th quarter that Bijan

ders a free run sack - even if you feel he “should do something

converted to effectively seal the Longhorn win. Texas ran the

and be a winner” - or that Xavier Worthy’s drops happened

ball in those situations not just because Bijan is awesome, but

because Thompson coats the ball in Crisco.

because Sark couldn’t trust his passing game execution.

QB The Texas passing offense was bad. That’s an aggregate

Casey Thompson played poorly. As I’ve written for several

statement that encompasses the QB, one WR, and one OT. It

weeks running, he has a weak arm and his inability to throw the

does not encompass Sark, who realized pretty quickly that he

ball with any velocity, variety, and rhythm down the field is cost-

was going to be calling the passing game with his laminate tied

ing the Longhorns easy points and creating turnover opportuni-

behind his back. Despite the fact that TCU was starting a terrible

ties. “It’s fine because we won” isn’t sound thinking.

cornerback opposite Hodges-Tomlinson and has a couple of safeties that were begging to be exploited down field after the

Sark is scheming up touchdowns in the passing game that are

Carter targeting ejection.

turning into wasted downs. See the Longhorns’ first play from scrimmage in the contest. Should’ve been a Joshua Moore

Warning: I will break down each unit and evaluate their actual

TD. That inability to counter punch will be exploited by better

level of play. That means when Casey throws the ball, the

opponents.

receiver catching it is irrelevant to the quality of his throw and decision making. I’m evaluating the throw. If your response is

Thompson finished the first half 6 of 14 for 47 yards and an

“Yeah, but still” or “But winners win and look at this drive data

interception. He was 2 of 7 for 11 yards in the 2nd quarter.

against Rice!” or “receiver drops drain the psychic energy of the

Beyond the stats - which are influenced by factors outside of

QB and make his arm weak” then we watch a different game

his control like drops - grading his actual throws and decisionmaking yields a D grade.

He played better in the second half, but Sark limiting him to 8 passing attempts despite a TCU secondary begging to be exploited was not due to Sark’s negligence. It was appropriate caution. The wide open RPO touchdown to Jordan Whittington was a key play and it certainly punished Patterson for crowding the box.

Tip your hat to Casey for delivering there. The other long completion to Whittington was a poor throw made right by an exceptional effort from the receiver. Those two throws effectively comprised his statistical second half rally. Again, I’m not

JUNIOR ANGILAU (75) AND JAKE MAJORS (65)

relying on inference. I’m watching and that’s cool and have fun and be a fan. Conversely, it also

the plays and grading them.

means it’s not Thompson’s fault when Christian Jones surren-

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Thompson did run the ball opportunistically and his best play

and Keilan. I’m a RoJo fan and love everything he brings, but

was a 41 yard scramble on a roll out where he eluded one Frog

he didn’t run through contact well in this game. 7 carries for 22

defender and then took advantage of green grass to take the

yards. He did make up for it with a nice block for Bijan out of

ball out past midfield.

WR/TE Xavier Worthy looked like a freshman, dropping three balls and blocking terribly at some key moments. He and Josh Moore combined for absolute whiffs on the play side of a Casey Thompson called run near the goal line in the 3rd quarter (go to 1:21 in the Youtube full game to see it). The coaches on the sideline were not pleased.

Whittington was fantastic and an absolute bright spot in an otherwise poor performance by the receivers. 3 catches for 79 yards and a beastly effort on his downfield catch to bail out Thompson’s throw and a nifty touchdown with YAC burning a loaded Frog box. Washington is a game blocker.

Brewer played well as a blocker, Wiley often did not.

OL A very frustrating effort from Christian Jones in the first half. He gave up a free run sack to his inside on Thompson where he never contacted the DE (maybe he thought he had help, but definitely did not) and then gave up a free run tackle for loss to the same player on the same inside stunt.

Again, he didn’t touch him. Jones stabilized and got it cleaned up for a while, but struggled again when TCU inserted 220 pound Khari Coleman to sprint off of the edge and disrupt. Coleman is one a trick pony who can’t bull

BIJAN ROBINSON

rush Jones. So get light on your feet, let him come to you, and push the sprinter past the QB and let the QB step up into the window. Or ride him out in the run game and punish the

20 personnel where he lit up a TCU linebacker. Keilan moves

Frogs for going small.

at a different speed out there and the staff involved him with 2 catches for 13 yards.

Denzel Okafor went out for the game on Bijan’s 27 yard touchdown run. Texas reconfigured, putting Karic at right tackle with

Final

Kerstetter going to left guard. Angilau continues to get good

Gary Patterson was justifiably terrified of exposing his shaky

displacement in the interior running game.

secondary and was reluctant to crowd the box other than on some key downs and late in the game when the Frogs trailed.

RB

Alex Grinch will expose his secondary and dare Casey Thomp-

Belaboring Bijan’s greatness isn’t necessary, so I’ll talk Roschon

son to make big throws.

October 4, 2021

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POST-MORTEM |

D E F E N S E

OVIE OGHOUFO (18) AND T’VONDRE SWEAT (93)

Who Forted?

Patterson another year of prima nocta and the right to

Texas notched its first win in Ft Worth since 2013. It

that he can get on the telephone.

didn’t look pretty and TCU isn’t a particularly good foot-

lodge an irritating ear worm in the brain of every recruit

ball team, but when the game starts like this one did by

I’ve seen Texas fold too many times against the Frogs

an opponent who has been a bugbear in the Longhorn

over the field Saturday to not value the win.

giving up a game-opening kick return on the road against psyche...and the team takes the blow, shrugs it off, and grinds out the W, I will take it, thank you very much.

Better to learn through an ugly win than a loss that grants

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inside texas

like the cheap laundry that the referees were throwing all

That written, this defense has much to improve on, particularly when facing more competent offenses.

insidetexas.com

After the Tech balls deep debacle, PK was determined

In aggregate, the Texas defensive effort doesn’t look

keep TCU’s Max Duggan from hitting opportunistic deep

qualitatively, it kinda felt bad at times, didn’t it? Especially

to play the Longhorn safeties in Burleson and Denton to balls. That passive strategy, while at times frustrating,

limited the Frog passing game to a longest completion

of 25 yards and held Duggan to less than 10 yards per

completion (20 of 28 for 182 yards, 1 touchdown pass)

bad (351 yards surrendered, 5.1 yards per play). But

on that 99 yard touchdown drive. TCU also cost itself

opportunities with three turnovers, two of them basically unforced.

and 6.5 yards per attempt.

Special Teams

There were plenty of wide open TCU receivers in the soft

Watch it, then never look upon it again. Gia’s Dad isn’t

Texas zone, but PK counted on Duggan’s inability to execute intermediate throws and on OC Doug Meacham’s limited play book.

At times, it felt like Zach Evans’ pitch count was the best Horn run defense. Evans: 15 carries, 113 yards, 1 td, no

negative runs, but Texas was largely solid against the QB run game as Duggan never ran for more than 10 yards

The 87 yard TCU kick return to start the game was ugly. going to be happy with either the lack of aggression or the lane indiscipline on that coverage. Props to Keilan

Robinson for finishing the play and tackling the Frog kick returner on the UT 15.

Dicker was 4 for 4 on field goals, but one of them was just a little too close for comfort.

on a single play and the QB draw game was snuffed

Texas did a solid job returning kickoffs, averaging 26.2

critical downs).

cost Texas about 30 yards in field position and the Horns

(contrast this with the brutal Longhorn effort in 2020 on

per, but D’shawn Jamison’s failure to field a pair of punts

ANTHONY COOK (11)

October 4, 2021

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ing his work, he went and made the recovery. Cook had another beastly play attacking a TCU WR screen where he

blew past a blocker and inflicted a two yard loss. He finished with 8 tackles,

2 tfl, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery.

There’s another play on a Duggan

keeper where he lit up Evans as the lead blocker and it seemed to take

a little spring out of Zach’s step. The

penalty on him for the Duggan hit was also utter nonsense. Anthony Cook is

my current Longhorn Defensive MVP. Josh Thompson missed the game and

that may have also played a role in the game plan. Darion Dunn got the start-

ing nod and I think Crawford got some run as well, but couldn’t always see where he was subbing.

BJ Foster had a few mystifying snaps where he seemed to lose sight of the

ball. Lacks closing speed in pass coverage. 5 tackles.

DEMARVION OVERSHOWN

Jerrin Thompson had a bad missed

also had a personal foul that subtracted 15 yards from a return.

Overall, not the dominance we’ve seen over the prior two weeks. Texas will need this unit firing against the Sooners in Dallas to create some momentum shifts.

in Longhorn zone coverage.

LB

Tough outing at times for this unit. Brockermeyer gutted through multiple injuries to record 9 tackles, but playing

DB

They need to be evaluated within the scheme that PK

wanted them to play and that plan put an emphasis on not letting Purple jerseys run past ‘em, tackling, and anticipation.

Tackling and anticipation are works in progress, but not letting the ball over their heads was a win. At least they executed the thing that that alignment was built to do.

A fantastic game-changing play from Anthony Cook and a good play call from PK. Cook delivered a smart blow,

forced the fumble, and rather than stand and flex admir-

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tackle in the open field, but was other-

wise solid. 5 tackles. Visibly frustrated at times by gaps

inside texas

him at 70% is testament to how the staff feels about the

alternatives. Overshown had 10 tackles and made a ter-

rific play scraping inside across a blocker on a 3rd down Zach Evans run near the goal line to save a touchdown,

but Demarvion spends a little too much time in confusion.

He was bailed out on a poor Duggan throw on an early 3rd down when he turned his back to the line of scrimmage and lost his assignment. TCU also made Texas

pay for letting #0 get isolated against a slot on the Duggan TD throw. Jaylan Ford got some run and finished with 3 tackles.

insidetexas.com

Too many missed tackles from this unit overall. Pursuit angles need to improve.

DL

For the second straight week, you won’t find Keondre Coburn in the box score even though he was on the field and got the

start. T’vondre Sweat is playing much better ball now and has supplanted Coburn as the significantly more useful interior

body. Sweat finished with 4 tackles and had a key tipped ball on a Frog 3rd down.

Ojomo was very quiet and had limited snaps. A little hobbled?

Jacoby Jones had an active game and even a little dominant

stretch late in the 1st half with a pair of pressures and drew a personal foul penalty from a frustrated Frog tackle. Jumping

offsides on a 4th and 1 was naughty, but he was bailed out by Doug Meacham’s perm.

PK likes to pair Alfred Collins and Ovie Oghoufo in a rotation

I like to call Feast or Famine. Both are good at creating some havoc with their quickness or getting completely washed

out with an ill-advised guess. He also likes to pair Vernon

Broughton and Byron Murphy - High and Low. Pads, that is.

Join the Conversation

Spotlight on Byron Murphy. He had one series in the late

second half where he jacked up a TCU guard and drove him into the runner to create a loss and then had a big tackle for

loss on Duggan on a 3rd and 2. He’s really coming along and weak OL with poor leverage struggle against him. Good pad level, motor.

No Barryn Sorrell, which brought Jett Bush back into the

rotation. Bush had a nice hustle play on a 3 man rush, but he also drew a personal foul and loses the battle of physics at

the point of attack. He can’t create his own pressure, but can at times be an active chaser/hustle guy when someone else disrupts.

Texas needs someone, anyone, to bring it from the edge with some consistency.

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19

RECRUITING TRAIL NEWS Texas Builds Momentum Following Win Over TCU

The Texas Longhorns are sitting at 4-1 headed into the Red River Showdown next week. With the win over TCU today, Steve Sarkisian and staff have grabbed added momentum on the trail.

Jaydon Blue, Klein (Texas) Cain On300 Ranking: No. 188 Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

The Longhorns are in position to make a run at a top 3

Wide Receiver

Texas takes a look at the possibilities for the class with

On300 ranking: No. 256

class with one more big win at the Cotton Bowl. Inside more than 15 On300 prospects still on the board.

Armani Winfield, Lewisville (Texas) Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

Quarterback

Top Targets:

Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

Evan Stewart, Frisco (Texas) Liberty

QB Maalik Murphy, Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra

by Gerry Hamilton

On300 ranking: No. 4 *Texas is looking at options for a potential second signal caller in

Florida, Alabama, Texas, LSU and possibly Texas A&M continue

the class. The staff has been in contact with No. 63 and current

to being the mix. Alabama OV November 6 looms large.

USC verbal Devin Brown (Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon).

Running Back

Jamarion Miller, Tyler (Texas) Legacy On300 Ranking: No. 94 Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

Jordan Hudson, Garland (Texas) On300 ranking: No. 22 The SMU verbal will make an official visit to Texas October 16.

Jeff Banks and Andre Coleman are all over this one.

Brenen Thompson, Spearman (Texas) On300 ranking: No. 40 Texas leads Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. Texas A&M has the chance to fight back next weekend, should the speedster make the visit as scheduled.

Shazz Preston, Saint James (La.) On300 ranking: No. 101 Alabama, Georgia, Texas and LSU the final four. He has been on campus at Mississippi State this season to watch his older brother. OV’s to Alabama, Georgia and LSU to be scheduled.

Texas is hoping to get the 4 star back on campus this season.

Kevin Coleman, Saint Louis (Mo.) St. Mary’s On300 ranking: No. 223 Coleman is scheduled to make an official to Texas October 16.

USC is also on the schedule for November. Arizona State and Florida State are in in. Oregon could make a push.

Tight End

Jaleel Skinner, Greer High (S.C.) IMG Academy On300 ranking: No. 17 JAMARION MILLER

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Skinner is scheduled to be at Clemson today as the Tigers try

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to win out late. Texas’ Jeff Banks has done a good job with the father. Florida had a lot of confidence late this week, but that rug has been pulled before. Skinner began the process loving the Gators. He remains in play for Alabama.

Offensive Line

OG Connor Robertson, Austin (Texas) Westlake On300 ranking: No. 253 Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes C/G Cole Hutson, Frisco (Texas) Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes Top targets: OL Devon Campbell, Arlington (Texas) Bowie On300 ranking: No. 19 Campbell is watching Alabama maul Ole Miss right now. Oklahoma and USC have received unofficial this season. Texas is expecting the last official visit. LSU could also receive an OV. MAALIK MURPHY

OT/IOL Neto Umeozulu, Allen (Texas) On300 ranking: No. 61 Texas is in the mix here, but this is a wildcard recruitment. Even the college coaches don’t have a good feel for this one. Texas

Aaron Bryant, Southaven (Miss.)

On300 ranking: No. 216

A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma and USC also involved.

Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

OT/IOL Kam Dewberry, Humble (Texas) Atascocita

Zac Swanson, Phoenix (Ariz.) Brophy College Prep

On300 ranking: No. 121 The 4 star made an official visit to Oklahoma in September. He’s expected at Texas A&M October 9. Texas working to get final OV over Alabama.

IOL Earnest Greene, Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco On300 ranking: No. 131 The 4 star guard will be in Austin for an official October 16. He made September OV’s to Ohio State and Georgia. USC will lurk.

There is push to Ohio State by a couple of people close, not family.

OT/IOL Cameron Williams, Duncanville (Texas) The Oregon verbal is expected to be at The Cotton Bowl Octo-

Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes Top target: Quency Wiggins, Baton Rouge (La.) On300 ranking: No. 55 Officials to Florida October 9 and Texas October 16. Alabama and LSU will receive OV’s as well.

EDGE

J’Mond Tapp, Donaldsville (La.) Ascension Catholic On300 ranking: No. 175 Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes LSU isn’t giving up on the 4 star in state prospect. Texas has to

ber 9. Texas remains in contact.

recruit Tapp like he is not committed. An Alabama OV remains

Defensive Line

Derrick Brown, Texarkana (Texas) Texas High

On300 ranking: No. 59

Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

Kristopher Ross, Houston (Texas) North Shore Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes Jaray Bledsoe, Marlin (Texas) On300 ranking: No. 70

possible too.

On300 ranking: No. 221

Justice Finkley, Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trussville On300 ranking: No. 285 Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

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Defensive Back

S Bryan Allen Jr., Aledo (Texas) On300 ranking: No. 102 Committed: #AllGasNoBrakes S Austin Jordan, Denton (Texas) Ryan On300 ranking: No. 227 Committed: #AllGasNoBrakes CB Ronald Lewis, New Orleans (La.) Warren Easton Committed: #AllGasNoBrakes Top Targets: S Bryce Anderson, Beaumont (Texas) West Brook On300 ranking: No. 23 The Texas A&M verbal remains in frequent contact with the Texas staff. That includes a zoom call with Steve Sarkisian late last week.

S Jacoby Mathews, Ponchatoula (La.) On300 ranking: No. 42 Will be at the Cotton Bowl Saturday, and likely Texas for an official October 16. Texas A&M and LSU in it too. Wildcard recruitment.

DERRICK BROWN

Anthony Jones, Henderson (Nv.) Liberty Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

S Larry Turner-Gooden, Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Alemany LTG will make an official to Texas October 16. Penn State already received an OV. USC, Arizona State and LSU round out the current list. Texas staff has been confident for weeks.

Linebacker

Trevell Johnson, Arlington (Texas) Martin

CB Denver Harris, Houston (Texas) North Shore

Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

On300 ranking: No. 12

Eoghan Kerry, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei

to be able to tell Nick Saban no at the end of the day.

Committed to: #AllGasNoBrakes

Texas making some headway in this one. LSU in it. Harris has

CB Terrance Brooks, Little Elm (Texas)

Top targets:

On300 ranking: No. 15

Harold Perkins, Cypress (Texas) Cy Park

quently. IT expects the 5 star corner on campus this season.

The Ohio State verbal and family are in contact with Texas fre-

On300 ranking: No. 8 Texas has had the 5 star on campus twice this season. Perkins is at LSU this weekend. He’s expected at Texas A&M October 9.

Specialists

Lander Barton, Salt Lake City (Utah) Brighton

Committed: #AllGasNoBrakes

On300 ranking: No. 176 Barton made an official last weekend. He’s scheduled to be at Utah October 16 and Oregon October 30. UCLA could receive

K Will Stone, Austin Regents School

LS Lance St. Louis, Williams Field (AZ) Committed: #AllGasNoBrakes

an OV as well.

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