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2014 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

COVERING UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SPORTS

(V. 21, NO. 6) DISPLAY UNTIL NOV. 2014

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STRONG DAYS AHEAD

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STRONG’S NEW STAFF TOP 10 DIFFERENCE MAKERS SCHEDULE ANALYSIS LONGHORNS IN THE NFL

TEXAS CHARGES TOWARD 2014 SEASON WITH A NEW MAN UPFRONT ED E R S IR C URN D T CE RE

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

Charlie Strong continues to push the football team to its limits as the fall season approaches.

CONTENTS FEATURES

FOOTBALL

Building Their Own Legacy Change took hold of the Texas football program between the 2013 Alamo Bowl and the publication of this issue. With a new coaching staff, fresh players and a five-phase plan in place, the Longhorns look to rebuild the program. In our 2014 Football Preview, we take a closer look at Strong’s coaching staff (pg. 40), profile defensive end Cedric Reed (pg. 48) and the players who we believe will make the biggest impact this season (pg. 44). This issue also contains our annual pundits’ picks (pg. 89), bar bets (pg. 90), as well as a look at the Longhorns’ senior players (pg. 68) and the recruits (pg. 80) who look to fill their shoes one day.

34 VOLLEYBALL Perfectly Positioned The 2013 season ended abruptly for the Texas volleyball team. After returning all but one player, the 2012 National Champions looked to bring the title back to Austin for the second consecutive season. Unfortunately Wisconsin defeated the Longhorns in the Final Four, cutting their season short. This year, Texas volleyball looks to learn from their mistakes in order to prepare for its next title run. Two freshmen with national experience join a 2014 squad overflowing with talent and led by powerhouse Haley Eckerman.

FI RS T LO O K

M A RK YO U R C A LE N D A R

RO U N D U P

T HE D K R FU N D — James Schleicher

M E D I A VO I C E S

T HE HA B E O N T HE HO RN S — Steve Habel

FI N A L S C O RE

COVER PHOTO: ALL PHOTOS JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

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JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

DEPARTMENTS

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

FROM THE PUBLISHER

ear Horns Illustrated Reader, The Horns Illustrated team proudly brings you the 2014 Football Preview Issue. Our biggest — and arguably most important — issue of the year comes together in a flurry of excitement from one year to the next. This year, the issue comes with an air of anticipation as Texas fans await Charlie Strong’s first season at the helm of Longhorn football. Every new season comes with a certain amount of change — players graduate and a new crop of freshmen arrive with the hopes of one day filling the spots vacated by those who came before them. Some years, an assistant coach may move to a different school, leaving a position group to adjust to a new coach’s methods. For the first time in 16 years, the change will stand out much more when the Longhorns kickoff their season on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Instead of looking for the man with his hands on his knees, all eyes will fall on a man in a turtleneck (Strong’s signature look) at the center of the Texas bench. As long as he has a set of headphones and a hundred win-hungry football players behind him, should anyone care what he’s wearing? Many will tout, but I’m not sure anyone really knows exactly what to expect from this year’s team. In the words of head baseball coach Augie Garrido, “It’s better to have no expectations and excel than to put the unnecessary expectations out there and live in fear of not meeting those expectations.” Regardless, Strong has made it clear that this year’s team will come out with a goal to put the “T back in Texas.” The group has a heightened focus on toughness, trust, togetherness and teamwork. In this year’s “Media Voices Roundtable” (pg. 26) Jon Madani and Rod Babers of AM 1300 The Zone, along with lifetime Longhorn Johnny Walker, discuss what they think we’ll see in the fall. I also recommend taking a look at “Pundits’ Picks” (pg. 89). Maybe even write down a few picks of your own and see how they pan out come January. This year’s football preview comes bursting at the seams with everything you need to know about this year’s squad. The football preview section starts by taking a look at the staff Strong put together (“A Few Good Men”, pg. 40). Then we have a feature on Cedric Reed, who had the option of departing for the NFL at the end of last season, but chose to return for his senior year at Texas (pg. 48). We’ll see if he can occupy the shadows left behind at defensive end by legendary Longhorns Brian Orakpo and Jackson Jeffcoat. Following a look at the 2014 roster, we take an in-depth look at each 2014 opponent in this year’s “Schedule Analysis” (pg. 55). The issue closes with Pundits’ Picks (pg. 89) and

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

Bar Bets (pg. 90) where you can get up to speed on your UT football history and stump some friends with your Texas knowledge. On both the print and digital front, we’re proud to announce our recent partnership with the University Co-op and welcome it as our official “Fan Shop” to help keep Horns Illustrated fans dressed in the best Texas apparel. The Co-op headquarters sits right at the heart of “Longhorn Nation” within a stone’s throw of the UT Tower. Along with serving all of the burnt orange faithful in Austin, the Co-op locations in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio keep Longhorns across the state well stocked with burnt orange goods. Longhorns around the globe can visit the Co-op’s online store to have Texas gear shipped to their house. Visit hornsillustrated.com and click “Fan Shop” in the top left-hand corner to visit the Co-op online store. Another exciting opportunity for Horns Illustrated fans comes via the Joust interactive social media game. This online interactive fantasy game allows fans to choose the outcomes of upcoming UT sporting events for the opportunity to win points and great prizes from Horns Illustrated and the University Co-op. This competition can be found on hornsillustrated.com on the right hand column, just click the CONTEST box on the right hand side of Hornsillustrated.com to get started. We thank you for picking up the 2014 Football Preview Issue and for your continued support of Horns Illustrated. We hope this year’s issue finds a warm spot on your coffee table and that it will serve as a good reference throughout the 2014 Football season. If you are not already a subscriber we hope you will visit hornsillustrated.com and subscribe to get the magazine all year round. Use coupon code: BEVO2014 to receive a 15 percent discount. Please stop by and visit us at our booth on Bevo Depot (18th and San Jacinto, Austin, Texas) prior to home football games this fall. If you have any ideas for how we can improve both our print and digital publications please don’t hesitate to send us an email (info@hornsillustrated.com) or drop us a letter (P.O. Box 50069, Austin, TX 78763). We look forward to bringing you the best in Longhorn athletics news and feature content in 2014-2015 and years to come. Hook’em Horns!

James Schleicher Publisher Horns Illustrated info@hornsillustrated.com

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ALL PHOTOS THIS SPREAD: BETH ANY WALTER/UN IV. OF TEXAS

FIRST

LOOK

Chad Hollingsworth pitched a complete game to lead the Texas baseball team past Texas A&M, 4-1, and capture the Houston Regional Championship. The Longhorns won their 35th regional title in school history, and the ninth under head coach Augie Garrido. Texas held the Aggies to five earned runs (1.22 ERA) and a .180 batting average.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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CALENDAR MARK YOUR

AUGUST–SEPTEMBER 2014

WHAT’S GOING ON IN LONGHORN SPORTS

W Soccer

UT vs. Montana 7:30 p.m.

W Soccer

UT vs. Central Florida Tampa, Fla. 3:30 p.m.

12–13

Volleyball

Texas Tournament 12 – UT vs. Arizona, TBA 13 – UT vs. Central Florida, TBA 13 – UT vs. Florida A&M, TBA

Football

UT vs. Baylor Arlington 7 p.m.

W Soccer

AUGUST

W Soccer

UT vs. Incarnate Word (E) 3 p.m.

W Soccer

UT vs. Arizona State Honolulu, Hawaii Noon

W Soccer

C LOCKWIS E FROM FR OM TOP LEFT: JESS J ES SEE dR d ROHEN, dR OHEN, dO N BENdER CLOCKWISE OHEN, JJESSE ESS E dRO HEN, dON

UT vs. Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii 10 p.m.

W Soccer

UT vs. Arkansas 7:30 p.m.

29–30

Volleyball

University of New Mexico Tournament Albuquerque, N.M. 8/29 – New Mexico, TBA 8/30 – UTEP, TBA 8/30 – Seattle University, TBA

Football

UT vs. North Texas 7 p.m.

Healthy, Johnathan Gray returns for the 2014 football season. SEPTEMBER

W Soccer

UT at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Corpus Christi 7 p.m.

Football

UT vs. BYU 6:30 p.m.

Volleyball

UT at Florida Gainesville, Fla. TBA

UT vs. Central Florida Tampa, Fla. 10:30 a.m.

W Soccer

UT vs. UCLA 7:30 p.m.

Volleyball

UT at Nebraska Lincoln, Neb. TBA

UT at Texas State San Marcos 7 p.m.

UT at West Virginia Morgantown, W. Va. TBA

W Soccer

The Showband of the Southwest is back in action Aug. 30.

Volleyball

Texas soccer begins its nonconference schedule in Honolulu on Aug. 25.

UT vs. Texas Tech 7 p.m.

UT at Kansas Lawrence, Kan. TBA

W Soccer

Football

W Soccer

UT vs. West Virginia 1 p.m. INFORMATION IS BASEd ON AVAILABLE SCHEdULES AT PRESS TIME ANd IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CHECK WWW.TEXASSPORTS. COM FOR UP-TO-dATE INFORMATION

W Soccer

UT vs. Nevada 2 p.m.

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JES SE DROH EN

TRACK & FIELD’S NATIONAL TITLES // BASEBALL’S MAGICAL RUN // McRAVEN’S ADVICE

VICTORIES TO CELEBRATE: The Texas women’s track & field team finished runner-up at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which was held at the University of Oregon. The women won the final two events with Marielle Hall cruising to victory in the 5,000 meters and the 4x400-meter relay unit setting a meet record. Even with those efforts, Texas A&M clinched the team title with 75 points. The Longhorns finished with 66. Texas came in as one of the favorites for the women’s team title after finishing second to Oregon by one-half point at the NCAA Indoor meet in March. Texas collected three individual titles with Courtney Okolo claiming the 400-meter crown. Hall won the 5,000 meters in 15 minutes, 35.11 seconds to claim the Longhorns’ second national title in the event. In winning the 4x400-meter relay, Briana Nelson, Kendall Baisden, Morolake Akinosun and Okolo, not only set the meet-record (3:24.21), but also posted the second-fastest time in collegiate history. The Longhorns have posted five of the top 11 best times in collegiate history, including three this season. The women also picked up points in the 200 meters, 100-meter hurdles, high jump and 4x100-meter relay. The Longhorns had their best finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships since winning the title in 2006. It was their second top-five showing since that title (fifth in 2009). FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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FOOTBALL

Don’t Count Them Out Just Yet

Surprisingly, Anthony Fera did not receive an offer.

TOUGHER THAN THE REST NOTHING WILL COME easy for Charlie

Strong in his first year as Texas’ head coach. According to CBS Sports, the 2014 Longhorns face the toughest nonconference schedule, and thus the toughest overall schedule, of any team in the Big 12. Texas also has the 15th most difficult schedule in all of college football. Though fans certainly applaud

the athletic department in its effort to schedule stronger nonconference opponents, the caveat is losing early games and potentially wrecking the confidence of a rebuilding team. Nonetheless, if the Longhorns do well this season, no one can use a Mickey Mouse schedule as an excuse. Check out the table to the right to see how the rest of the Big 12 stacks up.

CHRIS WHALEY – Dallas Cowboys MIKE DAVIS – Oakland Raiders TREY HOPKINS – Cincinnati Bengals CARRINGTON BYNDOM – Carolina Panthers JACKSON JEFFCOAT – Seattle Seahawks DONALD HAWKINS – Philadelphia Eagles

SCHOOL

SCHEDULE DIFFICULTY

TEXAS

15TH

WEST VIRGINIA

16TH

OKLAHOMA STATE

20TH

IOWA STATE

28TH

TCU

38TH

KANSAS

41ST

BAYLOR

45TH

KANSAS STATE

51ST

OKLAHOMA

54TH

TEXAS TECH

71ST

STRONG OPPOSITION: Head coach Charlie Strong has his work cut out for him this season. The Longhorns will play the toughest non-league schedule among Big 12 teams, facing both UCLA and BYU. In the league, Texas plays Kansas State and Oklahoma State on the road — and of course, Oklahoma in Dallas.

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

A LEGEND PASSES

JAMES SAXTON, a former Texas running back who coach Darrell K Royal once called the “quickest player in America,” died May 28 after battling dementia. The 1961 Heisman finalist was 74. Other running backs have long passed Saxton in the Texas record books in rushing yardage. But his speed and quickness is still evident in one key statistic — Saxton still holds the school record with 7.9 yards per rushing attempt his senior year. Saxton finished his career ranked third on the Texas all-time rushing list with 1,524 yards. Now, that total has him just outside the top 25. Saxton helped the Longhorns post a 26-6-1 record during his three seasons, from 1959 to 1961. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: JI M SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, COUR TESY UNI VERS ITY OF TEXAS SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY, JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

selected in the 2014 NFL Draft — for the first time since the second draft in 1937. Texas and Notre Dame came into this year tied for the most consecutive years where at least one of their players was selected. Notre Dame now solely holds the record. Six former Longhorns had a real chance to be picked up by a team, with Jackson Jeffcoat and Mike Davis leading the pack. Unfortunately, not a single player was selected during the draft, halting a 77-year streak. On a positive note, six players were immediately signed after the draft including, Davis, Jeffcoat, Chris Whaley and Carrington Byndom.

S EVERY FAN knows by now, not a single Longhorn was

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HOME GROWN

Texas’ Top 10

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT : COUR TESY UNIVERSIT Y OF T EXAS SPOR TS PHOT OGRAP HY, COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY , JIM SIGMON/UNIV OF TEXAS , JIMS IGMO N/ UNIV. OF TEXAS FROM LEFT: COURTESY UNIVER SITY OF TEXAS SPORT S PHOTOGRAPHY, BLANK, JIM S IGMON/UNIV OF TEXAS

FOUR NATIONAL championships, a pair of Heisman trophy winners and the biggest athletic budget in the nation make Texas the juggernaut of the college football world. With all of that in mind, narrowing down the players who made Texas football what it is today into a list is a monumental task. Sporting News released its choices for the top-10 Longhorns of all time. Here’s the list, in no particular order:

T T T T T T T T T T

HEN CHARLIE STRONG

hired his new coaching staff, he expressed the importance of his staff having ties to the state of Texas. Two of his assistants’ ties are much deeper than the others’. Defensive coordinator Vance Bedford and wide receivers coach Les Koenning have a significant understanding of what it takes to be a Longhorn football player. “Koenning and I both came here in 1977. We were freshmen together and became captains in 1980,” Bedford said. “We’ve talked over the years and felt that we wouldn’t have a chance to work together — but it happened.” Bedford and Koenning’s previous Texas experience

included playing among many Longhorn legends who helped build the tradition of Texas football. “I can say, ‘I played with Earl Campbell, Russell Erxleben and Jerry Gray,’” Bedford said. “Those guys are a part of the program’s history.” Now the current Longhorns need to make history of their own. Bedford, who also coaches the secondary, was a part of the Texas tradition of great defensive backs, known as “DBU.” But he expects more than just continued success from the defensive backs and wants to further expand the tradition to other position groups. “DBU started with Raymond Clayborn, Johnnie Johnson, William Graham and several others,” Bedford said. “Mack Brown kept it going and we want to keep tradition. But not just for DBU. We’re going to make LinebackerU, D-LineU — whatever it takes to get the best players in the state of Texas to come here and get this program back to where it belongs.”

EARL CAMPBELL, RB VINCE YOUNG, QB TOMMY NOBIS, LB/G COLT MCCOY, QB RICKY WILLIAMS, RB JERRY GRAY, DB BOBBY LAYNE, QB JORDAN SHIPLEY, WR STEVE MCMICHAEL, DT DERRICK JOHNSON, LB

DID YOU KNOW? TEXAS MADE MADE $16,550,081 $16,550,081 TEXAS MORE IN TOTAL REVENUE THAN THE NEXT HIGHEST PROGRAM, WISCONSIN, IN 2013. THAT’S MORE THAN THE TOTAL REVENUE OF OF 101 101 SCHOOLS. SCHOOLS. TEXAS TEXAS ALSO SPENT ALSO SPENT MORE MORE ON ON “OTHER” EXPENSES “OTHER” EXPENSES ($56.4 MILLION) THAN ($56.4 MILLION) THAN 177 SCHOOLS GENERATED 177 SCHOOLS GENERATED IN TOTAL REVENUE LAST IN TOTAL REVENUE LAST YEAR. YEAR.

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FOOTBALL / BASEBALL

A SEASON TO

HIGHER LEARNING

O ONE SAW this coming. How does a team that fails to reach the NCAA Tournament two years in a row bounce back and earn a trip to Omaha? Head coach Augie Garrido offered one suggestion in the offseason. “We spent all fall attacking what I think was our No. 1 problem from last year and that’s the word ‘entitlement,’” Garrido said. “Changes needed to be made and they’ve been made.” Seven eligible players left didn’t return — five transfers who fans didn’t miss nearly as much as the two players who left early to begin their professional careers. Texas won 15 of 17 games to start the year 30-8 before TCU swept the Longhorns. The Horned Frogs scored only one run in the three-game series. But, as all great Garrido-coached teams do, the Longhorns leaned on its superior pitching and defense. A regular season that saw more combined no-hitters (one) than earned runs allowed by left-handed reliever Travis Duke (zero) preceded a magical postseason run. Fellow southpaw Dillon Peters missed the entire NCAA Tournament with an elbow injury. But just when the Longhorns thought they would miss Peters the most, right-hander Chad Hollingsworth delivered a performance for the ages. Facing elimination, Hollingsworth allowed only two hits and one unearned run during a heroic complete-game effort in the Houston Regional clincher against who else other than Texas A&M. Thanks in large part to typically spectacular outings from Nathan Thornhill and Parker French, Texas swept Houston in the Austin Super Regional to earn a record 34th trip to the College World Series. The Longhorns lost their first CWS game to UC-Irvine, as Mark Payton’s consecutive games reached a base streak at 101. But Texas came back to eliminate the Anteaters during the ensuing three-game winning streak. Needing one more win to reach the CWS championship, Texas fell victim to Vanderbilt’s 10th-inning, bases-loaded, walk-off infield single. The magical run was over but it was magical nonetheless.

A New Look THE BIG 12 redesigned its logo, sticking with the

same roman numerals for the 10-team conference. The second rebranding since the league formed in 1996 features a rounded, modern-looking “XII” to replace a more traditional block design. The new look was unveiled June 30, a day before the start of the college athletic year. The league said earlier this year there were still no

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plans to change the name despite realignment that resulted in a net loss of two schools. Conference officials haven’t ruled out expanding the league, although it’s not their first priority.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

IN CHAD, WE TRUST: Pitcher Chad Hollingsworth’s performance in the Houston Regional saved Texas from elimination.

THE TEXAS football program recorded a perfect score of 1,000 for the 2012-13 academic year, according to the NCAA academic progress rates. This score indicates that of the 85 scholarship athletes, every single one remained in good academic standing and made satisfactory progress toward his degree. Last year marked the first time the Longhorn football program notched 1,000. “So proud of the perfect 1000 APR for Texas football for the 2012-2013 year,” former coach Mack Brown tweeted. “What a great accomplishment. Great job guys!” Based on the four-year rolling averages of all the Longhorns athletic programs, not one sport is currently in danger of incurring NCAA penalties for poor academic performance. For the 2014-15 academic year, teams must earn a multi-year rate of 940 to participate in NCAA championship events. In 2015-16 and beyond, that number falls to 930.

SPEEDFLEX

THE FOOTBALL TEAM took the field this past season with a

shiny new piece of equipment — a revolutionary new helmet designed by Riddell. Riddell selected only a few elite squads to test out the swag, and to no surprise Texas was one of the chosen teams. The new helmet is called the Riddell SpeedFlex and is a new version of the Riddell 360. The new SpeedFlex is designed to disperse energy, reducing the risk of trauma and concussions. The design of the helmet is distinctly different from previous helmet models. There’s a unique indentation on the front that gives it a slick appearance and more importantly, it allows the helmet to absorb any blows to the head. The improved safety precautions go even SAFETY FIRST: Riddell’s latest further with the InSite Impact Response System. The impressive design is helmet disperses energy from any discretely embedded into the lining of the helmet and was implemented blows received to the head, reducing the risk of concussions. to tackle the ongoing controversial discussion of head injuries. The InSite sensors measure each hit a player takes during a game. If, at any point, the impact calculates beyond a specified safe range, the hand held monitors are alerted and sidelined staff members can react accordingly. This may just be the most progressive and essential piece of technology in sports to date. There are far too many concussions that go unnoticed and cause significant issues long beyond a player’s time on the field. Riddell and the Longhorns were ready for a safer helmet. — SKYE TILSON

WORDS OF WISDOM DON’T RING THE BELL: Adm. William McRaven gave the 2014 graduating class valuable advice for the future.

IN HIS SPEECH to the 2014 graduating class, Admiral William McRaven delivered an inspirational

message. Head of the Joint U.S. Special Operations Command, he’s a 36-year SEAL who’s been involved in the War on Terror since 2001. He has commanded a squadron in the fabled Naval Special Warfare Development Group, better known as SEAL Team Six, and oversaw planning and execution of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. McRaven, a 1977 Texas graduate, focused his speech on 10 lessons he learned in SEAL training. Here are his 10 pointers on how to change the world. “Start off by making your bed … The wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over. If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and by the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.” “Find someone to help you paddle ... You can’t change the world alone — you will need some help — and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them.” “Measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.” McRaven told the graduates about the “munchkin crew” in his SEAL training group. “The big men in the other boat crews would always make fun of the tiny little flippers the munchkins put on their feet prior to every swim.” But he added that those munchkins “outpaddled, outran and outswam all the other boat crews.” “Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward. Sometimes no matter how well you prepare or how well you perform, you still end up as a sugar cookie. It’s just the way life is sometimes.” “Don’t be afraid of the circuses.” The circus was a form of SEAL punishment for failing to meet physical standards during training. It consisted of two hours of extra calisthenics. “The pain of the circuses built inner strength — physical resiliency. Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core.” “Sometimes you have to slide down the obstacles headfirst.” McRaven said that a SEAL student broke an obstacle course record when he became the first person to take it on headfirst. “It was a dangerous move — seemingly foolish, and fraught with risk. It only took him half [the] time.” “Don’t back down from the sharks. There are a lot of sharks in the world. If you hope to complete the swim you will have to deal with them.” “You must be your very best in the darkest moments. Every SEAL knows that under the keel, at the darkest moment of the mission, is the time when you must be calm, composed; when all your tactical skills, your physical power and all your inner strength must be brought to bear.” “Start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.” In the mud flats between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, sometimes the blind hope inspired by song was the only thing that got the SEAL candidates through the pain, McRaven said. “Don’t ever, ever ring the bell.” McRaven closed his speech with the classic SEAL metaphor for failure — ringing the bell. In other words, don’t quit.

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JULY-SEPTEMBER 2014

DID YOU TOP KNOW? MONEY ALL-AMERICAN Big 12 schools are making

more money than they could’ve imagined in 2012 — the year the conference faced a crisis that threatened its survival. Their competitors in the other four power conferences are now in that same position, which is just fine with the Big 12 for the moment. The Big 12 announced that it distributed a conference-record $220 million this year. Eight schools will receive full shares of $23 million each. TCU and West Virginia, which joined the league before the 2012-13 season, each received a partial share of nearly $14 million. “The only thing worse than being in the arms race is not being in the arms race,” Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. “And we’re building facilities and we’re arming our coaches with the tools that it takes to be successful.”

HOW SERIOUSLY ARE CONFERENCES TAKING LAWSUITS AGAINST THE NCAA? THE BIG 12 INCREASED THE LINE ITEM FOR LEGAL FEES FROM $400,000 LAST YEAR TO $1.5 MILLION.

THIS SPR EAD CLOCKWISE FROM T OP LEF T: BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS, M ARS HA MILLER/UT AUST IN, COUR TESY UNIVERS ITY OF TEXAS S PORTS PHOTOGR APHY, JI M SIGMON/UNI V. OF TEXAS, COURTESY UNIFOR MCRI TICS.C OM , COUR TESY BIG 1 2 CONFERENCE

2: 3:

4: 5:

6: 7:

8: 9:

10:

Former Texas soccer player Kylie Doniak, who was nearly killed when she was hit by a drunk driver in Feb. 2012, graduated from the university this spring.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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UTSA ROUNDUP

UTSA

CALENDAR AUGUST 2014 FOOTBALL 29: at Houston, Houston, 8 p.m. SOCCER 16: vs. Incarnate Word, 7 p.m. 22: vs. Houston Baptist, 7 p.m. 24: at Sam Houston State, Huntsville, 6:30 p.m. 29: at Kansas, Lawrence, Kan., 7 p.m. VOLLEYBALL 29-30: Texas A&M Invitational, College Station 4:30 p.m./ 10:30 a.m. / 7 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 2014 FOOTBALL 4: vs. Arizona, 7 p.m. 13: at Oklahoma State, Stillwater, Okla., 6 p.m. 27: at Florida Atlantic, Boca Raton, Fla., TBA SOCCER 5: vs. McNeese State, 7 p.m. 7: at SMU, Dallas, 7 p.m. 12: at Texas A&M- Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, 7 p.m. 14: at Texas State, San Marcos, 1 p.m. 19: vs. Baylor 26: at UAB, Birmingham, Ala. 7 p.m. 28: at Middle Tennessee, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 2 p.m.

Something to Prove

BY STEPHEN WHITAKER N 2011, the UTSA football program was a blank canvas. The Roadrunners had never played a game before. Fans had low to no expectations for the new team. In its first-ever season, UTSA went 4-6 after playing a 10-game schedule against mostly Division I-FCS and Division II opponents. The 2012 season saw the Roadrunners play in their first Football Bowl Subdivision conference — the Western Athletic Conference. Expectations rose slightly, with fans setting their sights on wins over Idaho and a few others. The Roadrunners proved any doubters wrong with an 8-4 overall record. The team went 3-3 in the WAC, with victories over Idaho, New Mexico State and Texas State. Last season, the Roadrunners moved from the WAC to Conference USA and the expectations were set just as low. But just like in the season before, UTSA stunned fans with its performance. The team went 7-5 with a 6-2 conference record. The loss to Rice in October was the only roadblock between the Roadrunners and the C-USA championship game. UTSA’s record was good enough to play in a bowl but with all 70 spots filled by teams not on probation, the Roadrunners didn’t receive an invite. They may need to do more in 2014 in order to move to the next level. The Roadrunners will have to replace starting quarterback Eric Soza this season, and head into fall camp with four players battling for the job. Tucker Carter is the favorite based on his performance in the spring game, but who will actually win the job remains to be determined. Whoever lines up under center for the Roadrunners will face pressure that Soza never did. UTSA enters the season as a favorite to win the wide-open C-USA West division and the school’s first bowl berth could be in the offing for 2014. For the first time in program history, the Roadrunners will enter a season knowing they need six or seven wins to go bowling. Fan expectations will be higher than they have ever been in the short history of UTSA football. But if the Roadrunners exceed expectations for the fourth consecutive year, fans are bound to celebrate on the River Walk in late December.

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BASEBALL THE ROADRUNNER baseball team came up short in its quest to return to the NCAA tournament this past season. For the second consecutive year, UTSA made a conference tournament championship game. However, Rice defeated UTSA 11-5 in the Conference USA tournament final on May 25. Despite the failure to return to the NCAA tournament, the Roadrunners had four players selected in the MLB Draft. The four players included Justin Anderson (14th round/ Los Angeles Angels), John Bormann (19th round/Los Angeles Angels), Matt Sims (27th round/Atlanta Braves) and Michael Kraft (37th round/Toronto Blue Jays). UTSA was the No. 7 seed in the C-USA tournament. Only two teams out of the conference made the NCAA tournament — conference champions Rice and at-large bid Old Dominion.

VOLLEYBALL 5-6: Delta Zeta Classic, San Marcos, TBA 12-13: Marquette Invitational, Milwaukee, Wis. 5 p.m./ 2 p.m./ 8 p.m. 18: Houston Convocation Center, San Antonio 6 p.m. 19-20: UTSA Classic, San Antonio, 7 p.m./ 3 p.m. 22: at UTEP, El Paso, 7 p.m. 26: Florida Atlantic Convocation Center, San Antonio, 7 p.m. 28: North Texas Convocation Center, San Antonio, 1 p.m. W GOLF 8-10: The “Mo” Morial, Bryan, All Day 22-24: Golfweek Conference Challenge Walcott, Colo., All Day M GOLF 8-9: Sam H. Hall Intercollegiate, Hattiesburg, Miss., All Day 29-30: Mark Simpson-Colorado Invitational Erie, Colo., All Day CROSS COUNTRY 19: UTSA Ricardo Romo Classic, 7 p.m.

ALL P HOT OS THIS PAGE: JEFF HUEHN/UTSA ATHLETICS

LEADING MAN: Carter Tucker is the favorite to step in as the Roadrunners’ starting quarterback this season.

UTA

JULY-SEPT 2014

UTA ROUNDUP ATHLETICS A TRIPLE crown in men’s track & field and cross country, as well as second-place finishes in baseball and women’s cross country, moved UT Arlington into sixth place in the Sun Belt Conference’s final Bubas Cup allsport standings. UTA, which also finished third in men’s golf and fourth in volleyball and women’s tennis, was close to finishing much higher in the rankings, falling just 3.5 points shy of tying for third place. “I’m proud of our performance across the board in our first year in the Sun Belt,” UT Arlington athletics director Jim Baker said. “The Sun Belt proved to be the step up in competition we expected going into the year. Our strong showing in the Bubas Cup is a testament to the hard work and determination of our student-athletes and coaches. We’re looking forward to climbing those standings next year.” The Sun Belt Conference’s annual all sports championship trophy, the Bubas Cup, is named after the conference’s first commissioner.

SOMETHING TO PROVE: After the conference tournament seemed out of reach, the Mavericks came back and finished runner-up in the league championship.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL ...

COUR TESY GREGG & SHARON ELLMAN/ELLMAN PHOTOGR APHY

EDITED BY STEVE LANSDALE

HE UT ARLINGTON baseball team won 17 of its last 20 games, finishing 33-26 and the runner-up in the Sun Belt Conference Championship. The Mavericks had a slow start to the season — the team was 5-14 after playing a third of its games. Reaching the conference tournament seemed out of reach at that point in the season. But even though the Mavericks were in bad shape, they refused to give up. “The biggest thing we had to do was readjust our goals,” coach Darin Thomas said. “We had bigger expectations coming into the season and that played out at the end of the year, but when you’re 5-14, going to Omaha

doesn’t look like a possibility.” After losing two of three games to Arkansas State at home, the Mavericks were 1-5 in league play. The turnaround began the following week with a 14-3 win over Baylor at home. UT Arlington swept South Alabama on the road to get back into the Sun Belt race. The Mavericks would lose only one of their last eight conference series, going 18-6 down the stretch to finish 19-11 in the SBC. The Mavericks entered the Sun Belt Championship as the No. 2 seed. The team won its first three tournament games, extending its winning streak to 10, to reach the finals before falling to top seed Louisiana 6-5. A win would have put the Mavericks in the NCAA Tournament.

TRACK & FIELD SPRINTER Clayton Vaughn represented the UT

Arlington track & field team in three events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which took place June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore. The junior from Sulphur Springs, Texas, ran the 100-meter, the 200 and a leg of the 400-meter relay team. Vaughn qualified in the 200-meters when he ran the seventh-fastest time at the NCAA West Preliminary Round, crossing the finish line in 20.66 seconds. He also teamed with Christian Clark, Cameron Newsome and Quentin Butler in the 4x100 relay after setting a new school record of 39.55 to finish sixth at the Preliminaries. The group’s time broke the previous UT Arlington record by .03 seconds. In addition to the Mavericks’ sprinters, distance specialist Emil Blomberg also headed to Eugene, where he competed in the steeplechase. “We are very pleased with all of our efforts here in Fayetteville,” coach John Sauerhage said after the Preliminaries. “We had some clutch performances and proved that we were up for the task.”

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JULY-SEPTEMBER 2014

ROUNDUP

ALUMNI

SPI R I T OF T H E MON T H

thing Texas Exes love as much as singing the “Eyes of Texas” and beating Oklahoma is playing golf before the Red River Showdown with 400 friends who share the same sentiment. This is the exact scene of the annual Get Teed Off at OU golf tournament, an annual event planned and hosted by the Texas Exes Dallas Chapter for the past three decades. The 26th edition of the tournament featured 396 golfers — a sellout of 66 teams of six — making the event one of the largest golf scrambles

ABOUT THE ONLY

BY STEVE HABEL

in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Held at the 54-hole, three course complex at Firewheel Golf Park in Garland, teams came together to raise thousands of dollars for scholarships and tuition assistance for high school students from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. “We’ve had business owners, ex-players, ex-coaches, an Olympic Gold Medalist and even all Aggie and Razorback teams play through the years,” Ryan Smith, the tournament chairman, said. “Everything done here is for a worthy cause and with the Eyes of Texas in our hearts. I never

cease to be amazed at the response the tournament receives.” This past tournament honored former Texas football coach Fred Akers as honorary chairman. Previous honorees included Earl Campbell, DeLoss Dodds and Tom Landry. In 1994, almost the entire 1969 national championship team played in the tournament, along with their coach, Darrell K Royal. “It’s a wonderful event and the support it gets shows how much this university and this game means to all of us who have been a part of it through the years,” said Akers, who played in an all-star grouping with former Texas quarterbacks Vince Young and Randy McEachern. The 2013 field included Texas celebrities such as Texas football alum and prior head football coach David McWilliams, and football alums Roy Williams, Sloan Thomas and B.J. Johnson. In 26 years, the tournament has amassed more than a million dollars for Texas Exes scholarships for about 450 students. Nearly 80 percent of recipients rank in the top 10 percent of their class. Fifty Texas Exes volunteers supported the tournament with their efforts on the course throughout the day. Close to 90 people represented the tourney’s sponsors and vendors. This year’s tournament is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 10 at Firewheel Golf Park in Garland. For more information, go to dallastexasexes.org.

FRIENDLY COMPETITION: Ryan Smith, Randy McEachern, Vince Young, Steve Habel, Fred Akers and Steve Ross participated in last year’s Get Teed Off at OU Tournament.

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COUR TES Y DALLAS TEXAS EXES CHAPTER

TEXAS EXES DALLAS CHAPTER

DK R FUND

ON A MISSION CALLIE HUDSON AND THE DKR FUND ARE SUPPORTING RESEARCH TO FIND A CURE FOR ALZHEIMER’S.

BY JAMES SCHLEICHER

HROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, Darrell K Royal led by example, teaching those around him that hard work, dedication and innovation pave the way to success on and off the field. Those who learned from Royal will likely pass his teachings to future generations, carrying on his legacy throughout the state

of Texas. LOST BUT NOT FORGOTTEN: Royal’s legacy also Longhorn Hall of Honcontinues on through oree Jim Hudson passed away in 2013. He battled the work of the DKR Alzheimer’s. Research Fund for Alzheimer’s Disease and its fundraising branch for young adults known as the Legacy Council. Founded in 2012, the DKR Fund has a primary mission of funding research in hopes of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s within our lifetime. Earlier this year, the DKR Fund announced a request for applicants for its grants. The organization seeks to award the grants to scientists interested in approaching Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders in an innovative way. The DKR Fund plans to award up to $850,000 in grants later this year to Texas-based scientists who are within 12 years of completion of their terminal degree. Along with its fundraising and research goals, the DKR Fund also works to educate people on the effects of Alzheimer’s and how they can help care for an Alzheimer’s patient. Last fall the DKR Fund held

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a Fall Speaker Series that addressed the topic of head injuries among athletes and measures for safer play. Field experts Dr. Hunt Batjer, chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Dr. Munro Cullum, chief of psychology and director of neuropsychology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, led the conversation. The Legacy Council, a young professional group, supports the DKR Fund by raising funds for Alzheimer’s Disease research and awareness. In its inaugural year, the Legacy Council currently has 84 members with a goal of 200 members in 2014. The Legacy Council has raised over $65,000 with a 2014 goal of $200,000. Each member is expected to raise $1,000 and executive council members are expected to raise $1,000 and recruit 10 members. Among the executive council, members include Christian Campbell (son of Earl Campbell), associate head basketball coach Chris Ogden, Sean Foley (who swam at Texas and whose mother has early onset Alzheimer’s) and Katherine Crenshaw (daughter of Ben Crenshaw). Callie Hudson, whose father, Jim, played football for Royal from 1962-64, is also an executive council member. In 2012, Hudson was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor. He passed away last year at the age of 70 due to dementia and Alzheimer’s-like symptoms. Through her experience, Callie now understands

FACTS ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S #

More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease today.

Someone develops Alzheimer’s every 67 seconds.

In 2013, 15.5 million caregivers provided an estimated 17.7 billion hours of unpaid care valued at more than $220 billion.

In her 60s, a woman’s estimated lifetime risk for developing Alzheimer’s is 1 in 6. For breast cancer it is 1 in 11.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) spends $3 billion a year on research of AIDS, which affects around 1 million people in the U.S. Nearly 5.5 million Americans are believed to have Alzheimer’s, yet it receives just under $500 million a year. The government funds more nutrition research than it does Alzheimer’s research. (Source - http://www.wbur. org/2011/10/20/alzheimers-funding)

THIS SPR EAD FR OM LEFT: COUR TESY UNI VERS ITY OF TEXAS S PORTS PHOTOGR APHY, ALL OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY THE DKR FUND

the heavy toll Alzheimer’s takes on not only the suffering patient, but also those around them. “It’s such a sad disease,” she said. “It’s not just sad for the family, but it’s sad for a person to be lucid one moment and then the next moment have that realization of ‘oh my gosh, I’m losing my mind.’ Then a few minutes later they forget that and they’re in a happier place. You can find joy and humor in the disease, but it’s the toll that it takes on your caretakers and the families. It’s incredibly challenging.” Educating others about Alzheimer’s and bringing it the forefront remains one of Callie’s primary focuses. “When I talk about Alzheimer’s and the Legacy Council, I let people know that there’s almost no money going to the research,” she said. “I stress to people that they will encounter this disease at some point in their lives.” The bond formed between Royal’s players remains strong and the team continues to support one another. Callie experienced the supportiveness of the group when her father became ill. “My dad’s friends were his friends until the day he died,” she said. “They played football at Texas, some went on to play for the Jets, but they all took care of each other. It’s a fraternity.” “It’s different, because in my dad’s era they experienced something that no one else did — they were coached by Royal,” Callie added. “He pushed them and made them into men.” That fraternity has also shown its strength in coming together by pooling their funds to support the DKR Fund. At last year’s Fourth and Goal gala, a group of former football players made a large donation. Overall, the gala raised over $1 million dollars for the DKR Fund. This year the DKR Fund’s signature fundraising event — Ben-Willie-Darrell present Links & Lyrics featuring Vince Gill and Friends — will take place at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin on Sept. 5. The gala will include a live auction and concert. Attendees can purchase tickets at acl-live.com. Prior to the evening event, Master’s champion and Longhorn great Ben Crenshaw will host a golf tournament at Barton Creek Country Club’s Crenshaw Cliffside Course. Royal’s legacy at Texas will last for many generations to come. Those supporting the DKR Fund’s aspiration to fund research to triumph over Alzheimer’s disease will ensure that it will live on forever.

ONE CAUSE, ONE GOAL: The DKR Fund and the Legacy Council work together to raise awareness and support research advancing a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Earl Campbell’s son, Christian (top right), Callie Hudson (top middle), Jenn Walley (top right), Edith Royal (above middle), Ava and Steve Late (above), Travis Knapp (bottom middle) and Ben Crenshaw (bottom right) are involved with the organizations. Legacy Council President Howell Beaver (right) spoke to the DKR Fund and Legacy Council members at a recent event at the Rattle Inn in Austin.

How you can help? Visit DKRfund.org and find out how you can get involved with the Legacy Council. Attend this year’s Links & Lyrics fundraising events on Sept. 5 (See ad on page 23).

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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MEDIA VOICES

Strong Opinions

THE GROUP FROM AM 1300 THE ZONE PROVIDES ITS THOUGHTS ON THE UPCOMING SEASON.

N OUR ANNUAL roundtable, Jon Madani, Rod

Babers and Johnny Walker give their thoughts on the upcoming season. As the 2014 football season approaches, Horns Illustrated publisher James Schleicher sat down with Jon Madani, Rod Babers from AM 1300 The Zone’s “Sport Buffet” as well as Lifetime Longhorn and Horns Illustrated columnist Johnny Walker to discuss this year’s team. What can fans expect to see in coach Charlie Strong’s first year?

JON MADANI: The Longhorns might struggle early. The team will stay in every game, though, because of talent, an increased emphasis on fundamentals, a focus on defense and special teams, as well as being sound at the line of scrimmage. ROD BABERS: The Longhorns will have a tougher football team — that’s one of Strong’s big talking points. He’s working on the intangibles and trying to change the culture from the inside-out. The truth is, this team will lose some games and will likely lose those games early. Texas plays four teams in the first six games that are ranked high. Fans will see a low-risk, low-reward team that will win with defense, special teams and very small margins for error. JOHNNY WALKER: Strong defined what it takes to become a Longhorn football player. He has high expectations for what Longhorn football stands for both on and off the field. Adding that type of intensity and expectation will bode well for the Longhorns. Which of Strong’s changes stand out the most?

JM: A perceived emphasis on accountability on and off the field. Strong is most concerned about the players and their collective development as players and students. Wins come second, then the fans and media. Sixteen years of media-savvy Mack Brown spoiled this fan base and there’s a chance fans will perceive Strong as gruff and impersonal. As he starts winning, that sentiment will subside.

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RB: Attitude. There’s an edge to this team. JW: A re-dedication to what it takes to be a Longhorn. That’s something the team was missing for some time. Strong is getting back to what makes Texas, “Texas.”

With the coaching overhaul and the return of 12 experienced players, what do you expect this season?

JM: The schedule is front-loaded. Teams that are reinventing themselves typically start slowly and improve as the season goes on, but Texas’ first six games are brutal and I could see a 3-3 start. That said, I could also see the Longhorns finishing 6-0. If Strong can debut at 9-3 in this conference, he might be named Big 12 coach of the year. RB: This season is all about the quarterback. I think this is an eight-win football team with Ash or Heard. If Texas finds a quarterback, it could end up as a ninewin football team. I’ve seen the preseason rankings for Oklahoma, Baylor and UCLA — they’re all in the top 10. These teams have established quarterbacks coming back, all of who will be NFL draft picks.

OFFENSE What can fans expect from Joe Wickline and Shawn Watson?

JM: I expect what some fans might call a West-coast offense — low risk, low reward. Strong wants to grind out games, remain dominant on both lines, run the ball, tackle in space, milk the clock and let the athletes make a few plays. If the final score is 17-14, the game resembled what Strong expected. RB: Watson will remind people of Greg Davis. He hasn’t been married to a specific system his entire career. He ran the read-option when he had Taylor Martinez, a West-coast offense and a pro-style with SHAWN WATSON

TWEETS JON MADANI @Zone_Madani: @Zone_Madani: Congrats to Lifetime Longhorn PG Avery Bradley, the free agent will re-sign w/the Boston Celtics... $32 million over four years. With LeBron’s free agency, watching Sportscenter is like watching election returns — viewing the whip arounds as we check with each precinct.

CRAIG WAY @craigway1: Wheels up---the Longhorn baseball team charter is off to Omaha. (June 12) @craigway1:Congrats to Longhorns’ catcher Tres Barrera, who beat close friend Eric Gutierrez of Texas Tech to win the College Home Run Derby. (July 3) I love Bob Ley’s choice of words describing Suarez’s biting episodes. “A salad bar of incidents.” We’ve all been there — some bad Chile.

ROD BABERS @Rodb31: Now America knows what it’s like to be a @dallascowboys fan. #USA #WorldCup @rodb314: RT @lvfootball83 if @craigway1 is the LeBron of you three I’m assuming @rodb314 is wade, what does that make @Zone_Madani? Chris Bosh? I hope not! Now America knows what it’s like to be a @dallascowboys fan. #USA #WorldCup

Teddy Bridgewater. He prefers the West-coast passing game but will work with the talent that’s given to him, much like Davis did. Davis ran the read-option with Vince Young, the West-coast spread with Colt McCoy and a prostyle with Chris Simms. Davis ran every damn thing you can run and I don’t know what he preferred. Watson will be similar in that aspect, but the Longhorns will benefit from this early on because he’ll be able to mold and shape the offense.

swagger about him that fits that vocal leadership. JW: Ash has the potential to be a good quarterback and possibly one of the best in the Big 12. When he starts off strong, he does a good job, but when he faces adversity he doesn’t bounce back. I don’t want people to count out Tyrone Swoopes as you’re not going to find very many 6’5”, 260-pound quarterbacks. With the tutelage of Watson — who did a phenomenal job with Teddy Bridgewater — Swoopes has an opportunity, if he gets on the field.

Which wide receivers can we expect to see the most of this season?

T HIS S PREAD CLOCKWI SE FROM LEFT: JIM SIGM ON /UNIV. OF TEXAS, M AT T HEMPEL/UNIV. OF TEXAS, JIM SIGMON/ UNIV. OF TEXAS., HEADSHOTS COURTESY AM 1300 THE ZONE .

DAVID ASH

JM: Because of the conservative approach — meaning fewer passing attempts — good hands are a must. This screams a big season for Jaxon Shipley. To use a boxing metaphor, Shipley will provide the left-hand jab over and over, and Daje Johnson will come in with an overhand right. If Johnson cannot meet the program’s expectations on and off the field, watch for Marcus Johnson to impress in that role. RB: Everyone talked about Daje Johnson last spring and now there aren’t even whispers about him. He’ll end up in the fold but Jaxon Shipley is the anchor — he’s as dependable as they come. Kendall Sanders will play a crucial role because he’s a deep threat to stretch the defense. Even so, the coaches need to find a way to get Johnson the ball. He’s one of the most explosive players in the country. JW: Jaxon Shipley will continue to do well. He’s Texas’ most consistent receiver. Kendall Sanders and Marcus Johnson need to play well this year for Texas to be successful. I agree with Rod on Johnson — you just need to find a way to get the ball in his hands five to seven times per game. Who will emerge as the starting quarterback?

JM: Quarterback is the most important position for any football team. But because I expect the team to attempt 25 to 30 pass attempts per game, freshman Jerrod Heard has an opportunity to lead this team. If David Ash is healthy, I think the coaches will redshirt Heard. I’m not sure what to think of Tyrone Swoopes and wonder if he’ll change to tight end. RB: Ash will be the starter until further notice. However, Texas has to assume that Jerrod Heard will play. If Ash gets hurt, Heard will lose his redshirt because Tyrone Swoopes isn’t ready to play. With Ash, durability is a question. And from what I’ve heard, Heard’s personality fits the Strong culture more than Ash’s does. Heard apparently has a natural air of confidence and

name a tight end — someone has to win the job. Because of the coaching changes, veterans (Geoff Swaim and Greg Daniels) have zero advantage so watch out for transfer Blake Whiteley. RB: Shawn Watson likes tight ends, but he doesn’t have the talent he wants at that position yet. But once he gets the right guys, he’ll bring back the endangered species that has been the tight end on the Texas offense. JW: I hope the tight end position will have a breakout year. MJ McFarland is an outstanding tight end — we haven’t seen him perform because he hasn’t had as many opportunities. If we can use tight ends, they’ll take pressure off the young receivers.

DEFENSE What do you expect to see from Vance Bedford this season?

Which running backs will contribute the most this year?

JM: I expect Bedford to carry out Strong’s vision. Accountability is number one and each man must do his job. When the opportunity presents itself, secure the tackle. Missed tackles strike me as the kind of error that might earn extra wind sprints at the end of practice. The defense will try to be sound up the middle — they’ll aim to

JM:: Coaches would love to see 40 percent of the carries go to Malcolm Brown, 30 percent for Johnathan Gray and 30 percent for Joe Bergeron. They should use Brown to soften the defense and Gray as the outside runner or homerun hitter. Bergeron is important in the red zone because of his size and running style; he’s under-utilized as a receiver out of the backfield. RB: Malcolm Brown is the man to watch. We saw Brown get past that point where he can play through the pain. He was dinged up last year, but he played more physical than he ever has, and got through it. That’s a level of toughness players have to build up. He’s the go-to back. JW: The great thing about the Texas running back situation is that you can flip a coin. The coaches can’t go wrong with Brown, Gray or Bergeron. Having that depth will take pressure off of Gray as he comes back from his injury. He doesn’t have to come in and be a workhorse. Fans shouldn’t go to sleep on Daje Johnson at running back — the couple of times he’s come in at that position he’s done a phenomenal job. Jalen Overstreet is also a sleeper. He has an abundance of talent. Will Texas fans see the regular use of the tight end as a receiver this year?

JM: I don’t think this coaching staff will simply

VANCE BEDFORD

excel at defensive tackle, middle linebacker and safety. RB: That’s the million-dollar question. Bedford could go with the 3-3-5 that Charlie Strong popularized early on, or they could run a multiple defense. These days, every team’s goal is to run a multiple defense. In the Big 12, teams need to have a nickelback on the field 85 percent of the time, unless a coach has a freak athlete that can play that hybrid of a safety and linebacker. Louisville liked to play the hybrid. These players are unique athletes and not everyone can play that position. For Texas, that hybrid is DeMarco Cobbs or possibly Peter Jinkens if he can prove he can run. Truthfully, I don’t have any idea what the hell they’ll run. Depending on how the chips fall, Bedford could run a number of things.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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MEDIA VOICES depend on the momentum going into the game. JW: Louisville had one of the best defenses in the country. Texas has the personnel to continue an aggressive scheme like Louisville’s. Bedford likes to make things happen — he’s going to blitz, he’s going to come at you and attack. The defensive side of the ball will be one of our stronger suits.

Other than Oklahoma, which game will challenge the Longhorns the most this season?

JM: UCLA. I might have said Baylor with the return of quarterback Bryce Petty and the fact that the game is one week before the State Fair Street Fight. But the Longhorns host Baylor this season. The game against UCLA is at Jerry World against a roster of NFL-caliber players. The Longhorns may limp into this one after an always-physical battle against BYU.

What’s the key to success for the Texas defense?

JM: Limiting yards gained on the first down. If they can force teams into 2nd-and-7 or 2ndand-8, Bedford can get creative with his situational blitzing.

RB: UCLA. JW: Baylor.

JW: The defensive line. I’m looking for Malcom Brown to have a breakout year. If he plays well, he could earn honors at the end of the season. I’m also looking for Jordan Hicks to step up. He’s another player that has talent but injuries slowed his development.

With the loss of Anthony Fera, how will the Longhorns fare in special teams?

Who is your pick for the preseason defensive MVP?

win for the Longhorns. JM: Malcom Brown. He’ll not only be the primary run stopper, but he can bring the attitude that the team needs at the line of scrimmage. Texas was at its best when Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers patrolled the defensive line of scrimmage. RB: Cedric Reed; but if Jordan Hicks stays healthy, he could win the title. JW: My choice is between Malcom Brown and Jordan Hicks. If Hicks can stay healthy, he can make things happen on the defensive side of the ball. Hicks understands the game and is the quarterback on the defensive side.

Which non-conference game is more important — BYU or UCLA?

JM: UCLA, even though most Longhorn fans will want a win over BYU to remove the stench of last year’s debacle in Provo. However, UCLA is coming off a 10-win season, including a 30-point beat-down of Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl. Jim Mora is entering his third season as the Bruins’ head coach after rumors circulated that he was a candidate for the Texas job. To have the man who was hired defeat another job candidate will only add to what could be an impressive

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JW: That’s a tough question. The most important game right now is North Texas. That’s the game that fans will grade Strong on, and set the expectation of the football program. Texas needs to come out against North Texas and establish an identity. We know that’s a game they can win, but it’s a game they need to dominate. Between BYU and UCLA, UCLA is the bigger game. What are your predictions for this year’s Red River Showdown?

OPPONENTS

RB: UCLA. The Bruins will be ranked higher than Texas so a win will be a good confidence measure for the Longhorns.

JM: Oklahoma should be the favorite to win the Big 12 this season, with several polls ranking the Sooners in the top five to start the season. Texas is coming off the game against Baylor the week before which makes me think this one belongs to Oklahoma. RB: Oklahoma is buzzing. The Sooners will beat Texas this year. JW: Oklahoma has improved tremendously talent-wise. The Sooners did a great job recruiting this year. They have talent now and can make this a good football game. Everything will

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

JM: Texas will be a conservative, defensiveminded team; therefore, special teams and field position will be paramount. With the proliferation of soccer in the suburbs over the last 20 years, I don’t understand how major college football teams are devoid of a placekicker. Finding a great punter is another matter. Texas will count on senior Will Russ to secure that spot. RB: Texas’ coverage teams will be sound. In regards to accuracy in the kicking game, I don’t know what will happen. The coverage teams will reflect the Charlie Strong regime and display a lot of toughness. JW: Hopefully Texas will not have to rely on the kicker because they’ll have a hard time replacing Fera. Give me one crazy prediction for this season.

JM: Art Briles will leave Waco after this season to become the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and the team will draft Petty. RB: The Texas defense will have a national award winner. JW: Jameis Winston wins the Heisman Trophy for the second time, while Florida State wins the National Championship again.

COURTESY OF ASUCLA P HOT OGR APHY

JACK MYLES

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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www.facebook.com/ hornsillustrated The Texas baseball team saw its season end one game shy of the College World Series finals, tying for third in the nation. After dropping their first game in the tournament, the Longhorns won three straight elimination games to set up the matchup against Vanderbilt. Texas twice rallied from deficits to tie the game, but was unable to take a lead after knotting it 3-3 in the sixth. As the team’s season came to an end, Longhorns fans sounded off on the Horns Illustrated Facebook page. Here are our top comments:

Tough way for a season to end but you have to applaud the guys’ efforts. They fought and fought hard. Augie gets props for leading the troops. – Michael Huens Fantastic season guys! Great memories with my son watching you this season. Thanks for bringing Texas back to Omaha! – Kyle Ruschhaupt

Great year, hard fought throughout, then continued to scratch and claw your way into the final series of the men’s college world series! – Steve Chiasson

Your commitment towards each win made us proud to be Longhorns. – Yolanda Villarreal

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MEET THE T-ASSOCIATION

The T-Association is an organization made up of former varsity athletics letter winners. An additional designation for the T-Association members is the T-ring, which is awarded to an athlete who lettered for 2 or more years, who did not compete the last 2 years of eligibility anywhere other than The University of Texas and who graduated from college. David McWilliams, former Longhorn head football coach, currently serves as the executive director for the T-Association. T-Association Mission - The T-Association’s mission is to create and maintain an enhanced atmosphere and structure whereby UT student-athletes become lifetime members of The University of Texas Athletics family and are welcomed, involved and encouraged to participate during and after their college tenure. TAPN Mission - The Letter Winner’s Professional Network exists to unite the members of the T-Association on a professional level by providing networking opportunities and a database of contacts, thereby furthering the opportunities, community, education and success of Longhorn Letter Winners.

J IM SI GMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

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

THE HABE ON THE HORNS BY STEVE HABEL

Walking the Walk THE TIME HAS ARRIVED FOR TEXAS TO SHOW WHAT CHANGE REALLY TOOK PLACE IN THE OFFSEASON.

has been hired and the players evaluated. Spring drills are done. The Texas football team faces the upcoming fall season with a new attitude. And head coach Charlie Strong’s 12-city barnstorming bus tour is in the rearview mirror. The time to talk the talk is over. Now it comes down to walking the walk. A certain sense of newness surrounds the Texas football program as it enters the 2014 season. With a new regime in charge and changes in place, this feeling is to be expected. But when the lights turn on for real on Aug. 30, fans will demand results — from a team still surrounded by a few questions. Can Strong and his staff get more out of a group that’s basically the same team as last year? Sure, impact players such as defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, wide receiver Mike Davis, kicker Anthony Fera, offensive linemen Trey Hopkins, Mason Walters and Donald Hawkins and safety Adrian Phillips have moved on. Outside of those seven players, the Longhorns that will take the field in the season opener will closely resemble the group that beat New Mexico State to begin the 2013 campaign. This season hinges on if the current Longhorns have bought into what the new staff has been selling. Plenty of player-related concerns still exist, including: • Who will be the team’s starting quarterback? Incumbent David Ash is supposedly clear of the concussion symptoms he dealt with last season HE NEW STAFF

and currently rehabbing his injured left foot. • Can linebacker Jordan Hicks stay healthy? He’s missed parts of three seasons with injuries. • Will the mostly untested offensive line jell? Senior tackle Desmond Harrison is likely the key to that situation. • How will the players of DBU react to the change in coaches from Duane Akina to new defensive coordinator Vance Bedford and Chris Vaughn? Since most of the secondary came to Texas to play under Akina, a transition must take place — and perhaps a little backlash. Strong has a proven coaching record and has been magnanimous during his “get-toknow-Charlie” tour and on the Longhorn Network. He’s said all the right things and his players have reacted well to the urgency he brings to the field. And we all know the Longhorns have talent that can match up with virtually any of their opponents on any given Saturday. That said, things will not be easy for Texas as it looks to make its turnaround, beginning with its schedule. The Longhorns face eight teams that played in bowl games last season, including three that beat them in 2013 (BYU, Oklahoma State and Baylor). When considering this year’s team, it’s best to preach patience. It’s a long row to hoe, and, with Strong at the helm, the job can be done. Just sayin’, ya know? The Habe is Steve Habel, Horns Illustrated’s Associate Editor. He was the magazine’s first staff member, in 1994, and has covered Texas sports ever since.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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34 26 HORNS HORNS ILLUSTRATED ILLUSTRATED

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PERFECTLY POSITIONED WITH NEW TALENT IN PLACE, THE LONGHORNS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON. BY SARA BETH PURDY

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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DESPITE A SHOCKING END TO THE 2013 SEASON, the future looks bright for the Texas volleyball team. As the Longhorns prepare for the upcoming season, expectations remain high once again for a program that has made the Final Four five out of the past six seasons and captured one national championship. The team has its sights on ending the 2014 season in Oklahoma City — the site of the 2014 Final Four — with a national title. Texas’ trip to the Final Four last season didn’t turn out as expected. After winning the national title in 2012 and returning all but one player, the Longhorns entered as the favorite to repeat as champions. As the No. 1 overall seed, the team dropped the Final Four match to Wisconsin after losing only two regular season games and going undefeated in the Big 12 for the first time in program history. “I was shocked,” head coach Jerritt Elliott said. “It was a tough way to end the season with our poorest performance to date.” The Longhorns head into the 2014 season without impact players Bailey Webster, Sarah Palmer, Hannah Allison and Megan Futch. Each played an instrumental role in the team’s recent success. The team’s most experienced setter, Allison, earned honorable mention All-American honors her senior season. Palmer, the Longhorns’ starting libero, started all four years on the back row for Texas. Along with Palmer, Futch played at defensive specialist. Webster, a three-time All-American, earned honors as the most valuable player at the 2012 Final Four in Louisville, Ky., following the Longhorns’ national title victory. Her loss will impact the team the most. 36

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

continue to provide Texas with depth. The pair finished with a combined 275 blocks. Bell had 188 kills and 275.5 points in 2013 and McCage finished with 154 kills and 228 points. McCage came to Texas in 2011 as the No. 1 recruit in the country. Chiaka Ogbogu, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and second-team All-American, returns this season with the goal to build on her impressive freshman campaign. She scored 195 points for the Longhorns last season and finished with 146 kills. She’s a versatile player who can play both middle blocker and outside hitter. After medically red-shirting and missing the 2013 season, sophomore Nicole Dalton will return to the court at Gregory in 2014. Dalton served as an important part of the championship squad in 2012, finishing with 35 kills and a .206 hitting clip with 171 assists. Texas signed two freshmen to scholarships for the 2014 season — Baselovic and McCoy. A middle blocker from Split, Croatia, Baselovic plays on the Croatian senior national team. She enrolled early at Texas and participated in the Longhorns’ victory over New Mexico State in a spring exhibition match in April. “Mirta is a smooth and fluid player,” Elliott said. “Right now she’s playing as a middle blocker, but she also has a great feel for the ball and a solid passing platform.” A libero from Southlake, McCoy was named one of Volleyball Magazine’s Girls’ 30 Underclassmen to Watch while in high school. She also played on the 2013 USA Youth National Team. She’ll join the Longhorns in the fall for the 2014 season.

PREVIOUS SPR EAD: P ATR ICK MEREDITH/ UNIV. OF TEXAS , THIS SPR EAD CLOCK WIS E FROM LEFT: JIM SIGMON/ UNIV. OF TEXAS , ALL OT HER PHOTOS PATR ICK MERED IT H/UNIV. OF TEXAS

In the offseason, Elliott stated that he planned on switching the Longhorns’ offense from a style that takes advantage of powerful hitters — such as Webster — to a quick set tempo. Fortunately, the Longhorns will return senior Haley Eckerman. Eckerman, who has too many accolades to mention, returns after yet another impressive season. She led the team with 511 points scored through 30 matches played. She also led with 447 kills, has twice garnered first-team All-American honors and is considered by many to be one of the best hitters in college volleyball. Elliott expects sophomore Chloe Collins to replace Allison as the Longhorns’ setter this fall. In 2013, Collins played in 21 matches for the Longhorns, scoring 32.5 points and finishing with 403 assists, second behind Allison, who finished with 801 assists. Junior Kat Brooks and incoming freshman Cat McCoy will compete for the starting libero spot. To ease the loss of Webster, junior Amy Neal and junior outside hitter Tiffany Baker will need to step up to fill the void. Junior Molly McCage and senior Khat Bell will return this season, and freshman Mirta Baselovic will join the pair at the middle blocker position. Bell and McCage impressively tag-teamed the middle last season and will

A CHANGE IN TEMPO: Head coach Jerritt Elliott (pictured below) changed the team’s offensive style this offseason to take advantage of a quicker set tempo. After losing power hitter Bailey Webster to graduation, the team needed to expose the strengths of the other players stepping into the fold. In their rise back to the top, Haley (opposite page) Eckerman, Kat Brooks (top left), Molly McCage (center) and Amy Neal (top right) will step up as this season’s leaders.

“We were immediately drawn to Cat early on because of her personality — she’s feisty, competitive and extremely driven,” Elliott said. “Through both her high school and club programs, she’s played at a very high level for quite some time and this experience should prove useful as she makes the transition to college.” Baker joins the Longhorns after transferring from Tennessee in the spring of 2013. In 2010, Baker earned honors as the Gatorade State Player of the Year and Prep Volleyball ranked her as the No. 4 high school prospect in the country. The Longhorns also welcomed a new coach to the staff after the departure of Salima Rockwell to Penn State. Tonya Johnson joined the Texas staff this spring as the new associate head coach. Johnson comes to Texas after spending five seasons as the Georgia Tech volleyball

head coach. Prior to that, Johnson was part of the coaching staff at Texas. “I couldn’t be more ecstatic that she’s rejoining our program,” Elliott said. “Tonya is a local and dedicated peer, and a great role model for the talented young women we work with. Her expertise in the gym and experience as a head coach are incredible qualities that we’re fortunate to add to our staff dynamic.” This past spring, the Longhorns competed at the F.A.S.T Tournament in Houston and then hosted New Mexico State. Texas concluded its spring exhibition schedule at the LSC Collegiate Showcase in Dallas. At the F.A.S.T Tournament, the Longhorns recorded three wins against UT San Antonio, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. Texas later fell to Rice in three sets. Against New Mexico State, the Longhorns

defeated the Aggies 4-1 at home and hit .351 for the match with 54 kills and 14 errors. The Texas defense held the Aggies to a .078 hitting clip. The Longhorns wrapped up their spring schedule with three wins at the Long Star Classic. Texas defeated UT San Antonio, TCU and Baylor. Texas released its 2014 schedule this past February. The team will open the season in Albuquerque, N. M., at the University of New Mexico Tournament. The Longhorns will face the University of New Mexico, UT El Paso and Seattle University. The team will then travel to Gainesville to play the Florida Gators at the beginning of September. In the middle of September, the Longhorns will host the Texas Tournament and will play teams from the University of Arizona, the University of Central Florida and Florida A&M University. To wrap up their nonconference schedule, the Longhorns will play former Big 12 rival Nebraska on the road in Lincoln, Neb. Texas opens up its conference schedule on the road against West Virginia at the end of September. The Longhorns will host Iowa State for their conference home opener on Oct. 1. The team closes its Big 12 season against TCU Thanksgiving week. Texas will finish the regular season with a nonconference game against Florida at home. Toward the end of October, the Longhorns will host the Chinese Club Team for two exhibition matches. The 2014 schedule will test this Longhorn squad as it strives to return to the Final Four. “This is a team that’s been growing,” Elliott said. “As a program, we’ve set a standard now. Five out of the last six Final Fours is something that’s going to be hard to live up to for future teams.”

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

HORNS ILLUSTRATED

Football Preview 2014

Building Their Own Legacy AS THE LONGHORNS PREPARE FOR THE 2014 SEASON, THE TEAM LOOKS TO REPOSITION ITSELF AMONG THE TOP PROGRAMS IN THE NATION.

HIS YEAR’S FOOTBALL PREVIEW comes complete with everything you need to know about this year’s squad and the new coaching staff. The football preview section secbegins withwith a look at the staff Strong put together (pg. tion begins a looked at the staff Strong put together 40). In “Texas Top 10”, Habel takestakes a look at 10at 10 (pg. 40). In “Texas Top Steve 10” Steve Habel a look players who will play imperativetoroles to the Longhorns this be imperative the Longhorns success success this year (pg year (pg 44). have aon feature Cedric Reed, had theof 44). Then weThen have awe feature Cedricon Reed, who had who the option option of departing foratthe of last chose for departing for the NFL theNFL endatofthe lastend season, butseason, chose but to return to hisatsenior at Texas. Following a lookroster at the(pg. 2014 hisreturn seniorfor year Texas.year Following a look at the 2014 52), roster (pg. we take anatin-depth look at on each on thein we take an 52), in-depth look each opponent theopponent 2014 schedule 2014 schedule in this Analysis”(pg. year’s “Schedule 55). Don’t this year’s “Schedule 55).Analysis”(pg. Don’t forget to check upforget about to check out how the Longhorn Alums are NFL doing(pg. in the NFL 76). how the Longhorn Alums are doing in the 76)In the(pg. recruitIn recruitingJeff department, Jeff Howe of Horns247.com gets us ingthe department Howe of Horns247.com gets us up-to-date onuphow to-date howhas thebegun 2015 to class has begun to which take shape, andTexas whichhas the 2015on class take shape, and recruits recruits Texas has theThe radar (pg.closes 80). with The issue closes with Pundits’ “on the radar” (pg.on 80). issue Pundits Picks (pg. 89) Picks (pg. 89)(pg. and90), Bar where Bets (pg. can get speed on and Bar Bets you90), canwhere get upyou to speed onup UTtofootball UT football historysome and stump with yourof knowledge history and stump friendssome withfriends your knowledge all things of all things Texas. Texas.

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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Football Preview 2014

A Few Good Men BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS, STRONG’S COACHING STAFF IS READY TO REBUILD THE PROGRAM.

BY STEVE HABEL RINGING TOGETHER a

great staff of football coaches is like cooking a satisfying pot of stew. There are always the main ingredients — the meat, the potatoes and the carrots — but making a memorable finished product comes from the added things, like just the right amount of spice and the correct cooking time.

When the time came for head coach Charlie Strong to build his first Texas staff, he started with a true sense of what the Longhorns had in the cupboard. He then made a list of the ingredients he would need to add before fielding a cohesive team. Strong is the chef, running the kitchen with a decided sense of purpose and the right amount of push when needed. He’s not afraid to break a few eggs. “We’ve bought into what coach Strong wants from us,” senior center Dominic Espinosa said. “He wants us to give our best effort every day. He’s hands on. Strong is working out with us and arrives early. Most times, he’s running before I’m even here. It’s crazy to see him doing that.” The staff stands behind the fact that Strong is the right man for the situation. Shawn Watson, Texas’ new assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, met Strong 30 years ago and was his offensive coordinator at Louisville the past three seasons. “Strong wants to turn these young men into great men,” Watson said. “That’s why I love working with him. He has a clear expectation of what he wants and I have seen first-hand how it parlays into success on the field.” “He’s going to run a demanding, straight-forward program,” Watson continued. “There will be no shades of gray. The neat part of the process is watching the team find its way there.” Strong’s attitude, work ethic and straightforward style attracts assistant that think the same way. And because Strong comes from the defensive side of the ball, expect Texas — once all is in place — to be stingy to the extreme. “One thing about this football team that I can guarantee is that Strong will bring enthusiasm and intensity,” defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Vance Bedford said. “We’ll have a very physical football team.” The Longhorns have a core group of good players and handful of great ones. The Texas coaching staff is responsible for making sure those players blend well together. This new staff has the extra responsibility of returning the program to where it belongs — in its rightful place among the best in college football. To do that, Strong stayed mostly with coaches he has built relationships with throughout the years. Five members of Strong’s staff worked with him in the past 25 years and three were coordinators at one point in time. “We know what this staff is about,” Strong said. “We are teachers, role models … we’re going to motivate and lead. We’re a staff of family men. You want players to look at a coach and say that they could emulate the man standing right there in front of them.” Four of his coaches have had stints in the NFL and one — Bruce Chambers, the lone holdover from Mack Brown’s staff — has never coached collegiately anywhere but Texas. Seven of the 10 staff members have coached in the SEC. “This program has a lot of respect,” Strong said. “Even from the outside, you’ll receive respect because of who we are. Everyone wants to be a part of this so you have to be selective. When you’re a top program, you have to be about championships.” Strong has stocked the staff with no-nonsense guys determined to rebuild the Longhorns with grit, discipline and the absolute demand for accountability. Here’s a look at Strong’s first coaching staff. 40

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JOE WICKLINE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/OFFENSIVE LINE

An offensive coordinator who knows about every position is an important piece to building a successful offense in today’s world of college football. Strong hit a home run when he pegged former Oklahoma State and Florida offensive line coach Joe Wickline as the man to lead his offensive staff and coach the big guys in the trenches. Wickline is tough and knows how to transform good players into great ones who can blend into a winning team. A 33-year coaching veteran with the last nine in Stillwater, Wickline has been at the heart of the Oklahoma State offensive coaching staffs that led the Cowboys to top-20 national finishes in total offense. Over the past four seasons, the Cowboys scored 50 or more points 19 times, broke the 60-point mark in seven contests, the 70-point mark twice and the 80-point plateau once with Wickline’s linemen in the trenches. He helped coach an Oklahoma State offense that averaged at least 40 points per game in five of the last seven seasons. Strong and Wickline go back to when they were graduate assistants together at Florida in 1983. Later they were both on the Mississippi staff in 1990 and back at Florida from 2003-04. Prior to Oklahoma State, Wickline served three seasons (2002-04) as offensive line coach at Florida, the last two of which he was also the running game coordinator. In that span, Wickline helped the Gators increase their run production from 122.4 yards per game the season prior to his arrival, to 155.8 yards per game in 2004. That was in addition to the offense leading the SEC in passing (271.1 yards per game) and total offense (426.9 ypg), while ranking second in scoring offense (31.8 points per game) that same year. Wickline went to Florida from Middle Tennessee State, where he coached the offensive line from 1999-2001 and served as running game coordinator for the last two seasons. Before his time at Middle Tennessee State, Wickline spent two seasons in the Big 12 as the offensive line coach at Baylor from 1997-98. He also made stops at SW Mississippi Community College (1996), Pearl River Community College (1995) and Ole Miss (1988-94). Wickline’s first full-time coaching position was at Delta State University in Mississippi from 1984-87

after being a graduate assistant at both Tennessee (1984) and his alma mater, Florida (1982-83). As a player, he was a three-year letterman with the Gators and was selected to play in the Blue-Gray Game following his senior season. He also lettered one season in wrestling. Wickline will be the playcaller down on the sideline, but he says a committee of coaches will run his offense. Quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson, running backs coach Tommie Robinson, receivers coach Les Koenning and longtime tight ends coach Bruce Chambers will all have a say.

after an impressive seven-year (1987-93) run as an assistant coach at Miami University. Watson played three seasons in college, spending 1978 at Illinois before transferring to Southern Illinois where he saw action in two years (1979-80) as a safety.

89 as the running backs and wide receivers coach. He played at Memorial High School in Houston for his father, Les Koenning Sr., who was a longtime Texas high school and college coach.

LES KOENNING

TOMMIE ROBINSON

WIDE RECEIVERS

SHAWN WATSON

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ASSISTANT HEAD COACH FOR OFFENSE AND QUARTERBACKS

If building quarterbacks and helping formulate prolific offenses are any indication of success, Texas’ hiring of former Louisville offensive coordinator Shawn Watson should pay immediate dividends on the 40 Acres. Watson spent the last three years on Strong’s staff at Louisville, serving as quarterbacks coach and taking over as offensive coordinator the last two seasons. He helped the Cardinals post a 30-9 record, win a pair of Big East Conference Championships (2011, 2012) and earn three bowl appearances while tutoring Teddy Bridgewater, one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. Prior to Louisville, Watson spent four seasons (2007-10) at Nebraska, where he directed an offense in 2010 that ranked ninth in the country in rushing (247.6 ypg) and 39th in scoring (30.9 ppg). That rushing total was more than 100 yards better than the previous season. Watson made his first stop in the Big 12 in 1999 when he became quarterbacks coach at Colorado. He was elevated to offensive coordinator and quaterbacks coach the following season and spent six years (1999-05) in Boulder, helping the Buffalos win the Big 12 North Division four times, including a conference title in 2001. He coached quarterbacks at Northwestern for two seasons (1997-98) under Gary Barnett after serving as head coach at Southern Illinois, his alma mater, for three years (1994-96). He was named the head coach at Southern Illinois

RUNNING BACKS

Strong enticed another coach who was formerly a coordinator — wide receivers coach Les Koenning — to Texas in a position coach role, illustrating both the pull of the 40 Acres and the respect the Longhorns’ new head man carries in the coaching fraternity. Koenning spent the last five years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Mississippi State, elevating the offense to its highest levels in school history. He helped the Bulldogs play in four straight bowl games for the first time in school history. During that time, Koenning orchestrated the top four seasons in school history in total offensive yards, the top two in passing yards and scoring, the top four in passing touchdowns and two of the top four in rushing touchdowns. Koenning came to Mississippi State from South Alabama, where he spent 2008 establishing the foundation for the newly developed Jaguars program that started in 2009. Prior to that, Koenning spent five years on the Texas A&M staff, serving as offensive coordinator and working with the quarterbacks. He went to Texas A&M from Alabama, where he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for two seasons (2001-02). Before Alabama, Koenning spent one season as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at TCU in 2000. He was the offensive coordinator at Houston in 1999 and Duke in 1998, following a one-year stint in the NFL as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins. Koenning had also served previously at Texas A&M as wide receivers coach from 199496, and briefly held the same position at Duke in December of 1993. Before Duke, he coached wide receivers at Rice from 1990-93. His first experience at Mississippi State came from 1986-

Tommie Robinson, the Longhorns’ new running backs coach, isn’t a big fan of using video for evaluation. He likes to look his players in the eye and to see them working on the field and in the heat of battle as a way of determining whom he can count on when the lights go on in the fall. A longtime coach at both the collegiate and professional level, Robinson was the passing game coordinator and running backs coach at USC last season after spending the previous three seasons (2010-12) coaching the running backs with the Arizona Cardinals. Before going to the NFL, Robinson spent 2007-09 as the running backs coach at Miami, helping the Hurricanes reach the 2008 Emerald Bowl and 2009 Champs Sports Bowl. Robinson spent the 2006 season as the running backs coach at the University of Memphis, following a four-year stint as an assistant at Georgia Tech (2002-05), where he coached under Chan Gailey. He played at Troy State under Gailey and worked under him as an assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He spent the 2001 season as the running backs coach at Oklahoma State and was an offensive assistant with the Dallas Cowboys from 1998-2000. Robinson also coached running backs at Utah State for two years (1992-93), helping the Aggies advance to the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl II — their first bowl appearance in 32 years. He coached the wide receivers for four years (199497) at TCU, as the Horned Frogs reached the 1994 Independence Bowl. He was a four-year letterwinner and threeyear starter at strong safety and team captain as a senior at Troy State, where he was a member of the 1984 Division II National Championship team.

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VANCE BEDFORD DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/SECONDARY

TIGHT ENDS

Strong only retained one coach from the Longhorns’ previous staff — tight ends coach Bruce Chambers. Strong held on to him as much for his prowess in recruiting and his familiarity with the state’s high school coaches as for his work on the field and in the coaching rooms. Chambers has spent the past 16 seasons at Texas. For the last 11 years he served as the Longhorns’ tight ends coach, and before that he worked with the running backs. He was also Texas’ recruiting coordinator in 2013 after serving as co-recruiting coordinator for eight years (2005-12). Chambers joined the Texas staff from Carter High School in Dallas, where he helped coach one of the state’s most successful football programs for 14 seasons. He was the head coach and athletic director during his final two years, while also teaching speech and journalism. Chambers’ ties to high school coaching and his understanding of young men, parents and the job of the high school coach made him a prime candidate when former coach Mack Brown was forming his staff. His résumé also piqued Strong’s interest. In Chambers’ 14 seasons at Carter, the Cowboys advanced to the state playoffs each year, won the 1988 State Championship, earned four regional titles and claimed 13 district crowns. Chambers was a four-year letterman as a wide receiver and a two-time letterwinner in track & field at North Texas.

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Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford played cornerback for the Longhorns in the late 1970s through the early 80s. He returned to the 40 Acres this season to help restore the luster to the fully smudged Texas defense. Of all the coaches on Strong’s staff, Bedford has worked with the Longhorns’ new head honcho the most. He was the defensive coordinator at Louisville for the past four seasons and was the defensive backs coach at Florida when Strong was the defensive coordinator. They guided one of the nation’s top defensive units together, finishing in the top six in four statistical categories and winning the national championship in 2008. Bedford spent one season as secondary coach under Lloyd Carr in his second stint at Michigan in 2007. Prior to that, Bedford served two years as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State (2005-06) and was the defensive backs coach for the Chicago Bears from 1999-2004. During his first stint with Michigan as the secondary coach (1995-98), Bedford’s unit led the nation in pass defense in 1997 — the year Michigan won its first national championship since 1948. Bedford first coached in the collegiate ranks at Navarro (Texas) Junior College in 1986 before accepting a position at Colorado State, where he was the Rams’ defensive backs coach for five seasons (1987-92). His 1990 secondary set a school record and led the nation with 25 interceptions. He spent two seasons as the defensive backs coach at Oklahoma State (1993-94) before going to Michigan. After his collegiate playing career, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Bedford in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played one season with the Cardinals (1982) and one year with the USFL’s Oklahoma Outlaws (1984) before beginning his coaching career.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

BRIAN JEAN-MARY LINEBACKERS/RECRUITING COORDINATOR

Strong wanted a linebackers coach who would wield the big stick of discipline with the Texas players. To fulfill this requirement, he brought along Brian Jean-Mary from Louisville to help rebuild the team’s pride and accountability. At Louisville, Jean-Mary served as assistant head coach and linebackers coach under Strong. He helped the Cardinals post a 23-3 record (88.5 percent) and register bowl victories in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. In 2013, Louisville led the nation in total defense (251.5 ypg), rushing defense (80.7 ypg), sacks (3.31 per game), first downs allowed (183) and third-down conversion defense (26.7 percent). Prior to his time at Louisville, Jean-Mary was the linebackers coach at Georgia Tech from 2004-09, where he helped recruit players from the state of Texas. Before his tenure at Georgia Tech, JeanMary spent one season coaching the defensive backs at North Alabama, one of the top programs in NCAA Division II. He helped the Lions to a 13-1 record, the Gulf South Conference title and a berth in the semifinals of the 2003 NCAA Division II playoffs. Jean-Mary previously spent two years (2001-02) as a defensive graduate assistant at South Carolina under Lou Holtz and one year (2000) as a graduate assistant on the strength and conditioning staff at Louisville. He played college football at Appalachian State.

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BRUCE CHAMBERS

CHRIS RUMPH

PAT MOORER

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH FOR DEFENSE/ DEFENSIVE LINE

Dedication and the ability to pay attention to every detail are the keys to Alabama’s success. And Texas defensive line coach Chris Rumph understands and employs these practices very well. Rumph comes to Texas after spending three seasons as coach of the defensive lines at Alabama. This past season, the defensive line played an important role in fronting a unit that ranked seventh nationally in defense and first in the SEC. The Crimson Tide allowed 106.2 ypg on the ground. Before his stint with Alabama, Rumph spent five years at Clemson (2006-10). The Tigers ranked among the top 25 nationally in scoring defense and total defense in each of those five seasons. Clemson appeared in bowl games to conclude each of those years and won the ACC Atlantic Division title in 2009. Rumph served the first three years as defensive line coach and the last two as defensive ends coach. Prior to his time at Clemson, Rumph was the outside linebackers coach at Memphis for three years (2003-05). Memphis appeared in bowl games in each of his three seasons and won a total of 24 games during that time. Rumph was the defensive backs coach at South Carolina State in 2002, following a fiveyear stint as head coach at Calhoun County High School in St. Matthews, S.C. Rumph played collegiately at South Carolina as a linebacker from 1991-94, where he helped the Gamecocks record their first bowl victory in the 1995 Carquest Bowl.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

CHRIS VAUGHN DEFENSIVE BACKS/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR

In the prior regime at Texas, the notion about playing like an SEC team was discussed but never truly implemented. Perhaps the Longhorns never had enough players to play that style of football. Chris Vaughn, the Longhorns’ new defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator, knows the ins and outs of the SEC like few others. He spent four seasons (2008-11) as the Ole Miss recruiting coordinator — a job in which Rivals.com named Vaughn one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation — and four more at Arkansas, where he directed the Razorbacks’ recruiting efforts. Vaughn comes to the 40 Acres after serving as the cornerbacks coach at Memphis for the past two years. Prior to Ole Miss, Vaughn served on the Arkansas staff for nine seasons (1999-2007), including four as recruiting coordinator. During his Razorbacks tenure, his coaching responsibilities included outside linebackers (2000-04), outside linebackers and strong safeties (2001-03) and all safeties (2005, 2007). He spent the 2006 season as the director of on-campus recruiting. As a linebacker at Murray State, Vaughn earned four letters. He was a member of the teams that claimed back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) titles and made consecutive NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances in 1995 and 1996. Vaughn earned All-OVC honors as a senior in 1997, totaling 103 tackles, six sacks and 10 tackles for loss.

The first step in building a consistently great football team is making sure its players are getting the most out of their physical abilities. One of the first coaches Strong hired when he took the job at Texas was Pat Moorer. In his four years at Louisville, Moorer transformed the Cardinals into one of the fittest and strongest teams in the nation. Prior to his time at Louisville, Moorer was the director of strength and conditioning at South Carolina from 1999-2009. With the Gamecocks, he managed four strength facilities and eight strength and conditioning coaches. For four years he worked alongside Strong, who was defensive coordinator there from 1999-2002. Moorer was also the director of strength and conditioning at Illinois for two years (1997-99). As an athlete, Moorer walked on and later earned a scholarship with the Florida Gators. He played inside linebacker for four seasons, was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 1986, led Florida in tackles in 1988-89 and was the team captain as a senior. Moorer appeared in three bowl games — the Aloha, All-American and Freedom Bowl — during his college career. After graduating from Florida, Moorer played linebacker for the San Diego Chargers in 1990 before moving to the Frankfurt (Germany) Galaxy of the World Professional League (later known as NFL Europe) in 199192. Moorer returned to Florida in 1992 as the assistant strength and conditioning coach and was named coordinator of strength and conditioning in 1995, a position he held until his move to Illinois in 1997. He also served as the personal trainer to former Florida running back Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher.

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Football Preview 2014

OFFENSE

DAVID ASH JUNIOR QUARTERBACK ASH’S RETURN,

Texas Top 10 THESE 10 PLAYERS ARE IMPRERATIVE TO TEXAS’ SUCCESS IN 2014.

BY STEVE HABEL

ITH THE CHANGES made to the program at the beginning of the year, a new coaching staff in place and the players trying to meet new demands, the Texas football team is under the microscope like never before. In the eight months between the Longhorns’ loss to Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl and the opening kickoff against North Texas, the team spent time reevaluating and reenergizing. Fans can only hope that the Longhorns have also renewed their efforts to shrug off the doldrums and return to the upper echelon of college football. Here are 10 players — five from offense and five from defense — whose continued development will be critical for the Longhorns’ chances in 2014.

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from last season’s concussion symptoms and a broken right foot suffered during spring drills, is the No. 1 question for the Longhorns as they enter the season. If he’s healthy, Texas gets an immediate boost in efficiency, experience and confidence. If he can’t play, the job falls to sopho more Tyrone Swoopes who is unproven at best.

“David has studied hard in the offseason and I can’t beat him out of my office — he’s always there,” quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson said. “He’s worked hard to learn what we do and most importantly he’s going to know how [when he’s on the field]. He has showed us that we can win with him.”

DESMOND HARRISON SENIOR OFFENSIVE TACKLE

quarterback safe from the blind side rush is imperative. Harrison, the junior college transfer who was all the rage last offseason, has to step up and find the form that he was expected to bring to the 40 Acres. He’s a mammoth player (6’8”, 318 pounds) and he’s healthy from an injury that slowed his acclimation last season.

KEEPING THE

“Desmond is athletic, can run and bend, and has got a physical mindset,” Watson said. “He has natural ability and a natural attitude for a lineman. He’s got some nasty in him and he’ll grind.”

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GEOFF SWAIM JOHNATHAN GRAY JUNIOR RUNNING BACK

GRAY IS ON the fast track to returning to the field after suffering an Achilles injury late last season, and will reassume the starting running back position from Malcolm Brown once he gets up to full speed. Gray rushed for 780 yards in nine games last season, a total that ranked 10th in the Big 12. He also led the team in all-purpose yards (93.4 ypg). Fellow running back Malcolm Brown is good but Gray is better, and the Longhorns’ offense needs his versatility and leadership on the field, not the sidelines.

SENIOR TIGHT END

SWAIM IS ANOTHER junior college transfer whom pundits expected to add some life to the tight end corps last season — the receiving part at least. After all, ESPN.com rated him the No. 4 JUCO tight end in the nation. Instead, he only caught three passes all year for 14 combined yards and had two drops in the same series during the Valero Alamo Bowl. Texas needs receiving production out of its tight ends to take some pressure off of the quarterback. Swaim is the likely beneficiary of that strategy.

“Swaim is getting better,” head coach Charlie Strong said. “He’s made some catches. The tight end position is an important part of our offense. We’re going to be able to throw him the ball.”

DEFENSE

JORDAN HICKS

KENDALL SANDERS

SENIOR LINEBACKER

SANDERS, WHO caught 37 passes last season but just five in the Longhorns’ final five games, is expected to emerge as Texas’ deep threat and a third receiver option (behind Jaxon Shipley and Marcus Johnson). Sanders has speed to burn and will benefit from more attention to detail and precise route running — two aspects of the game that new wide receivers coach Les Koenning emphasizes.

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HICKS IS TO the Longhorns’ defense what Ash is to the offense — an impact player

when he’s on the field but a constant question mark because of his history of injuries. He was Texas’ leading tackler through four games last year before blowing out his Achilles. As a fifth-year player, he’s also a coach on the field. Hicks is great in coverage from his weakside linebacker position and a good run stopper, especially against the spread offense because he’s quick on his feet and can move in space.

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JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER

JOSH TURNER SENIOR SAFETY

TURNER WILL TAKE over as a starting safety this season and will be a focal point of opposing offenses because of his relatively diminutive size (he’s 6’0” but just 179 pounds) and because the other safety, Mykkele Thompson, has more experience. Turner was moved from his original spot at cornerback to safety to get his speed on the field. He was at his best over the final stretch of games in 2013. He should be bolstered knowing that he’s the everyday starter at one of the game’s most demanding positions.

CEDRIC REED SENIOR DEFENSIVE END

a banner year in 2013 when he recorded 79 tackles (19 of them for a loss, including 10 sacks), forced five fumbles and 16 quarterback pressures from the opposite end of the line from AllAmerican Jackson Jeffcoat. This year, Reed will be the marked man and he’ll have to step up his game a notch to reach the statistics that garnered him All-Big 12 honors last season. He eschewed putting his name into the NFL Draft in favor of one more year on the 40 Acres. The Longhorns need him to be their big-time outside rusher, to make plays and be a leader.

MALCOM BROWN JUNIOR DEFENSIVE TACKLE

flashes of brilliance from the interior of the Longhorns’ defensive line and is poised to take the next step forward in 2014. He’s a massive man — 6’4” and 320 pounds — but nimble enough to have knocked down five passes last season even when he was engaged against the opposition’s double-teaming center and guard. Brown was third in tackles for loss (12), third in quarterback pressures (six) and seventh on the team in tackles (68) last season — all huge numbers for a defensive tackle. He’s a star in the making.

BROWN HAS SHOWN

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REED ENJOYED

“I feel stronger, faster and I put on some weight,” Reed said. “I know the game more.”

QUANDRE DIGGS SENIOR CORNERBACK

NO ONE HAS ever questioned the heart, the desire or the toughness of Diggs. His size is a different matter. Playing at cornerback for his first two years at Texas, Diggs was moved to the nickelback position last season and led the team in pass breakups. He recorded 58 tackles while chasing the opposition’s slot receivers all over the field. Diggs will move back to the cornerback spot this season, where he’ll only be responsible for half of the field — and that will help. He decided to return to Texas for the 2014 campaign instead of going to the NFL, so he knows it’s time to make his final impressions.

“Diggs has that type of swagger as a player,” defensive coordinator Vance Bedford said. “We need more guys with Diggs’ attitude. He’s a guy who has shown a lot. He has shown that he can be a leader on this team. He’s practiced well and he’s made great strides.”

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Steering the Herd

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF STRONG’S COACHING STAFF, CEDRIC REED IS LEADING THE LONGHORNS INTO A NEW ERA. BY CHRISTIAN CORONA

A THE PLAYER-COACH: This season, Cedric Reed is stepping into a leadership role that allows him to coach up his fellow teammates.

S HE PULLED into the parking lot in 2010, recently hired Cleveland High football coach Clayton Maple noticed something in the distance. He saw Cedric Reed working out with former Longhorn Brian Robison. Less than two weeks before two-a-days were set to begin, Reed was running drills with a four-year NFL veteran.

“I knew a lot about his character right there,” Maple reflected. “I pulled up and they were working. It was hot but they were doing their thing. I was like, ‘Wow.’” Maple was able to quickly put together why countless scholarship offers for Reed littered his office desk. He spent the previous eight years as the offensive coordinator and assistant coach at nearby Kingwood High. Several of his players reminded Maple of how good Reed was and, the more he found out about Reed, the more impressed the new head coach became. “When you get your first job, the first thing you do is watch video,” Maple said. “The first thing that caught my eye was Reed running from sideline to sideline on every single play. He has a tenacious desire to always get to the football and not take plays off. He’s the complete package.”

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PUTTING THE “T” BACK IN TEXAS: Cedric Reed is focused on bringing toughness, togetherness and a sense of teamwork back to Texas this season. After a successful junior season, he’s in a position to lead by example.

Seeing a new coach step in and head up the program wasn’t anything new for Reed. Cleveland native Ricky Tullos took over an Indians’ team that went 1-9 in 2006 and had five different head coaches in the previous seven years — including three in the previous three seasons.

“I plan on being here a long time,” Tullos told the Houston Chronicle at the time. “This isn’t a stepping stone for me. I would like to retire here. I know the kids and I’m familiar with the area.” Tullos led the Indians to district titles in 2008 and 2009 but after just three years, he left to become the head football coach at Rosenberge George Ranch. Enter Maple. 50

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As the new head coach, Maple needed his seniors to step up — Reed included — to help keep the team unified. Today, Reed finds himself in a similar situation. He’s getting used to a new head football coach as he prepares for his senior season, thrust in a leadership position that involves getting the team behind a coach who’s actively attempting to change the culture. Charlie Strong will look to Reed in hopes he can rally the team the way he did in Cleveland four seasons ago. “Guys look up to me more,” Reed said. “You can tell. It’s a leadership role that you take on as a senior … something you finally realize once you get on the field with the guys.” During the offseason Strong spoke at length about putting the “T” back in Texas, with the “T” standing for toughness, teamwork and togetherness. He also placed emphasis on his five-phase plan — one that proved to Reed just how different things would be under Strong. “I was winded and realized that this was going to be real,” Reed said when recalling the first day of spring practice. “Everyone looked at me and said that we need to turn it up a notch.” Strong not only shook up practices but also the coaching staff. Among the new assistants brought on by the new head coach, Reed is closest to defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, a former Longhorns defensive back, and defensive line coach Chris Rumph. “Coach Bedford wears that T-ring and that tells you everything,” Reed said. “It’s great to have someone that has the same pride and passion we have for winning. He’s a great defensive coordinator.” Rumph spent three years as Alabama’s defensive line coach, a stint that saw four of his defensive linemen selected in the NFL Draft. The most notable of those selections was Marcell Dareus. Longhorn fans may remember him as the player who knocked Colt McCoy out of the 2011 BCS National Championship and returned a Garrett Gilbert interception for a touchdown. The Buffalo Bills took Dareus as the No. 3 overall pick in that year’s NFL Draft. “I’m learning how to be a man from coach Rumph,” Reed said. “He gets on me about the little stuff that I can fix. And it’s not stuff so much with football, but more of how I can be a man and carry it over to the football field.” After an outstanding junior season that saw Reed make 79 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, he’s in a position to lead this Texas team. But Reed didn’t always play this prominent of a role on the Longhorns’ squad. Despite coming in with numerous accolades from his high school days, Reed took a while to earn his spot on the field. The 6’6”, 271-pound Reed made 344 tackles and 40 sacks over four years

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Football Preview 2014

at Cleveland. The son and nephew of former college football players, he was a four-star prospect according to every major recruiting service. He excelled athletically across the board. Reed was a standout basketball player, scoring 20 points and pulling down 11 rebounds per game as a senior. He was also a three-year letterwinner in track & field, where he turned in a 53-foot, 11.5inch performance in the shot put at the state meet as a junior. “He was tremendous on the basketball court,” Maple said. “He was physical under the basket. He could rebound and shoot — he was just a physical presence underneath the goal. That was his territory down there.” In Austin, things changed. As a freshman at Texas, Reed played in only seven games, making just three tackles. His playing time saw a small spike as a sophomore but he still wasn’t starting. He made only nine tackles in Texas’ first six games, not making any more than two stops in any of those contests. But then star defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in October, forcing Reed into the starting lineup. He made a career-high six tackles in his first start against Kansas. From there, he never looked back. Reed made 33 tackles, eight for tackles for loss, nine quarterback pressures and 2.5 sacks in the six games he started as a sophomore, cementing his place as a starter going into his junior campaign. As many strides as Reed took during his sophomore year, he made leaps and bounds between his sophomore season and junior season. As a junior, he was named an AP first-team All-Big 12 performer and was only one of two players with at least five sacks, four pass breakups and five forced fumbles last year. The other, Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack, was taken with the fifth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. An excellent junior season afforded Reed the opportunity to consider foregoing his final year of eligibility and entering the NFL Draft. He had the prototypical size for his position but no guarantee that a team would take him early — or at all. But Reed, along with teammates Quandre Diggs and Malcolm Brown, opted to stick around for the 2014 season. A coaching change would normally discourage a player from forgoing the draft and returning for another year but in Reed’s

“I’M SPEAKING TO THE GUYS MORE ABOUT CORRECTING THE MINOR STUFF RATHER THAN SITTNG BACK AND LETTING COACHES TALK TO THEM. RUMPH WANTS ME TO BE A PLAYER-COACH. IT GOES ALONG WITH BECOMING A MAN.”

case, it was part of the reason he stayed. “It’s in my best interest to come back next year and help my teammates and the coaching staff continue building the program,” Reed said in a statement when his decision was announced in January. “Coach Strong is a passionate guy who knows football and knows the game. He wants to build on everything we have here and I want to be a part of that as a senior.” Three of Strong’s former players were selected in the first round of this year’s draft, including defensive end Marcus Smith. Strong believes Reed compares favorably to Smith. “Marcus’ athletic enough to go drop into coverage and create the need to rush him,” Strong said. “Cedric is bigger, stronger, more physical

and strong at the point of attack where Marcus wasn’t. You’re looking at two different players.” If Reed continues to improve, he could earn All-American honors, become a first-round draft selection and go on to have a successful NFL career like so many former Longhorn defensive linemen. Today, he’s focused on bringing this team together under Strong’s direction and turning things around after four underachieving seasons. “I’m speaking to the guys more about correcting the minor stuff rather than sitting back and letting coaches talk to them,” Reed added. “Rumph wants me to be a player-coach. He makes hints about me taking on that role — it goes along with becoming a man.”

Football Preview 2014

CHArLIE STrONG Head Coach

VANCE BEdfOrd

Defensive Coordinator/ Secondary

BrUCE CHAMBErS Tight Ends

BrIAN JEAN-MAry Linebackers/Recruiting Coordinator

LES KOENNING Wide Receivers

TOMMIE rOBINSON Running Backs

CHrIS rUMPH

Assistant Head Coach For Defense/Defensive Line

CHrIS VAUGHN

Defensive Backs/Special Teams Coordinator

SHAWN WATSON

Assistant Head Coach for Offense/Quarterbacks

JOE WICKLINE

Offensive Coordinator/ Offensive Line

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2014 TEXAS LONGHORNS ROSTER (alphabetical) NUM

NAME

POS

CLASS

EXP

HOMETOWN

HIGHSCHOOL

Eddie Aboussie

5-9

216

Sr.

Wichita Falls, Texas

Wichita Falls Cedar Park

Brandon Allen

6-2

204

Sr.

Cedar Park, Texas

Alex Anderson

6-5

316

Fr.

New Orleans, La.

Landry-Walker

David Ash

6-3

227

Jr.

Belton, Texas

Belton Brazoswood

Kyle Ashby

6-1

242

Jr.

Lake Jackson, Texas

Andrew Beck

6-3

233

Fr.

Tampa, Fla.

Plant

Mitchell Becker

6-2

191

Fr.

League City, Texas

Clear Creek

Joe Bergeron

6-1

232

Sr.

Mesquite, Texas

North Mesquite

N/A

Roderick Bernard

5-10

175

Fr.

Houston, Texas

Sharpstown West Brook

Caleb Bluiett

6-3

264

So.

Beaumont, Texas

Dillon Boldt

5-10

168

Jr.

Austin, Texas

Bowie

N/A

John Bonney

6-1

183

Fr.

Houston, Texas

Lamar

Cody Boswell

5-11

180

Sr.

San Antonio, Texas

Converse Judson

Nate Boyer

5-11

198

Sr.

Dublin, Calif.

Valley Christian Humble

Paul Boyette Jr.

6-4

292

So.

Humble, Texas

Malcolm Brown

6-0

228

Sr.

Cibolo, Texas

Steele

Malcom Brown

6-4

320

Jr.

Brenham, Texas

Brenham

N/A

Donald Catalon

6-0

200

Fr.

Houston, Texas

Eisenhower

Matt Center

TE/DS

6-2

215

Fr.

Llano, Texas

Llano

Demarco Cobbs

6-2

225

Sr.

Tulsa, Okla.

Tulsa Central

Adrian Colbert

6-2

202

So.

Mineral Wells, Texas

Mineral Wells Brenham

Timothy Cole

6-2

232

So.

Brenham, Texas

Chevoski Collins

5-11

201

Fr.

Livingston, Texas

Livingston

Bryce Cottrell

6-3

241

So.

Plano, Texas

Plano West

Dominic Cruciani

5-11

218

Jr.

Southlake, Texas

Carroll

N/A

Terrell Cuney

6-3

260

Fr.

Jasper, Texas

Jasper St. Pius X

Greg Daniels

6-5

243

Sr.

Houston, Texas

Michael Davidson

6-4

205

Sr.

Aberdeen, Scotland

Strake Jesuit

Antwuan Davis

5-11

191

Fr.

Bastrop, Texas

Bastrop

Deoundrei Davis

6-3

228

Fr.

Cypress, Texas

Cypress Woods

Gaston Davis

6-0

190

Jr.

Houston, Texas

Clear Lake Woodlawn

Shiro Davis

6-3

258

Jr.

Shreveport, La.

Alex De La Torre

6-1

233

Jr.

Denton, Texas

Ryan

Hunter DeGroot

6-1

205

Fr.

Arlington, Texas

High Point

Quandre Diggs

5-10

204

Sr.

Angleton, Texas

Angleton

Taylor Doyle

6-5

300

Jr.

Austin, Texas

Lake Travis DeSoto

Bryson Echols

5-10

185

So.

DeSoto, Texas

Steve Edmond

6-3

253

Sr.

Daingerfield, Texas

Daingerfield

Dominic Espinosa

6-4

300

Sr.

Cedar Park, Texas

Cedar Park

Kennedy Estelle

6-7

285

Jr.

Pearland, Texas

Dawson

Sheroid Evans

6-0

188

Sr.

Sugar Land, Texas

Fort Bend Dulles North Shore

Sedrick Flower

6-3

317

Jr.

Houston, Texas

N/A

Poona Ford

6-1

288

Fr.

Hilton Head, S.C.

Hilton Head

N/A

Armanti Foreman

6-0

180

Fr.

Texas City, Texas

Texas City

N/A

Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Onta Foreman

6-2

215

Fr.

Texas City, Texas

Texas City

N/A

Edwin Freeman

6-1

215

Fr.

Arlington, Texas

Bowie

Chris Giron

5-8

157

Sr.

Cypress, Texas

Cypress Woods

Trey Gonzales

6-0

218

Jr.

Friendswood, Texas

Friendswood

N/A

Garrett Gray

6-4

211

Fr.

Marble Falls , Texas

Marble Falls

Johnathan Gray

5-11

210

Jr.

Aledo, Texas

Aledo

Dakota Haines

6-1

194

Sr.

Lago Vista, Texas

Lago Vista

Dylan Haines

6-1

195

So.

Lago Vista, Texas

Lago Vista

N/A

Jason Hall

6-2

190

Fr.

Grand Prairie, Texas

South Grand Prairie

Rami Hammad

6-5

320

Fr.

Irving, Texas

Irving

N/A

Cameron Hampton

6-0

201

Fr.

Dallas, Texas

Carter

John Harris

TE/WR

6-3

223

Sr.

Garland, Texas

Naaman Forest

Desmond Harrison

6-8

318

Sr.

Houston, Texas

Oak Ridge [N.C.]

N/A

Jerrod Heard

6-2

190

Fr.

Denton, Texas

Guyer

Jordan Hicks

6-2

244

Sr.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Lakota West

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

ALL PHOT OS THIS SPR EAD COURT ESY UNIVER SITY OF TEXAS SPORT S PHOTOGRAPHY

SPRING 2014 TEXAS LONGHORNS COACHES ROSTER

ROSTER continued NUM

NAME

POS

CLASS

EXP

HOMETOWN

HIGHSCHOOL

Trey Holtz

6-0

178

So.

Tampa, Fla.

H.B. Plant Home Schooled

Devin Huffines

6-0

195

Sr.

Highland Park, Texas

Connor Huffman

5-9

167

Fr.

Arlington, Texas

Arlington

Camrhon Hughes

6-7

317

So.

Harker Heights, Texas

Harker Heights Harker Heights

Naashon Hughes

6-4

231

Fr.

Harker Heights, Texas

Erik Huhn

6-3

214

Fr.

Cibolo, Texas

Steele

Marcus Hutchins

6-5

287

Jr.

DeSoto, Texas

DeSoto

Desmond Jackson

6-1

301

Sr.

Houston, Texas

Westfield

JALEN OVERSTREET

Tevin Jackson

6-2

243

Sr.

Garland, Texas

Garland

Darius James

6-5

311

Fr.

Killeen, Texas

Harker Heights

Peter Jinkens

6-1

230

Jr.

Dallas, Texas

Skyline

N/A

Lorenzo Joe

6-2

192

Fr.

Abilene, Texas

Cooper

Daje Johnson

WR/RB

5-10

180

Jr.

Pflugerville, Texas

Hendrickson

Marcus Johnson

6-1

193

Jr.

League City, Texas

Clear Springs Coppell

Nick Jordan

6-1

180

So.

Coppell, Texas

Tyler Lee

5-10

185

So.

Houston, Texas

Cypress Creek

N/A

Dorian Leonard

6-4

200

Fr.

Longview, Texas

Longview

Frank Lopez

6-2

300

Fr.

Eagle Pass, Texas

Winn

Tyler Marriott

6-1

192

So.

McAllen, Texas

McAllen Memorial

M.J. McFarland

6-6

243

Jr.

El Paso, Texas

El Dorado

N/A

Jake McMillon

6-3

240

Fr.

Abilene, Texas

Abilene

Montrel Meander

6-3

186

Fr.

Amarillo, Texas

Palo Duro

Logan Mills

6-3

217

Jr.

La Vernia, Texas

La Vernia

Chris Nelson

6-3

280

Fr.

Lakeland, Fla.

Victory Christian

Alex Norman

6-4

292

So.

Dallas, Texas

Bishop Dunne

Jake Oliver

6-4

216

Fr.

Dallas, Texas

Jesuit Arlington

Miles Onyegbule

6-4

235

Sr.

Arlington, Texas

Clark Orren

6-0

253

So.

Longview, Texas

Longview

Jalen Overstreet

6-2

210

So.

Tatum, Texas

Tatum

Kent Perkins

6-5

325

So.

Dallas, Texas

Lake Highlands

Ben Pruitt

6-1

217

Jr.

The Woodlands, Texas

The Woodlands Celina

Jake Raulerson

6-5

279

Fr.

Celina, Texas

Cedric Reed

6-6

271

Sr.

Cleveland, Texas

Cleveland

Hassan Ridgeway

6-4

309

So.

Mansfield, Texas

Mansfield

Curtis Riser

6-4

327

So.

DeSoto, Texas

DeSoto

N/A

Derick Roberson

6-3

235

Fr.

San Antonio,Texas

Brennan

Jermaine Roberts

5-9

170

Fr.

New Orleans, La.

St Augustine

Ryan Roberts

5-8

170

Sr.

Cedar Park, Texas

Cedar Park Cypress Creek

N/A

Elijah Rodriguez

6-6

280

Fr.

Houston, Texas

Nick Rose

6-3

197

Jr.

Dallas, Texas

Highland Park

William Russ

P/PK

6-4

198

Sr.

Shreveport, La.

Evangel Christian Athens

Kendall Sanders

6-0

190

Jr.

Athens, Texas

Dalton Santos

6-3

243

Jr.

Van, Texas

Van

Jaxon Shipley

6-1

193

Sr.

Brownwood, Texas

Brownwood

“Marcus is a big-play player. He has great speed, is assignment sound and has a good feel for the game. He’s a great fit in what we do and he had a great spring for us. Marcus has played really well.” — Assistant Head coach for Offense/QB Coach Shawn Watson

BRYSON ECHOLS

N/A

During spring practice, Strong said of Over Overstreet, “The guy is exploexplo sive and knows that he can run the ball because he’s athletic.” During the spring game, Overstreet showed he could both run and catch as he put up 62 all-purpose yards (55 rushing, 7 receiving).

MARCUS JOHNSON

N/A 86

PLAYERS TO WATCH

N/A

Kevin Shorter

6-0

188

Fr.

Newton, Texas

Newton

Geoff Swaim

6-4

242

Sr.

Chico, Calif.

Pleasant Valley

Tyrone Swoopes

6-4

241

So.

Whitewright, Texas

Whitewright

Ty Templin

6-0

190

So.

Granbury, Texas

Trinity Valley

Chris Terry

6-4

237

Sr.

College Station, Texas

A&M Consolidated

David Thomann

6-0

184

Sr.

Winchester, Mass.

Winchester

Duke Thomas

5-11

182

Jr.

Killeen, Texas

Copperas Cove

Kendall Thompson

6-3

222

Sr.

Carthage, Texas

Carthage

Mykkele Thompson

6-2

183

Sr.

San Antonio, Texas

Stevens

Johnny Tseng

6-1

213

So.

Lolita, Texas

Industrial

Josh Turner

6-0

179

Sr.

Oklahoma City, Okla.

Millwood

Kevin Vaccaro

5-10

185

So.

Brownwood, Texas

Brownwood

Logan Vimont

6-6

228

Sr.

Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia Stony Brook School (N.Y.)

Jacorey Warrick

5-10

174

So.

Houston, Texas

Cypress Falls

Blake Whiteley

6-5

242

So.

Vancouver, B.C.

West Vancouver

The young sopho sophomore cornerback had six tackles and three pass break-ups in the spring game. Last season he led the team in special teams tackles with 10.

CALEB BLUIETT In the 2014 spring game, Bluiett made a statement with eight tackles (five solo, three assisted) two sacks and a pass breakup. Compare that to the nine tackles and one sack he had over the course of the 2013 season and it’s easy to see the sophomore’s stock could surge soon.

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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GAME 1

Football Preview 2014

TEXAS VS. NORTH TEXAS 8/30/2014, 7 p.m. TV: Longhorn Network

2014

GAME 2

TEXAS VS. BYU

9/6/2014, 6:30 p.m. TV: Fox Sports 1

SCHEDULE

GAME3

TEXAS VS. UCLA

The AdvoCare Showdown 9/13/2014, 7 p.m. AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

GAME 4

FOR THE 2014 REGULAR SEASON the Longhorn football team will take on 12 opponents (six home, four away and two neutral), starting with the North Texas Mean Green on Aug. 30 and concluding with the TCU Horned Frogs on Thanksgiving Day at Darrell K RoyalTexas Memorial Stadium. Over the course of the fall, the Longhorns will face all nine Big 12 conference foes, including Oklahoma at the State Fair of Texas on Oct. 11 and three nonconference opponents. The preconference slate includes a match-up versus UCLA at the Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington (Sept. 13) and a rematch with the BYU Cougars (Sept. 6) who upset the then-No. 15 Longhorns last September in Provo, Utah. The following pages include an in-depth look at each of the Longhorns’ 2014 regular season opponents.

TEXAS AT KANSAS

9/27/2014, TBA Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kan.

GAME 5

TEXAS VS. BAYLOR 10/4/2014, TBA

GAME 6

TEXAS VS. OKLAHOMA

AT&T Red River Showdown 10/11/2014, TBA Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas

GAME 7

TEXAS VS. IOWA ST. 11/18/2014, 7 p.m. TV: Longhorn Network

GAME 8

TEXAS VS. KANSAS ST.

10/25/2014, TBA Bil Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, Kan.

GAME 9

TEXAS AT TEXAS TECH

11/1/2014 TBA Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas

GAME 10

TEXAS VS. WEST VIRGINIA 11/8/2014, TBA

GAME 11

TEXAS AT OKLAHOMA ST.

JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF T EXAS

11/15/2014, TBA Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Okla.

GAME 12

TEXAS VS. TCU. 11/27/2014, 6:30 p.m. TV: Fox Sports 1

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Football Preview 2014

vs. North Texas

GAME 1

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 31 SERIES RECORD: Texas 9, North Texas 0

LAST:

#3 Texas 56 vs. North Texas 7

(2006)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT NORTH TEXAS 2014 SCHEDULE Sept. 6 vs. SMU Sept. 11 vs. Louisiana Tech Sept. 20 vs. Nicholls State Oct. 4 at Indiana Oct. 11 at UAB Oct. 18 vs. Southern Mississippi Oct. 25 at Rice Nov. 8 vs. Florida Atlantic Nov. 15 at UTEP Nov. 22 vs. Florida International Nov. 29 at UTSA

HEAD COACH: Dan McCarney STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Apogee Stadium, capacity 30,850

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 3rd (C-USAWest) 2013 RECORD: 9-4 ALL TIME RECORD: 487-472-32

DID YOU KNOW? Many spoken of the name “Mean Green” exist, with the oldest written source comes from a 1967 Dallas Morning News article by Randy Galloway entitled “MEAN GREEN ON THE LOOSE! Defense Swallows Foes For NTSU.” The article describes that around campus, the “Mean Green” phrase originated from Sidney Graham, wife of the Eagles’ 1966 sports information director and soon became a second nickname.

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A STRANGE thing happened when Dan McCarney took over as head football coach at North Texas in 2011 — for the first time in what seems like forever, the Mean Green became a relevant football team. That statement isn’t meant to be cruel. Just consider the fact that in McCarney’s first two seasons at the helm, the Mean Green won nine games. His predecessor, Todd Dodge, won eight in four seasons. In 2013, McCarney’s team won nine more games, wrapping up the school’s best season in years by thumping University of Nevada-Las Vegas 36-14 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. The victory marked the first time North Texas had won nine games since 2003, and just the second since 1978. But the team that rolls into Austin for Charlie Strong’s debut isn’t a national juggernaut just yet,

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

leaving little reason for people to think the Longhorns are in danger of losing against the Mean Green. Texas is currently 9-0 in the series against North Texas. North Texas lost a handful of players from last year’s team, including Heart of Dallas MVP quarterback Derek Thompson. As of the end of spring workouts, three players — Andrew McNulty, Josh Greer and Connor Means — all were still in the running to guide a North Texas offense that averaged 31.8 points per game last season. McNulty is the only one of the three with any experience, having thrown all of six passes (completing five) last season. The top two returning running backs, Antoine Jimmerson and Reggie Pegram, averaged 76.5 yards on the ground last year — combined. The North Texas defense had a stellar season in 2013, sacking

opposing quarterbacks 39 times, piling up 79 tackles for loss and forcing 17 fumbles. But the unit also suffered personnel losses since last season. Last year’s season made football in Denton fun and helped land a new contract for McCarney — a new deal he richly deserved after such a stellar run with a team that traditionally doesn’t make a blip on the national football radar. But the talent difference the Mean Green will see in Austin will be overwhelming, even if the Longhorns take a while to iron out the kinks while adjusting to Strong and his schemes.

COUR TESY RICK YEAT TS/UNIVER SITY OF NOR TH TEXAS

AUG 30 at Texas

vs. BYU

GAME 2

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 6 SERIES RECORD: Texas 1, BYU 3 LAST: No. 15 Texas 21 vs. BYU 40 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

FROM T OP : COUR TESY BELLA TOR GERS ON/BYU PHOTO, MAR K PHILBRI CK/BYU PHOTO

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY 2014 SCHEDULE

WHEN TEXAS and BYU met last September in Provo, Utah, the Cougars ran for 550 yards in the win over the Longhorns. BYU returns 14 starters (eight on offense, six on defense) from the 2013 team that finished with a record of 8-5. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, the Cougars welcome back quarterback Taysom Hill for his junior season. Hill ran for 259 yards and three touchdowns against Texas last season. Hill is improving as a passer — he threw for 19 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 yards last year — but he’s most dangerous as a runner, ranking among the top 25 FBS ball carriers with 1,344 rushing yards. If Hill wasn’t enough of an issue, the Longhorns will also need to deal with running back Jamaal Williams. Williams added 182 yards on the ground against Texas in 2013. One of the biggest challenges facing BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall is how the Cougars can replace three starting linebackers from last year, including star Kyle Van Noy, who had 17.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and a pair of interceptions, and Uani Unga, who led the team with 143 tackles. Van Noy, Unga and fellow linebacker Tyler Beck

Aug. 29 at Connecticut SEP 6 at Texas Sept. 11 vs. Houston Sept. 20 vs. Virginia Oct. 3 vs. Utah State Oct. 9 at Central Florida Oct. 18 vs. Nevada Oct. 25 at Boise State Nov. 8 at Middle Tennessee Nov. 15 vs. UNLV Nov. 22 vs. Savannah State Nov. 29 at California

HEAD COACH: Bronco Mendenhall STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: LaVell Edwards Stadium, capacity 63,470

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 4th (FBS Indep.) 2013 RECORD: 8-5 ALL TIME RECORD: 484-369-26

DID YOU KNOW? collaborated for nearly a quarter of the team’s tackles last year (255 of the team’s 1,036). Mendenhall will need players to step up from a group that has loads of potential and very little playing experience.

In its second year of competition, the BYU football team won the 1899 championship, but as a result of an accidental football-related death in Utah in 1900, football was banned from all Latter-Day Saints Church schools until 1919.

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Football Preview 2014

vs. UCLA

GAME 3

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 13 SERIES RECORD: Texas 3, UCLA 3 LAST: No. 23 Texas 49 at UCLA 20 (2011)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT UCLA 2014 SCHEDULE

HEAD COACH: Jim L. Mora STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Rose Bowl Stadium, capacity 92,542

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 2nd (Pac-12 South) 2013 RECORD: 10-3 ALL TIME RECORD: 566-386-37

DID YOU KNOW? The 1967 rivalry game between UCLA and USC was called the “Game of the Century.” The game victor was set to win the conference championship, the national championship and likely the Heisman trophy. USC won 21-20 and later defeated Indiana in the Rose Bowl. UCLA’s Gary Beban took home the Heisman and remains the Bruins’ sole trophy holder.

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THE TOUGHEST TEST of the Longhorns’ nonconference schedule will come against the Bruins, who are expected to be among the top 10 teams in the country. UCLA went 19-5 in their first two seasons under head coach Jim Mora Jr., including 10-3 in 2013 after winning their final five games. The team lost several key players, including linebacker Anthony Barr and guard Xavier Su’a-Filo. The Bruins will, however, welcome back nine offensive starters and seven on the defensive side. UCLA outscored its opponents by nearly 14 points per game last season, winning six times by 20 points or more. The primary reason for the Bruins’ offensive success was the emergence of

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

quarterback Brett Hundley, whose decision not to declare early for the NFL Draft only sent alreadyhigh expectations soaring. The 6’3”, 222-pounder threw for 3,071 yards (66.8 completion percentage) last season, tossing 24 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He also ran for 748 yards and another 11 scores. While the Texas faithful might breathe a sigh of relief to see Barr gone from the Bruins’ defense, UCLA is expected to rely heavily on perhaps the most unique athlete the Longhorns will see all season — sophomore Myles Jack. Jack accomplished the near-impossible last season and was named the Offensive and Defensive Freshman of the Year by

the Pac-12 Conference. He started 11 of 12 games at linebacker, piled up 30 tackles, five tackles for loss, an interception and 10 pass breakups (and, for good measure, blocked a kick). During the season, he also started playing running back, rushing for 12 yards and a touchdown against Arizona. He’s the first defensive player ever to win the Pac-12’s Offensive Player of the Week award. In four games at running back, he averaged 7.2 yards per carry and scored seven touchdowns. The Bruins are expected to play more nickel defense in 2014, but the UCLA coaches are expected to spend the offseason figuring out countless ways to turn Jack loose on opponents.

COURT ESY AS UCLA PHOTOGRAPHY

Aug. 30 at Virginia Sept. 6 vs. Memphis SEP 13 at Texas Sept. 25 at Arizona State Oct. 4 vs. Utah Oct. 11 vs. Oregon Oct. 18 at California Oct. 25 at Colorado Nov. 1 vs. Arizona Nov. 8 at Washington Nov. 22 vs. USC Nov. 28 vs. Stanford

at Kansas

GAME 4

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 27 SERIES RECORD: Texas 11, Kansas 2 LAST: Texas 35 vs. Kansas 13 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT KANSAS 2014 SCHEDULE Sept. 6 vs. SE Missouri State Sept. 13 at Duke Sept. 20 vs. Central Michigan SEP 27 vs. Texas Oct. 4 at West Virginia Oct. 11 vs. Oklahoma State Oct. 18 at Texas Tech Nov. 1 at Baylor Nov. 8 vs. Iowa State Nov. 15 vs. TCU Nov. 22 at Oklahoma Nov. 29 at Kansas State

HEAD COACH: Charlie Weis STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Memorial Stadium, capacity 50, 071

came to Austin last November the Jayhawks left town, “seeing Brown.” Running back Malcolm Brown ran all over Kansas, reaching the end zone a career-high four times (while piling up 120 rushing yards) in the Longhorns’ 35-13 victory. Opponents scored more than double the points Kansas was able to score last year. The team was outscored by an average of 16.5 points per game and was trounced in almost every quarter. Kansas’ closest stanza came in the fourth quarter when their opponent enjoyed a 96-56 scoring advantage. In an effort to jump-start the offense, third-year head coach Charlie Weis handed the reins to new offensive coordinator John Reagan. Reagan is expected to simplify the scheme for a Kansas team that struggled mightily last season. The Jayhawks went just 3-9 overall (1-8 in the Big 12) and even got shut out 34-0 by an Iowa State team that went 3-9. Dynamic receiver Tony Pierson, who led the Kansas offense with 333 receiving yards despite play-

COUR TESY KANSAS STATE AT HLETICS

WHEN KANSAS

ing in just seven games, returns this season and will be one of the bright spots for Kansas. Quarterback Jake Heaps recently announced his decision to transfer to Miami, forcing many to think that sophomore Montell Cozart will start, despite completing just 36.5 percent (23 of 63) of his passes last season for 227 yards. He also had two interceptions and no touchdowns in limited playing time in seven games. The defense’s outlook is brighter, albeit slightly. The top three tacklers are back, led by linebacker Ben Heeney, who paced the team with 88 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss. Safety Isaiah Johnson, who finished second with 73 tackles and led the Jayhawks with five interceptions, also returns.

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 10th (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 3-9 ALL TIME RECORD: 576-589-58

DID YOU KNOW? The most successful era for Kansas football was 1890 to 1932, when the program recorded two undefeated seasons and posted an overall .643 winning percentage. From 1933 to 1968, the Jayhawks continued to find success on the football field, sharing three conference titles and attending their first bowl games, but the team’s overall winning percentage during that era slipped to .477.

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vs. Baylor

GAME 5

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 4 SERIES RECORD: Texas 74, Baylor 25, 4 Ties

LAST: No. 23 Texas 10 vs. No. 9 Baylor 30 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT BAYLOR 2014 SCHEDULE Aug. 31 vs. SMU Sept. 6 vs. Northwestern Sept. 12 at Buffalo Sept. 27 at Iowa State OCT 4 at Texas Oct. 11 vs. TCU Oct. 18 at West Virginia Nov. 1 vs. Kansas Nov. 8 at Oklahoma Nov. 22 vs. Oklahoma State Nov. 29 vs. Texas Tech Dec. 6 vs. Kansas State

HEAD COACH: Art Briles STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: McLane Stadium, capacity 2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 1st (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 11-2 ALL TIME RECORD: 560-546-44

DID YOU KNOW? Baylor’s season-closing game against Texas last season — the final game at Floyd Casey Stadium — became the de facto Big 12 Championship. Baylor defeated the Longhorns, 30-10, to notch a school-record 11th win and its first outright conference title since 1980. The win also assured the team a Fiesta Bowl berth, the Bears’ first-ever BCS bowl appearance and their first major bowl in 33 years.

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WITHIN ONE week, the Longhorns go from facing a team that’s among the worst in the Big 12 to taking on a team that’s among the nation’s elite. For many, it remains strange to say that about Baylor, as for years the Bears’ program was one of the doormats of the Southwest Conference and the Big 12. But after winning the conference championship last season, piling up more victories in a season (11) than ever before in school history and appearing in its first BCS bowl game, Baylor is sitting on top. The offensive numbers put up last year by Art Briles’ offense read like a video game: 52.4 points

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

per game, 618.8 yards of total offense per game and 82 offensive touchdowns in 13 games (6.31 per game). When the then-No. 9 Bears beat Texas 30-10 in December, it marked the third-fewest points a team allowed Baylor all season. The Bears return just 10 starters — six on offense, four on defense — but to think that the team is somehow void of talent would be inaccurate. Casual observers might consider Baylor football nothing more than “the program Robert Griffin III built.” But Nick Florence filled in ably after Griffin was drafted by the Washington Redskins, and all quarterback Bryce Petty did last year

was throw for 4,200 yards with an absolutely absurd touchdown-tointerception ratio of 32-3. Graduation put a bigger dent in the Baylor defense, forcing Briles to replace four of the team’s starting front seven and almost its entire secondary. Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett had his team playing a lot of nickel in 2013, in part because opponents often found themselves behind early, and therefore added extra receivers while playing catch-up. With Petty deciding to return to Waco in 2014 to guide the Briles Express, there’s no reason to believe Baylor can’t compete for a repeat conference championship.

COURTESY BAYLOR AT HLETIC S

45,000

vs. Oklahoma

GAME 6

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 11 SERIES RECORD: Texas 60, Oklahoma 43, 5 Ties LAST: Texas 36 vs. No. 12 Oklahoma 20 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT

COUR TESY OU AT HLETIC S COMM UNIC ATI ON S

OKLAHOMA 2014 SCHEDULE

LONGHORN FANS may suggest that the powers-to-be in the Big 12 office have something against Charlie Strong, at least based on the fact that Texas plays Big 12 heavyweights Baylor and Oklahoma in back-to-back weeks. There’s no merit to that idea, but that doesn’t make the Baylor and Oklahoma games any easier. If nothing else, at least neither is on the road; Baylor will play in Austin, and the Longhorns and Sooners once again will play in Dallas. Last year’s 36-20 win over nationally ranked Oklahoma was Texas’ first victory in the last four meetings with the Sooners. The game also was one of just two losses last year for the 11-2 Sooners, who ended the season on a fourgame winning streak, including a 45-31 win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The improbable Sooner victory

over the Crimson Tide served as something of a coming-out party for freshman quarterback Trevor Knight, who completed a Sugar Bowl-record 32 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns against the vaunted Alabama defense. Knight is expected to retain the starting job; whomever ends up under center will direct the offense behind a stellar offensive line that returns four starters from last season, including tackle Daryl Williams. The biggest question on offense will be who runs the ball after the top three 2013 rushers left. Oklahoma always has talented runners waiting in the wings, including returning sophomores Alex Ross and Keith Ford, but many in Norman are hoping that marquee freshman Joe Mixon lives up to his hype. Considered by many to be the top high school runner in the country last year,

Mixon collected nearly 50 FBS scholarship offers and has drawn comparisons to past Oklahoma stars DeMarco Murray and even Adrian Peterson. When defensive coordinator Mike Stoops switched the team’s base formation from a 4-3 to a 3-4, overall team speed allowed the Oklahoma defense to thrive. While the offense put up 32.8 points per game, the defense held opponents to 22.1. The Sooners enjoyed an even greater margin in total yards — OU averaged 423 yards per game, while allowing 350.2. If Mixon turns out to be a Peterson clone and Knight continues to improve, it might not matter much what happens on defense for the Sooners. Oklahoma already has visions of a possible undefeated regular season, a Big 12 Championship and a run at the national title.

Aug. 30 vs. Louisiana Tech Sept. 6 at Tulsa Sept. 13 vs. Tennessee Sept. 20 at West Virginia Oct. 4 at TCU OCT 11 vs. Texas Oct. 18 vs. Kansas State Nov. 1 at Iowa State Nov. 8 vs. Baylor Nov. 15 at Texas Tech Nov. 22 vs. Kansas Dec. 6 vs. Oklahoma State

HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, capacity 82,112

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 2nd (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 11-2 ALL TIME RECORD: 842-312-53

DID YOU KNOW? In 2011, Oklahoma began the season ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, making them the first team to gain the top ranking 100 times since the poll’s inception in 1936.

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vs. Iowa State

GAME 7

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 18 SERIES RECORD: Texas 10, Iowa St. 1 LAST: Texas 31 at Iowa State 30 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT IOWA STATE 2014 SCHEDULE

HEAD COACH: Paul Rhoads STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Jack Trice Stadium, capacity 56,800

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 9th (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 3-9 ALL TIME RECORD: 507-610-46

DID YOU KNOW? Iowa State hasn’t won a conference championship in football since sharing the MVIAA titles in 1911 and 1912. The Cyclones have also never played in a January bowl game.

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TEXAS FANS usually don’t circle the Iowa State contest on their calendars as one of the “can’t miss” games, but last year’s matchup turned out to be one of the most exciting games of the season. The game culminated with Case McCoy’s 1-yard touchdown run with less than a minute left to give Texas the 31-30 win in Ames. The Cyclones’ 2013 statistics reflect their 3-9 record. Iowa State was outscored by an average of 11.2 points. Their offense mustered nearly 80 fewer rushing yards (143.9) than their opponents did (224.1), and was outgained by more than 100 yards in total offense per game (463.2-363.1). They yielded more than twice as many sacks (37) to opposing defenses as they were able to generate (15). Quarterback Sam B. Richardson is back after a pedestrian 2013 season. Last year he completed 121 of 220 passes (55.0 percent) for 1,397 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Many believe sophomore Grant Rohach can

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

wrestle the starting job away from Richardson. In 2013, Rohach completed 110 of 191 passes (57.6 percent) for 1,208 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Theoretical good news for the Iowa State offense is that top rusher Aaron Wimberly is back; the bad news is that he only averaged 56.7 yards per game (although he did gain 117 against Texas). The Cyclones will rely heavily on the ground game, with all five starting offensive linemen from a year ago returning in 2014 and with tight end E.J. Bibbs (6’3”, 261) emerging as an elite blocker. Defensive ends Cody Morrissey and Mitchell Meyers figure to lead the pass rush in 2014, but the Cyclones return just two starters from their front seven a year ago. Iowa State coaches seem to be high on some of the young talent, but with that little experience, the Longhorns should be able to find running room and protect the quarterback when Iowa State comes to Austin.

COUR TESY IOWA S TATE ATHLET ICS

Aug. 30 vs. North Dakota State Sept. 6 vs. Kansas State Sept. 13 at Iowa Sept. 27 vs. Baylor Oct. 4 at Oklahoma State Oct. 11 vs. Toledo OCT 18 at Texas Nov. 1 vs. Oklahoma Nov. 8 at Kansas Nov. 22 vs. Texas Tech Nov. 29 vs. West Virginia Dec. 6 at TCU

at Kansas State

GAME 8

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 25 SERIES RECORD: Texas 6, Kansas State 8

LAST:

Texas 31 vs. Kansas State 21

(2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT KANSAS STATE 2014 SCHEDULE Aug. 30 vs. SF Austin Sept. 6 at Iowa State Sept. 18 vs. Auburn Sept. 27 vs. UTEP Oct. 4 vs. Texas Tech Oct. 18 at Oklahoma OCT 25 vs. Texas Nov. 1 vs. Oklahoma State Nov. 8 at TCU Nov. 20 at West Virginia Nov. 29 vs. Kansas Dec. 6 at Baylor

Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder is the exact opposite of Charlie Strong. Strong will navigate his first season in the Big 12 as the new face of his program, while Snyder is Kansas State football. In two stints at the school, the 2014 season will mark Synder’s 24th in Manhattan. Think Snyder isn’t entrenched in Manhattan? The Longhorns will take on the Wildcats in a stadium that’s named for Snyder and his family. A year ago, Johnathan Gray ran for 141 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Wildcats and the Texas defense forced three turnovers en route to a 31-21 win in Austin. Kansas State finished 8-5 last year, with a 5-4 mark against Big 12 teams and a 31-14 win over Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings

COURTESY S COTT WEAVER /K-S TATE ATHLET ICS

IN A WAY,

Bowl. Jake Waters and Daniel Sams shared the quarterback position in all 13 games last year. With Sams transferring to McNeese State, Waters will have the job for himself next season. Waters threw for 2,469 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2013. The most dangerous Wildcat is receiver Tyler Lockett, who led the Big 12 last season in all-purpose yards. He piled up 1,859 total yards, with 1,262 from receptions and 583 coming on kickoff returns. His average of 154.9 total yards per game was more than 25 yards more than the Big 12’s runner-up (West Virginia’s Charles Sims). Lockett also recorded 105.2 receiving yards per game, which also ranked first in the Big 12. Defensive end Ryan Mueller will lead the Kansas State defense

again this season. He finished second in the Big 12 last year with 11.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss. Snyder is a coach who believes in getting his teams to do the little things correctly, and the 2013 Wildcats were no exception. The team led the Big 12 in third-down conversions, earning a first down 48.8 percent of the time, and averaging just 45.0 yards of penalties per game, a number that also led the league. To that end, Texas has the talent to beat Kansas State, but must play smart because the Wildcats rarely make the mistakes to give away games.

HEAD COACH: Bill Snyder STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, capacity 50,000

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 5th (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 8-5 ALL TIME RECORD: 494-620-41

DID YOU KNOW? Kansas State has an official ice cream. Purple Pride Blueberry ice cream came about in the late 1960s when Kansas State professor Harold Roberts wanted to spark interest in football and promote school pride. Only the dairy manager of Call Hall knows the official recipe. Call Hall sells on average 6,400 half gallons of the ice cream in a ninemonth period.

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at Texas Tech

GAME 9

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 1 SERIES RECORD: Texas 48, Texas Tech 15 LAST: Texas 41 vs. Texas Tech 16 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT Aug. 30 vs. Central Arkansas Sept. 6 at UTEP Sept. 13 vs. Arkansas Sept. 25 at Oklahoma State Oct. 4 at Kansas State Oct. 11 vs. West Virginia Oct. 18 vs. Kansas Oct. 25 at TCU NOV 1 vs. Texas Nov. 15 vs. Oklahoma Nov. 22 at Iowa State Nov. 29 vs. Baylor

HEAD COACH: Kliff Kingsbury STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Jones AT&T Stadium, capacity 60,454

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 6th (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 8-5 ALL TIME RECORD: 540-415-32

DID YOU KNOW? The Masked Rider is Texas Tech’s oldest mascot and was the first official mounted mascot in the country. The tradition began in 1936 when “ghost riders” were dared to circle the field prior to home football games. The Masked Rider became an official mascot in 1954 when Joe Kirk Fulton led the team onto the field at the Gator Bowl.

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limped out of Austin last November after Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron literally ran over them. Each running back rushed for more than 100 yards to give Mack Brown his final victory as the Texas head coach. Fans shouldn’t be surprised if this year’s matchup is similarly lopsided. Texas clearly has the talent to win against the Red Raiders, who have won just 15 of 63 meetings against Texas. But Texas Tech appears to be a team on the rise and it doesn’t appear to be a slow ascent. Kliff Kingsbury took over as head coach at his alma mater last year and has become even more popular in Lubbock than he was during his playing career. The second-leading passer in Texas Tech history, Kingsbury is enjoying rock star status among fans and the media, but that doesn’t mean he has ironed out all of the kinks. Consider his former position — after the Red Raiders’ spring workouts concluded, the school only listed quarterback Davis Webb on the depth chart after Baker Mayfield and Michael Brewer both transferred. Webb was solid, if unspectacular, in 10 games last season, completing 226 of 361 passes (62.6 percent) for 2,718 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Texas Tech must fill holes on its offensive line.

THE RED RAIDERS

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

And although the team brings back two veteran running backs in DeAndre Washington and Quinton White, the two ran for an average of 47.5 yards per game — combined. The Red Raiders are a pass-first offense. The team’s top two pass catchers last season — tight end Jace Amaro and receiver Eric Ward, who combined for 189 receptions — are gone, meaning the top returning target is tiny (5’6”, 160) Jakeem Grant. Grant had 65 receptions for 796 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Kingsbury has a slew of other receivers on the roster, and once they’re in place along with a quarterback hierarchy behind Webb, the offense can pick up where it left off last season. How the Red Raiders fare in Kingsbury’s second season remains to be seen. In his first season he got his team off to a 7-0 start, giving Texas Tech fans the notion that he could do no wrong. Reality then set in as the Red Raiders stumbled through a five-game losing skid. But Kingsbury managed to get his team back on track, guiding the Red Raiders to an unlikely win over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. All indications are that Texas Tech will improve under his stewardship, giving future Texas-Texas Tech games increased importance for years to come.

COUR TESY TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS

TEXAS TECH 2014 SCHEDULE

vs. West Virginia

GAME 10

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 8 SERIES RECORD: Texas 1, West Virginia 2 LAST: Texas 47 at West Virginia 40 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT WEST VIRGINIA 2014 SCHEDULE

COURTESY BILL AM AT UCCI /W EST VI RGIN IA ATHLETICS

Aug. 30 vs. Alabama Sept. 6 vs. Towson Sept. 13 at Maryland Sept. 20 vs. Oklahoma Oct. 4 vs. Kansas Oct. 11 at Texas Tech Oct. 18 vs. Baylor Oct. 25 at Oklahoma State Nov. 1 vs. TCU NOV 8 at Texas Nov. 20 vs. Kansas Nov. 29 at Iowa State

LAST YEAR’S Texas-West Virginia matchup can be viewed one of two ways. On one hand, the Longhorn defense forced five turnovers en route to a much-needed Big 12 victory in front of a hostile crowd. On the other, the offenses clearly got the better of the defenses in a fireworks-filled 47-41 overtime win for the Longhorns. The Mountaineers can score, averaging 26.3 points per game, but had difficulty stopping their opponents. West Virginia surrendered 33.3 points per game and held just one opponent under 16 points all season. The team was also outgained by 43 yards per game on the ground, despite the

presence of since-departed running back Charles Sims, who finished third in the Big 12 in rushing. West Virginia’s 4-8 record a year ago was its worst since 2001. Head coach Dana Holgorsen, who’s known for orchestrating potent offenses, started the rebuilding process by choosing from four quarterbacks: returning veterans Clint Trickett and Paul Millard, and newcomers William Crest and Skyler Howard. Sims is gone after rushing for 1,095 yards — 61.2 percent of the team’s rushing total — but the Mountaineers have a stable of runners, led by Dreamius Smith (494 yards, 4.8 yards per carry) and

Wendell Smallwood (221 yards, 5.7 yards per carry). West Virginia will rely heavily on the run, at least at first, while sorting out questions at the receiver and offensive line positions. The defensive line is inexperienced but big — all three projected starters are north of the 290-pound plateau. They’ll have to tie up blockers to free up running space for a talented group of linebackers that includes Isaiah Bruce, a rising star as a freshman in 2012 who dropped off a little last season, and Nick Kwiatkoski, the team’s leading tackler in 2013 with 86 stops.

HEAD COACH: Dana Holgorsen STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Milan Puskar Stadium, capacity 60,000

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 8th (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 4-8 ALL TIME RECORD: 712-471-45

DID YOU KNOW? The 2013 season brought West Virginia’s first losing campaign since 2001. After a 4–5 start and an opportunity to secure bowl eligibility with two victories, the Moutaineers faltered in its final three games to finish 4–8.

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at Oklahoma State

GAME 11

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 15 SERIES RECORD: Texas 23, Oklahoma State 5 LAST: No. 23 Texas 13 vs. No. 12 Oklahoma State 38 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT Aug. 30 vs. Florida State Sept. 6 vs. Missouri State Sept. 13 vs. UTSA Sept. 25 vs. Texas Tech Oct. 4 vs. Iowa State Oct. 11 at Kansas Oct. 18 at TCU Oct. 25 vs. West Virginia Nov. 1 at Kansas State NOV 15 vs. TEXAS Nov. 22 at Baylor Dec. 6 at Oklahoma

HEAD COACH: Mike Gundy STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Boone Pickens Stadium, capacity 60,218

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 3rd (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 10-3 ALL TIME RECORD: 532-523-47

DID YOU KNOW? From the 1890s on, Oklahoma State has been referred to as the Agriculturists or Aggies, the Farmers, and officially — though unpopular — the Tigers. But by 1924, Charles Saulsberry, sports editor of the Oklahoma City Times, and other writers who regularly covered college events started to refer to Stillwater’s team as the Cowboys. Reporters in search of colorful synonyms started sprinkling Cowpokes, Pokes, Waddies, Cowpunchers and Punchers into the conversation.

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was a rebuilding year for Oklahoma State. While putting the pieces in place, the Cowboys ran up a 10-3 record, including a 25-point win over Texas. Oklahoma State finished the season ranked 17th in the nation in the Associated Press and USA Today polls. When the teams met in Austin last November, Texas actually outgained its guests — 389 total yards to 380. But the Oklahoma State defense was far more opportunistic, picking off three passes — one of which was returned for a touchdown — en route to a 38-13 victory. The Cowboys always seem to employ a potent offense and 2013 was no different. Oklahoma State finished second in the Big 12 by scoring an average of 39.1 points per game. But the reason many predicted the Cowboys would win the conference title last season is because they no longer are an offense-only team. Oklahoma State also led the league in scoring defense, surrendering just 21.6 points per game. Not coincidentally, Oklahoma State was the only Big 12 team to beat eventual conference champion Baylor, clobbering the Bears 49-17 in Stillwater. For the third time in as many years, the Cowboys will head into their preseason camp not knowing who will start at quarterback. Junior J.W. Walsh played in eight games last season, starting five, completing 113 of 190 passes (59.5 percent) for 1,333 yards, nine touch-

THE 2013 SEASON

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

downs and five interceptions. The question remains whether Walsh can regain the starting job, or if he will tutor highly touted incoming freshman Mason Rudolph. Whoever lines up at quarterback for the Cowboys will benefit greatly from the return of running back Desmond Roland, a 6’2”, 210-pound senior. Roland started his junior year as a backup but ended up leading the team in rushing with 811 yards and in touchdowns with 16 — 13 of which came on the ground, three through the air. The Cowboys’ offense also loses its top two receivers from a year ago but always seems to have a big, fast, dynamic athlete who can make plays all over the field. The odds-on favorite for that role in 2014 is Jhajuan Seales (6’2”, 198 pounds), who will be just a sophomore in the fall. Seales started every regular-season game last year, and his 39 receptions and 571 receiving yards both lead all returning players. Of more concern to head coach Mike Gundy is how the Cowboys will rebuild their defense in 2014 after losing seven starters from last year’s unit, including linebacker Caleb Lavey, safety Daytawion Lowe and linebacker Shaun Lewis — the team’s top three tacklers who combined for 253 tackles last season — and star cornerback Justin Gilbert.

COUR TESY OKLAHOMA ST AT E ATHLETIC S

OKLAHOMA ST. 2014 SCHEDULE

vs. TCU

GAME 12

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 27 SERIES RECORD: Texas 62, TCU 21, 1 Tie LAST: Texas 30 at TCU 7 (2013)

ABOUT THE OPPONENT TCU 2014 SCHEDULE

close out their 2014 regular season with a Thanksgiving home game against TCU. The Horned Frogs have won just a quarter of their games against Texas and therefore don’t have the history of close games or summon the intense dislike from Texas fans that some other programs do. But make no mistake — TCU is a team that is capable of knocking off the Longhorns. The Frogs stumbled to a 4-8 record last year, beating four teams with a combined record of 22-28, only one of which — 11-3 Southeastern Louisiana — pulled off a winning record. When Texas visited Fort Worth, the Longhorns rode out a three-hour lightning delay, got a pair of rushing touchdowns from Malcolm Brown and an efficient 228-yard passing day from Case McCoy. Texas also made a stellar defensive effort that limited TCU to 246 total yards in a methodical-but-convincing 30-7 win. An argument can be made, based on last year’s statistics, that the Horned Frogs should have been closer to .500. They were barely outscored (25.2-25.1), and had numbers almost identical to those put up by their opponents in first downs (213-222) and total yards (4,138-4,277).

COUR TESY TCU ATHLET ICS

THE LONGHORNS WILL

Head coach Gary Patterson’s team will have a decidedly different look in 2014. TCU underwent a change in offensive philosophy, enforced by its new offensive coordinator, former Texas Tech quarterback and assistant coach Sonny Cumbie. Cumbie has installed his version of the spread offense run at schools like Tech and Oklahoma State. Who will run the offense is not yet clear. Trevone Boykin filled in for the injured Casey Pachall last year, but is a run-first candidate who many feel is best suited for receiver. The odds-on favorite to win the job is Matt Joeckel, who transferred from Texas A&M. Whoever gets the keys to the car will have the benefit of working again with top 2014 running back B.J. Catalon, who led the Frogs with 569 rushing yards (5.3 yards per carry) and six rushing touchdowns. Receiver Josh Doctson will need to re-emerge as a consistent threat after tying for the team lead with 36 receptions and leading the team with 440 receiving yards a year ago. Defensively, TCU must overcome the loss of star cornerback Jason Verrett, but if there’s one thing Patterson and his staff have shown, it’s that they can find fast, athletic defenders, especially in the secondary.

Aug. 30 vs. Samford Sept. 13 vs. Minnesota Sept. 27 at SMU Oct. 4 vs. Oklahoma Oct. 11 at Baylor Oct. 18 vs. Oklahoma State Oct. 25 vs. Texas Tech Nov. 1 at West Virginia Nov. 8 vs. Kansas State Nov. 15 at Kansas NOV. 27 at Texas Dec. 6 vs. Iowa State

HEAD COACH: Gary Patterson STADIUM NAME AND CAPACITY: Amon G. Carter Stadium, capacity 45,000

2013 FINAL CONFERENCE STANDING: 7th (Big 12) 2013 RECORD: 4-8 ALL TIME RECORD: 605-465-15

DID YOU KNOW? With the move to the Big XII in 2012, TCU has gone through as many college athletic conferences as Elizabeth Taylor went through husbands.

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Football Preview 2014

Senior Bios MEET THIS YEAR’S LEADING MEN. BY STEVE HABEL

Joe Bergeron RUNNING BACK

go-to back for short yardage and prowess in the red zone, Bergeron has seen action in 37 career games with seven starts. He has five career 100-yard rushing games, ranks 32nd on the Texas career rushing yards list (1,392 yards) and has racked up 25 career rushing touchdowns. Bergeron is also adept at catching the ball out of the backfield and has made his presence known on special teams when given work on those units. His best year statistically was his sophomore campaign, when he ran for 567 yards and 16 touchdowns, and caught nine passes for 84 yards (an average of 9.3 yards per catch). For his three seasons, Bergeron has amassed 1,392 yards on 272 carries (5.1 yards per carry) and hauled in 21 passes for 200 yards. The 6’1”, 230-pound bruiser missed most of spring drills to focus on academics and to concentrate on personal issues but is expected to be a key part of the Longhorns’ offense in the fall. As part of Texas’ three-pronged rushing attack (along with Malcolm Brown and Johnathan Gray), the coaches will ask Bergeron to carry the ball up to 15 times a game. If Brown is the Longhorns’ top back entering the 2014 season, Bergeron is not far behind.

Nate Boyer

BOYER HAD BEEN a solid con-

DEEP SNAPPER

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tributor for the Longhorns as the team’s long-snapper. He’s a former walk-on who was placed on scholarship before both the 2012 and 2013 seasons and has played in 26 career games.

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As valuable as Boyer has been to the Longhorns, he has been even more so in the service of his country, having served in the Green Berets before coming to Texas. Boyer, who never played football before joining the Longhorns in 2012, went from aspiring actor, to working on a fishing boat, to teaching autistic kids in Los Angeles to earning a Bronze Star in the Army. He still serves in the Texas National Guard during summers.

Boyer was a 2013 CoSIDA Academic All-American and a two-time first team Academic All-Big 12 choice. He was named 2012-13 Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year and garnered inclusion on the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Veterans Committee by university President Bill Powers in October 2012. He was also selected as the recipient of the 2012 Disney Spirit Award, given annually by Disney Sports to college football’s most inspirational figure.

THIS S PREAD CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT : PATR ICK MERED IT H/UNIV. OF TEXAS, JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, JIM S IGM ON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, M AT T HEMPEL/UNIV. OD T EXAS, JIM S IGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

THE LONGHORNS

Demarco Cobbs LINEBACKER

THE 6’2”, 295-pound

Greg Daniels TIGHT END

Malcolm Brown

Cobbs has seen action in 29 games and has six career starts. Unfortunately, he has been limited by injury throughout his career at Texas. He missed the entire 2013 campaign due to injury. Cobbs started at strongside linebacker in the first four contests of 2012 and played in the first 11 games before being injured and declared out for the season. He made the switch from defensive back to linebacker during the spring of 2011 and then missed the first six games of his sophomore season due to injury, but returned to play in the final seven. Cobbs has always been a player on the cusp of greatness. He was a prep All-American, all-state, allmetro and all-district selection on offense and defense at Central High in Tulsa, Okla. When healthy, Cobbs can punish ball carriers, quarterbacks and receivers. Cobbs has the speed to play on the edge and will continue to be in the linebacker rotation in 2014.

RUNNING BACK

BROWN CAME TO

Texas as the team’s future workload running back and, after sharing time with Bergeron and Gray, 2014 may be the time he finally gets to become the Longhorns’ true main man. After 31 games and 12 starts, Brown is ranked 17th on the Texas career rushing yards list (1,840 yards). He has nine career 100-yard rushing games and was a 2013 All-Big 12 selection (coaches). As a sophomore

Brown was selected to the 2012 Maxwell Award watch list after being named secondteam Freshman AllAmerica by Yahoo! Sports and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2011. He is one of 13 Texas freshmen to rush for more than 500 yards in a season. In 2013, Brown played in all 13 games with four starts (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Baylor and Oregon) and was first on the team in rushing yards (904) and all-purpose yards (1,099), and second

in all-purpose yards per game (84.5) — good enough to be a second-team All-Big 12 choice. Brown is the best of the Texas backs at pass protection, and is always a threat to catch screens and dump-down passes as a safety outlet for the quarterback. He’s not the fastest of the Longhorns’ running backs, or the biggest, but he may be the best of the Big Three.

DANIELS HAS SEEN action in 28 career games with 14 starts, all at tight end.

He’s considered the best blocker among the Longhorns’ tight end corps and his pass-catching statistics (just eight receptions for 118 yards in three seasons) illustrate where he’s the most valuable to the team. Last season, Daniels played in 12 games at tight end with starts against Ole Miss, TCU, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Oregon. He’s also a force on special teams. Daniels moved from defensive line to tight end during the 2012 offseason. He was named to the 2013 CFPA Offensive Awards watch list even as he was ranked as one of the nation’s top 25 defensive ends by ESPNU as a high school player. Daniels is often left uncovered, but the Longhorns’ previous regime didn’t involve the tight ends much.

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Quandre Diggs CORNERBACK

UNDERSIZED AT 5’10”,

Dominic Espinosa CENTER

the Longhorns’ most unsung impact player. He’s played all 39 games at center for the past three seasons. Because he’s the one who gets every play started with the snap, he’s been as big a factor in everything Texas has done on offense since he made the short trip from his prep career in Cedar Park to the 40 Acres. Espinosa was a 2013 honorable mention All-Big 12 selection (coaches) and was named to the 2014 Rimington Trophy watch ESPINOSA MAY BE

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FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

Steve Edmond LINEBACKER

when the team has a dominating player in the middle of its linebacker group — and Edmond is talented enough to be that man. He’s seen action in 36 career games with 22 starts. He has 192 career tackles (six career doubledigit tackle games) and ranks third in tackles among active players at the end of 2013. He’s a two-time All-Big 12 choice and a 2013 honorable mention all-league selection. Last year he played in 11 games and had 10 starts before missing most of the final two games due to injury. When he went down, he ranked fifth on the team in tackles (73), second in interceptions

TEXAS IS BEST

list, which honors the nation’s top center. The nomination marks the second straight year Espinosa has been named to the list. His 39 straight starts are the most of any returner for the Longhorns. Espinosa completed his undergraduate degree in corporate com-

(two) and tied for third in pass breakups (five). Pundits have questioned Edmond’s size (at 253 pounds, he’s on the bigger side for a linebacker), but he dispelled those criticisms last season when he played at weakside linebacker for six of his games. Edmond is back in the middle for 2014, and from that spot he’ll be a solid run stopper and competent in pass coverage for a player of his size. Edmond is never shy to put his head into a pile and he’s gotten more assertive on the field as he’s gained experience over the past three seasons. A continuation of those trends is vital to the Longhorns’ hopes in 2014.

munication in the spring of 2014. He has been named to the Texas Athletics Director’s Honor Roll and was a 2011 second-team Academic All-Big 12 choice.

CLOCKWI SE FROM LEFT: S US AN SI GMON/UNIV. O F T EXAS, JIM S IGMO N/ UNIV. OF TEXAS, MATT HEMPEL/UNIV. OF TEXAS

204 pounds but never overwhelmed, Diggs has played in every game since he stepped on the 40 Acres and started 36 of them. In 2013, he led the team in pass breakups (10) despite being moved from his normal position as cornerback to nickleback. He also tallied 58 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Diggs, the brother of former Texas standout Quentin Jammer, has 32 career pass breakups and eight interceptions — the most on the current roster. He’s a two-time AllBig 12 selection (2011, 2013) and is a preseason first-team All-League pick for the upcoming season by Sporting News and league media. He has struggled to stay healthy the past two seasons but chose to come back for his senior season despite overtures from the NFL for early entry. Diggs can raise his stock for next year’s draft now that he’s returned to the cornerback spot, which allows him to be responsible for just half the field rather than chasing a slot receiver. Diggs has the attitude and ability to cover elite wide outs and is never afraid to speak his mind. He’s been a leader in the locker room and on the field from day one.

Football Preview 2014

Sheroid Evans CORNERBACK

player on the Longhorn team, Evans has played in 27 career games after coming to Texas as a two-sport athlete (football and track). He was also one of Sporting News’ top 100 national prospects. Evans saw action as a reserve defensive back and on special

PERHAPS THE FASTEST

teams in the first five games before missing the remainder of the 2013 season after suffering a torn ACL against Iowa State. He had a careerhigh six tackles versus New Mexico State last season, and has 27 career tackles (11 of them solo) and a forced fumble in his three years on campus. Before the 2013 season, Evans was named the seventh-fastest player in college football. He’ll be a factor on special teams. Fans should also expect Evans to get some playing time behind the two starting cornerbacks, especially against spread offenses.

John Harris TIGHT END/WIDE RECEIVER

HARRIS IS A bit of an enigma for the Longhorns but has been a constant player the past three seasons. He’s become a hybrid tight end/wide receiver after starting his career as strictly a wideout. He played in all 13 games as a reserve and on special teams last season. Harris caught only five passes in 2013 but two of those were for touchdowns (including a 44-yard scoring reception on a Hail Mary pass from Case McCoy at the end of the second quarter against Iowa State). He averaged a team-best

28.2 yards per reception. In his first game as a Longhorn in 2011, Harris threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Shipley for the first touchdown strike by a non-quarterback at Texas since 1997 (Ricky Williams). He’s always around the ball and has played in 23 career games despite missing all but three games of the 2011 season with a foot injury. Harris graduated in the spring of 2014 with a degree in physical culture and sports.

Desmond Harrison PUNDITS PREDICTED

big things for Harrison — a massive offensive tackle standing at 6’8”, 318 pounds — when he transferred last summer from Contra Costa Community College in California. Harrison was rated as one of the top junior college offensive linemen in the nation in 2012 but

struggled with the transition to the FBS level in his first year on the Texas campus. He played in just seven games, mostly as a reserve. He was slowed by an ankle injury for most of last season that clearly didn’t aid in his success. Harrison also missed early practices last August as the

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school worked out some academic issues. After all that went wrong for Harrison in 2013, he still should earn the nod as the Longhorns’ starting left tackle this season. Although he still has a lot to prove, he’s talented enough to be an AllBig 12 performer before he finishes his career at Texas.

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ALL P HOT OS THIS SPR EAD: J IM SIGM ON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Jordan Hicks LINEBACKER

HICKS COULD BE a dominating player if he can shake the injury bug that’s plagued him his first four years on campus. He’s played in 32 career games (with 15 career starts) and has five career double-digit tackle games. Hicks started the first four games last season at weakside linebacker before his campaign ended due to an Achilles injury. At the time he went down, Hicks led the team with 41 tackles. He was named to the Nagurski Trophy watch list and was a preseason first-team All-Big 12 pick by Athlon and league media. He missed 10 games of the 2012 season with a hip injury but played in all 13 contests (eight starts) in 2011. Hicks has 152 tackles (73 solo) in his career. If Hicks is healthy, and remaining so is a big “if” for him, he can lead the Texas defense. Keeping Hicks on the field is one of the keys for the Longhorns’ defense in 2014.

Desmond Jackson DEFENSIVE TACKLE

“Tank” because of his wide body and how he moves, the 6’1”, 301-pound Jackson has played in 38 games and has 13 career starts. Jackson is one of the strongest players on the team — he can bench press more than 400 pounds. He’s also deceptively quick for his size and nimble — as much as a tank can be — when chasing down quarterbacks and ball carriers. He has amassed 82 tackles (34 of them solo), and has 14 tackles for loss, including six sacks. Jackson has pressured the quarterback seven times and has a fumble caused and recovered. He’s a force in the middle as long as he’s on the field and one of the Longhorns’ vocal leaders. NICKNAMED

Tevin Jackson LINEBACKER

solid contributor at linebacker. He has played in 32 career games with two starts, and came to the 40 Acres as a prep AllAmerican who played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Last year, Jackson saw action in seven of the first eight games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams. He suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee in the game against Kansas and missed the final five games. Jackson’s most consistent stint was in 2012, when he started the final two games of the season and posted a career-high seven tackles. He recorded a sack and two tackles for loss in the Longhorns’ Alamo Bowl victory against Oregon State. Jackson missed spring drills in 2014 while rehabbing his knee but is expected to be ready for action in the fall.

JACKSON IS A

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Miles Onyegbule TIGHT END/QUARTERBACK

ONYEGBULE NEVER intended to play quarterback at Texas. He was called on to fill the role during the 2014 spring drills after the team’s No. 1 signal caller was injured. And while his future is definitely at tight end, Onyegbule completed 5 of his 10 passes for 60 yards against the Texas firstteam defense. Last year, he missed the first five games because of injury. Onyegbule later played in two contests and earned Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week honors leading up to the Oklahoma game. He has played in 22 games in his three years at Texas and has four career catches, all in his freshman year.

DEFENSIVE END

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WIDE RECEIVER

DURING HIS FIRST three seasons, Shipley was the Longhorns’ most reliable receiver. He’s the player the quarterback looks for in the musthave situations — the times when a third down has to be converted or when Texas has its back against the wall. But defenses understand that notion as well and did a great job limiting Shipley in 2013. His receiving yardage totals dropped between his sophomore year (737 yards) and his junior season (589). His touchdowns fell from six in 2012 to just one last year. Shipley has played in 36 career games, including 24 starts, and has 159 career receptions, which ranks seventh in school history. He has

return to Texas for his senior campaign was one the best things that happened to new coach Charlie Strong. Reed, a 6’6”, 271-pound presence as an outside rusher, started at defensive end in all 13 games last year and was a first-team All-Big 12 selection. He led Texas in forced fumbles (five) and ranked second in sacks (10).

REED’S DECISION TO

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

He was also second on the team in quarterback pressures (16) and tackles for loss (19) and third in tackles (79) and fumble recoveries (three). He was one of only two players at the FBS level with at least five sacks, four pass breakups and five forced fumbles. He has played in 33 games, including 19 starts, in three years.

1,933 career receiving yards (ninth in school history), and has caught a pass in 35 of his 36 career games. He recorded a stretch of 33 straight games where he caught a pass — a streak that ranks third in school history. He has four career 100-yard receiving games and has posted at least five receptions in 14 of his last 18 games. With all that said, Shipley must be even better in 2014 in order to help the Longhorns succeed. His prowess as a deep threat could help stretch opposing defenses, but expect Shipley to make most of his catches over the middle and in traffic.

Reed’s five forced fumbles in the 2013 season tied for seventh in school history. Reed improved as last season progressed, recording seven sacks in the last six games. As the Longhorns’ featured pass rusher this season, he’ll need to bring pressure from the outside — a key aspect for Texas in 2014.

THIS S PREAD CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: J IM SIGM ON/UNIV. OF TEXAS , JIM SIGMON/UN IV. OF TEXAS, PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS , JIM S IGM ON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, M AT T HEMPEL/UNIV. OF TEXAS , MATT HEMP EL/UN IV. OF TEXAS

Cedric Reed

Jaxon Shipley

Geoff Swaim TIGHT END

SWAIM, A JUNIOR college transfer from Butte College in California, looked to add a pass-catching element to the Longhorns’ tight end corps in 2013. But he caught just three passes for a total of 14 yards in 13 games in 2013. He started nine of those games. Fans should expect those totals to increase exponentially this season because Texas’ new offense will include more passes — especially down field — to the tight ends.

Swaim, at 6’4” and 242 pounds, seems the perfect-sized target for quarterbacks, and his continued development at the position will be another crucial part to the Longhorns’ puzzle in 2014.

Josh Turner Kendall Thompson LINEBACKER

in 36 games and has had seven starts in his stint at Texas. He played in 11 games in 2013, when he was a key contributor at linebacker and on special teams. His most productive season was in 2012 when he played in 12 games and started the final seven contests. Thompson was fifth on the team in tackles (60) and tied for fourth in tackles for loss. In his three years, he has a combined for 90 tackles (45 of them solo), eight tackles for a loss, two sacks, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup. Thompson will continue to be in the mix for playing time in the Longhorns’ deep, but injury prone, linebacker corps. Texas can also count on him to make several highlight reel plays on special teams. THOMPSON HAS PLAYED

SAFETY

HE MAY SHARE a moniker with a

famous country singer, but this Turner is looking to make a bigger name for himself out on the field this season. Turner will take over as one of the Longhorns’ starting safeties in 2014, after appearing in 37 career games and starting five in his first three seasons. Last season, Turner played in all 13 games, and recorded 37 tackles (22 of them solo) and recovered a fumble. He’s undersized (6’0” and 179 pounds) for the safety position but packs a wallop. He also has great speed and coverage skills. Originally recruited as a cornerback, Turner moved to safety to give Texas more speed on the field. Turner has excellent instincts and has a knack for finding the ball and making plays. Because of his versatility, Turner can be a force on nickel and dime packages.

NON-SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS BRANDON ALLEN, Defensive Back CODY BOSWELL, Defensive Back MICHAEL DAVIDSON, Placekicker CHRIS GIRON, Wide Receiver DAKOTA HAINES, Wide Receiver DEVIN HUFFINES, Defensive Back RYAN ROBERTS, Cornerback WILLIAM RUSS, Punter/Placekicker CHRIS TERRY, Tight End DAVID THOMANN, Wide Receiver LOGAN VIMONT, Defensive End

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Hometown Legends FROM THE 40 ACRES TO THE PROS, HERE’S A LOOK AT FORMER LONGHORNS IN THE NFL.

ET READY, FOOTBALL FANS —

your favorite time of year is quickly approaching. With the NFL season right around the corner, Horns Illustrated is proud to honor the former Longhorn players representing the university in the league. Since 1938, Texas has produced top-level athletes who have excelled on the field on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings. The Longhorns have 36 players currently signed to an NFL roster as of June 6.

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JUSTIN BLALOCK

SAM ACHO

Guard ATLANTA FALCONS

Defensive End/Outside Linebacker ARIZONA CARDINALS

The 39th pick in the 2007 NFL Draft has only been consistent for the Falcons as he enters his eighth season in the league. Blalock has started all 16 games for Atlanta for six consecutive seasons and will continue to be a force on the left side of the Falcons’ offensive line. 2014 OUTLOOK: The Atlanta Falcons had a miserable season last year with a 4-12 overall record. The Falcons’ offense took a big blow after losing Julio Jones for the season in the fifth week. With the addition of tackle Jake Matthews (sixth overall pick), the Falcons’ offensive line will be strong going into 2014.

The fourth-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft had his season cut short last year after breaking his leg. He was placed on the injured reserve list in the third week of the season. With only three games played in 2013, Acho finished the season with five tackles, one sack and a forced fumble. 2014 OUTLOOK: Acho started all 16 games for the Cardinals in 2012, but ran

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BY TAYLOR GRAFFT

into misfortunate when his season ended early last year. Acho will return this season, healthy and competing for the outside linebacker position with Matt Shaughnessy.

for a spot in the rotation this season. The Ravens need to add depth to a defense that has struggled since the loss of Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.

LYLE SENDLEIN

JUSTIN TUCKER

Center ARIZONA CARDINALS

Placekicker BALTIMORE RAVENS

Sendlein signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2007 and has started 93 games (105 appearances) in his seven seasons in the league. Arizona finished 10-6 last year. 2014 OUTLOOK: The offensive line will need to stay on top of its game in order to compete in the toughest division in the league — the NFC West. Sendlein and the Cardinals will need to prepare for Seattle’s and San Francisco’s great pass rushes.

The Austinnative who broke Aggie hearts in 2011 is entering his third NFL season. Tucker was an undrafted free agent in the 2012 NFL Draft. He helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII, earning his first ring and Pro Bowl trip in 2013. 2014 OUTLOOK: Tucker has the Ravens’ starting kicker role locked down as he connected on 91.9 percent of his field goals last year and only continues to improve.

ALEX OKAFOR Defensive End/Outside Linebacker ARIZONA CARDINALS A fourth-round draft pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Okafor was forced to miss most of his rookie season with a torn bicep he suffered in September. Okafor played in only three games and recorded one tackle. 2014 OUTLOOK: Just like Sam Acho, Okafor will need to prove to coaches he’s fully recovered from his injury and deserves a spot on the roster.

CHYKIE BROWN Defensive Back BALTIMORE RAVENS The fifthround pick in the 2011 NFL Draft is entering his fourth season in the league and already has a Super Bowl ring. Brown was featured in all 16 of the Ravens’ games last season, but didn’t start. He finished the 2013 season with 10 tackles and a pass breakup. 2014 OUTLOOK: Brown will battle

AARON WILLIAMS Defensive Back BUFFALO BILLS The second-round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft is entering his fourth season. Williams started in 14 games last year, and finished with 82 tackles, four interceptions, and one forced fumble. 2014 OUTLOOK: The Bills finished the season 6-10 and in last place in the AFC East. They traded up in the draft to take playmaking wide receiver Sammy Watkins for help on offense, but their 2014 schedule is rough.

MARQUISE GOODWIN Wide Receiver BUFFALO BILLS Drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Goodwin proved to be a decent

deep threat and solid return man as a rookie. He finished the season with 17 receptions for 283 yards and three touchdowns. 2014 OUTLOOK: With the addition of Sammy Watkins to the Bills’ receiving core, Goodwin could see fewer balls thrown his way this season. The Bills, however, will use his Olympic-level speed as an offensive weapon and will find a way to get him the ball.

CARRINGTON BYNDOM Defensive Back CAROLINA PANTHERS Byndom signed with the Panthers in May as an undrafted free agent. He was a secondteam AllBig 12 Conference selection in his senior year at Texas and finished his career with 189 tackles, five interceptions, and two sacks. He returned two of the five interceptions for touchdowns. 2014 OUTLOOK: Byndom will look to add depth to a Panthers’ secondary that lost Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Mitchell to free agency.

LAMARR HOUSTON Defensive Tackle CHICAGO BEARS Houston was signed by the Bears this offseason after spending his last four seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He’s coming off his best season in the NFL after finishing with 69 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles. Houston started all 16 games for the Raiders for two consecutive seasons. 2014 OUTLOOK: Houston is an expert at clogging up the middle and fits in perfectly with the Bears’

scheme. After signing a five-year deal with the Bears, he’ll want to prove he’s worth the $15 million guaranteed in his contract.

JONATHAN SCOTT Offensive Tackle CHICAGO BEARS Scott was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft and is entering his third season with the Bears. This season marks his ninth year playing professional football. 2014 OUTLOOK: After starting seven games in 2012, Scott was cut by the Bears in September 2013. He was signed back a week later, but didn’t play in the final 15 games of the season. Scott, like several other Longhorns, will need to battle for playing time in 2014.

TREY HOPKINS Offensive Guard CINCINNATI BENGALS Hopkins signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent. He was a four-year offensive lineman for the Longhorns and made 42 starts in his career. He was a two-time AllBig 12 Conference selection. 2014 OUTLOOK:: Hopkins will try to add depth at the guard position for the Bengals in his rookie season.

CHRIS OGBONNAYA Fullback CLEVELAND BROWNS Drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Ogbonnaya played in all 16 games last season (seven starts) for the Browns. He finished with 240 yards rushing, 343 yards receiving

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CHRIS WHALEY Defensive Tackle DALLAS COWBOYS Whaley was having a great season for the Longhorns through the first nine games of his senior season before missing the final four games due to a season-ending injury. He was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2013. 2014 OUTLOOK: Signed as a free agent after the draft, Whaley will prove his worth by adding great depth to a Cowboys’ defensive line rotation that has struggled to stop the run for the past few seasons.

HENRY MELTON Defensive Tackle DALLAS COWBOYS Melton signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys — one that includes a three-year option. Melton is entering his sixth year in the league after spending the beginning of his career in Chicago. The Bears drafted him in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. 2014 OUTLOOK: With Sean Lee injured and the loss of Demarcus Ware, the Cowboys need someone on their defense to be a difference maker. Melton could easily become that player.

MICHAEL HUFF Defensive Back DENVER BRONCOS

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CORY REDDING Defensive End INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Redding is entering his 12th season in the league and his third season with the Colts. He finished 2013 with 36 tackles, 4.5 sacks and started 15 games. 2014 OUTLOOK: Redding is a league veteran and has been consistent throughout his NFL career, rarely missing a game. Redding will continue to be a force off the edge for the Colts as they look to get after the quarterbacks in 2014.

ROY MILLER Defensive Tackle JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Miller is entering his sixth NFL season and second with Jacksonville. He spent the beginning of his career in Tampa Bay, where he was drafted in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. 2014 OUTLOOK: Miller started 14 games for the Jaguars last season. After finishing with 24 tackles, he’ll continue as a force in the interior of the defense.

JAMAAL CHARLES

Huff is entering his ninth season in the league and his second season with Denver. He started seven games last season with the Baltimore Ravens before he was waived. He was picked up by Denver in November. Before last season, he spent seven seasons with the Raiders, who drafted him seventh overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. Last year Huff played in three games and recorded two tackles. 2014 OUTLOOK: Huff looks to provide quality depth and experience

in the secondary for the Broncos as they plan to return to the Super Bowl.

Running Back KANSAS CITY CHIEFS As one of the best running backs in the NFL at the moment, Charles continued his breakout 2012 season by doing even better under coach Andy Reid. Charles rushed for 1,287 yards and scored 12 rushing touchdowns last season. 2014 OUTLOOK: Injuries seem to be a thing of the past as Charles rushed for over 1,000 yards in two consecutive seasons. He’ll continue

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

to be the focal point of the Chiefs’ offense in 2014 and beyond.

DERRICK JOHNSON Linebacker KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Johnson has been a consistent Pro Bowl pick over the past few years and finished last season with 107 tackles, two interceptions and 4.5 sacks. He’s entering his 10th NFL season. 2014 OUTLOOK:: The Chiefs and Johnson will be aggressive on defense and force turnovers in 2014. The Chiefs should finish at the top of their conference and battle the Broncos for the AFC West title.

CULLEN LOEFFLER Longsnapper MINNESOTA VIKINGS Loeffler is considered one of the best longsnappers in the league and will continue his duties as he enters his 11th season.

KHEESTON RANDALL Defensive Tackle MINNESOTA VIKINGS Selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Randall spent two weeks with the Bengals last season before finding a new home in Minnesota in 2014.

diate impact for the Saints in his rookie year. He finished with 79 tackles, one sack, one interception, and eight pass breakups.

MIKE DAVIS Wide Receiver OAKLAND RAIDERS Davis signed with the Raiders in May as an undrafted free agent and will compete for a roster spot in the offseason.

TARELL BROWN Defensive Back OAKLAND RAIDERS After spending seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Brown finds himself on a new team after signing with the Raiders. Brown played in 13 games last season and finished with 32 tackles and 10 pass breakups.

DONALD HAWKINS Offensive Guard PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Hawkins signed with the Eagles in May as an undrafted free agent and will compete for a ros-

BRIAN ROBISON Defensive End MINNESOTA VIKINGS Robison is entering his eighth season in the league. He finished last season with 37 tackles, nine sacks, and three pass breakups. He has put his injury-ridden past behind him and will be a key player on the Vikings defense.

KENNY VACCARO Defensive back NEW ORLEANS SAINTS The 15th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, Vaccaro made an imme-

ter spot this offseason.

EMMANUEL ACHO Linebacker PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Acho is entering his third season in the league. He was signed to the Eagles’ practice squad in December 2013. He’ll battle for a roster spot this offseason.

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and two touchdowns. 2014 OUTLOOK: Ogbonnaya will continue to be a threat receiving out of the backfield for the Browns.

DAVID SNOW

EARL THOMAS

MICHAEL GRIFFIN

Center/Guard PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Defensive Back SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Defensive Back TENNESSEE TITANS

Snow is entering his third season in the league and his second with the Steelers. The former Longhorn center didn’t play in 2013 but will battle for a roster spot this season.

A member of the Super Bowl XLVIII Championship team and the Legion of Boom defense, Thomas is regarded as one of the best safeties in the league and recently signed a big contract to back that up. He finished 2013 with 105 tackles and five interceptions. He and Richard Sherman will continue to cause offensive coordinators headaches for years to come.

Griffin was the 19th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft and has been making plays for the Titans’ defense ever since. Last season he recorded 82 tackles and one interception. Griffin is a two-time Pro Bowler and has great range.

PHIL DAWSON Placekicker SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Dawson is entering his 16th season in the league and his second with the 49ers after spending the beginning of his career with the Browns. He converted 88.9 percent of his field goals last year and will look to improve on that percentage this season.

JACKSON JEFFCOAT Defensive End SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Jeffcoat signed with the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in May and will look to add depth to an already talented defensive line rotation. Jeffcoat has had an injuryridden past in college, but hopes to put that behind him and follow in his father’s footsteps in the NFL.

BRIAN ORAKPO Defensive End/Linebacker WASHINGTON REDSKINS Entering his sixth season in the league, Orakpo finished 2013 with 60 tackles, 10 sacks, one interception and one defensive touchdown. He continues to be one of the best young linebackers in the league and provides constant pressure on the quarterback when he’s on the field.

COLT MCCOY Quarterback WASHINGTON REDSKINS

San Francisco backing up Colin Kaepernick, McCoy found himself a new home in Washington. He’ll have a tough task ahead and will battle with Kirk Cousins for the backup role behind Robert Griffin III.

KEENAN ROBINSON Linebacker WASHINGTON REDSKINS Robinson is entering his third season in the league, but has battled injuries and spent the last two seasons on the injured reserve. Upon returning to the Redskins roster, he’ll play mostly on special teams.

After spending last season in

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THE CLASS OF 2015 HOLDS PROMISE FOR THE TEXAS FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

by JeFF howe anD hoRnS247.Com StaFF

eaD CoaCh Charlie

Strong announced his first Texas signing class in February. With all due respect to the 23 young men who signed on the dotted line to become Longhorns this season, the class of 2015 is Strong’s first true class.

Strong and his staff will go wire to wire in hopes of molding the future of the Texas football program with the type of talented recruits who can guide the Longhorns to gridiron supremacy. The 10 verbal commitments the staff collected as of July 1 makes for a class that isn’t great in number but remains high on quality. Nine of the 10 commitments have a four-star ranking either from 247Sports or in the 247Sports Composite rankings. The Longhorns could end the recruiting cycle today and stand confident in their choices at quarterback, running back, offensive line and safety. A staff that prides itself collectively on pinpointing great talent has lived up to its own expectations. Some big targets are left on the board but the current class is man-for-man what Longhorn fans expect when it comes to bringing new players into the program. Here’s a look at the current commitments and targets for 2015.

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Zach Gentry

Quarterback albuQuerQue, N.M. el DoraDo HeigHt: 6’7” WeigHt: 230 Commitment Date: may 12 ReCRuiteR: Shawn watSon A BIG STRONG-ARMED and athletic quarterback, Gentry is a consensus top-200 prospect nationally and a consensus pick as a top-10 prep quarterback in the country. He might remind some of a young Ben Roethlisberger because of his combination of size and functional mobility. His athleticism at his size makes him a unique quarterback prospect. He has a strong arm and while he’s regarded as a pro-style quarterback, he’s not a statue who’ll hang around in the pocket all day. He fits what quarterback coach Shawn Watson wants in terms of a quarterback — a player with athleticism who isn’t a dual-threat quarterback but is capable of making plays with his legs. The Longhorns beat out Alabama and Tennessee for Gentry’s commitment. He was the guy Watson identified early and is considered a home run of a commitment for the staff.

Kirk Johnson SaN JoSe, calif. Valley cHriStiaN HeigHt: 6’0” WeigHt: 200

Commitment Date: apRil 17 ReCRuiteR: tommie RobinSon THE SON OF Longhorn legend and College Football Hall of Fame defensive back Johnnie Johnson, Johnson exploded onto the scene at the U.S. Army Combine in January. Blessed with elite explosive ability, good straight-line speed, bouncy athleticism and strong hands, Johnson projects to a number of positions at the next level and could fit a number of different roles for the Longhorns. As a running back, he’s a patient runner who can accelerate through the hole and

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The Future Is Near

JORDAN STEVENSON

KIRK JOHNSON

create explosive plays. His hands are so good that he could be a tremendous receiving threat out of the backfield. All of his physical tools project well to defensive back, which might be his best position even though he’s primarily an offensive player. Texas beat Southern California, Tennessee and Washington for Johnson’s commitment. His younger brother, Collin Johnson, a wide receiver in the 2016 class, is also committed to the Longhorns.

TRISTIAN HOUSTON

Jordan Stevenson

Running Back Dallas soutH oak cliff HeigHt: 5’8” WeigHt: 185 Commitment Date: oCt. 13, 2013 reCruiter: bruCe Chambers

winning the Red River Showdown help in recruiting? Stevenson committed less than 24 hours after the Longhorns put a 36-20 beating on the Sooners last year. A key cog in one of the rising programs in the Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex, Stevenson’s running style will remind Longhorn fans of Fozzy Whittaker when they watch him tote the rock. Though small in stature, Stevenson is a tough runner between the tackles and runs with a lot of power. He possesses elite speed (he ran an electronictimed 4.37 this spring) and if he breaks through the second level, he can score from anywhere on the field. What separates him from other running backs in the class is that Stevenson can make plays in space, which would allow him to serve a role similar to Daje Johnson’s current role. Alabama, Ohio State and Wisconsin are among the other schools that offered Stevenson.

HOW MUCH CAN

Tristian Houston

Running Back Houston noRtH sHoRe HeigHt: 5’11” WeigHt: 195 Commitment Date: april 14 reCruiter: tommie robinson, Chris Vaughn THE NEW STAFF is looking to replenish the talent

at the running back position for the future and Houston fits the type of back the coaches are looking to find. A violent downhill runner, Houston can push the pile and keep an offense ahead of the chains. The difference between Houston and other backs with his running style is that he comes equipped with sprinter’s speed. He has the ability to hit a crease and take one to the house from anywhere on the field. LSU, Arkansas and UCLA were among the programs to offer Houston, who comes from a North Shore program that’s produced the likes of Cory Redding, Trey Hopkins and many other players who decided to play college ball in Austin.

fat on his frame, has the ability to sink his hips and run his feet and can move well enough to fit into a zone blocking scheme. He comes from an athletic family as his sister Ronisha played basketball at Texas. Major was initially committed to Baylor but flipped his commitment to the Longhorns upon being offered. He’s like lifetime Longhorn Leonard Davis in the sense that he’s a massive young man who hasn’t even started to scratch the surface of his potential as a player.

RONNIE MAJOR

Ronnie Major

offensive tackle Huntsville HeigHt: 6’7” WeigHt: 290 Commitment Date: Feb. 22 reCruiter: Joe WiCkline MAJOR COMES WITH more upside and a higher ceiling than anyone in the class. He has all of the tools to be an elite left tackle at the next level. He has a long wingspan, carries very little body

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Patrick Vahe

Center/ Guard euless trinity HeiGHt: 6’3” WeiGHt: 280 Commitment Date: July 28, 2013 ReCRuiteR: Joe WiCkline AMONG THE IN-STATE offensive linemen available in the 2015 class, Vahe might be the best football player at this stage of the game. He’s extremely athletic and has outstanding feet. He knows how to finish blocks when he arrives at his destination and plays with a nasty streak. He’s been a mainstay for Trinity over the past few seasons and plays with the same type of intensity and physicality that the Trojan program has become known for over the years. A consensus top-150 prospect in the country with offers from Baylor and LSU, among others, Vahe could wind up playing guard or center at the next level.

PATRICK VAHE

TOBY WEATHERSBY

Toby Weathersby

Guard/ taCkle sprinG Westfield HeiGHt: 6’5” WeiGHt: 295 Commitment Date: maRCh 22 ReCRuiteR: Joe WiCkline

any other commitment in the class, Weathersby improved leaps and bounds

PERHAPS MORE THAN

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from what he showed as a sophomore. By the time he got to the playoffs his junior year, he had the look of a guy who had the potential to start at a place like Texas. Similar to 2013 signee and current Longhorn offensive lineman Kent Perkins, Weathersby has the length, body and athletic ability to play guard or tackle at Texas. A guy like Weathersby is what Joe Wickline, who prefers to cross-train players at multiple positions to find the best combinations, wants in his offensive linemen. Though he’s committed to the Longhorns, Oklahoma and Texas A&M will continue to recruit Weathersby until the bitter end.

DESHON ELLIOTT

DeShon Elliott

safety HeatH rockwall-HeatH HeiGHt: 6’1” weiGHt: 200 Commitment Date: maRCh 18 ReCRuiteR: ChRis Rumph, ChRis Vaughn IF CHARLIE STRONG and Vance Bedford are trying to find a player similar to All-American safety and first-round draft choice Calvin Pryor, Elliott might be that guy. Texas won Elliott’s commitment over the likes of Baylor, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. His size, speed, willingness and ability to fill the alley in run support, as well as bring the lumber

CHARLES OMENIHU

Charles Omenihu

ALL PHOT OS THIS SPR EAD CO UR TES Y HO RNS24 7.COM

Defensive enD GarlanD rowlett HeiGHt: 6’5” weiGHt: 232 Commitment Date: Feb. 24 ReCRuiteR: ChRis Rumph HE’S RAW BUT the Longhorns might have hit an early home run when they decided to move on Omenihu in February. Once Omenihu committed to Texas, schools like Alabama, Florida, LSU, Notre Dame and Oregon entered the picture. He’s long and has a frame to add significant weight, but what makes Omenihu special is his natural ability to rush the passer. He had a breakthrough performance at the Dallas Nike Camp in the spring where he won multiple one-on-one battles against some of the top linemen in the region. With his rising stock, Omenihu was a good evaluation by the coaches and gives the Longhorns a nice prospect at an impact position. Omenihu said he’ll watch Cedric Reed extensively this fall in hopes of one day taking Reed’s place within the Texas defense.

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KEIVON RAMSEY

when he attacks the football, all could make him a hybrid safety who can stay on the field in any situation. His ability to play over the top and track the ball is a good tool in his arsenal. The trend of recruiting bigger safeties who play fast and physical is something that this staff seems to like, but Elliott has the potential to lock down that role in the Texas defense for the foreseeable future.

Keivon Ramsey

Corner BaCk/ Safety ConverSe ConverSe JudSon HeigHt: 6’1” WeigHt: 170 Commitment Date: april 17 reCruiter: VanCe BeDforD, Chris Vaughn RAMSEY WAS A favorite of the previous staff. Even

Targets CHRIS WARREN running BaCk roCkWall roCkWall

WARREN IS WORKING his way back from an ACL tear he suffered as a junior. When healthy, many prospects can’t compare to Warren. At 6’2”

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so, the current regime offered him and secured his commitment away from Baylor and Oklahoma. Ramsey will likely continue to play safety at the next level, which is the same position he plays for 6A powerhouse Judson. An instinctive player with a long, wiry frame, the best part of Ramsey’s game is that he loves to hit. He’s a secure tackler and doesn’t allow many big plays because of the angles

he takes. If he has the ability to lower the boom on someone, he’ll sink his hips and explode violently toward the football. He can play cornerback if needed, but safety is his natural position.

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and 232 pounds, he has sub-10.8 speed in the 100 meters and is a 22-foot long jumper. The Longhorns will battle Cal, Iowa and Washington, among others, for Warren’s commitment.

factor in the run game and serve as the primary man handling punt and kickoff returns. In addition to Texas, Newsome is also considering Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon and UCLA.

DUVONTA LAMPKIN

JOHN BURT Wide ReceiveR Tallahassee (Fla.) lincoln

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THE FACT THAT Texas

has an edge with an elite prospect in the backyard of the reigning national champions may sound crazy to some fans. However, Burt (6’3”, 180) is a top-150 prospect nationally and has an aunt who is a dean at the university; his grandmother also worked at Texas. Florida State and Auburn are in the mix, but everyone is chasing Texas at this stage of the game.

RYAN NEWSOME Wide ReceiveR aledo aledo

THE 5’9”, 175-pound Newsome might be the fastest recruit in the country (10.38 100-meter speed). The Longhorns are in a strong position to land Newsome who can play slot receiver, be a

DU’VONTA LAMPKIN deFensive Tackle housTon cypRess Falls

THE 6’4”, 300-pound tackle seems primed for a breakout season. The one-time Oklahoma commit looked better than ever during the spring. He’s already set his official visit to Texas for Sept. 6 when the Longhorns take on BYU.

MALIK JEFFERSON linebackeR MesquiTe MesquiTe poTeeT

PERHAPS THE finest

linebacker prospect the state has produced since Derrick Johnson, Jefferson has legitimate All-American potential. He’s a five-star prospect and one of the best linebackers in the country. The Longhorns are battling Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Texas Tech for his commitment, but Jefferson is keeping Texas in the mix and giving the new staff a chance to recruit him.

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CAMERON TOWNSEND Linebacker Fort bend ridge Point

MALIK JEFFERSON

THE TALENTED DEFENDER is expected to make his decision known in October and the Longhorns appear to be the team to beat. Townsend (6’1”, 195) fits nicely into the Big 12, where linebackers have to be instinctive and athletic in order to play the run and the pass against up-tempo offenses.

HOLTON HILL

HOLTON HILL cornerback Houston Lamar

WITH TWO SAFETIES committed in DeShon Elliott and Kevion Ramsey, Hill is a top-notch prospect at a need position. He played alongside current Longhorn freshman John Bonney last season at Lamar and with his length, size (6’2”, 185) and ball skills, he’s now emerged in his own right as one of the best in the country at his position.

KENDALL SHEFFIELD cornerback Fort bend marsHaLL

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GETTING THE FIVE-STAR prospect will be a tough pull for Texas as Texas A&M is the team to beat for Sheffield (6’0”, 190). That said, the Longhorns won’t give up on recruiting a prospect who might have been the state’s top defensive back prospect if he were a part of last year’s loaded 2014 crop.

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Picks PUNDITS’

THE PUNDITS’ PREDICTIONS ARE IN.

BIG 12 CHAMP

Ricky Doyle TWC News Sports Director

BIG 12 BIG 12 BIG 12 MOST OFFENSIVE DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN UNDERRATED PLAYER PLAYER PLAYER BIG 12 OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR TEAM

BIG 12 COACH OF THE YEAR

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH-UP

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP wINNER

HEISMAN TROPHY wINNER

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*Bowl game included in record

VEGAS ODDS to win BCS championship 1/12/15 TEAM

fLOrida State aLaBaMa OregOn OhiO State aUBUrn UcLa OkLahOMa geOrgia LSU SOUth carOLina Michigan State BaYLOr wiScOnSin USc fLOrida nOtre daMe OLe MiSS

AS OF 07/14/2014

6/1 13/2 7/1 10/1 10/1 15/1 15/1 20/1 23/1 25/1 30/1 30/1 30/1 35/1 40/1 45/1 45/1

TEAM

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AS OF 07/14/2014

50/1 55/1 55/1 65/1 75/1 80/1 80/1 80/1 85/1 100/1 110/1 110/1 110/1 110/1 110/1 110/1 110/1

TEAM

OregOn State Virginia tech texaS tech tenneSSee nOrthweStern BYU LOUiSViLLe tcU BOiSe State VanderBiLt Utah State PittSBUrgh waShingtOn State Utah dUke geOrgia tech

FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

AS OF 07/14/2014

200/1 200/1 200/1 200/1 300/1 300/1 300/1 300/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1

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Bets BAR

UNIVERS ITY OF TEXAS SPORT S PHOTO GR APHY

OUR ANNUAL COLLECTION OF LONGHORN STATISTICS PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO HOW TO SETTLE FRIENDLY WAGERS.

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MISCELLANEOUS TEAM RECORDS All-time games played...........................................1,236 in 120 years Overall record (winning percentage) ................... 875-338-33 (.715) National Championships (four) ......................... 1963, ’69, ’70, 2005 Undefeated and untied teams (nine) ................ 1893, ’95, 1900, ’14, ’18, ’20, ’63, ’69, 2005 Undefeated and once-tied teams (two) ..............................1923, ’62 Longest undefeated streak ................................ 30 games (1968–70) Longest winning streak ..................................... 30 games (1968–70) Longest losing streak......................................... 10 games (1937–38) Most consecutive shutouts...........................................10 (1928–29) Most shutouts in a season....................... 7 (1901, ’06, ’23, ’29, ’30) SEASON – OFFENSE SCORINg Most points scored ..........................................652 ...................2005 Most points per game........................ 50.2 (652/13 games) ......2005 Most PATs by kicking........................................72 ....................2008 Highest PAT percentage ................................. 1.00 ..........44 in 2011 28 in 2010; 72 in 2008; 55 in 2002; 46 in ’98; 38 in ’94; 27 in ’85; 24 in ’63 and ’64; 23 in ’86 Consecutive PATs by kicking ...........................121 .............2001–03 Most two-point attempts ...................................9 .....................1959 Most two-point conversions ..............................5 .......... 1968, 2000 Most field goal attempts ....................................30 ....................1999 Most field goals made .......................................23 ....................2010 Most safeties ......................................................4 .....................1939

Most yards..................................................... 4,008 ..................2008 Most touchdown passes ...................................36 ....................2008 Highest avg. yards per game..............308.3 (4,008/13 gms) .....2008 KICKOff RETURNS Most returns.....................................................53 ....................2011 Most yards..................................................... 1,276 .................2011 Highest avg. yards per return................ 27.0 (22 for 593) ........2005 SEASON – DEFENSE SCORINg Fewest points allowed .......................................0 .....................1895 Fewest touchdowns allowed .............................0 .....................1895 Fewest PATs allowed ........................................0 .....................1895 TOTal DEfENSE (rushing and passing combined) Fewest total offensive plays allowed.................357 ...................1943 Fewest total offense yards allowed ................ 1,110 ..................1943 Lowest avg. yards allowed per play ....2.43 (483 for 1,173) ......1942 Lowest avg. yards allowed per game .117.3 (1,173/10 gms) .....1942 RUSHINg DEfENSE Fewest attempts allowed .................................223 ...................1943 Fewest net yards allowed ................................556 ...................1943 Fewest rushing TDs allowed .............................3 .......1979, ’72, ’61 Lowest avg. yards allowed per rush.....1.88 (306 for 575) .......1942 Lowest avg. yards allowed per game ... 57.5 (575/10 gms) ......1942

NCAA FBS ALL-TIME LISTS

TOTal OffENSE (rushing and passing combined) Most plays ..................................................... 1,053 ..................2009 Most yards..................................................... 6,657 ..................2005 Highest avg. yards per play ..................7.4 (583 for 4,340) .......1993 Highest avg. yards per game.......................... 512.1 ..................2005

VICTORIES TEAM ..............YEARS .........WINS .......LOSSES .......TIES .......PCT. 1. Michigan .........134 ............ 910............ 321 ............ 36......... .732 2. TEXAS ...........121 ............ 875............ 339 ............ 33......... .715 3. Notre Dame ..125 ............ 874............ 305 ............ 42......... .733 4. Nebraska........124 ............ 865............ 357 ............ 40......... .701 5. Ohio State......124 ............ 849............ 318 ............ 53......... .718

ALL PHOTOS T HIS PAGE COURT ESY OF UNIVER SITY OF TEXAS SPORT S PHOTOGRAPHY

RUSHINg Most attempts .................................................715 ...................1970 Most net yards gained.................................... 3,745 ..................1970 Most rushing TDs .............................................55 ....................2005 Highest avg. yards per attempt ...........5.91 (605 for 3,574) ......2005 Highest avg. yards per game.......................... 374.5 ..................1970 PaSSINg Most attempts .................................................540 ...................2009 Most completions ............................................362 ...................2009 Highest completion percentage .............767 (343-of-447) ........2008 Most passes had intercepted.............................24 .............1984, ’88 Lowest pct. of passes had intercepted .....018 (8-of-447) ..........2008 Earl Campbell won the Heisman Trophy in 1977.

Texas unveiled a statute honoring Ricky Williams on April 1, 2012.

Fans gathered during the 1998 season to see Ricky Williams play his final season with the Longhorns.

PaSS DEfENSE Fewest pass attempts allowed ..........................91 ....................1956 Fewest pass completions allowed .....................45 .............1956, ’43 Lowest completion pct. allowed .............316 (56-of-177) ........1942 Fewest yards allowed ......................................554 ...................1943 Fewest touchdowns allowed .............................2 .....................1954 Lowest avg. yards allowed per game ... 59.8 (598/10 gms) ........1942 fUMblES Most forced fumbles .........................................46 ....................1975 Most fumble recoveries ....................................27 .............1982, ’54 INTERCEPTIONS Most passes intercepted ...................................34 ....................1940 Most return yards ............................................580 ...................1943 Highest avg. per return......................... 20.5 (13 for 267) .........1987 Most returns for touchdowns ............................5 .....................1987

ATTENDANCE TOP 10 HOME CROWDS IN UT HISTORY ATTENDANCE .....OPPONENT .....YEAR .....WINNER .....SCORE 1. 101,851 ..............West Virginia ..... 2012.........WVU .......... 45-48 2. 101,624 .................... Rice ............ 2011...........UT .............. 34-9 3. 101,474 .................Ole Miss......... 2013.......Ole Miss........ 23-44 4. 101,437 ...................UCLA .......... 2010.........UCLA.......... 12-34 5. 101,357 ...................Kansas .......... 2009...........UT ............ 51-20 6. 101,353 ...................Baylor........... 2012...........UT ............ 56-50 7. 101,339 ................Wyoming ........ 2010...........UT .............. 34-7 8. 101,297 ...............Texas Tech ...... 2009...........UT ............ 34-24 9. 101,152 ................ Colorado ........ 2009...........UT ............ 38-14 10. 101,144 .................UTEP ........... 2009...........UT .............. 64-7 INDIVIDUAL – OFFENSE RUSHING MOST aTTEMPTS Game ............45 .......... Hodges Mitchell, at Texas Tech ...........2000 Season..........361 .......................Ricky Williams ........................1998 Career.........1,112 .................... Cedric Benson ..................2001–04 MOST YaRDS Game ...........350 ...........Ricky Williams, vs. Iowa State.............1998 Season.........2,124 .................... Ricky Williams ........................1998 Career.........6,279 .....................Ricky Williams ..................1995–98

DID YOU KNOW? In addition to cementing the 1969 National Championship, No. 1 Texas’ memorable 21-17 victory against No. 9 Notre Dame in the 1970 Cotton Bowl also was the 500th victory in school history. Meanwhile Texas’ victory over No. 1 USC for the 2005 National Championship was also the 800th victory in school history. FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2014

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LONGEST TEXAS HOME WINNING STREAK: 42 games Began with a 31-3 win against Oklahoma State on Oct. 5, 1968, and ended with a 30-0 loss to Houston on Nov. 6, 1976.

highest average yards per rush Game (min. 8).........16.0 ..Gib Dawson vs. UNC (9 for 144)...1951 Season (min. 75) .....7.9 ....James Saxton (107 for 846) .............1961 Career (min. 150) ...6.8 ...Vince Young (457 for 3,127) .....2003–05 6.6 ...Graylon Wyatt (152 for 1,008)..1974–75 Career (min. 500) ...6.2 ...Ricky Williams (1,011 for 6,279) ..1995–98 Most touchdowns Game ......6 ........ Ricky Williams vs. New Mexico State/Rice .....1998 Season.....27 ...... Ricky Williams ................................................1998 Career.....72 ...... Ricky Williams ..........................................1995–98 1,000-yard seasons 1. 2,124 ...................Ricky Williams (on 361 attempts) .............1998 2. 1,893 ...................Ricky Williams (on 279 attempts) .............1997 3. 1,834 ...................Cedric Benson (on 326 attempts).............2004 4. 1,744 ................... Earl Campbell (on 267 attempts) ............1977 5. 1,619 ...................Jamaal Charles (on 258 attempts) ............2007

PASSING Most yards Game .................470 ................. Colt McCoy, vs. UCF ............2009 Season.............. 3,859........................Colt McCoy ...................2008 Career............. 13,253 ......................Colt McCoy ........ 2006–2009 Most passing yards (career) 1. Colt McCoy ...................................13,253 (2006–09) 2. Major Applewhite .........................8,353 (1998–2001) 3. James Brown ...................................7,638 (1994–97) 4. Peter Gardere ..................................7,396 (1989–92) 5. Chris Simms .................................7,097 (1999–2002)

On Nov. 25, 1920, the largest crowd in history was on hand to see undefeated Texas beat undefeated Texas A&M, 7-3.

aLL-tiMe rushing Leaders (rushing and passing combined) PLAYER ................POS. ....... YRS. .......ATT. ....YRDS. ..AVG TDs 1. Ricky Williams...TB/FB ...1995–98 ...1,011 .... 6,279.....6.2 ......72 2. Cedric Benson ....TB ......2001–04 ...1,112 .... 5,540.....5.0 ......64 3. Earl Campbell...TB/FB ...1974–77 .....765 ..... 4,443.....5.8 ......40 4. Jamaal Charles .....TB ......2005–07 .....533 ..... 3,328.....6.2 ......36 5. Chris Gilbert........TB ......1966–68 .....595 ..... 3,231.....5.4 ......28

Texas defeated Cal, 21-10, to claim the 2011 Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl.

top 5 quarterback victories 1. Colt McCoy .......................................45-8 (2006–09) 2. Vince Young .......................................30-2 (2003–05) 3. Bobby Layne ......................................28-6 (1944–47) 4. Chris Simms .................................. 26-6 (1999–2002) 5. Marty Akins ........................................26-9 (1973–75) highest avg. gain per coMpLetion Game (min. 5)..... 32.6.. Todd Dodge vs. Rice (11 for 359) .... 1985 Season (min. 30) . 20.1.. Randy McEachern (45 for 906).......... 1977 Career (min. 50) . 18.4.. Randy McEachern (85 for 1,564)..1976–78

consecutive coMpLetions (singLe gaMe) 1. Colt McCoy vs. OSU (2008) ....................................................18 2. Case McCoy at Kansas St. (2012) .............................................17 3.Colt McCoy vs. Missouri (2008).................................................17 4. David Ash at Ole Miss (2012)....................................................15 5. Colt McCoy vs. OSU [4] (2006), at KSU [4], vs. Texas A&M [7] ...15 6. Vince Young vs. Colorado [6] (2005), vs. USC [9]....................15

Dr. Eugene P. Schoch founded the Texas Longhorn Band in 1900. 92

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JI M SIGMON/UNI V. OF T EXAS

Fewest passes had intercepted Season (min. 75 att) ........2 .........Chance Mock ...................... 2003 2 .........James Brown ........................1994 2 .........Tommy Wade ......................1962 2 .........Mike Cotten..........................1961 Career (min. 150 att) ......8 .........Eddie Phillips ...................1969–71 Consecutive passes without an interception 156 .....Major Applewhite .................1999

Former Longhorns head CoaChes RECoRd R. D. Wentworth, 1894............................................6-1 Frank “Little” Crawford, 1895................................... 5-0 Harry Orman “Jake” Robinson, 1896 .................... 4-2-1 Walter F. “Mike” Kelly, 1897 .....................................5-2 David Farragut Edwards, 1898 ..................................5-1 Maurice Gordon Clarke, 1899 ..................................6-2 Samuel Huston “Shy” Thompson, 1900–01 ....... 14-2-1 J. B. Hart, 1902 .................................................... 6-3-1 Ralph Hutchinson, 1903-05 ............................... 16-7-2 H. R. Schenker, 1906............................................... 9-1 W.E. Metzenthin, 1907–08 ................................. 11-5-1 Dr. Dexter Draper, 1909..................................... 4-3-1 W.S. Wasmund, 1910...............................................6-2 Dave Allerdice, 1911–15....................................... 33-7 Eugene Van Gent, 1916 ........................................... 7-2 Bill Juneau, 1917–19 ............................................. 19-7 Berry M. Whitaker, 1920–22 ............................. 22-3-1 E.J. Stewart, 1923–26 ........................................ 24-9-3 Clyde Littlefield, 1927–33................................. 44-18-6 Jack Chevigny, 1934–36 ....................................13-14-2 Dana X. Bible, 1937–46 ...................................63-31-3 Blair Cherry, 1947–50 ......................................32-10-1 Ed Price, 1951–56 ........................................... 33-27-1 Darrell Royal, 1957–76 ...................................167-47-5 Fred Akers, 1977–86 ....................................... 86-31-2 David Mcwilliams, 1987–91 ................................ 31-26 John Mackovic, 1992–97 ...................................41-28-2 Mack Brown, 1998–2013 ................................. 149-43

RECEIVING Most receptions Game ......15 ...... Jordan Shipley, vs. Oklahoma State................2008 Season.....116 .... Jordan Shipley ................................................2009 Career.....248 .... Jordan Shipley ..........................................2006–09

UNIVERSIT Y OF TEXAS T EXAS SPORT SP ORTSS PHOTO PHOTOGR UNIVERS ITY GR APHY

Most receptions (career) 1. Jordan Shipley .......................................................248 (2006–09) 2. Roy Williams .........................................................241 (2000–03) 3. Quan Cosby .........................................................212 (2005–08) 4. Mike Davis ............................................................198 (2010–13) 5. Mike Adams ..........................................................177 (1992–96) Most touchdown receptions (career) 1. Roy Williams ...........................................................36 (2000–03) 2. Jordan Shipley .........................................................33 (2006–09) 3. Limas Sweed ...........................................................20 (2004–07) 4. Quan Cosby ...........................................................19 (2005–08) 5. Mike Davis ..............................................................18 (2010–13) consecutive gaMes with a reception 1. Roy Williams ...........................................................47 (2000–03) 2. Quan Cosby ...........................................................44 (2005–08) 3. Jaxon Shipley ...........................................................33 (2011–13) 4. Jordan Shipley .........................................................31 (2007–09) 5. B.J. Johnson.............................................................27 (2000–02)

sCoRING Most points scored Game ......36 ...... Ricky Williams, vs. New Mexico St./Rice........1998 Season.....168 .... Ricky Williams ................................................1998 Career.....452 .... Ricky Williams ..........................................1995–98 Most points scored by a place-kicker Game ......17 ...... Ryan Bailey, at UCF...................................... 2007 17 ...... Kris Stockton, at Texas Tech..........................2000 17 ...... Phil Dawson, vs. Oklahoma St.......................1996 Season ....133 .... Hunter Lawrence ......................................... 2009 Career.....358 .... Dusty Mangum ........................................2001–04 Most touchdowns responsible for Game ......7 .......Clyde Littlefield (4p/3 rec), vs. Daniel Baker... 1915 Season.....45 .....Colt McCoy (34 pass/11 rush) ....................... 2008 Career.....132 ...Colt McCoy (112 pass/20 rush) ........... 2006–2009 total offENsE Most total yards Game ... 506 ....... Vince Young, at Oklahoma State (239p/267r) .. 2005 Season.. 4,420.... Colt McCoy (3,859p/561r) .......................... 2008 Career.. 14,824.. Colt McCoy (13,253p/1,571r) ................2006–09 INdIVIdUal – dEfENsE INtERCEptIoNs Most interceptions Game ...... 4 ....... Bill Bradley, vs. Texas A&M ...........................1968 Season.....8 ........ Earl Thomas ..................................................2009 Career.....17 ..... Nathan Vasher......................................... 2000-03 17 ..... Noble Doss.............................................1939–41 Most return yards Game ...... 95 ..... Jack Collins, vs. Baylor ................................. 1936 Season..... 160 ... Jack Crain .................................................... 1940 Career..... 261 ... Chris Carter ...........................................1993–96

Mack Brown concluded his time at Texas as the head football coach in 2013. Under Brown’s leadership, the Longhorns posted nine consecutive double digit-win seasons from 2001 to 2009.

Horns Illustrated (ISSN 1096-2573), Volume 21, Number 6. Copyright © 2014 by Texan Media, LLC. All All rights rights reserved. reserved.Published Publishednine ninetimes timesa year (monthly in January, February, March/April, a year (monthly in January, February, March, May, June, July-September, October, November April/May, June, July, October, and December) in the United States by Horns Illustrated, 1505 Ridgecrest Drive, Austin, TX 78746. Subscription inquiries: Send new or renewal notices or change of address (send both old and new addresses) to Horns Illustrated, P.O. Box 50069, Austin, TX 78763. Allow 6-8 weeks for change of address. Subscription problems: Call 855-246-7677. Subscription costs: U.S. and its possessions, one-year basic rate, $49.95. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER – send address changes to Horns Illustrated - P.O. Box 50069, Austin, TX 78763. Tel. (512) 626-8513. Publisher disclaims all responsibility to return unsolicited editorial matter, and all rights in portions published vest in publisher. Letters to Horns Illustrated magazine or its editors are assumed intended for publication in whole or in part without permission from the writer. Any similarity between persons or places mentioned in the fiction or semi-fiction and real places or persons living or dead is coincidental. Single copies: $4.95 in U.S.

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TACKLES Most total tackles (tackles were recorded as a statistic beginning in 1975) Season.....195 .... Britt Hager.....................................................1988 Career.....499 .... Britt Hager...............................................1984–88

SACKS Most sacks (sacks were recorded as a statistic beginning in 1975) Season.....22.5 ... Kiki DeAyala ..................................................1982 Career.....40.5 ... Kiki DeAyala ............................................1979–82

Most solo tackles (solo tackles were recorded as a statistic beginning in 1978) Season.....123 .... Tony Degrate ................................................1984 Career.....325 .... Doug Shankle ..........................................1978–81

Most sacks (single gaMe) 1. Shane Dronett ............................... 5.0, at Texas Tech (1990) 2. Alex Okafor .................................... 4.5, vs. Oregon State (2012) 3. Cedric Woodard ............................ 4.0, vs. Texas A&M (1998) 4. Aaron Humphrey ........................... 4.0, at Texas Tech (1998) 5. Dwight Jefferson............................ 4.0, vs. Arkansas (1978)

top 5 total tackles (career) 1. Britt Hager ............................................................499 (1984–88) 2. Doug Shankle ........................................................478 (1978–81) 3. Derrick Johnson ....................................................458 (2001–04) 4. Anthony Curl ........................................................403 (1989–92) 5. Chris Carter ..........................................................401 (1993–96) top five solo tackles (career) 1. Doug Shankle ........................................................325 (1978–81) 2. Britt Hager ............................................................308 (1984–88) 3. Ty Allert ................................................................287 (1982–85) 4. Derrick Johnson ....................................................281 (2001–04) 5. Chris Carter ..........................................................265 (1993–96) Most tackles for loss (single gaMe) 1. Tim Crowder................................................. 7.0, vs. Rice (2006) 2. Steve McMichael .................................6.5, vs. Texas Tech (1979) 3. Alex Okafor ......................................6.0, vs. Oregon State (2012) 4. Casey Hampton ................................ 6.0, vs. Kansas State (1999) 5. Shane Dronett ..................................... 6.0, at Texas Tech (1990) 6. Kenneth Sims ................................................. 6.0, at SMU (1981)

Most pass breakups (pass breakups were recorded as a statistic beginning in 1975) Season.....26 ...... Nathan Vasher...............................................2003 Career.....64 ...... Nathan Vasher.........................................2000–03 Most forced fuMbles (forced fumbles were recorded as a statistic beginning in 1975) Season.....9 ........ Derrick Johnson.............................................2004 Career.....15 ...... Kenneth Sims ..........................................1978–81 Most fuMble recoveries (fumble recoveries were recorded as a statistic beginning in 1975) Season.....5 ........ Sam Acho ......................................................2010 5 ........ D.D. Lewis ....................................................2000 5 ........ Tim Campbell ...............................................1975 Career.....10 ...... D.D Lewis .......................................... 1998–2001

A look At the seAson 50 yeArs Ago 1964 Head coach: Darrell Royal Season: 10-1 SWC: 6-1 (2nd) Preseason ranking: 4th, AP; NP, UPI Final ranking: 5th, AP; 5th, UPI Sept. 19 (#4/NP) Tulane Sept. 26 (#4/NP) @ Texas Tech Oct. 3 (#1/1 NR/10 Army Oct. 10 (#1/1) vs. Oklahoma (D) Oct. 17 (#1/1) #8/10 Arkansas Oct. 2 (#6/6) @ Rice Oct. 31 (#6/6) SMU Nov. 7 (#6/7) @ Baylor Nov. 14 (#5/5) @ TCU Nov. 26 (#5/5) Texas A&M ORANGE BOWL Jan. 1 (#5/5) vs. #1/1 Alabama

W W W W L W W W W W

31-0 23-0 17-6 28-7 13-14 6-3 7-0 20-14 28-13 26-7

21-17

In Colt McCoy’s senior year, he won 13 of the top 15 major college playing awards, including quarterback of the year.

the tAle oF the tUrF Below: Since its completion in 1924, the Darrell K Royal Stadium has served as the home for Texas football.

UNIVERS ITY OF TEXAS SPORT S PHOTOGRAPHY

Memorial Stadium’s field was natural grass from 1925–68. Artificial turf was first applied to the Memorial Stadium floor in summer 1969. The turf also was replaced in 1974, ’82 and ’89. UT returned to natural grass (prescription athletic turf/ PAT) in 1996. The field was lowered and the grass (PAT) was replaced in 1999. The turf (PAT) was replaced with TifSport Certified Bermudagrass in 2002. UT switched back to an artificial surface, installing FieldTurf, in 2009. A new FieldTurf surface was installed in 2013.

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FINAL SCORE

After heading out on a statewide tour and immersing himself in all that is Texas football, one thing became clear about Charlie Strong — he likes to stay busy. The head coach added one more task to his list this summer when he hosted his first annual women’s football clinic. The Charlie Strong Women’s Football Clinic took place at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on June 21. The clinic not only provided a unique chance to gain insight into Strong’s coaching style, but also allowed a few hardcore fans to see if they could hang with the Longhorn football team. Attendees sat in on special presentations from the coaching staff and received the chance to see firsthand how the Longhorns run under Strong’s tutelage. And while this clinic didn’t give him the chance to scout new talent, the event did give Strong the chance to meet his new fans — and for eager fans to meet him.

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JIM S IGM ON/ UNIV. OF TEXAS

Strong Women Love Football