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satyanash

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Posts posted by satyanash

  1. Ian Boyd: Quantifying Texas' upgrades on the OL

    After observing Patrick Vahe's play over the course of 2017 I determined to take on another "fun" project. I watched every sack that Texas gave up during the 2017 season and tried to determine what the breakdown was, as best as I could given that I'm less familiar with protection schemes. Here were the results I found...

    7d0Q4Svl.jpg

    Now let me start by offering a few clarifying notes:

    - I counted plays in which the QBs went through a progression, couldn't find anyone, and then got tackled as "coverage sacks." This obviously defers blame from the OL to the QB or WRs but it should be noted that the OL weren't always totally innocent here, it's just that they did at least hold up the rush long enough for the QB to get a look around.

    - Most of the coverage sacks involved Shane Buechele for the obvious reason that Sam Ehlinger tended to get out of the pocket faster and then pick up yardage much more easily than did Buechele.

    - Some of the "tackle beat" plays included the QB having some time to make a read but in each instance the tackle allowed the DE to beat him with a pass-rush move so I counted them as being on the tackle.

    - I decided to avoid apportioning blame on most of the beats inside that involved some kind of failure or breakdown because it's hard to divvy out responsibility on plays like that. However, I did want to note that there multiple instances in which there was some kind of breakdown but that Cuney was also physically bested and those tended to be costly. Included in that were the play where Ehlinger was hit against OSU, fumbled, and recovered at midfield for a 34 yard loss AND the play where Ehlinger was tackled on a rollout and made that horrendous decision that led to a pick-6 against West Virginia. Obviously Cuney didn't make Ehlinger fumble or throw that ball so it's not all on him, but it is notable that he was involved in some catastrophic plays.

    - The "miscellaneous missed assignment" include plays like one the disasters at Maryland where a guy was given a free shot through the B-gap at Buechele and the play where Buechele passed up on an open hitch and then got drilled at the Texas one-yard line on that first play. I also included plays where it seemed like a WR or RB committed an error that led to the breakdown. This seems like an area for easy and obvious improvement in year two of the offense.

    - I didn't count holds which may shed some additional light on which guys were getting beat and hurting the offense. I suspect that Kerstetter's performance would look more questionable if we surveyed all of those penalties but I don't know for sure without doing the research.

    Now here are the big takeaways I had from watching this.

    - Texas puts a lot on the tackles to hold up on the edge and none of them were particularly good at it. Denzel Okafor gave up seven sacks in two games when he had to face Porter Gustin (USC) and Obo Okoronkwo (OU) and was just completely overmatched against good edge-rushers without help from an RB or OG. Elijah Rodriguez drew a tough assignment in Missouri, who had a better DL than most B12 teams, but he didn't hold up outside much better by this metric than anyone else on the roster.

    Derek Kerstetter had the best performance in terms of sacks given up of all the tackles despite playing as a freshman and undersized when you factor in how many starts he had compared to these other guys. Tristan Nickelson was actually kinda solid, maybe not good but he wasn't the walking disaster some of the other guys were, I think the staff's hesitation with him came more for his run blocking. Ideally you want a LT that can play on an island and then a RT that isn't a disaster against a typical edge-rusher. Texas barely managed to find the latter.

    - Interior breakdowns are often the most disastrous although a blindside hit obviously can carry a lot of risk for a variety of reasons (QB doesn't see it coming). Texas should be much better at avoiding these with a more experienced and more talented squad next year.

    - For Kerstetter to move inside would probably say a lot about how Denzel Okafor is coming along. Last year Kersetter was no doubt the superior player and there'd be no reason to move him unless Okafor or E-Rod were really showing something at tackle. Or Cosmi, if that were to happen.

    - It's hard to overstate the value of adding a quality tackle in Calvin Anderson. Even if he only lifts Texas up to the point where they lack an "island" tackle but at least have guys on both edges that aren't sieves that's a huge plus and upgrade over where they were a year ago. Especially when you consider that Texas will have improved TE play and more protection savvy RBs to help things along, it'll be hard to attack this OL in protection unless you have multiple good pass-rushers or can hide where your top pass-rusher is coming from. Otherwise Texas will easily be able to shade help where needed and hold up elsewhere.

    - It kinda seems like Texas could gain a lot in terms of avoiding negative plays by having a "go-to" WR (or two) that they can reliably find or throw at even if "covered." Hopefully they get both LJH and Johnson on the field together and the QB can either throw it at Johnson on the sideline or find LJH breaking open while isolated inside based on where the numerical advantage is. Or to that point, Texas will also gain a lot here from having QBs that know how to get the ball out quickly on normal passing concepts, both Buechele and Ehlinger seemed to miss some things last year.

    • Like 2
  2. EJ after dark: Latest on Tufono, McCoy, recruiting numbers

    — According to multiple sources, five-star Mater Dei (Calif.) athlete Bru McCoy is planning to make an unofficial visit to Texas at some point before the end of the month. Texas is also working hard to get him on campus for an official visit over the summer, which we expect to happen. We have also heard that Texas is very much a legitimate player in this recruitment.

    — Don’t be surprised if Texas gets four-star Punahou (HI) inside linebacker Maninoa Tufonoin for a visit this offseason. Tufono has expressed a lot of interest in Texas over social media, and Horns247 has learned that he has an uncle that lives in the San Antonio-area. Texas is working hard on Tufono, and it seems like he is keeping his options wide open, so there is definitely a chance here. 

    — There have been a lot of questions about numbers this class and how many Texas will take at each position. I’ve been told the staff doesn’t want to lock in positional numbers at this point in the year. They understand there is fluidity to roster needs throughout a cycle and simply want to emphasize recruiting the best prospects. As far as class size goes, I’ve always maintained that numbers have a way of working themselves out, and I wouldn’t be surprised if UT takes more than 20 this cycle.

    — Texas is set to host one of the top offensive linemen in the 2020 recruiting class for an unofficial visit next weekend. Horns247 has learned that four-star Clear Creek guard Chad Lindberg will be at the Texas spring game. Lindberg holds early offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and others.

    • Like 1
  3. EJ after dark: Five-star DB planning spring OV to Texas

    — According to a Louisiana source, five-star Dunham School (La.) cornerback Derek Stingley will make a spring official visit to Texas. Stingley does not have a firm date set in stone, but it should take place at some point in May. Stingley recently listed Texas in his top schools. However, LSU is still considered the favorite at this time.

    — One out-of-state safety prospect that Texas is evaluating and could offer is Williams Field (AZ) product Noa Pola-Gates. With that said, he named Alabama his leader, so obviously, there is understandable hesitation. A four-star recruit, Pola-Gates is a high potential prospect and is ranked as the No. 12 safety in the country.

    — Texas holds our early Crystal Ball predictions for four-star 2020 Duncanville safety Chris Thompson Jr. He has connections to the program and a great relationship with safeties coach Craig Naivar. However, we are told Texas A&M actually holds the edge right now. He is scheduled to visit there again this weekend.

    — Darius Snow, the nation’s top safety in the 2020 class, is set to make an unofficial visit to Texas for the spring game on April 21. Snow visited UT for junior day weekend in February and is very high on the Longhorns early on. He is keeping in weekly contact with Naivar and is excited to get back to Austin.

  4. E.J. Holland: Four-star ILB David Gbenda recaps Texas visit

    Texas hosted a key defensive target this weekend. Four-star Katy Cinco Ranch inside linebacker David Gbenda made his way to Austin to get another look at the program and take in the Longhorns’ weekend scrimmage. “It went well,” Gbenda said. “I really enjoyed my interactions with the players and the scrimmage. The scrimmage was high intensity. They were getting after it. I feel like I would fit in as their rover.”

    Gbenda also got spend some extended time with defensive coordinator Todd Orlando and chatted with head coach Tom Herman. “My conversations with them went well,” Gbenda said. “I talked more to Coach Orlando. It was more on recruiting, and it really stuck with me. He’s a great coach who teaches the game.” Texas has been pegged as the favorite in Gbenda’s recruitment. However, the Longhorns face stiff competition from Texas A&M, which has also hosted him for multiple visits this offseason.

    Gbenda is also strongly considering schools like Oklahoma State and TCU. When asked where exactly Texas stands following the visit, he was sure not to give too much away. “They are on my list for sure,” Gbenda said. Gbenda is looking to make a decision before the summer. He does not have any spring official visits set at this time. At 6-foot, 212 pounds, Gbenda is ranked as the No. 12 inside linebacker in the country and No. 43 overall prospect in the state, per 247Sports Composite.

  5. Mike Roach: Texas makes big impression on four-star WR Dylan Wright

    The Texas coaches are prioritizing playmakers in the 2019 class. No athlete in the state of Texas fits the bill more than West Mesquite wide receiver Dylan Wright. A four-star prospect, Wright is one of the most dynamic receivers to come through the state in the last few years. The Longhorns offered Wright following his junior season, and they’ve been working hard to make sure they are in position to land his commitment. Wright returned to Austin last weekend to take in a Texas practice, and he came away impressed with the experience.

    “It was really fun,” Wright said. “It was just cold. I didn’t stay out there the whole scrimmage, but I saw them throw the ball around a lot. They got Brennan Eagles out there, and I can seem myself being like him. They’re training him real good.” Wright spent time on campus with Texas commit Jordan Whittington, and the two have formed a nice bond. Wright said that Whittington has been recruiting him. “We were talking about it,” Wright said. “We’re just trying to make moves.”

    Wright also spent time with Texas wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and that connection made a lasting impression. “I hung out with LJ,” Wright said. “He was telling me that whatever I saw was how it is. There ain’t nothing fake. I went to the meetings and saw how the coaches actually talked. Coach Drew (Mehringer) was talking how it was. There wasn’t nothing fake.”

    Wright stayed after practice and spent more time with Humphrey. Wright said he saw a lot of similarities in their personalities. “We hung out all day ‘til night time,” Wright said. “Me and him are exactly alike. I think we might be cousins or something. We’ve been through the same stuff. We were just catching up on life and a bunch of stuff like that.”

    Wright said that the visit solidified the Longhorns near the top of his list, but at the same time he’s planning on being patient with the process. “They are going up,” he said. “I’ve been there about three times now, but my mom is telling me to take my time, so I’m not trying to rush it.” At 6-foot-3, 192 pounds, Wright is ranked as the No. 31 wide receiver in the nation and No. 25 overall prospect in Texas, according to 247Sports Composite.

    Quote

    Mike Roach: "Based on how I think Texas has the [remaining WR targets] of the guys left on the board: 1) Dylan Wright 2) Garrett Wilson 3) Jake Smith 4) Elijah Higgins"

     

  6. Spring Practice Report - 4/10/18

     

    Another brief 15-minute practice didn't yield much info, but it did give us something. 
    OFFENSE (1st & 2nd): 

    QB: Sam, Shane
    RB: Young, Carter
    XWR: Collin Johnson, Brennan Eagles 
    Slot: Jerrod Heard, Humphrey 
    ZWR: Devin Duvernay, Davion Curtis
    TE: Beck, Leitao
    OL (left-to-right): Okafor-Vahe-Shack-ERod-Kerstetter (1st)
    Cosmi-Rison-ERod-Imade-Urquidez (2nd)

    Noteworthy: Today we saw a little 1's and 2's on air. Mostly zone read, and blocking schemes. After that, they broke into position groups and worked on more blocking techniques. At QB, Beck and Herman took turns with the passers. Ehlinger threw well, but the balls had a tendency to sail. Buechele threw good, but you can tell the non-boundary deep ball just isn't his toss. Rising spits bullets, almost too hard. Thompson looks more comfortable out of the pocket than in the pocket. That's not a surprise for a true freshman. 

    At RB, coach Drayton brought over the one-man blocking sled and the tailbacks took turns in their technique. Young is incredibly aggressive and strong. Carter's effort is there. When he hits a hole during team, he's like lightning. But during blitz pickup, there's a lot to be desired. At WR, Lil Jordan Humphrey might not be the biggest of fastest, but he's the best. He just doesn't drop balls and his body control is elite for someone 6-foot-5. Johnson and Duvernay had nice grabs as well. Curtis continues to grow, and Eagles continues to go through growing pains. At OL, Vahe is the meanest. Kerstetter looks like the best prospect. Shack looks like Shack. Okafor is looking better and better, love his growth. And Rodriguez continues to be the Swiss army knife. 

    DEFENSE (1st & 2nd):

    DL: Hager-Nelson-Omenihu
    Rover: Roach
    Mac: Wheeler
    Safeties at LOS: Bonney and Brown, at deep: Jones and Sterns
    CB: Kris Boyd and Davante Davis

    DL: Bimage-Graham-Chisholm
    Rover: DeMarco Boyd and Dele
    Mac: McCulloch and Dele 
    Safeties at LOS: Brown and Durst, at deep: Foster and Hank Coutoumanos (walk-on)
    CB: Cook and Boyce 

    Noteworthy: PJ Locke wasn't seen at practice today, will likely not return this spring, per Herman. Josh Thompson was back in a green jersey. We'll check for an update on him. At DL, the trio of Van Hager, Nelson, and the Omen continue to run the show. TaQuon Graham continues to impress. His combination of size, speed, and strength is one of the best stories out of spring camp. At LB, with Gary Johnson on the shelf, Ayodele and Boyd continue to get reps at rover. 

    At CB, the back-pedal drill got some of the team's top corners. Boyd tripped once, Boyce twice, Davante went through effortlessly, and Anthony Cook looks like a damn junior. He plays in 2018. At safety, with PJ out, Caden Sterns ran with the 1's. Chris Brown got some 1st team reps as well, with Bonney at nickel (Thompson in green). On Special Teams, Jerrod Heard and Devin Duvernay were returning punts.

    • Like 6
  7. E.J. Holland: 10 observations from Adidas Nationals

    1. Best WR in the state — After watching Garrett Wilson’s film and based on my in-person evaluation, I felt comfortable saying he was the best wide receiver in the state this recruiting cycle. This weekend only justified my stance. On a field loaded with elite level prospects, it was Wilson that stood out from the pack. The four-star recruit led KB3 to a deep run in the tournament and made play after play. He runs smooth routes, has strong hands and can go up and get it. The dude is a monster and should compete for playing time as a true freshman wherever he lands.

    2. Next in line — Out of all the other Texas targets at the tournament, the recruit that impressed me the most was four-star Florida cornerback Jaden Davis. It’s easy to knock him for his size, but Davis makes up for it with his speed, natural cover skills and attitude. Davis was responsible for covering slot receivers and shut down even the quickest at the position. That transitions to field when the pads are on, so he might very well be the best slot cornerback in the country.

    3. Thoughts on Watson — I came away very impressed with four-star Grayson (GA) defensive back Kenyatta Watson II. While he is listed as a safety, I agree with Texas that he is a better fit for cornerback at the next level. In the three games that I watched, Watson gave up just one catch. He frustrated opposing wide receivers with his length and athleticism. Watson is a perfect tall corner, and he has some impressive speed and hips for his size. Yes, he can play safety — he saw some time there during the tournament — but again, his biggest upside is at corner.

    4. Man of Steele — It was hard to get a true evaluation of five-star St. John Bosco (Calif.) cornerback Chris Steele. He spent most of his time at safety during the tournament and didn’t let anything get behind him. When he did line up at cornerback, Steele showed off his elite level technique, footwork and hips. He can keep working on his speed, but other than that, it appears he checks all the boxes. Steele also brings a high football IQ to the table, and he isn’t afraid to get physical.

    5. True slot take — While Texas already has a commitment from Jordan Whittington, the Longhorns would still like to add a true slot receiver this cycle. The top priority is Notre Dame Prep (AZ) product Jake Smith, who was extremely impressive for a short-handed State 48 team. Smith has blazing speed, is electric with the ball in his hands and brings good height/length at the position. Smith was one of the players I was most excited to see against elite competition, and he passed the eyeball test.

    6. Definitely a WR — There have been a lot of talks about Elijah Higgins possibly moving to tight end. However, there is no doubt in my mind that he’s a wide receiver right now. Higgins is super athletic, can jump out of the gym and brings deceptive speed to the table. Higgins proved difficult to cover over the middle and made plays after the catch. He’s a monster in the red zone and came away with a number of eye-popping grabs. He should be just fine if he doesn’t add more weight.

    7. Evaluating more Cali recruits — This was my first look at a pair of Texas offers out in California in four-star cornerback Mykael Wright and three-star linebacker Spencer Lytle. I wasn’t as impressed with Wright as I was with any of the defensive backs mentioned above. He is a mid-low four-star prospect in my eyes based on what I saw on the field (of course, I haven’t seen him in-game). He plays well from a technical standpoint, but there wasn’t much that really popped about him. Lytle is a thumper on the field, but he didn’t excel in this setting. He needs to keep working on his speed and coverage ability.

    8. Elite 2020 recruit — Texas has already put an offer on the table for four-star 2020 defensive back Dwight McGlothern, and rightfully so. After all, McGlothern still has a ton of upside and is already an elite level player in the secondary. McGlothern notched four interceptions throughout the tournament and showed off his natural cover skills and instincts. He is long and athletic but is still raw from a fundamental standpoint. Depending on how much he grows, McGlothern might transition to safety, but right now, I like him at corner.

    9. Should Texas offer Young? — Texas has yet to extend an offer to a quarterback in the 2020 class. But the Longhorns are taking a had look at Mater Dei (Calif.) quarterback Bryce Young, the nation’s top 2020 dual-threat quarterback. Young was one of the more impressive signal-callers at the tournament. He has a strong arm, is extremely accurate and can make all the throws. He is a perfect scheme fit for Tom Herman’s offense. The only drawback is his frame. Young really does need to bulk up.

    10. Potential offers — Texas is taking a look at some California recruits in the 2019 class, including four-star wide receiver Braedin Huffman-Dixon. He had a good showing overall and appears deserving of a scholarship. He’s a smooth route runner and has solid speed for his size. Four-star cornerback Max Williams is also on the radar, but his height is a real concern. Ex-UCLA safety commit Jordan Patterson is an intriguing prospect. He could grow into a linebacker or stick at strong safety if he improves his hips and speed.

  8. 19 hours ago, Machinator said:

    IT Practice Notes

      Reveal hidden contents

     

    By: IT Staff

    After catching up with multiple sources we'll bullet point you some takeaways from today's effort.

    -- We'll start with some bad news. There was a scary moment when PJ Locke got hurt. They stabilized him but are still trying to figure out the severity. He was moving all limbs. As a precaution the staff then pulled some starters in place of walk-ons.

    -- If Locke is out for some time (which seems likely) Caden Sterns and BJ Foster will compete for first team status. The book on them is Sterns is really smart and Foster is really athletic. As we know, Sterns also has good athleticism and BJ is instinctive and natural.

    -- Per a couple of sources, LJH, LJH, LJH! He was getting open all day and really excelled in the two minute drill. He and Sam Ehlinger are building quite the bond. Humphrey did have a couple of drops "but overall he made players miss in the open field, went up between two defenders and got the ball....just the best wide receiver hands down." Despite being suspended for the bowl game LJH is still a coach favorite because he's smart and coachable.

    -- Brennan Eagles struggled with the drops today. Not sure if it was due to the cold or what but he had a tough go of it.

    -- Per a couple of sources, Devin Duvernay is coming on. He had a 30-yard touchdown on Kris Boyd where Boyd lost track of the ball. People are thinking Duvernay is leaning towards staying.

    -- Tight end Andrew Beck fared well today. He's moving as well as ever and also had a 30 yard touchdown. The tight ends are being targeted much more than last year which should come as no surprise.

    -- Collin Johnson has been up and down but he made some tough catches over the middle of the field.

    -- Davion Curtis had a productive day especially in the screen game. He had a couple of 10 yard plays on balls thrown behind the line of scrimmage. His speed showed. He was a bit hamstrung working with the freshmen quarterbacks who are still feeling the rush far too soon. He got open versus Anthony Cook, Davante Davis, and Kobe Boyce.

    -- The young quarterbacks love to tuck and run the ball. When they're going live action they tend to hesitate and lose track of their reads and then just pull the ball down. It's to be expected.Casey Thompson looks especially comfortable running read option, however, and we continue to hear positives about his athleticism. Though he was known as a dual-threat perhaps he was underrated as an athlete.

    -- Anthony Cook continues to impress with his effort and mindset. "He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He has a swagger about him like Kris Boyd."

    -- The offense got the better of the defense during the two minute drill. The first team offense was 3/4 on getting points during that portion of practice. I'm not sure how dialed up the defensive calls were, however.

    -- With Gary Johnson out, Demarco Boyd has been seeing more action and he isn't afraid to mix it up. He's laid some big hits.

    -- It's possible the offensive line is improving but not necessarily showing it because of the defensive line. "Hager, Charles O. and Taquonare beasts up front. I mean they are going to wreck shop on people." Previously we mentioned Graham as coming on so it's good to hear that more from a different source.

    -- We're still making calls and messages to gather more, specifically about the offensive line. We'll have more details in the Scoop.

    I hope PJ Locke is OK.

     

    That was one of the worst attempts to say something positive about O-line I've ever seen. "It's totally possible that our O-line is good, despite the evidence my own eyes are feeding me, and we just can't tell because of how amazeballs our 3-man front is". Not to mention Gary Johnson isn't even practicing. 

    Guess we'll just have to wait until Calvin Anderson shows up in May.

  9. Mike Roach: Recruiting notes from Under Armour Dallas check-in

    -Four-star West Mesquite wide receiver Dylan Wright raved about his visit to Texas yesterday. The Under Armour All-American said that he spent a lot of time with Jordan Whittington and Lil’Jordan Humphrey. Wright got to Austin early and did not leave until late. Texas was already surging in his recruitment, and the visit solidified their spot near the top of his list. Arkansas seems to be the main competition for his services at this time.

    -Four-star center Branson Bragg said that his visit during Texas relays was a big success. He was able to observe practice and offensive meetings. Bragg said he wants to return during the spring to spend some more one-on-one time with Herb Hand to discuss his vision for Bragg. Bragg is planning on making a visit to Texas A&M as well, but Texas and Stanford appear to be the front runners.

    -Four-star safety Jalen Catalon gushed about a recent visit to Texas and his relationship with Craig Naivar. Catalon visited a Texas baseball game while he was there, and he said the opportunity to play both sports is very enticing to him. Catalon said that Texas is in his group of top schools, and they will for sure make his Top 5. Clemson and Arkansas are still threats, but Texas is looking good here.

    -Four-star Camden (Ark.) Fairview offensive lineman Stacey Wilkins named Texas in a group of top schools along with TCU, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Wilkins cited his respect for Herb Hand and the way the Texas program celebrated his Polynesian heritage. Wilkins is planning a return trip to Austin in the spring, and he said he might make it for the Texas spring game.

    -Four-star Aledo ATH Jeff Carter said that he stays in touch with Texas cornerback coach Jason Washington, and he’s planning an official visit during the fall. Carter also mentioned Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC as schools standing out for him at the moment. Texas has a chance to make a good impression with their official visit, but there is ground to make up.

    -Four-star Nolan Catholic DE/OLB NaNa Osafo-Mensah is excited for his upcoming official visit to Texas. Osafo-Mensah is planning to drop a Top 2 this week and focus mostly on those schools. OSafo-Mensah mentioned his relationship with Oscar Giles and Texas offensive lineman Tope Imade as things that stand out about the Longhorns.

    -Four-star Texas A&M commit Demani Richardson said that he stays in contact with Texas safety coach Craig Naivar. While Richardson was a possibility to visit during the spring, he said that his commitment to Texas A&M is firm, and that he’s not really planning any visits at this time.

    -Four-star 2020 Duncanville ATH Ja’Quinden Jackson said that Texas is very appealing to him. Jackson named the Texas offer as one he wanted his entire life, and he said he would like to make a visit during the summer. Jackson recently picked up a string of big offers, so he’s taking things slow for the time being. Jackson did mention Texas assistant receiver coach Rashaad Samples as a positive link for the Longhorns. Samples’ father Reggie is the head coach at Duncanville.

    -Four-star 2020 Duncanville safety Chris Thompson also mentioned Rashaad Samples as a factor. Thompson said that Samples is like a big brother to him, and he’s just one of many reasons that Thompson is interested in the Longhorns. Thompson maintains that no schools are in the lead, and he’s in the process of taking visits and evaluating his options. Thompson is a maybe for the Texas spring game.

    -Four-star 2020 Aledo RB Jase McClellan is still committed to Oklahoma, but he’s also evaluating some other schools. McClellan mentioned Texas as a school he’s interested in seeing, and he said he wanted to attend the spring game so that he could get a better idea of their entire offense.

    -Four-star 2020 Hebron safety Darius Snow said that his recent visits to Texas have been very good. The jumbo safety prospect, mentioned a strong relationship with Craig Naivar, and an overall family feeling with Texas. Snow will continue to take things slowly and evaluate his options in the early part of his recruitment.

  10. Another one of prime Federer's matches, this time his 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-1 win over Andy Roddick in the final of the 2006 U.S. Open. Roddick played well, but nothing he could really do even with the crowd firmly in his corner.

     

  11. Mike Roach: Recruiting tidbits from Pylon 7v7 Houston

    - Four-star defensive back Erick Young is in the process of narrowing down his top schools. The Fort Bend Bush safety said that he knows for sure that Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Alabama will make it. Texas, LSU and Georgia are the three schools vying for the final two spots. Young said that he likes the energy of Texas coach Craig Naivar, and he feels he could be successful in the Texas scheme.

    - Young’s teammate Jamal Morris is also in the process of making his decision. Morris plans to visit Oklahoma next week for their spring game, and he’s planning an official visit to Austin on May 5th. While Morris has a great relationship with Naivar, the feeling is that Oklahoma holds the edge. Morris plans to take his official visits, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him to shut things down if things go well on his official to Oklahoma.

    - Five-star Tulsa (Ok.) Booker T. Washington safety Daxton Hill is fielding offers from nearly every school in the country. Hill is still hearing from Texas regularly, and he said he plans to visit sometime during the summer. Texas is on the outside looking in here, but if they get him on campus they could make a move his list.

    - 2020 Round Rock wide receiver Collin Sullivan is taking things slowly in his recruitment. While the Longhorns have yet to offer, Sullivan stays in contact with Texas coaches Tim Beck and Drew Mehringer. Sullivan plans to attend the Texas spring game, and he’s hoping that an offer is in his future.

    - 2019 New Caney ATH Gerome Henry plans to attend the Texas spring game as well. Henry did not play varsity ball last season because the UIL ruled him ineligible after transferring. Henry can play defensive back, but he’s also a dangerous slot receiver. He’s recently been in contact with Texas coach Corby Meekins, who invited him to the game.

  12. First day of Davis Cup quarterfinals action saw Nadal and Zverev defeat Ferrer and Kohlschreiber, respectively. Series is level at 1-1. Also, Nadal has broken the record for most consecutive Davis Cup wins (singles and doubles combined) in history with 23.

     

  13. Greg Powers: Top prospects set to attend Under Armour Dallas

    QUARTERBACK

    Top Rated Pro-Style: Jacob Clark (779, 247Sports Composite Ranking) | Top-Rated Dual-Threat: Grant Tisdale (316) | 2020 Prospect to Watch: Ja'Quinden Jackson (*49, all 2020 rankings reflect rankings by 247Sports) | Sleeper to Watch: Suddin Sapien (NR)

    Allen (Texas) quarterback Grant Tisdale led the Eagles to a state title in 2017 and will enter the event fresh off of his commitment to Ole Miss. Rockwall (Texas) High's Jacob Clark is a big 6-foot-5 thrower with a plus arm and frame and some Power Five Conference offers to his credit. The underclass unit will be strong. Duncanville (Texas) athlete Ja'Quinden Jackson could play a number of positions on the next level and Weatherford (Texas) four-star Ken Seals is a prospect rising. Cedar Hill (Texas) Trinity Christian freshman Shedeur Sanders is a name to note as well, he is the son of Deion Sanders.

    RUNNING BACK

    Top-Rated RB: Titus Swen (231) | 2020 Prospect to Watch: Jase McClellan (*56) | Sleeper to Watch: Andrew Henry (669)

    Swen is a four-star rated running back from Haslet (Texas) Eaton, who is versatile and athletic enough to also play defensive back. McClellan is a 5-foot-10, 198-pounder from Aledo (Texas) who is already verbally committed to the Oklahoma Sooners. King Doerue, a 5-foot-11, 197-pound running back from Amarillo (Texas) Tascosa has been picking up major offers at an alarming rate with schools like Arkansas, Baylor, Nebraska, TCU, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech stepping up. Darrin Smith from Frisco (Texas) Lone Star and Andrew Henry from Allen (Texas) will be mismatch nightmares for the linebackers.

    WIDE RECEIVERS

    Top-Rated WR: Theo Wease (31) | Top-Rated TE: Austin Stogner (102) | 2020 Prospect to Watch: Marvin Mims (*130) | Sleeper to Watch: Kennedy Lewis (776)

    The wide receiver versus defensive back one-on-one match-ups will be fun to watch because both units will boast top-level talent. Allen (Texas) phenom Theo Wease will be hard to stop as will Top247 talents like Lewisville (Texas) Hebron's Trejan Bridges and West Mesquite's Dylan Wright. Oklahoma tight end commit Austin Stogner from Plano (Texas) Prestonwood Christian Academy leads the tight end unit and is already selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game.

    OFFENSIVE LINE

    Top-Rated OT: Stacey Wilkins (340) | Top-Rated OG/OC: Branson Bragg (298) | 2020 Prospect to Watch: Jake Majors (632) | Sleeper to Watch: Steve Carter (NR)

    Coming in from Camden (Ark) Fairview will be 6-foot-7, 280-pound offensive tackle Stacey Wilkins who has offers from schools like Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas among others. Crandall (Texas) interior lineman Branson Bragg just released his top eight: Texas A&M, Texas, Stanford, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Michigan State, LSU and Arkansas. Leading the underclass unit in the rankings is early four-star Jake Majors from Prosper (Texas).

    DEFENSIVE LINE

    Top-Rated SDE: Taurean Carter (725) | Top-Rated WDE: Shemar Pearl (573) | Top-Rated DT: Gabriel Hall (783) | 2020 Prospect to Watch: DT Camron Jackson (*192) | Sleeper to Watch: WDE Vershaud Richardson (1242)

    The defensive line group features a great mix of talent. Mansfield (Texas) Legacy strongside end Taurean Carter blends power with athleticism. Plano (Texas) West prospect Shemar Pearl is an excellent edge rusher who already has an offer from Alabama and others. 2020 prospect Camron Jackson will be coming in from Haynesville (La.) and he is already regarded as one of the top prospects in the country. Alabama has  an early edge with him in the 247Sports Crystal Ball. 

    LINEBACKER

    Top-Rated LB: Marcel Brooks (107) | 2020 Prospect to Watch: Graham Faloona (NR) | Sleeper to Watch: Gabriel Murphy (678)

    The linebacker unit will be one to watch as Marcel Brooks from Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus is one of the top-rated players in the country and has announced a top two of Alabama and LSU. NaNa Osafo-Mensah from Fort Worth (Texas) Nolan Catholic is versatile enough to work out at linebacker or defensive end. Notre Dame holds a firm advantage in the 247Sports Crystal Ball for him, but Texas is trending up.

    DEFENSIVE BACKS

    Top-Rated CB: Jeffery Carter (138) | Top-Rated Safety: Brian Williams (13) | 2020 Prospect to Watch: S Darius Snow (*46) | Sleeper to Watch: CB Brandon Crossley (NR)

    Aledo (Texas) cornerback Jeffery Carter is a Top247 recruit who plays with an edge. He will be a head turner. Texas A&M safety commit Brian Williams from Dallas (Texas) Bishop Dunne is a five-star and the No. 1 safety nationally per the 247Sports Composite and he will be joined by fellow Texas A&M commit Demani Richardson. After playing in a seven-on-seven event 2020 Top 100 member Darius Snow will be there to work out. This group is absolutely loaded, so there are number of talents to watch out for like Lewis Cine, who recently moved to Texas.

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  14. Mike Roach: Longhorns to host state's top ranked offensive tackle

    The Texas staff has been on a hot streak of hosting big name prospects during spring practice. The streak will continue this weekend as the Longhorns enter the home stretch of spring. Four-star wide receiver Dylan Wright is already slated to be on campus, and today Conroe Oak Ridge Offensive Tackle Tyler Johnson announced via twitter that he intends to be in Austin as well.

    A four-star prospect, Johnson is one of the top targets on the Texas board. The Longhorns are considered to be in the drivers' seat for him, so a return trip is certainly a positive. Johnson has no date set for his announcement, but Texas could extend their lead for him with a strong visit experience. At 6-foot-5, 308 pounds, Johnson is ranked as the No. 5 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 5 overall prospect in Texas, according to 247Sports Composite.

  15. Horns247 Recruiting Mailbag: Can Texas close with top OL targets?

     

    I long for the days when we had an elite offensive line. When our OL controlled the line, the receivers looked better. The running backs looked better. The quarterbacks looked better. Even the water tasted better. Do you expect this recruiting class to be a big step in that direction? -- OrangeIsNewBlack

    EJ: We had a lot of questions about offensive line recruiting this week. So let me just address things big picture. Herb Hand was an upgrade as a recruiter at the position. Every target I’ve talked to has said nothing but good things about him as a recruiter and a coach. I believe he has what it takes to land the elite of the elite at the position. And it’s showing early. Texas is the frontrunner for Tyler Johnson and is a top three school for the likes of Branson Bragg, Stacey Wilkins, Javonne Shepherd and Kenyon Green. Hand has reshaped the recruitments of Shepherd and Green and once he gets some 1-on-1 time with Bragg, I feel like the Longhorns will retake the momentum there. Hand is more than capable of brining in an impressive haul this cycle. By the way, I love Orange Is The New Black.

    Mike: EJ said it best. We’ve yet to see how he coaches and develops here, but the early recruiting returns on Hand are impressive.

    Who are the guys that you are close to putting in a crystal ball for Texas? And how close are you for each one? -- iits_JeremyP

    EJ: Well, we both just put in Crystal Ball picks for four-star wide receiver Dylan Wright. He was definitely the closest earlier in the week. But obviously, that pick is in. I would say I’m pretty close to putting in one for Louisiana athlete Makiya Tongue. He loved his recent visit, and I’m continuing to hear that the Longhorns have the inside track. His return visit is going to be huge. I wouldn’t say I’m really close on any other recruits. I’ve considered putting in picks for Rian Davis (he loves UT and will visit soon) and Javonne Shepherd (UT is building steam and it would fire up my Twitter mentions, which I enjoy).

    Mike: Dylan Wright would have been the simple answer, but like EJ said, we’ve already done that. I think one player EJ didn’t mention that I’m close on is Jalen Catalon. It’s going to be a tough fight with some other schools, but I feel like Craig Naivar is doing a stellar job in that recruitment. Depending on how his official goes, I think we could be close to putting one in for NaNa Osafo-Mensah. It’s amazing what Texas has done in just a short period of time.

    Are we going to be heavy players for Jermaine Johnson and Lakia Henry? Is there any huge JUCO offensive tackle out there that we are showing interest in? I was sick when we lost Badara Traore to the Cajuns. -- UTwildcatter34

    EJ: Yes, I do believe Texas will be major players with both. Henry has been in constant communication with the staff and wants to make a visit to UT this summer. While he didn’t play with Gary Johnson, the Texas linebacker went to his junior college and will be involved in his recruitment. Johnson was really excited about the Texas offer when he got it last month. He’s pegged to UCLA right now, but a visit to Texas could change things. And he does plan to visit Austin in the summer. As far as JUCO offensive tackles go, that's not a route they are currently exploring.

    Mike: As we’ve seen with this staff, don’t count them out when they get kids on campus. Todd Orlando usually makes a lasting impact with prospects like Henry, and Texas should be in it. Alabama will be tough to beat, but Texas has a scheme and need they can sell.

    Is Texas A&M or Alabama the more serious threat for Demarvin Leal? -- HD4evr

    EJ: Can we please get you a new username!? Seriously man, if you want a change, I can make it happen. Hope you’re enjoying the coverage here. Anyway, I believe Texas A&M is the bigger threat. The Aggies are pushing and will likely get him on campus in the near future. However, I think Texas has a clear advantage in this one. The Longhorns have impressed him on both of his offseason visits, and the staff has won over his mother. I feel like Oscar Giles will finally close on a monster fish.

    Mike: As much as Alabama is appetizing to defensive linemen, I’ve always gotten the vibe from Leal that he will stay close. I think it will be between Texas and A&M, but EJ and I both feel Texas is in the lead.

    How do you feel about the Texas’ chances with Makiya Tongue and Chester Kimbrough from Louisiana? -- Racer X

    EJ: As I mentioned above, I’m really close to putting in a pick for Tongue. With another successful trip, the Longhorns might be able to reel him in. It’s a little bit of a different story with Kimbrough. Right now, I am hearing that Florida is the team to beat in his recruitment. Texas, however, is under strong consideration and should receive a visit at some point this offseason.

    Mike: A key Louisiana source recently told me that Kimbrough’s recruitment is pretty wide open, but that Florida held the early edge. It was no surprise to see the Crystal Ball move their way in the last few weeks. Texas simply needs to get him on campus and then we will have a better idea where he stands. I’ve been told they might get an official.

    Is Maninoa Tufono considering Texas very highly at all? Saw some positive Twitter interaction. -- vinnyC40

    EJ: He will remain a long shot until he makes his way to campus. But he’s taking a harder look at Texas thanks to the commitment of DeGabriel Floyd. The two are friends, and I’ve been told Tufono really respects Floyd. If the Longhorns can get him in for a visit, things could get serious. For now, UT remains on the outside looking in.

    Mike: As is the case with many of these out-of0state guys, you have to get them on campus. Once they do that, they become much more serious contenders. If they could get him on campus with Floyd, you never know what could happen.

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