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Week 6, 2023: Red River shootout.


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Mike Craven: From Brahma to Longhorn: Jonathon Brooks remains a bell cow
 

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The zenith of Brooks’ powers as the bell cow for the Brahmas came in the state semifinal game against Llano when the three-star prospect who was already pledged to Texas ran for 304 yards and six touchdowns while also returning one of his two interceptions for a score in a 53-28 victory. 

“Jonathon Brooks was no joke. At the Class 3A level, it wasn’t fair,” Llano head coach Matt Green said this week. Green also coached against Texas high school legends – and Longhorns – Gray and Malcolm Brown. “I looked at like, ‘I’ve coached against those guys and there is no way he is even in their league,’ and boy was I wrong. He was a different type of back than they were, but he was every bit as good.” 

 

text:

Spoiler

From Brahma to Longhorn: Jonathon Brooks remains a bell cow

Mike Craven
6–8 minutes

The people least surprised about Texas running back Jonathon Brooks’ success over the last month of the college football season are the high school head coaches he faced en route to an historic 2020 campaign that ended in the Class 3A Division I state title game. 

Brooks ran for a staggering 3,530 yards – the seventh-most all-time in a single season in Texas high school football – and 62 touchdowns as a senior at Hallettsville High School in 2020. His 70 total touchdowns that season ranks second in Texas high school history behind Aledo’s Johnathan Gray in 2011. Brooks was named Mr. Texas Football for the 2020 season.  

The zenith of Brooks’ powers as the bell cow for the Brahmas came in the state semifinal game against Llano when the three-star prospect who was already pledged to Texas ran for 304 yards and six touchdowns while also returning one of his two interceptions for a score in a 53-28 victory. 

“Jonathon Brooks was no joke. At the Class 3A level, it wasn’t fair,” Llano head coach Matt Green said this week. Green also coached against Texas high school legends – and Longhorns – Gray and Malcolm Brown. “I looked at like, ‘I’ve coached against those guys and there is no way he is even in their league,’ and boy was I wrong. He was a different type of back than they were, but he was every bit as good.” 

The 2020 Class 3A Division I title game against Jim Ned was a rematch of a regular season game that ironically took place in Llano. Jim Ned head coach knew Brooks was a different breed on the first play of that regular season game. Brooks was also a starting cornerback for Hallettsville. 

“We threw a stop route on him. He ran up, picked up our receiver, took the ball from him, threw him to the ground, and then ran for a touchdown,” Matt Fanning remembered. “We looked at each on the sideline like, ‘woah.’ 

“You could see on film how fast he was and that he had great vision and lateral movement. You couldn’t judge how strong he was with the ball in his hands. That kid was stout.” 

Brooks ran for 206 yards and two touchdowns, while adding that famed interception return for a touchdown, in the regular season loss to Jim Need. He broke a Class 3A state championship record with 299 yards rushing in the 29-28 overtime loss to Jim Ned in the championship game. He won Offensive MVP despite the defeat. 

Brooks scored a go-ahead touchdown to start overtime before Jim Need marched in for a touchdown to seemingly tie the game and go into double overtime. Instead, Fanning went for a two-point conversion and Jim Ned converted to win the game. 

“Brooks was a huge factor in that decision,” Fanning said. “If we kick the extra point, we’re going to see him run the ball eight times to get 20 yards and we won’t stop him.” 

Hallettsville head coach Tommy Psencik knew 10 years earlier that Brooks was a generational talent. As a second grader, Brooks first captured Psencik’s attention before a varsity football game when the head coach was watching a group of young elementary school kids play some pickup football off to the side of the stadium. A scene that plays out at hundreds of varsity games across the Lone Star State every Friday night. 

“He was untouchable,” Psencik said of the second-grade version of Brooks. “I guess it was very similar to what we see now but in a smaller body. He’s always had the peripheral vision. He’s a natural.” 

Brooks cruised through a few junior varsity games as a freshman before Psencik and his assistants faced reality and moved Brooks to varsity after a few games. He had proven enough to his coaches, but Brooks still had doubters – the upperclassmen. The older, experienced players wanted to make an example of Brooks. Hallettsville held competition drills in warmups, including one where two combatants lay on their backs, rise, and then try to pin the other. Brooks stepped up against a junior and whooped him, Psencik remembered. 

“Jon pinned him twice in a row, no problem,” Psencik said. “He made sure to set the tone for his ability and showed his fight, and that he would fight.” 

Brooks wasn’t the star in his first two seasons on varsity. Sound familiar, Texas fans? 

He busted onto the scene as a third-year player when he rushed for 2,144 yards and 38 touchdowns in 14 games. In his final two seasons at Hallettsville, Brooks posted 5,674 yards and 100 touchdowns as a rusher alone. He also scored touchdowns as a receiver and defender. Brooks was even an accomplished punter. Psencik, who coached Shane Lechler at East Bernard, thought Brooks had Sunday potential with his leg. 

Brooks wasn’t a big-time recruit despite the Texas commitment. He wasn’t a four- or five-star prospect. He wasn’t invited to the national all-star showcase events. He didn’t receive much fanfare or attention. After all, Texas had star running backs in Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. 

Brooks played his part and took advantage of the rare opportunity. He ran 21 times for 143 yards and one touchdown in four appearances as a freshman in 2021. He played in seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2022, scoring five touchdowns on 30 carries. His first big game was against Kansas when he rushed for over 100 yards, including a 70-yard score, in a blowout win. 

Carries were supposed to get easier for Brooks to find as a sophomore in the 2023 season with Robinson and Johnson off to the NFL. But at Texas, new players with pedigree are always entering the fray. The newest version was five-star running back C.J. Baxter, who arrived in the spring of 2023 and started for the Longhorns in the opener against Rice. 

Brooks didn’t sulk. Or quit. Or transfer. He put his head down and waited for an opportunity – and then he took it. Brooks iced the game against Alabama in Week 2. He followed that up with three consecutive 100-yard performances, including over 200 yards in the win over Kansas, ahead of a Week 6 clash against Oklahoma. He’s rushed for 597 yards and five touchdowns so far. He’s on pace to top 1,400 yards in the regular season. 

Most of us knew Brooks was good. Nobody thought Brooks was this good. Well, except for those high school coaches. Green and Fanning said that they’ve never faced someone as dominant as Brooks. He was an All-State Class 6A caliber player placed into 3A football because of where he grew up. Now, he’s making FBS defenders look like those guys from Llano and Jim Ned. 

“I thought then that he was a Sunday player then and I feel even better about it now,” Fanning said of Brooks’ potential. “You didn’t stop him. You just tried to take advantage of it when he was tired.” 

 

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I've watched about half of the Ikard/Lehman videos this year, and they're generally really complimentary of this Texas team.  

They had a few critiques of Texas that are already widely acknowledged on this board:  our safeties don't have great foot speed, neither does Watts.  Also, the Texas ends are not elite pass rushers.

But they had some extended commentary on Quinn that seemed pretty homerish and absurd:  Gabriel is the better QB.  Quinn is the product of a system where Sark is the one getting guys open.  Quinn panics under pressure.  Quinn has average arm talent.  If they blitz Quinn early, he will come unglued.  The red-zone struggles at QB show how Quinn is limited.  

Sometimes what your critics say about you is true (slow safeties, average edge rushers), but they seemed like they went way over the top there.  I think the advanced metrics rate Quinn as elite on plays where he gets blitzed.  

I guess we'll see on Saturday.  

They also had some extended criticism of Kelvin Banks.  "Kansas really got after him."  You think we had a 200-yard rusher and 660 yards of offense (despite playing without our 2nd best offensive player) while our left tackle was getting dominated?  Hmmmm.  They also claim the OU LT is better than Banks.  Can't comment on that, because I haven't watched their guy, but I know Banks is pretty good, and that seems like nonsense.  Again, we'll see.  

I hope somebody shows it to Banks though.  

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19 minutes ago, PTINS said:

Their show after the Texas-Alabama Game.

"Number 11 Texas, went to #3 Alabama, and they whooped that ass! And we are Stupid, Stupid Idiots!"  - Ikard

"Um Hum! Um Hum! Um Hum!" - Lehman

Ikard & Lehman on Texas-Alabama

Okay. If they compliment Texas on Red-River-Shootout-week and the following week (when they get their asses ANNIHILATED), they get excommunicated.

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4 minutes ago, Paul Wesley said:

But they had some extended commentary on Quinn that seemed pretty homerish and absurd:  Gabriel is the better QB.  Quinn is the product of a system where Sark is the one getting guys open.  Quinn panics under pressure.  Quinn has average arm talent.  If they blitz Quinn early, he will come unglued.  The red-zone struggles at QB show how Quinn is limited.  

Sometimes what your critics say about you is true (slow safeties, average edge rushers), but they seemed like they went way over the top there.  I think the advanced metrics rate Quinn as elite on plays where he gets blitzed.  

I guess we'll see on Saturday. 

the gap between the two just isn't that big. here is some more recent stuff i happened to see on X

so if there is a small gap where Gabriel > Ewers, but Texas has the better coach doesn't that at the absolute worst even out? it's wild.

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12 minutes ago, NoName said:

the gap between the two just isn't that big. here is some more recent stuff i happened to see on X

so if there is a small gap where Gabriel > Ewers, but Texas has the better coach doesn't that at the absolute worst even out? it's wild.

Yeah, obviously Gabriel is really good.  
 

I’m fine with anyone thinking he’s better than Quinn. 
 

But “if you knock the shit out of him on every play, he’s less effective” is a “no shit” statement you could say about anyone in any sport.  
 

It’s the “Quinn panics” stuff that seems detached from the facts.   Also, he’s just a system guy with an average arm.  

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2 minutes ago, Rickylovesweed said:

OU really does know how to produce the douchiest QBs. Kyler, Baker, and now Gabriel. 

It makes me like Hurts even more. Somehow he broke the mold of being a complete douchebag. 

Yeah Hurts is aiight. The rest of 'em, esp BM, can EABOD.

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1 minute ago, gmr548 said:


$200.

Some bullshit honestly. The price on these has skyrocketed in the last 3-5 years. But of course I pay it.

I'd probably pay that if I coulld find it. Cheapest I'm seeing right now is $400 for shitty, shitty singles. I just can't justify that nonsense, even for the best regular season game in all of sports.

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1 minute ago, gmr548 said:


$200.

Some bullshit honestly. The price on these has skyrocketed in the last 3-5 years. But of course I pay it.

I bet it's the grand design by Bellmont to attempt to jam those people who sell their Mobilehoma tickets in order to pay for most or all of their Texas season tickets + Longhorn Foundation donation each year.

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2 minutes ago, wood said:

I'd probably pay that if I coulld find it. Cheapest I'm seeing right now is $400 for shitty, shitty singles. I just can't justify that nonsense, even for the best regular season game in all of sports.

I just saw $285 on a site.

https://www.vividseats.com/texas-longhorns-football-tickets-cotton-bowl-stadium-10-7-2023--sports-ncaa-football/production/4292496

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On 10/2/2023 at 3:54 PM, Ghost of LL said:

1) If you're not staying downtown, there are two surface lots at Pearl & Ross downtown.  Drive down there, park, and get on the DART from the Pearl Street station.  That's the last downtown station on the way to Fair Park, and the ride is less than 10 minutes.

If you're staying downtown, just walk to the nearest DART station.

2) You probably want to be at the Fair not later than 8:30.  Get your coupons immediately--the lines start to get long around 8:30.  Get your corn dog and wax-paper cup beer.

3) The State Fair has a good website with maps of the Fairgrounds.  I just go in for a corn dog and beer before the game--no need to upset the stomach too much before the stress of the game.  But if you want to stress your constitution with a deep-fried birria bomb, have at it.

4) Post-game, losers should depart as quickly as possible.  Winners own the Midway.

5) I go over to Craft & Growler across Parry Ave. from the Fair (right across from the DART station).  They have a great selection of beers, and there are plenty of televisions to watch the other games.  It makes good sense to have a couple beers over there while the crowds at the DART station die down.

 

I would just add to this, be sure that it is a FLETCHER's corn dog.  There are pale imitations.  

Also note that when we say DART, we do mean the train stations, as opposed to the bus stops.  Downtown, they are adjacent Pacific Ave in the central part, and veer northeast on the eastern end.

Edited by TwiceHorn
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Two mental clocks currently running in my head:

Each minute until I can leave the office and go home because this job fucking sucks donkey dick.

Each minute until Texas stomps a mud hole in those tweakers’ asses because they suck donkey dicks.

The rest of my meager brain power is divided up amongst BBQ, porn and estimating how many Amazon packages will be at the front door when I get home each day.

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12 minutes ago, BachelorTrek said:

I bet it's the grand design by Bellmont to attempt to jam those people who sell their Mobilehoma tickets in order to pay for most or all of their Texas season tickets + Longhorn Foundation donation each year.

What's funny is that I'd love to do the opposite of this even if it just meant that I could get Texas-ou tickets at face value and just make the rest of the money back by selling off my home tickets, even without a profit ... if I was confident that it would work. I think it might work in winning years like this one, but even then I have my doubts.

For me, Texas-ou is the only game that when I miss it & have to watch it on TV, it hurts.

Edited by wood
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6 minutes ago, Patricio Swayze said:

Two mental clocks currently running in my head:

Each minute until I can leave the office and go home because this job fucking sucks donkey dick.

Each minute until Texas stomps a mud hole in those tweakers’ asses because they suck donkey dicks.

The rest of my meager brain power is divided up amongst BBQ, porn and estimating how many Amazon packages will be at the front door when I get home each day.

You left out snek, unless that goes under the porn category.

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3 minutes ago, ATXhorn17 said:

After watching Venables press conference, I'm fully convinced that he's OU's Charlie Strong... Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but all appearances point to him being in over his head.

Vulnerables is Gary Gibbs.  Lulz.

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After watching Venables press conference, I'm fully convinced that he's OU's Charlie Strong... Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but all appearances point to him being in over his head.

Charlie Strong dominated a much better OU team in his second so I vote for another analogy this particular week.
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What's funny is that I'd love to do the opposite of this even if it just meant that I could get Texas-ou tickets at face value and just make the rest of the money back by selling off my home tickets, even without a profit ... if I was confident that it would work. I think it might work in winning years like this one, but even then I have my doubts.
For me, Texas-ou is the only game that when I miss it & have to watch it on TV, it hurts.

This. A big reason I originally got season tickets through the young alumni deal was subsidizing OU tickets. Hitting a couple home games and selling the rest would come out ahead of getting price gouged in Dallas and still attending a couple home games.

Now I earn more and keep them out of habit and convenience but the numbers generally don’t work like they used to, even though selling home tickets does better now.
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1 hour ago, Paul Wesley said:

But they had some extended commentary on Quinn that seemed pretty homerish and absurd:  Gabriel is the better QB.  Quinn is the product of a system where Sark is the one getting guys open.  Quinn panics under pressure.  Quinn has average arm talent.  If they blitz Quinn early, he will come unglued.  The red-zone struggles at QB show how Quinn is limited.  

Gabriel is really good and may be better.  He is also, and I'll check my math on this, in his 9th year in college football and 28 years old.  Quinn has barely played a full season of games.  He still has issues with sloppy footwork and inconsistent deep balls.  We know he has his limits right now.  

That said, if he's not as good as Gabriel (right now) but is more productive because of Sark, fine.  As far as I know, Sark plans on being in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday.

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18 minutes ago, Stringer said:

Gabriel is really good and may be better.  

He lights up really bad defenses and struggles against top 25ish defenses. 

In the last 2 years, Gabriel has played 6 games against top 35 defenses and he was pretty damn bad in 4 of those (SMU, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and TCU). 

 

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1 hour ago, gmr548 said:


Charlie Strong dominated a much better OU team in his second so I vote for another analogy this particular week.

Yes but if I recall, OU ran the Belldozer straight into our line all game.  We had zero answer for the spread us out and sling offenses in the league and for some reason OU tried to run QB zone read all game and we stuffed it.  I could be wrong on the year, but Stoops really effed that gameplan up

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2 hours ago, Paul Wesley said:

Yeah, obviously Gabriel is really good.  
 

I’m fine with anyone thinking he’s better than Quinn. 
 

But “if you knock the shit out of him on every play, he’s less effective” is a “no shit” statement you could say about anyone in any sport.  
 

It’s the “Quinn panics” stuff that seems detached from the facts.   Also, he’s just a system guy with an average arm.  

Average arm talent

 

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5 minutes ago, jdhorn92 said:

Yes but if I recall, OU ran the Belldozer straight into our line all game.  We had zero answer for the spread us out and sling offenses in the league and for some reason OU tried to run QB zone read all game and we stuffed it.  I could be wrong on the year, but Stoops really effed that gameplan up

Wrong year. You’re thinking of 2013. Strongs win came against Baker and Stoops

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2 hours ago, gmr548 said:


$200.

Some bullshit honestly. The price on these has skyrocketed in the last 3-5 years. But of course I pay it.

$135 on my 2017 ticket. 48% increase in six years.

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12 minutes ago, FirstTimeCaller said:

$135 on my 2017 ticket. 48% increase in six years.

To be fair it’s a borderline top 10 matchup with both undefeated. Not really comparable demand to a year we opened up losing to Maryland.

13 minutes ago, conVINCEd said:

I have no motivation to dig it up, but that throw doesn’t make Quinn’s top ten.

Oh definitely not

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Gabriel better than Quinn is defensible in that the former probably is better for the veer and shoot. Gabriel is better throwing the deep ball and that offense is highly reliant on it. In an offense like Sark’s (although he has curtailed the deep shots to fit Quinn’s strengths) where there is also a lot of value on quick delivery of short and intermediate throws, including opposite hash outs and crosses, I think Ewers is better suited. We all know who will go higher in the NFL draft.

The rest of that is dumb. Quinn can panic under pressure a bit but his passer rating when pressured is quite good and has shown the ability to adjust and improve over the course of a game this year. The no arm talent thing makes me worry about CTE.

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1 hour ago, Rickylovesweed said:

He lights up really bad defenses and struggles against top 25ish defenses. 

In the last 2 years, Gabriel has played 6 games against top 35 defenses and he was pretty damn bad in 4 of those (SMU, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and TCU). 

He was also bad at UCF, when facing teams that had equal defensive talent to his skill position players. He will turn the ball over, I pray they try to run him because he will get knocked out before half time.

Edited by HtownHorn
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2 hours ago, Rickylovesweed said:

This is what Gabriel did against top 25 defenses last year (per ESPN efficiency): 

2022 TCU: 7/16, 126 passing yards, DECAPITATED, 30 QBR. 

 

 

 

You left out my favorite stat. 

Edited by Chili dog
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