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At 5:14 PM today, our second daughter made her grand entrance into this world and officially made us parents of two! I’m happy to report that mom and little Mia are both healthy and recovering as I type this note. I’ll be a bit preoccupied in the interim, but I will be in and out periodically as I am able to get the family back home and settled. Until then, still feel free to send questions our way and I will try to get back to y’all as soon as I can!

Okay, spoke to my friend this evening. Lots of good stuff. – The recent run on commits is enabling the staff to circle back and revisit some other recruitments that most think/thought are lost. Namely White (LSU) and Jaxon (OSU) and another OSU commit named Ransom. All three are very much in play, despite the commitments. Staff is trying to get them in for visits. Ransom is a name I didn't expect to be on this list, but he is. – Two things he's very excited about . . BOTH lines. The OL is working more like a machine, mistakes are greatly reduced from the past years and we're moving people. The DL is young, feisty, and big. Coburn is a monster. We have big guys on the ends who can fly for their size. – Injuries are starting to worry staff. So far, damage is minimal but it could get worse. They will not change their practice intensity despite the injuries. – Said Casey Thompson is quietly coming along. Said he's not ready now, but isn't so far off. Encouraged by the improvement, just since camp began. – Junior Angilau is the talk of the OL. He outworks everybody and is sharp. Shows leadership. – I asked about our defense. He agreed that he thinks we do have our fastest defense is some time. But also said we're more experienced than some would think. He said just because they haven't started much doesn't mean they haven't gained experience. – Thinks we'll land another one this coming Friday. Thats it for now.

FWIW... and bear with me on this... Each week I receive the Forty Acres Insider from Chris Del Conte. I replied back to it the week after Iowa State with some constructive comments and suggestions about what CDC had written. My phone number was nowhere in my email. The next day my phone rings. I don't usually answer numbers I don't recognize (Robo calls and all.), but the number was 512.471.xxxx, which i recognized as the UT exchange, so I decided to pick up. I answer, "Hello." On the other end a man's voice says, "Can I speak to Bill?" I answer, "Who's calling... and why do you wanna speak to him?" The other man's voice says, "Bill, this is Chris Del Conte." I said, "Chris, give me a minute while I sit down. I'm shocked that you called me!" I then went on to say "But, I'm not that shocked knowing the type of person, or at least imagining the kind of person you are from everything I've listened to you say and read that you've written." He went on to say how disappointed he was at the last second loss to Iowa State. I commiserated and said, "Yeah, that was a very disappointing loss... and this has been a disappointing season, especially after the Sugar Bowl win last year." He went on to say, "Yea, I guess I need to learn to control my emotions." I said, "No Chris, don't control your emotions. Channel them. Guide them. That's what makes you who you are." We went on and talked for several more minutes. It's hard to inagine that the Athletic Director of the University of Texas would pick up the phone and call me. I am not a BMD, nor even a season ticket holder. I didn't even have my phone number in the email. He had to look in the UT database, find my number... and then dial me. I say all this because I truly think CDC is the Athletic Director Texas needs to keep advancing. I also think CDC will not let Texas back slide. I also think CDC will find... and give the support CTH needs to find the personnel we need, so the program advances. Yeah, this year has been disappointing, for sure. No denying that. I believe the important thing is not so much where we're standing now, but the direction we're moving. I choose to believe that we're about to be moving in a really good direction, that eventually will yield less disappointment and us experiencing more of what we had hoped this year would become. Hook 'em, Bill

What I like about this site is the quality of the posters. I'm on most Longhorn sites where I can bring out my alter ego asshole persona. And, believe me, posters on those sites will happily confirm this. I have little tolerance for arrogance and condescension from posters or mods and this is where I get into trouble. So this is the only site where I reveal what little behind the scenes info I get. For whatever it's worth.

Graham Harrell just started following a bunch of Texas recruits.

Hello everyone. I just popped in to say hello. Since my crazy ass haven't been in here in almost Coons age due to alot of personal issues family related I've been having to go through and having to work several weeks straight without a day off. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying your day. I'll be back later after work to pop in here and catch up on everything

Saw Herman speak today at a luncheon at the Headliners club here in Austin. He did say that we would make room for 1 more OL commit in 2020 and that those of us who follow recruiting would know who he's talking about.........meaning Lindberg. Just wanted to share since there's been a lot of speculation as to whether Karic's verbal means were done with 2020 OL recruiting.

CB for James Brockermeyer to Texas

Per 247, Stan Drayton texted multiple players last night to inform them he is staying at Texas.

View from the Cheap Seats-Utah Utes get TRUCKED in Longhorn Stampede In what was the most complete game in all 3 phases of the ball for TEXAS during Coach Tom Herman's 3 year tenure, the Horns absolutely destroyed a talented and well coached (well not New Year's Eve) #11 ranked Utah Utes. Keep in mind that had Utah beaten Oregon, they most likely take OU's spot in the CFP, with the exact same results. Coach Tom now 3-0 in bowl games, off to a better bowl game record than any coach in TEXAS history. And he's done it against some very stout competition. Many predicted TEXAS would get run out by Utah. Believe the line was 7.5, TEXAS covered by nearly 30. TEXAS' Defense was absolutely suffocating, shutting out Utah in the 1st half and only allowing a FG in the 3rd quarter. Coach Naivar showed the value of coaching, generating massive amounts of pressure while still running TEXAS base 3-3-5. Of course his big "tweak" was turning our LBs loose which completely disrupted the Utah O. Special teams were actually pretty special, lead by D'Shawn Jamison's 104 yards on 4 punt returns and our offense was both efficient as well as effective. Had you told us that both RBs would average over 8 yards per carry, we likely would not have believed it. Had you told us that Sam would not even attempt 20 passes, we likely would not have believed you. Of course had you told us this TEXAS team would dominate both sides of the ball, we likely would have laughed. Yet that is EXACTLY what TEXAS did. Opening the game with the type of big strike between Sam and Collin Johnson we expected to see all year. The tone was set early and the Horns simply kicked ass. It was interesting to see CTH slow down the O in the 2nd half and start milking clock in the 3rd quarter. Have to admit, damn nice to see both sides of our lines dominating the opposition. Joseph Ossai gets his own paragraph. The young man played the game of his early career and showed us for 4 quarters why so many are so excited. 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. As Louis Riddick (an announcer I like, the opposite of E Acho) commented, Utah's All Pac QB Tyler Hundley is going to have nightmares about Joseph Ossai for years to come. Cannot remember the last time a TEXAS defender so dominated a game. And it was great to see Ossai turned loose on the QB to disrupt our opponents offense. And a game where we only spotted one missed tackle, very refreshing to see. Cannot wait to see JO terrorize teams in 2020. Way too early projection, TEXAS enjoys the 3rd BixXII DL of the Year in the past 4 seasons. Offensive Player of the Game: Defensive Player of the Game Stats that matter The Future For the 3rd year in a row, a big bowl win propels optimism for the following season. This year brings the biggest changes on CTH's watch as he is replacing both co-ordinators and several position coaches. Like many HC's, CTH is a stubborn one and he waited too long jettisoning staff member who were either out of their depth or out right insubordinate. The biggest change will be seen on the defense as we are thankfully ditching the failed 3-3-5 model for a more traditional 4-3. This has already had a positive impact on recruiting D linemen as players who had us off their list, now have us back on. Hopefully it's not too little too late. Coach Ash brings a reputation for coaching players up, teaching fundamentals and getting the most out of his players. A welcome change from the past 3 seasons. The D will lose Brandon Jones and Malcom Roach as key starters from 2019 but should enjoy improved play with another year's worth of experience for a team that was young and showed it often this past season. Future is very exciting for on this side of the ball though CTH likely looks hard for another LB to add depth to a talented but thin group. On offense, Coach Y will use the same scheme as CTH, which frankly is a good thing. The O will need to replace our top 2 WRs including Mr 3rd Down Duvernay and a pair of offensive linemen but the player generating the most excitement for 2020 will be true freshman 5 star RB Bijion Robinson. Biggest question is whether any WR or combination of WRs can step up on replace what Devin Duvernay brought the table. Today he appears the most difficult player to replace. 2020 needs to be "the year" as Sam the Man will be a senior. Time for the no excuses tour to begin and the TEXAS season will largely be defined by 2 games, a trip to Baton Rouge to face a rebuilding/reloading LSU team then as always, facing off against the land thieves in the Red River War. Both opponents will be breaking in new QB and will lose a bunch to the NFL. The defensive play should be much improved but can the offense maintain consistency instead of floundering down the stretch in 2019? The CO changes were needed and not sure CTH could have landed a better pair to step in and improve the team. CTH did an excellent job keeping the bulk of the recruiting class at home but we lost some guys who would have driven this class higher. Based on the new COs and the way the bowl game went, we're projecting CTH lassos 2-3 "surprise" recruits in addition to some guys who already have TEXAS high and will not sign until Feb. No idea whom though a grad transfer/JUCO OL and LB would be welcome. Don't place too much stock in "team ranking" at this point as TEXAS only has 17 commits (all signed early) but measured by "average star ranking" (quality not quantity), TEXAS is #6 in the nation. Pressure is on, CTH has 2 to 3 seasons left at TEXAS to show he can take the next step and bring home a BigXII title. The Cheap Seats fully expect TEXAS to play in AT LEAST 2 of the next 3 big title games. Bold prediction for 2021, Casey Thompson is the starter for the entire season but not sure he can hold off Card/JJ (do not under estimate JJ) in 2022. Hopefully TEXAS blows out enough teams in 2020 for Casey to log some real reps. Cheap Seats has LSU by 10 over Clemson for the title. And our homer/way too early prediction for 2020 is TEXAS 11-2 winner of the BigXII title with another Sugar Bowl trip in store. TEXAS should enjoy the best QB in the conference (though there is some comp here) the best OL in the conference, the best RB stable, a top 3 (talentwise) group of WRs. Today the most glaring weaknesses appear to be TE on the O and LB on the D. Schedule's biggest negative is that after a 3rd week bye, TEXAS does not get another break. It is interesting that TEXAS ends the season not on the usual Friday date but Sat in Stillwater which means Bedlahm isn't the last game of the year either. 202 Schedule break down: 50/50 games. Games were TEXAS has as much chance of winning as losing Tough games we should win Upsets if we lose Hope my small but demented following has enjoyed the read this year, certainly have enjoyed writing the Cheap Seats. Happy New Year and Best wishes to all you filthy animals.

Dude has been playing lights out all year. Props to the poster (forgot who) who called him having a break-out year. Turds to the posters on here who didn't want the Horns to play a bowl game. Maybe they should stick to the Hallmark channel.

Good write up. I totally did not expect this outcome but am grateful for it. I think CTH has shown us something. Two solid coordinator hires, kept recruiting humming along, and now this – a total domination – to head into the off season. I think this is why you let this play out. We once thought CTH was a great hire. I don't think we were wrong. IMO, the difference tonight was the pass pressure we were able to generate. And much of it came from the DL, not blitzes although those helped too. Ossai had a coming out party tonight. Break out the piñata, I'm on board! Play calling was SO much better tonight. Even though CTH won't be doing that next year.

Here's why I think the herman not giving up reins of offense rumors started (which is absurd btw). Air raid offense tend to do a large chunk of their practices on air, meaning practicing live situations without a defensive body on the field. When there is a team period in practice air raid offenses tend to go as fast as humanly possible to practice their tempo. This makes it extremely hard on the defense to get a good practice, teach correct alignment, and fix blown assignments. Sounds to me like Herman knows a good offense is a dime a dozen (especially in the big 12 and so are good offensive coordinators), but he needs an elite defense if he wants to win and compete for conference and national championships, which is the expectation at UT. To get an elite defense, especially a new coordinator, the defense needs time to teach and to learn. On elite teams, offense and defense compliment each other. Just my opinion as someone who deals with this stuff on a daily basis.Sorry this is long and Hope this helps.

There was no announcement in the class that they were entering the transfer portal. There was a lot of discussion, feelings expressed, but no manifesto of entering the transfer portal.

Really appreciate Aaron inviting me to come hang out and talk Longhorns, recruiting, etc. Hope y'all join in on the conversations.

I've been trying to figure out exactly how I was going to word this and have been drawing blanks for the past few days. I'm going to shoot this from the hip and just see where I end up with it. I'd like to start things out by thanking Aaron Carrara for giving me the opportunity to come aboard Horn Sports. Back in 2015, I was in a bit of a weird spot after stepping away from coaching and deciding to be a full time dad while trying to figure out what the next move was. I was an avid follower of recruiting in my younger years and after getting a chance to be on both sides of it as a player and a coach it only took my fascination to a different level. So with coaching in the rear view, I was looking for a way to still "scratch the itch" when it came to stay connected with the recruiting landscape and keeping tabs on recruits all across the state. This is where Aaron comes into the picture. When Aaron first reached out to me I wasn't at all familiar with Horn Sports, but had seen tweets every now and then from Mike Roach on Twitter. I didn't know exactly what to expect starting out, but four years later here we are. I'm extremely grateful and thankful for both Aaron and Mike taking me under their wing and for being good friends and mentors along the way. Without Mike, Aaron, and Horn Sports there is really no telling what I would be doing these days and this site has really allowed me to come into my own as a writer and accomplish some dope things along the way. I'd also like to thank the Horn Sports community for being warm and welcoming over the past four years. You guys welcomed me in as one of your own from day one and have been generous to not only me, but to my family as well and I can't put into words how thankful I am for that. I'd like to shout out @Harrison Wier, @Jameson McCausland, @joeywa , and @Mike Roachfor all of their time and effort they have poured into the site during my time here. I am forever thankful for all the hard work you guys put in around here to help keep this site running year round. So now comes the hard part where I tell you why I just went on this entire tangent on a Sunday morning. At this time I am officially announcing that I am leaving Horn Sports and will be taking on a new role as a Recruiting Contributor for SB Nation's Texas site Burnt Orange Nation. I'd like to thank both Wescott Eberts and Cody Daniel for the opportunity to come aboard their team and add to their recruiting coverage. This decision was a hard one and comes after a lot of time and deliberation. Horn Sports is and will always be family to me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to not only do what I enjoy, but to do what I love. This is not goodbye, but more of a see you later. Horn Sports will always be a part of me no matter where I go. Hook'Em! - Daniel

Johnston Fonged to Texas

I'm sorry - got distracted before I could finish. I have been told that the coaches are beyond thrilled with our offensive possibilities. There sre some kids that have and are performing beyond their expectations. They are Epps (the coaches are GaGa over this kid and he is and has performed beyond their expectations), Ingram and Whittington (Herman says they are the best two running backs he has ever seen and that includes tOSU), Smith (they don't think he can be covered. Period). And, finally, Ehlinger (he has blown the coaches away this year). a Now let me say this. This info is coming from the coaches who are conservative even among themselves. It's inbred. No coach wants to stick their neck out even among themselves. Oh, by-the-way they are super hyper about the defense. Supposedly, after one practice, Herman chased the DC down the hall, pinned him against the wall and kissed him on the head. That's a really good sign and all of it is a good sign to get high about your Horns. It's going to be a good year, my friends. Drink that damned kool aid. EDIT: One more thing. Herman thinks our OL is as good or better than the OL when he was at tOSU.

Huge, huge pickup. And like I said... dropped out of nowhere.

I really feel for the kid. He’s a combination of Thor and Mr. Glass. I have no doubt he will succeed in life but I would love for him to have at least one season of injury free football.

Brainiacs today confirming some things I've recently heard. Namely – the development of Malcom Epps. Their source said Epps could eclipse LJH and Collin both. Colin on one side and Epps on the other is going to present some problems. Said he was just as much of a red zone threat as Collin is, right now. – The positive news on Whittington was echoed there. Kid is not playing like a freshman. – D'Shawn Jamison is making it hard to keep him off the 1's. He's been running with them off and on this week. – Bru McCoy is turning heads. He had 8 catches and 2 TDs in today's scrimmage.

New CB in for Isaiah Dunson to Texas. 4 Star CB out of GA

Just spoke to my buddy down in Austin. Things could not be better in the locker room right now. Winning helps, but kicking a team's ass all game long does wonders. That was the good news. The really good news is that Alfred Collins is ours. Put him in the calculator. Have no idea when he intends to announce though. They're trying to get Princely back in the class. Things recently took a turn for the better on this front (coaching change, scheme change). Said he's not sure Rakestraw gets an offer. I was pretty surprised by this. He didn't elaborate on why. Dixon is probably their most important target at this point, he said. Dixon can play almost anywhere on the field and staff likes that.

OU mod thinks Texas is in the lead for Collins and it's going to take a lot for anyone else to land him. All our commits have been with him at the game he's playing in and he watched the game last night with all the Texas commits.

This is the last day of the year and the last day of the decade. Good riddance! This decade can't be over soon enough as far as Texas football. UT had a 70-57 record for the decade going into this game. That's an average of 7 wins a season and an average of 5.5 loses per season. Hopefully, a win tonight will help with a new start next year for the next decade because this one stunk.

Exactly. The scheme itself, i.e. the power spread, is not the problem. It's game planning, play-calling, and coaching on that side of the ball.

Ash is great news. He very well may have ended up as tOSU’s DC had we kept on “searching.” This is who I wanted after reading the philosophies of each “candidate.” Aggressive 4 man front! Since I publicly said he was my choice - I commit to not griping for 2 1/2 games....

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ours was very good. Friday was great when I saw the Texas offense assert itself again. I truly believe that Herman started calling the plays himself after the first futile drives. The difference was just too dramatic. After those first drives we simply dominated, and the offense was fluid, fun. btw, is there anything that Roshon cannot do when it comes to football? That drive where he and Sam carried the load, and we scored. What a statement! Big Mal, what a beast! His energy could power a major city. I’m going to miss that young man next year. Dev, too. Every time he touches the ball, I just wait for something good to happen for us. Shakelford, he is another one who rallies the troops. I felt really bad for Collin. He missed so much of his Senior year. For those of you bemoaning the injuries, haven’t you ever noticed that Freshman and Sophomore players are injured more frequently than upperclassmen. It happens because they aren’t as physically mature (stating the obvious). Luckily, we have a great strength & conditioning program, plentiful resources, and dedicated athletes, so relax, enjoy the rest of the Holiday weekend. Hook ‘em!

Here's the latest from Anwar as of 2:25 pm today. Eagles practiced on Wednesday and is expected to practice on Thursday and will travel with the team to Fort Worth. He missed practice on Tuesday due to a personal issue which has since been resolved and he will play on Saturday.

If you’re a blue blood school, you ought to line up and whip your opponent with superior athletes. Our defense is all about deception and fooling the QB. It is tailor made for a mid-major that cant compete athlete for athlete. Well, from my vantage point it looks like we end up fooling ourselves. There is no reason, ever, for someone to be so wide open that the nearest defender isn’t in the TV screen... well, other than someone simply doesn’t know where to be. Too much thinking required rather than 11 men flying to the ball. Robinson came in mid-season and fixed the Manny Diaz mess by simplifying and telling our athletes to fly to the ball. It took him 2 weeks! One last thought and I’ll hang up and listen.... why are we trying to reinvent the wheel on defense? I looked up at one point and saw 2 down linemen on the field. What beats the spread is pressure on the QB. Didn’t we learn this with the “unstoppable” run and shoot at Cougar High? I don’t care how many DBs you can run out there you need a presence on the LOS.

Gotta love Coach Hand.

Recruiting has been in a bit of a holding pattern for Texas and that has made many fans a bit anxious as we head into the summer months, but good things come to those who wait. Last week was chaotic to put it mildly with Bru McCoy departing the program and heading back west and Zach Evans leaving Texas outside his top five schools (and his commentary that followed. Needless to say, Texas fans needed something to get the good vibes flowing again and that is where Duncanville’s Ja’Quinden Jackson comes in. Jackson has long been a high priority target for the Longhorn staff and that hasn’t changed even with his desire to move forward as a quarterback despite already having Hudson Card in the class. Jackson is a caliber of player you simply figure a way to get him into your class because he is that talented and also offers you some flexibility down the line. The Texas staff has recruited him like the blue-chip talent that he is and now their efforts have been rewarded, as Jackson has announced he is bringing his talents to Austin to be a Longhorn. Film Analysis Player Information Name: Ja’Quinden Jackson Position: ATH (QB/LB) High School: Duncanville City & State: Duncanville, TX Measurables Height: 6’2 Weight: 219 40-yard time: 4.61 Shuttle: N/A Statistics 2017: 35/55 (60%) passing, 320 yards, 4 TDs/ 0 INTs – 93 carries, 766 yards (8.2 YPC), 12 TDs – 18 recs, 334 yards (18.5 YPC), 2 TDs 2018: 110/173 (63%) passing, 1550 yards, 15 TDs/ 3 INTs – 147 carries, 1497 yards (10.1 YPC), 23 TDs Film https://www.hudl.com/profile/7591645/JaQuinden-Jackson/videos Three Best Traits: Competitive Toughness – He’s one bad hombre in between the white lines and he brings it down to down. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking no matter the opponent and has shined on the biggest stages. Physical Measurables – Possesses a stout and sturdy frame at 6’2, 219 and it shows up on tape as a runner. Tough runner and breaks a good amount tackles and really wears on a defense. Also possesses good arm strength and can push the ball down the field. Patience/ Vision – Does a great job of allowing his blocks to develop and finding the creases in the defense as a runner. Manipulates defenders with his movements in the open field and is very elusive for his size. Three Worst Traits: Raw Passing Ability – Has a lot of development ahead of him as a passer. A lot of short comfort throws on tape and needs to grow more comfortable going through his progressions. Has the arm to push the ball down the field and had an absolute dime moving to right during the playoff run last year, but I need to see more of that going forward. Positional Ambiguity – Is he a quarterback? Is he a linebacker? Is he an H-Back/Tight end? There’s no doubt that he’s a baller, but he currently lacks a clean projection, so there will need to be a plan in place for when he hits campus to figure this out. Mileage on The Tires – Given that the offense flows through him and his legs, he logs a good amount of carries, which exposes him to a lot of hits. There is no doubting his toughness, but with more of the same on the way in the fall it is something to be mindful of. Summary Ja’Quinden Jackson is a four-star dual-threat quarterback from Duncanville HS in Duncanville, TX. Jackson is a soon to be three-year starter that has split time between quarterback and wide receiver. At 6’2, 219 pounds Jackson possesses good size and a good, sturdy frame that will continue to allow him to add on good weight regardless of which position he ends up at developing at in the long run. As a quarterback, Jackson is still a work in progress, but he possesses some nice raw tools to work with going forward. For starters, Jackson possesses a good strong arm that will allow him to push the ball vertically down the field that defenses will have to respect as he continues to refine his game. He shows that he can make throws on the move whether it be to his left or to his right and had a really nice throw that stood out on tape where he threw to a spot in the back of the end zone while scrambling left for a touchdown. Jackson stands tall and the pocket while looking going through reads and doesn’t get flustered when the pocket starts collapsing and does a great job of using his feet to buy time for himself. His greatest strength by far is his ability to hurt a defense with his feet via the quarterback run game or when he flees the pocket. Jackson proves on tape he can pound the rock in between tackles, as Duncanville runs a lot of power read and quarterback counter. Jackson’s toughness and competitiveness flashes constantly as a runner as he embraces contact with defenders and is not at all averse to trying to drop the shoulder on you when the opportunity presents itself. It often takes more than one defender to bring Jackson down despite being a pretty big guy, he is also pretty elusive and shows good COD in the open field. You would think a big target like Jackson would be easy to hit, but he consistently makes defenders look foolish and to boot he has good straight-line speed that allows him to split a defense if he finds a crease. Jackson’s playmaking ability as a runner could get him onto the field early in his collegiate career in some specialty packages his coaching staff opts to get creative along the lines of the 18-Wheeler package that featured Tyrone Swoopes or like how Blake Bell was used at Oklahoma or Tim Tebow early at Florida. With all that said, Jackson’s development as a passer will have to come a long way if he wants to become more than just a one trick pony. On tape he shows a lot of easy completions on short routes and some low risk throws to open receivers, but those windows will be much tighter, and defenses will be able to take those away at the next level. Jackson’s development in this area will determine how the ceiling goes for him as a prospect if he decides quarterback is where his long-term future is. He’s without a doubt an alpha and a playmaker that makes plays under the brightest of lights against tough competition and that won’t be questioned, which is why you want a player like this on your roster regardless of position. Final Verdict Jackson is easily one of the best football players in the state and the country regardless of position. He is a dude who is a flat-out playmaker and when the stakes are at their highest, he is going to show up and try to will his team to victory. You can go back and watch just about any game on high cutups and you will see number three out there bringing it from snap to snap. As long as Jackson is on the field, you know you are going to have a dog out there and guys like him are always fun to breakdown and study. The only question is where he will end up long term from a position standpoint, and right now I’m not sure the staff is too worried because that stuff often takes care of itself when the player gets to campus and starts putting the work in. Jackson is just a football player and he makes your team better the moment he is able to put a helmet and a jersey on in Austin.

See?? JUCO!!!!

Waiting for the dreaded....."Utah didn't really want to be here"

Wishing all of you guys a very Merry Christmas. Hope everyone is spending it with family and friends, but if you aren’t - the HornSports community is with you in spirit!

Herman's job is not going to be determined on how fast he hires his coaches. It will be determined if he hires the right coach or the wrong one.

The Football Brainiacs are reporting WR Brennan Eagles has decided against transferring and will remain at UT. All of the offensive changes have apparently calmed things down a lot there.

“This is crazy, yo. We’re gonna hit 100K views, we’re about to blow!” Dajon Harrison sits on his bed minutes after breaking the news of his commitment to the Texas Longhorns alongside his childhood friend and teammate Brock Bujnoch. The two are sifting through Harrison’s sudden bombardment of Twitter mentions. A lamp on the ground in the corner of the room serves as the only light in the room as Harrison experiences one of the biggest moments of his life. “They have an evaluation for you in 247 now, they’re comparing you to JD Spielman,” I bring up as he FaceTimes his cousin, former Longhorn national champion Jamaal Charles. “Is he cold?” “Yeah, no doubt,” Bujnoch replies. His MyPlayer on NBA 2K20, which has been impressively constructed with the flyest clothes and tattoos that the game has to offer, looks over the room before the TV goes into a power saving mode. Sorry 2K, something much more important came up tonight. -------------------- Texas had long been the dream school for Harrison, but as the 2020 class began to take shape over the summer, he saw his chances dwindle to slim as the season started. In July, he released a top six of Houston, Kansas State, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado State, and Iowa State. The dream of going to the Big 12 was still alive, even after his short stint as a TCU commit over the spring. However, a message from Bryan Carrington in September that started conversation between the two changed it all, and the rest is history. “If they offer me, it’s a wrap,” Harrison said in October. That offer came on November 4, and with it came an instant commitment to the Forty Acres. Dajon Harrison had become the newest Texas Longhorn. I was watching Monday Night Football, expecting the Cowboys to lose in a horrendous way once again, when my phone pinged from the other room. I knew before I even looked at my phone. First the tweet from Carrington, now three consecutive texts at 8:30, I knew exactly who it was. -------------------- Minutes after the post (which didn’t work on anyone’s phone in the room and took five minutes to send through my computer), retweets, likes, evaluations, articles, and congratulations started flying in. Brock sifted through his timeline next to Dajon to help him gauge all of the love. Thirty minutes after the post, Dajon’s follower count had ticked up by 300 as more interactions started pouring in. I caught that smile that his mom mentioned earlier in the day, I could definitely tell that this was the moment he had been waiting for. My job here was done. I had scored a free meal and made an acceptable production in my eyes in about four hours. “Man, this whole experience was great,” Dajon said as I was heading out. “I loved it. All of this love for me, I feel like it’s not true. It’s still a dream to me, so I’m just trying to enjoy all of it right now and stay humble, be great, and keep going.”

So much for "the nicest fans in all of college football." A friend of mine parked his car in College Station near the aggy campus and thoughtlessly left two tickets to the next A&M home game on his dashboard, in plain sight. Some thoughtless asshole smashed out the driver's side window and left four more.

Hey guys.... Ethan Pouncey just announced his commitment to Texas LoL. Totally out of left field.

BOOOOOM! Robinson to Texas! HUGE, HUGE pickup.

Big development here: Vernon Broughton heading to Austin today to visit. With a pending OV to A&M this is good timing for Texas.

We offered less than 3 weeks after Bama' and the kid just finished his 10th grade year. That's a buncha' BS.

When it comes to recruiting, sometimes things will break your way, while other times you won’t be as fortunate. In this case for Texas, it was the former in regards to Butler CC linebacker Juwan Mitchell. It’s no secret that the Texas staff is a bit concerned about the linebacker position and has been turning over every rock trying to find a solution. While turning over some stones in Kansas, the staff found themselves a potential solution in Mitchell who could possibly help them sooner rather than later. With Mitchell being a full qualifier out of high school, this allows him to leave for his school of choice as soon as later this month instead of having to graduate from Butler and get his associates. This allows Mitchell to get on campus for the summer and get acclimated before getting a chance to earn starter snaps in August. It’s not too often you can be this fortunate when you are trying to address a big need on your roster, but Texas and Mitchell ended up being the right match and the right time, which is why you will see him in burnt orange come this fall. Film Analysis Player Information Name: Juwan Mitchell Position: ILB High School/ JUCO: Mater Dei (NJ)/ Butler CC City & State: Middletown, NJ/ El Dorado, KS Measurables Height: 6’1 Weight: 235 40-yard time: N/A Shuttle: N/A Statistics 2018: 55 Tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 2 Sacks, 1 PBU, 1 Int Film https://www.hudl.com/profile/11291427/Juwan-Mitchell 3 Best Traits: Disruptive and violent as a tackler and as a blitzer. Possesses the disposition that you want in the middle of your defense. Possesses solid range and shows a good motor while in pursuit of the ball carrier. Solid from a mental processing standpoint, as he is able to diagnose and put himself in position to make plays. 3 Worst Traits: Needs to get more depth in his coverage drops and I am mildly concerned about his comfort in that regard coming into a league where he will be tested frequently. Appears to be an average athlete for the position and doesn’t really wow you from that standpoint. You don’t see him having to fight off blocks much on tape and that is something I am a bit concerned about going forward. Summary Juwan Mitchell is an unranked inside linebacker from Butler Community College by way of Mater Dei HS in Middletown, NJ. Mitchell was committed to Rutgers in high school before ending up at Butler and was previously committed to Minnesota before flipping his commitment to Texas and will have four years to play three in Austin. In 2018, Mitchell logged starter snaps at inside linebacker for the Grizzlies and turned in a solid freshman campaign in the middle of the defense. Mitchell’s best trait shown on tape is his violence and disposition he shows as a tackler and a blitzer. Mitchell is a classic knockback tackler and he brings the funk whenever he trades paint with ball carriers. On more than one occasion on tape you see Mitchell’s ability as a blitzer force bad throws from the quarterback that end up being turnovers. Mitchell read and reacts well coming down hill in the run game, but with that said he didn’t show many opportunities where he had to take on blockers and show he can disengage from them, which worries me a bit going forward. Mitchell also appears to be an average athlete for the position, which is a concern considering he is heading to the Big 12, but he does show solid range and a good motor while in pursuit of the ball carrier. While Mitchell did log an interception on tape while in pass coverage, he still needs to improve and get more comfortable in his drops as that is something that he will be tasked with frequently in league that likes to spread you out and expose linebackers that liabilities in coverage. Overall, Mitchell lacks the splash and sexy plays that will get you fired up when you watch, but he still has tools that you can work with and can at minimum provide you with some reliable depth. Final Verdict All things considered this a solid take at a position of need for Texas. It’s not too often you will be able to plug a hole on your roster at this time of year, so the staff deserves a lot of kudos for being able to find a capable player in Mitchell who will likely help them come later this fall. With four years to play three, Mitchell still has time and room to grow as a player, but with how things are shaping up at the position he will likely be leaned on to log a decent amount snaps as soon as he is able to acclimate and digest the playbook. A player like Mitchell will buy the staff some time as younger players continue to develop and lessen the need to have run them out on the field before they are ready. While Texas will need to continue to overall the position in the long term, Mitchell’s commitment definitely helps in the short term.

Per Jason Suchomel of Rivals, Bijan Robinson has an official visit set to Texas for June 21st.

The ags are going to need an experienced AD to take his place. I got the perfect guy.